Dear readers of Easy Milano,
November always makes me think of Vermont, where I grew up. As Thanksgiving approaches, I picture crimson maple trees against a gray sky, the first frost on the fields, and a kitchen so warm the windows fog up.
This year I will celebrate Thanksgiving somewhere new. This is my first tour in Italy as an American diplomat and my first Thanksgiving in Milan. On behalf of all of us at the U.S. Consulate General, I send you and your loved ones my warmest wishes for the holiday.
Milan has its own way of welcoming November. Fog settles over the city in the early morning. Street vendors start roasting chestnuts, and panettone and holiday decorations fill the shop windows. In some ways it reminds me of home. The air has the same chill, and people take full advantage of the sunshine as the days get shorter.
Of course, Thanksgiving here won’t look quite like it did in the United States. It is a regular workday in Italy, and a whole turkey might be hard to find. But Thanksgiving was never really about the menu. It’s about the people around the table and taking a moment to say thank you out loud. Italians understand this better than anyone.
So, this year I’m looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving in a new city. I’m thankful for the deep and lasting friendship between the United States and Italy. I’m thankful to my colleagues at the Consulate, who have made a newcomer feel right at home. And I’m thankful to everyone I’ve met in Milan and across northern Italy who has opened a door, shared a recommendation, or kindly put up with my Italian.
Many of you are celebrating far from home, too. Getting ready for my first Thanksgiving in Milan has reminded me that traditions don’t stay behind when we move. We bring them with us. You might gather with family, cook for friends, or simply call home across the ocean. I hope you find a little way to embrace those traditions on Thursday, November 26, wherever you are. And if you can, share the tradition with someone who has never celebrated it before. That’s one of the best ways I know to make a new place feel like home.
For the U.S. citizens among you, part of feeling at home is knowing that someone back home, and here in Milan, is looking out for you in case of emergency. Whether you’ve lived in northern Italy for years or are just passing through for the holidays, please take a moment to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, at step.state.gov. It’s free and quick, and it helps the Consulate share important updates. Think of it as saving a seat for us at your table.
Happy Thanksgiving, and felice Giorno del Ringraziamento to all!
Carla Fleharty
Consul General
U.S, Consulate General in Milan, Italy
