Raghav Sharma Week #16 - Italian At Heart
I was only four years old when I had the extreme pleasure to visit Italy for the first time. I don't remember every detail, but I do remember how it felt. The first time setting foot in the Milan Malpensa Airport, seeing my family there waiting for us, arms wide, and the smiles, made the airport "scene" such a lovely one.
This trip also gave me something I will never forget, my first ever soccer game. An AC Milan game. And luckily for me, this was the time I actually used to play soccer. I used to be called "little Messi" for my extreme skills, actually I think only my family called me that, but that's ok. I remember the excitement, all the flags waving, the fans all wearing red and white. I was small, sitting on my dad's shoulders, seeing the whole stadium erupt when there was a goal. The first jersey for soccer I ever bought was also there. Actually, it's still framed in my room, and there's always a smile when I stare at that jersey. I'll be honest, I didn't even know a single player's name, and maybe I didn't even know all the rules. But I knew I loved it.
Even now, many year's later, that feeling hasn't left me. I last went in the Summer of 2022, and seeing family, spending time in my second home, is an extremely underrated feeling. Not being a tourist anymore, (at least what I think), and being able to walk the quiet streets of Milan, is something I will always appreciate. Going to be a place so often made me realize, home isn't always you live, but the place that makes you feel comfortable.
And I've always been Italian At Heart .
. One of my favorite spots in Italy.
Hey Raghav! Although I still have not gotten the chance to visit Italy, the way you described it, it makes me want to explore it over the summer. Now I was never a big fan of football, but just like you I had gone to a basketball game with my family in Texas when I was a kid. Just like you I had bought my first ever basketball Jersey, a James Harden one. This jersey is still with me and whenever I look at it, I always get flashbacks of the flashing lights and the crowd erupting every time a player scores. It is these little memories that make me feel like I am still somewhat in my childhood. Looking at old things and experiencing the nostalgia is a thing that I can never get tired of.
ReplyDeleteHey Raghav, your connection with Italy is so nice to hear about. Having family in another country does make it seem more like home. Italy is somewhere me and my parents do want to visit at some point. We have been to some parts of Europe, but not Italy yet. It is also so cool that you saw a soccer game there. That must have been a crazy experience. Do you think you are currently more interested in sports in general because you watched that game? I used to play soccer as well. I used to have lots of fun while running across grass fields while trying to score those goals. I was also wondering if Italy is your favorite country that you have visited.
ReplyDeleteHey Raghav! This was a very enjoyable read for me, because like you, I also had the invaluable opportunity to visit Italy, specifically Rome, a couple summers back. And I agree; Italy as a whole is a really beautiful country, so it's easy to understand why you consider it a second home. Just curious, but do you speak Italian? Although I've never personally gone to watch a professional soccer game in-person, your vivid descriptions of the AC Milan match shows how much it meant to you not only as a core memory, but also the start of a new passion. You did a great job showing how Italian culture and its beauty have impacted you. And as a whole, it's nice to see that you have such a profound appreciation for so many diverse places around the world, from LA all the way to Milan.
ReplyDeleteHi Raghav! Your blog was so fun to read. I can truly relate to the feeling of connecting to a new place so much, you feel as if you have always belonged there and make you feel like home. I have felt similarly in several places I have visited, such as Tahiti. Over there, I enjoyed an amazing beach, went snorkeling with sea animals, and much more, and that trip, like with Italy for you, left me with many lasting memories. Overall, your blog was so fun to read, and I enjoyed learning about your trip to Italy and all the fun things you did there. Congratulations on writing your last blog!
ReplyDeleteHi Raghav,
ReplyDeleteI was drawn to your blog, as it entails Italy in it and this summer my family is planning to go there for vacation, and reading your blog makes me even more excited for that trip. Your story is so heartfelt and vivid—it really captures the beauty of memory and the deep connection we can have to a place, even from such a young age. And the way you talk about the AC Milan game, sitting on your dad’s shoulders, feeling the energy of the crowd, along with that touch of nostalgia, there's no doubt why this memory still stays so vividly in your mind. Thank you for sharing.
HEYY Raghav!!! Loved reading your final blog! I've never been to italy but when I read what you wrote, it felt as if the experiences you made spoke to me.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big messi fan (Team ronaldo) but it was really touching when I read about how you used to play soccer and how your first soccer game was in italy! It's really beautiful how we can all make and find connections to places that seem so far out of our reach. Whether it be a certain food your familiar with, a sport, or people, its amazing how interconnected our society really is.
Milan must have been a phenomenal experience for you! Honestly I'm just jealous that you had the opportunity to experience something like that. Maybe some day you can sponsor my trip to italy and we can all just chill, have a couple drinks, party, and relish in the fleeting yet forever treasured moments.