Natale Labia in Milan, Lombardia: Greetings from some South Africans in Milano

When my wife and I moved to Milano last September, never could we have imagined that our lives would have played out like they have. We are both South Africans with Italian families and citizenship, so it has always been our dream to move to this city we love.

Milano is an ancient city of tremendous style, sophistication and grace – but also with a warmth which is irresistible. In many respects it reminds us of Johannesburg. It is not the most beautiful town in Italy, but there is an energy, a zest for life, a work ethic, which is contagious.

Suddenly, everything changed. From one day to the next we were confined to our homes and the stories shared in the media and on WhatsApp from the frontline – the absolutely first-class hospitals in Lombardia – went from bad to simply horrendous.

In our new strange daily routine a fixture was waiting for the numbers to come out each evening around 18:00. Every evening we would pray for some sign that they were coming down, that there would be fewer deaths than before.

The city now is deserted, other than the regular sounds of sirens and van loads of Carabinieri officers. Buying groceries (fare la spesa) is the only thing we are allowed to go out for, and it takes over an hour to queue at our local supermarket.

But everyone is prouder than ever to be Italian, it has brought the country together like never before; through singing, dancing, and knowing that our nurses and doctors are putting their lives on the line every day to save our compatriots.

In some ways it has brought us closer to many people back home in South Africa. We have regular video calls with all our friends and family, so in some respect it has been great catching up with people we have lost touch with – albeit on a screen if not in person. We are determined to continue doing this, even after the current period is over.

Milano and Italy has been through terrible times before. It has been sacked by invaders, bombed in wars, and was almost wiped out in numerous plagues in the Middle Ages. But through determination, hard work, faith and compassion it has survived and it has thrived. Now we will all learn from its example and we will come back stronger.

I feel exactly the same way about South Africa, perhaps in a strange way this terrible experience will bring all us South Africans together, and a stronger and more united country will emerge from this.

Keep laughing, keep chatting, keep braaing. Andra tutto bene — It will all be okay.
Best wishes from Milano.