by Gabriel Brolli

You have at least one reason to love Italy. It can be for the Inter soccer jersey your dad gave you when you were a kid or the coffee obsession you got while trying new recipes you saw on TikTok. It can be for the idea you dreamed of in your head of Dolce Vita, and this fantasy of living life smoothly. And it can be for the Italian pasta. 

In Mateo Medina’s case, it was all of them. Originally from Colombia, where the coffee zone checks all the boxes for the greatest quality, the 27-year-old now spends his afternoons after school looking for the best espresso through the small roads of Milan. Enrolled in the MSc in Communication for Business, Media, and Culture at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, he has also been mastering all four sauces of Rome – spoiler: Amatriciana is his favorite...by far.  

Although it's hard to see Mateo not smiling, laughing as he crosses the University walls or mingling in large groups, there were moments during his first few weeks in Italy when he occasionally felt some loneliness. “The only thing I wish I had done differently was to be kinder to myself at the beginning,” he says. Moving abroad for the first time came with an adjustment period - a new language, a new culture, and the unspoken pressure of meeting expectations from back home. 

Some things indeed never change...the first questions would always be: "How are you doing? Made lots of new friends?" as if settling into a new country happens effortlessly. 

But like any good story, his journey soon found its rhythm. Before moving to Italy, he worked for the Amazon Conservation Team, a non-profit organisation that works alongside indigenous people to conserve the biodiversity of the Amazon forest. Before that, he collaborated with Colombia’s main news outlet, Semana, bringing news on health and culture to the most remote regions. In a hide-and-seek game with social initiatives, it's hard to tell if he is looking for them or if they always end up finding him. The same curiosity that had driven his work back home pushed him to embrace every opportunity in Milan. Whether through lively class discussions, new friendships, or opportunities for international students at Cattolica, Mateo found his place in Milan. 

When talking about Colombia, he temporarily sets aside his relaxed Gen-Z posture to make promises. “My goal is to build my knowledge here, gain strategies, and give it back to my country, to whom I owe all my privileges,” Mateo states. “I feel a sense of responsibility toward my country. Our teachers always said, ‘You are the future,’ but many of Colombia’s future leaders leave and never return. If no one stays to make a difference, nothing will change.” 

And through it all, Colombia remains at the heart of his ambitions. It’s easy to picture him sipping his latest espresso discovery, surrounded by the hum of Italian conversation – but now, he’s not alone anymore. His past and his culture, along with his new friends, new words, and discoveries, all stick to his happy aura. It’s clear that Mateo’s journey is just beginning – and Milan has given him inspiration, knowledge, and a new home away from home (plus, he’s glad he found a small market near his place that sells plátano, so he can still cook plátanos maduros). 

So, if you ever find yourself in Milan searching for the perfect espresso, Mateo has a few hints: 

• The Coffee: Japanese tradition with Brazilian heritage 
• Cafezal: Italo-Brazilian brand that highlights both coffee cultures 
• Orsonero: Second best Specialty Coffee shop in Milano (they have actual Colombian coffee).