Ciao amici!
2025 was a crazy travel year for me — UK, Canada, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and finally… Italia. But Italy hit different. I had dreamed of visiting this bel paese since I was young, especially because of the deep historical link between Italy and southern Somalia. You still feel that old Italian impronta (footprint) in Mogadishu — from buildings to coffee culture.
Rome for Work… and a Little Dolce Vita
I didn’t come to Italy just as a tourist. I came on official duty, representing Somalia with my colleagues at the VNR Global Workshop hosted by UN DESA and FAO in Rome. The conference was held at FAO headquarters — che posto!— and brought together countries from all over the world to talk about how to report progress on the SDGs.
We shared ideas, learned new tools, and talked about how to tell our national stories better. For Somalia, it was especially important — how to use data, how to make sure we “leave no one behind”, and how to make our VNR more strong and credible. It was work, yes, but in Roma, even work feels a little like la dolce vita.
Walking Through History
Outside the meetings, Rome was like an open-air museum. Everywhere you turn — storia, storia, storia! The highlight for me was the Colosseum — il Colosseo. Standing there, you feel the power of ancient Rome, the gladiators, the crowds, the drama. Mamma mia, it’s huge!
Rome is full of ruins, old streets, churches, and fountains. You walk, you get lost, you eat, you walk again. That’s the Roman way — piano piano (slowly, slowly).
One thing I will never forget about Italy is the gelato — mamma mia! It’s not just ice cream, it’s a whole experience. Every evening in Rome, I would stop by a small gelateria and try a new flavor: pistacchio, nocciola, fragola, limone — each one more buonissimo than the last. The gelato was so creamy, so fresh, and not too sweet, just perfetto. Walking through the old streets of Rome with a cone of gelato in my hand felt like pure dolce vita. Honestly, no dessert in the world tastes quite like Italian gelato — it’s a sweet memory I will always carry with me. 🍨
Rome and Mogadishu — Che Somiglianza!
What surprised me most was how much Rome reminded me of Mogadishu. The outdoor cafés with folding chairs, people sitting outside drinking coffee, chatting, laughing — it felt so familiar. Even the old buildings and street styles gave me nostalgia for the good old days of Somalia.
I also heard so many Italian words that I remembered from my teenage years in Somalia:
“Ciao,” “Bravo,” “Caffè,” “Bene,” “Prego.”
It was like going back in time — che bello!
Final Thoughts
Italy gave me knowledge, memories, and a lot of emozioni. From serious meetings at FAO to relaxed walks near the Colosseum, it was a perfect mix of work and wonder. Rome is not just a city — it’s a feeling.
Arrivederci, Italia. Tornerò di nuovo. 🇮🇹
