The one about never belonging

Author

Mara Bande
July 10, 2025 • Takes: 5 minutes

10th of July ‘25

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Are my Italy Chronicles back?

My dears,

I have once again returned to the motherland, and the last thing I want to talk about is looking for jobs. But I will still write this because I know you all miss me. I’ve been hanging out with my parents and my grandma, doing small-town stuff, aka canning tomatoes, making meatballs, watching the weird regional TV channel that plays crazy loud commercials.

I love my family, but coming back also means being "the one who went to Finland. Hilariously, in Finland, I’m always someone's Italian friend (and please stop spreading the fake news that I'm from Sicily!!! I'm from Sardinia!!!). In short, I’m either an exotic success story or a cute curiosity, depending on the direction of the passport.

I daydream a lot about coming back and bringing the tiny life I built to be closer to the people who love me without needing an explanation. But… I’m not really from here anymore. I’m a guest.

And I love the island I was born on. And don’t know how things work here.

I don’t know how people apply for jobs, or if there even is a startup ecosystem that’s desperately in need of a cool lady who can write one hell of a newsletter.

I know how to visit. I’m EXCELLENT at visiting. Even if I've built a life I’m proud of, I'm always slightly other. Life moves. People come and go. In this case, I am the one who comes and goes, and I don’t know what to do with that.

How do you belong to a place when you’re always leaving it?
How do you stay true to yourself when your identity is constantly shifting depending on the room you’re in?

I don’t have answers. Just wanted to mention that everyone here has Android phones and they voice operate their Google searches, and I feel like I’m an alien. That’s what prompted this whole thing!

Mara, sending love and tomatoes 🍅

Find me on Instagram as @amarenabandivan

🦊 What’s New from Hei Dingo 

While I might be lazying around and sunbathing at the beach, my lovely team continues to work hard (thank you peeps, and sorry for abandoning you). Keeping up with what companies are doing is kinda hard, but we are here for you with the latest scoop 👇

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☁️Friendly reminder

by Grace Carasco

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