The Blancs own a beautiful log chalet here in Verbier and it’s where we’re staying for the week. As I walk in, I’m greeted by the beautiful cozy interiors. A large living room, with high ceilings and windows with sweeping views over the rest of the mountains. A stone fireplace sits in the center of the wall on the right, waiting for me to curl up with a book when everyone is asleep. Warm fur blankets line the back of the elegant L-shaped sofa. I move towards the hallway that leads to the bedrooms,where there’s a corded phone sitting on a small table, with pen and paper next to it.
I throw off my coat, sink into the cozy hallway chair, and eye the old-school corded phone like it’s callingme. I haven’t talked to my sister in a month, and suddenly, I just really need her voice. I head towards it and dial my family’s number at home in Brazil. A few rings later, my sister picks up.
“Hello?”
“Gabby, it’s so great to hear your voice!” I say to my sister, as I sit on the chair next to the corded phone. It’s a cozy setup, perfect for long distance life updates. We haven’t spoken in about a month.
“Well, it’s nice to know you’re still alive,” she quips, and I laugh. “I’ve missed you so much! Update me on your glamorous life.”
“I wouldn’t call itglamorous, but there are definitely lots of perks to living in Belgium,” I shrug even though I know she can’t see it. The Italian in me—courtesy of my dad’s side—can’t help but gesture, even alone on the phone.
“But you’re living the European life. Your life is adventurous!” Her enthusiasm crackles through the poor connection.
“I admit, I’m loving it here. Having to travel to a different country every three months isn’t the worst problem to have. I’m an au pair for this lovely family at the moment, and they’ve taken me to Verbier in Switzerland and paid for my ski course!” I pause, grinning. “On second thought, my life does sound a little glamorous at the moment, doesn’t it?” I chuckle.
Because of my visa, I have to leave Belgium every three months—so this trip couldn’t have come at a better time. I was born and raised in Brazil, but my dad’s family is Italian—old-school, aristocratic Italian—and I’m in the process of claiming citizenship. My grandfather was Italian and my grandmotherBelgian, so the family ended up staying in Belgium instead of Italy. Once my Italian passport comes through, I won’t have to keep doing these border runs.
I’ve been to Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Italy, and Portugal—and it’s been amazing. Adventures I hadn’t even dreamed of.
Of course, the real reason I came was to meet my dad’s side of the family. Every Tuesday, one of my uncles takes me out to dinner with his closest friends—our weekly ritual. I’ve spent time with each of them, getting to know their families. It’s been such a gift.
Still, I took this au pair job so I wouldn’t be a burden. My dad’s family is wealthy, but I didn’t want to just sponge off them. My uncle had a connection to a local countess who needed help with her kids, and bam: job, home, and built-in adventure all in one. It worked out perfectly because my uncle lives just a few minutes’ walk down the street. Growing up in Brazil, my mom taught me early how to work hard and appreciate every kindness. She always reminded us not to take anything for granted, because we never know what the future might hold—or whether we’ll have much money one day. I don’t take any of this lightly. I want to pull my weight—whether it’s milking cows or reading bedtime stories in French.
Still, it’s been such a joy to know them and soak up the beauty of Europe. There’s nowhere quite like it. The history, the architecture…everything here seems to whisper,adventure lives here.Like it’s buried in the cobblestones and carved into the old stone walls. I walked through the alleys of France just three months ago, the kind that feel older than time itself. Bunting strung along the main street, the old castle and church at the center with its clock bells ready to chime. Europe isn’t just a place—it’s a feeling.
“I’ll say. Meanwhile, I’m here sweating it out with Mom’s zoo of animals.”
“What’s she got now?” I ask, grinning. Mom’s always had an eclectic mix on the farm. She even had a chimpanzee once. Yes. Apetchimpanzee. You heard that right. It was obsessed with her, too.
“She’s added a new parrot to the collection. And then there’s the usual—our four dogs plus the farm animals.”
“A parrot, huh?” I rest my chin on my hand, on the phone table.
“Not surprising. After the chimp, anything’s possible. You’re out there living the European dream,” she says, “and I’m sweating under a parrot’s squawk.” I smile, but something inside me folds inward. If only she knew… sometimes, adventure can be lonely too. “Anyway, I know we don’t have much time—give me the juicy stuff.”
International calls are expensive. I don’t do them often, but today felt worth it. I just ask the Blancs to take it off my paycheck.
“What kind of juicy stuff? It’s looking dry-to-the-bone over here.”
“Men. Gossip. Come on, give mesomething.” I can practically hear her rolling her eyes over the phone.
“Well… therewasa guy who had potential… but that ship has officially sailed.”
A pause on the other line.
“That’s it? That’s all you’re giving me? That’s not news—it would never even make it into a newspaper! Spill it!” she says.
I laugh. “There’s really not much to tell. You know how I’ve always loved a São Paulo accent… and this guy had one.”
“And you met himthere? InBelgium?”
“Yep. I was an au pair for his daughter. His wife was no longer in the picture. He’s older, a businessman, handsome,Christian… so I thought,hmm, could this be something?But no. He wasn’t the guy.”
It really wasn’t more than a flicker of curiosity. It was a thought; a ‘maybe’. He had a São Paulo accent—the kind that makes you forget your own name for a second—but even that couldn’t hide what was missing. He didn’t tick enough of the boxes.Not my list boxes, anyway.The list I prayed over, wrote in my favorite pen, and handed to God.
“Well, I know you’ve got your list.”
“And he didn’t fit it.” I sigh. “There was a spark, but it faded quickly. Also, today, my ski instructor was total eye candy. I was dreamily wondering if I would crash into his arms and he’d catch me, but I happened to crash into his arms, and take him down into the snow. Oops!” I laugh.
