Studying Abroad So Far!

I have been so lucky to be given the opportunity to study abroad at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. I am just about at the 3-month mark of my study abroad experience, and I have been taking some time to reflect on my time so far and how it has met, exceeded, and fell short of my expectations. So far, I have traveled to about 9 countries and a number of different cities. I have been to:

• Italy (Obviously) – (Amalfi Coast, Rome, Turin, Verona, Vatican City, Milan, Lake Como)
• Switzerland (Zurich, Lucerne, Lake Lugano)
• France (Nice, Paris)
• Monaco
• Portugal (Porto, Braga)
• Spain (Alicante)
• Austria (Vienna)
• Slovakia (Bratislava)
• Greece (Santorini, Crete)

I would have to say my favorite country as of now has been Switzerland. I still have a few trips left though, so the end verdict is still to be determined.

Upon arrival, I came into this experience with no real expectations. Perhaps, I had some goals, but I wanted to enter into this with an open mind and an open heart. Although, there were certainly things I subconsciously expected to see and experience. For one, I really expected to pick up the Italian language quite easily while living here. Considering that almost everyone around me speaks it, and I am sometimes forced to communicate with those who do not speak English, I really thought I would learn the language quite quickly. In reality, I do not feel as though I have picked up on it so easily, despite constantly hearing it and taking the crash course provided at the beginning of the semester. However, even though I may not speak it the way I imagined I would, I definitely have gained the ability to piece together conversations, and I have gotten used to certain interactions at grocery stores, department stores, and restaurants that have taught me how to respond to people I come into contact with in those situations. 

Something that I had no expectation of was how I would interact with my local community on a daily basis. I did not really know much about the neighborhood I live in prior to arriving in Milan, nor did I know how people in Italy habitually behave on a day-to-day basis. I've been pleasantly surprised with the interactions I've had here and the routine I have developed. (Although, when traveling so much, it is a little hard to keep a routine.) One of my favorite things to do is go to a coffee shop that's just across the street from my apartment every morning. I was fortunate that the main lady working here speaks English, and I was always given a warm welcome upon my arrival. Now, whenever I walk in, all she has to do is look at me, and then, she smiles and begins making my order. Yes, that's right. I'm a regular. This is probably one of my proudest accomplishments here. Not to mention, she makes the best cappuccino I have ever had, and I don't know what I will do without it when I have to leave.

Here is a picture of my favorite cappuccino on a beautiful day!

Another part of my daily routine is going to the gym around the corner from my apartment. I have never been much of a gym person, but I wanted to have a way to stay active for the times that I was not traveling around. Not only is it conveniently just around the corner, but it's another part of my day that makes me feel like a part of the community. I am always welcomed by the staff and look forward to the friendly "Ciao" when I walk inside. 

These are only small interactions that at home, I would probably take for granted, but here, they have given me a sense of belonging. I think that having this sense of belonging has helped me to assimilate easier, and it is going to make it a lot harder to leave in December. Along with assimilating easier, it also has helped prevent me from getting homesick. I really expected to experience some sort of homesickness while abroad, but to my surprise, I have not. I mainly attribute this to trying to get involved with the community and finding at least one or two friends that you can talk to and hang out with on a regular basis. In doing so, it might help you not feel as alone or isolated as one might feel when moving to an entirely new country.

One of the most recent things I did was go to a musical at the theater here in Milan. It was the production of Rapunzel, and it was performed in Italian, which made it a fun challenge to watch. I already knew the storyline, so I was able to piece everything together. It was a really cool experience. I also went to La Scala a few weeks back to see the opera, which was such an amazing event to witness. I think I was more impressed by the architecture of the opera house than the actual opera, but I highly recommend going if you are ever in Milan!

Ciao for now!