Howdy again! Julia Stephens here– reporting back from the other side of my Spring 2025 semester abroad in Milan, Italy. What started as a curious adventure filled with handsome strangers and heaping plates of carbonara ended as one of the most meaningful chapters of my life. And yes, the food did ruin me. I may never emotionally recover from leaving behind €1.50 cappuccinos and perfectly al dente anything.
But let’s rewind.
Over these past months, I’ve been lucky enough to meet some of the most brilliant, hilarious, and kind people from all around the world. From spontaneous trips to neighboring cities to deep late-night conversations over espresso (too late, might I add), these friendships gave this experience color and dimension. We laughed in four different languages and bonded over getting lost on the metro.
It was chaos.
It was perfect.
In between juggling classes at Bocconi and visiting my family in neighboring cities, I took a leap and was admitted into the Milano Painting Academy. That decision alone added a new layer to my experience. I wasn’t just studying art — I was living in it. Italy has this uncanny way of making everyday life feel cinematic. Even the pigeons in Milan seem to know they’re co-starring in a Fellini film.
One of my biggest personal accomplishments? Reaching a solid B2 proficiency in Italian. What started mismatched words and broken sentences turned into full-on conversations with my relatives. The university’s language courses were rigorous yet incredibly rewarding. I was classified as A2 before boarding the plane from Houston, B1 after only two weeks with a crash course, and B2 by the end of my experience learning from nothing but everyday life in Milan. Learning the language made me feel closer to my family, and more rooted in a culture I’ve always loved from afar.
I fell head over heels in love with Italy. The art, the language, the chaos of everyday life– it’s now a part of me. I finally understand why my nonna insists on cooking for 12 when only 4 people are coming over. There’s something magical here, something that brings people together through food, conversation, and a shared appreciation of the beautiful and crazy.
This program was an absolute blessing — one that I’ll carry with me into everything that comes next. I leave Milan a little more multilingual, a little more caffeinated, and a lot more grateful.
If you’re considering studying abroad: do it. Say yes to being overwhelmed. Say yes to eating that fourth plate of pasta. Say yes to making new friends even when you’re jet-lagged and cranky– even better if you have no languages in common. You’ll come back with more than just photos– you’ll come back changed.
Grazie, Milano. Sei stata un sogno.
