These first two weeks in Milan have provided incredible moments of beauty, discovery, self-revelation. I’ve spent my entire life in small towns / suburbs, so moving to a huge city has presented its own excitements and challenges alongside the already big culture shift of Italy.
The first thing I noticed about Milan is how grand everything is. In the US we don’t have cities that are hundreds and hundreds of years old. There is such an emphasis on beauty here, and the architecture of the buildings is incredible. I’ve spent so much time looking up that I’ve tripped into a fair share of puddles on the cobblestone paths. Bocconi has a similar emphasis on interesting architecture. While it is much less intricate than the Gothic work of the Duomo, even the older buildings have super high ceilings and feel like museums.
From a cultural perspective, there’s been some things that have definitely stood out to me. For one, the first thing I noticed when I got off the plain in Milan was that people don’t follow lines like they do in the US. Usually when getting of an aircraft or a bus in the states everyone gets off from front to back, but in Italy it seems that people just push their way forward. If you want to get out and not wait for the line of people behind you already in the isle, you have to assert yourself a lot more than you do in the US. My first thought was that the people were being rude, but I’ve since realized that it is just a difference in customs and habits.
Despite all the excitement and newness of living in a new country, it has certainly come with some challenges. For one, the language barrier makes even simple things a few notches more difficult. I still can’t catch what they’re asking me at the grocery store, and I can only tell that my tram is being delayed by the groans of the locals around me after an announcement I can’t understand. Beyond the language barrier, the Italian bureaucracy is apparently known for being a little outdated/unorganized. I had an appointment that I needed for my tax code, but it got cancelled randomly without reason. I later found out that it is common for appointments to get double booked because of the government systems. If I hadn’t lied to the man blocking the doors to the tax office I would’ve likely had to pay a fine to my AirBnb host.
As I’ve now settled into the city, I am getting more and more comfortable riding the tram and walking around without staring at Apple Maps the whole time. I’m making friends and planning trips across Europe, and I’m looking forward to starting my real classes. I hold so much excitement for this semester, and I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to spend nearly five months abroad. I can’t wait to live through all the highs that create life-long memories, and to experience the lows that create growth and self development.
