Ciao!
I have been in Venice, Italy for almost three weeks now and I am loving it! Although it took a few days to get settled in, I have already been able to see and experience so many new things. I know that this semester will be full of incredible memories!
Venice is very different than anywhere I?ve lived before. With a city full of canals and the absence of cars, you have to walk or take a waterbus everywhere. Although this can make simple tasks like going to the grocery store more difficult, I am really beginning to appreciate the extra activity that it requires and like the long walks around the city. Venice is so beautiful and there is a new scene to appreciate around every corner! It?s very easy to get lost here, and Google Maps sometimes fails to understand Venice?s confusing streets. However, most of the locals are happy to help and I?m beginning to learn my way around the city. I will admit that I am already getting tired of pasta and pizza. I?m thankful to be living with two other Aggies here in Venice and we?ve begun to cook a lot of meals at home. I am also thankful for how safe Venice seems to be, even at night. Although you still have to watch for pickpockets in crowded areas, the threat here seems to be a lot lower than many other European cities.
School here is very different than in the US. You do not register for classes?you simply attend any that you want and sign up for the exam at the end of the term. Also, there are no syllabi with an outline of important dates and deadlines. As someone who always has her planner on hand, this was a little hard to accept at first, but I am getting used to it. In both of my classes right now, only a final exam and a group project determine your grade. It is a bit frightening not having preliminary exams to gauge your knowledge of the material, but I am staying on top of my studies so that I am not stressed at the end of the term. I have the same professor for both of my Marketing classes this term. He uses a lot of Italian and international examples, and it has been very interesting to learn about Marketing from this global perspective. Ca? Foscari is a huge international school and I have met so many people from other countries. Everyone is nice, but the other students studying abroad seem to be friendlier than the Italian students. We are beginning group projects in both of my current courses, so I am looking forward to getting to know the other students better. The classes here are also three days in a row, rather than being Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Tuesday/Thursday like at A&M. I got very lucky and only have classes on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday this term. This gives me ample time to explore Venice, travel to other places, and study some too.
Venice has been a great place to travel from so far! I have already been to Verona and Florence and am leaving for Milan in the morning. I had never travelled by train before, but it?s becoming my new favorite way to travel. I?m excited to visit more places in the coming weeks. I am feeling very blessed to be able to spend an entire semester in a different country. I have already learned so much in my short time here and I know that the knowledge and memories I will gain in the following months will be invaluable.
