It’s only been 2 weeks since I’ve been in Milan and I’m loving the city so far. The tram and metro system make it so easy to move all around the city. They even have trains that take you to neighboring cities and countries. I haven’t explored the country to it’s full extent yet, but the people in Milan are very patient and are willing to help foreigners out, especially if you put an effort to speak a word or two in Italian. “Grazie”, meaning thanks, will be your life saver in almost all situations.
The business school here is one of the top ranked universities in Europe, which I wasn’t aware of, but it doesn’t take long to see why. The classes offered are quite unique, they have classes on management of fashion companies, business strategy, fintech banking, and so much more. The campus itself looks like a modern art museum, and they have a full on bar right in the middle of campus! As far as course difficulty goes, I wouldn’t say it’s too bad. As exchange students, most classes just have a final exam and maybe a project that determine if you pass or fail the class.
The biggest cultural difference I’ve noticed is the timing of shops and schedules in general. Most people are out on the streets walking or socializing at cafes starting at 5, and most restaurants close quite early. The only food places open past 12am are McDonalds and local kebab shops. Also, almost all shops are closed on Sundays! Overall, it’s definitely a much more laid back, work comes second, culture in Italy.