Ciao from Milano!

Ciao tutti! A big hug and hello from the other side of the world! It’s Day 3 of settling into exchange and it’s been a whirlwind. Milan is so beautiful to say the least; I’m so excited to call it my home for the next few months. I’m sure everyone has been up to date with what has been going on so far but I wanted to give some updates (and pictures!) so you are able to love it as much as I do.

We arrived in Milano’s Malpensa Airport on Monday afternoon eager to get our trip started. Unfortunately, I was only able to bring one of my two bags back to the apartment with me. This kickstarted a wild goose chase to track down my missing bag. I finally had my bag delivered to the apartment today with the rest (aka ALL) of my clothes. I couldn’t have done it without Dad and Mom viciously tracking the bags every move and calling or emailing the top people. STOOPID AIR CANADA!

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Our apartment is absolutely lovely! Located 15 minutes from Bocconi and 15 minutes from the Duomo, we truly scored. Amanda and I are the only Bocconi girls staying there now but my friends Sally (going to Tilburg, Netherlands) and Mel (going to Maastricht, Netherlands) also are staying with us for a pre-exchange trip. Needless to say, we have already made it our little home.

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The city itself is awesome. Full of true fashionistas and the real “foodies”, Milano’s citizens are hardworking and kind people. As a business centre, we see many people dressed to the 10s whether they’re heading to a corporate job or the grocery store. There’s also so much that the city offers. From the Navigli river to the unreal DUOMO, there is never a dull site to see. The detailed architecture is breathtaking and cannot compare to much else. Everything in the city is within walking distance so we have covered a lot of ground.

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Today we had a little adventure and took the train to Verona. The city was a beautiful gem and home the the famous Romeo and Juliet. Mr. Cherny would have been proud when I got to see the Casa di Giuletta and the balcony where Juliet met Romeo in the famous play. The whole city was out of a painting with an ancient arena that looked much like a miniature colosseum and colourful buildings and cafes. Since it is not a massively popular tourist spot, it was peacefully filled with people all soaking in the city’s beauty.

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It’s crazy to think that I get the opportunity to live in Italy for 5 months but I am nothing but excited and eager to get school started and feel like a true Milanese! I’m looking forwards to taking some interesting courses and learn more about my lovely culture.

Lastly, the FOOD. Maybe the best part! Every window you walk by has 7 feet pizzas or mountains of fresh meats and cheeses. The cafes are all amazing and run by Nonna’s and Nonno’s who each know how to make the best coffee or espresso. I expected nothing less than the freshest of fruits and vegetables and was not disappointed. The abundance of fresh foods is amazing! As they say, Italian culture is the best as the rich and poor eat the same food. And food brings people together!

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All in all, the first three days have been amazing. No matter what minor road bump pops up along the way, it will always work out in Italy! Arrividerci e bacci a tutti ❤️ ti amo tanto