Ciao Milan

As I was scrolling through my friends' graduation posts, I realized I'm going back to a different life. Yes, I'll still be going to my suburban life and be back on Michigan's campus in the fall; However, I’ll be home partially, going back every couple of weeks working a summer internship. In the fall, I won’t see many of the upperclassmen I looked up to. I’m going to be starting my senior year of college. Going back home is kind of giving me whiplash. Partially because I’m going to have two days home before I leave to start my internship in Michigan, but also because so much has changed. I have a lot of catching up to do with friends and family. 

What do you mean I’m going to be a senior in college? I accepted that status once the semester started because a semester abroad is basically a void semester. Meaning it happened, yes, you took classes, but you didn’t at the same time because you’re abroad. The courses aren’t as demanding as those at your home university, and that’s just a fact. I can’t speak for people who took classes at Bocconi, but the ones for the program aren’t hard. That being said, don’t slack off. 

Your time abroad really does go by fast. My last week was spent doing all the things I said I was going to do all semester. If I were to advise anything for people going abroad, it would be to do this earlier. Make a list of places you want to see, things you want to eat, things you want to do, etc., and do them periodically. It’s easy to get stuck in a cycle of traveling, being tired, and staying in on your off days. I did a lot of that, and one thing I would change about my time abroad would be to explore a little bit of Milan on your off time. Yes you’re abroad for a decently long time, but you’re not going to be abroad forever. And if you’re consistently traveling, your time in your home base is even more limited. 

There was one random moment where I thought: wow, I really lived in Italy for 4 months. My other study abroad experience was 3 weeks, so I still felt pretty touristy. However, your once-every-day habits will change. I had a new roommate and cooked different meals. Commuting to school was different. My media consumption wasn’t as much as it was in the US, which is good, sort of(?) Being abroad during the change of administration was also crazy but that’s a whole different blog post. Point is, yes, you’re visiting Italy, but you’re LIVING in Italy, which was hard to wrap my head around until I stepped back and realized what I signed up for. This experience has changed me in a lot of ways. I have a newfound appreciation for exploration and language. 

Since I’ve been home, many people have asked me about my time abroad. How do I even begin to describe everything I experienced in one conversation? I tell them all the crazy travel stories and say the names of my once everyday friends. When I go to the grocery store, I think about the Italian alternative. 

Landing home feels like I never left. The Chicago air welcomed me. My room was exactly like I left it. My college apartment was empty, with no trace of my roommate's things because we’ll be moving into a house for our senior year. Things changed, but they didn’t. It feels more like a fast-forward into the future. 

Being first-generation, I never thought I would experience life abroad. So now, being able to share my stories from that time feels unreal. It feels like I’m telling someone else’s experiences, but they’re mine. This opportunity was a privilege, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. 

Alla prossima volta!

xoxo

Daisy