Update on Life in Milano

Life is moving so fast. It feels like just last week when I was arriving in Milan, yet I have been here for more than three weeks. In the time, I have truly been able to do a lot. Here’s a little bit of an overview of what has been going on in my life. 

Cinque Terre

Two Weekends ago, I visited Cinque Terre by myself. I left early on Saturday morning and took the train to Corniglia, the middle of the five cities that constitute Cinque Terre. From there, I hiked to Vernazza. While there, I ran into a group of guys who I am studying with. I told them that I was planning to go to the beach and then we planned to meet up later. I went to Monterosso and laid on the beach for the next four hours, spending a majority of the time with the guys I ran into previously. That evening, I went to Manarola and to check out the town as the sun was setting; it was very pretty. I returned to Corniglia for dinner and to sleep.

On Sunday, I had breakfast in Corniglia and then headed to Rio Maggiore, the last of the five towns. I was exploring the beach and taking in the town and happened to run into a group of girls who I study with. They invited me back to the beach and so I hung out there for a few hours before grabbing lunch and some beers. I returned to Milan that evening by train at around 9.

Cinque Terre was absolutely gorgeous and it was really nice to just lay at the beach and hang out.

Prada Fashion Show

This past week was Milan women’s fashion week and included collection presentations from the fashion industry’s top designers. On Thursday night, I went to the venue where the Prada show was being held, and took photos of those who were attending. It was very fun. Most of the people who attended were wearing items from the previous collection and were dressed meticulously, which is such a rarity to see. There were probably 250 people there to watch the models and celebrities arrive. I got to see movie director Spike Lee, Actress Katherine Langford, and Italian blogger and model Chiara Ferragni. It was fascinating and so much fun.

Parma

This past weekend, I went on a school sponsored trip to Parma, Italy with about 30 other students. We left early on Friday morning and stopped in Cremona, Italy to tour the opera house and cathedral. We also went to the violin museum (violins were created there). We then left Cremona and went to a Parmesan Cheese Factory to see how it is made. We ate lots of cheese there and they even broke open a wheel for us. Then we went to Parma for dinner and had several local foods such as Gnocco Fritto, which is fried dough that is then stuffed with prosciutto and cheese. We also had Lambrusco which is a sparkling red wine popular in the region.

 

On Saturday, we had a walking tour of Parma in the morning. We visited the Cathedral, baptismal church and the theater, all of which were stunningly beautiful. We then had a few hours to wander on our own and so I went and got pasta with friends. In the afternoon, we went to a vineyard and picked grapes. Then we did a wine tasting and got a tour of the facilities where they make the wine. The night ended with a 4-course wine-paired dinner overlooking the vineyard. It was pretty wonderful.

On Sunday, we checked out of the hotel and headed to a balsamic vinegar factory. We got to see the farm where they grow the grapes for the vinegar, and then learn about how it is made. We did a tasting and got to taste vinegar that had been aged for 3, 8, 10, 13 and 25 years. It was a unique visit. Then we had lunch at their hotel, once again overlooking the farm. This meal was 5 courses and like most of our meals on the trip, lasted about 3 hours. We then drove back to Milan afterwards.

School

I started my regular classes today which was very fun. I only have class on Tuesday and Thursday. I then work all day on Monday and Wednesday, and on the afternoon on Tuesday. I have Italian in the morning from 9 to 10:40, then Managing Fashion and Luxury Companies from 10:45 to 12:25, then a short break for lunch, and then Managing ‘Made in Italy’ companies from 1:00 to 2:40. My professors are very friendly and knowledgeable and so I am excited for the semester with them.

My First Week in Milano

Usually when I travel to a place, I spend hours researching restaurants, points of interest and local culture. However, when I moved to Milano for this semester, I did none of these things. Surprisingly, it has been one of the best decisions I could have made. I will be here for three and a half months, meaning that I don’t have to try and fit everything in all at once. As such, I can simply walk down a cobblestone street and stop at a bar (coffee shop) that looks good. There is no pressure to make every meal count. In a lot of ways, that has been very relaxing and nice.

I live with a host family that consists of a father who works as a cinema history professor, a mother who works as a middle school English teacher, and a 21-year-old daughter who is studying law in Milano. I have dinner with them most nights and they are very friendly and helpful. They have really helped to introduce me to the city and support me in my pursuit to learn some Italian. They have also included me in their daily lives, taking me to dinner with them on Saturday night to get pizza and then walk around a trendy neighborhood. Deciding to live in a homestay is probably the best decision I have made so far, in regard to my

semester here.

I began taking Italian classes last Thursday and am enjoying them so far. For my first two weeks here, I have Italian every morning from 9 to 11:30, but once the regular semester starts, I will only have them on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. My professor is wonderful and incredibly impressive (she’s fluent in 10 languages). Italian class is also a nice way to meet people since we are frequently paired up to work on assignments. The language is pretty similar to Spanish which makes things feel familiar, but they are also very different in more minute ways.

On Monday, I began my internship working at Sera Fine Silk. They are a luxury menswear accessories company focusing on silk. They make ties, pocket squares, suspenders and scarves. Their products are incredibly nice and Im thrilled to have a place there. I am one of four employees, and it seems that my tasks will vary between business, design and innovation roles. My opinion is truly valued and that’s what I think is the coolest part of it. I am very excited to spend 15-20 hours there a week.

I have also begun to plan some travel. This past Sunday I visited Torino with some friends. It was a quick train ride away, and we spent the time walking around, visiting the cinema museum and eating pasta. It was a good way to spend part of my first weekend. Then this upcoming weekend I am going to Cinque Terre on my own. I have discovered that I really like solo travel and am excited to hike along the cliffs. My hostel is also right near the beach which will be very nice. The following weekend, I am going on a trip through my school to Parma to learn about culture and cuisine in Italy. Then two weekends after that, I am headed to Munich, Germany for Oktoberfest. I am very excited to see Europe and also explore more of Milan!