Megan's first week in Milan

I have been planning and saving up for my time in Italy for multiple years now and once I finally arrived in Milan it hit me that it was actually happening. At first it only felt like I was going on a vacation. It really wasn’t until I started my first day of class where I felt like okay I am here to stay. 

I arrived in Milan the week before my classes started, so I got to enjoy some time to settle into my apartment and explore a little. I had been to Milan previously for a few days, so I got to revisit some of my favorite cafes, bakeries, and restaurants. Since I love cooking, I made sure to locate the markets near my apartment so I could get my groceries for the week. It may be an unpopular opinion in Italy but I do love my savory breakfasts.

Within my first few days here, I found the street my school was on and spotted some delicious-looking bakeries that I would make sure to frequent before class.  The cold, dry weather of Milan was definitely a contrast to what I was used to coming from Southern California. There was a point when I needed to get eye drops, and at the pharmacy I went to, the man who helped me only spoke Italian. He was extremely helpful and through hand motions and the little Italian I knew, he got me exactly what I needed. I definitely felt accomplished after this interaction and was ready to take on future interactions in Italian. I continued to use as much Italian as I knew going places and could tell they definitely appreciated my effort! It is a little daunting when they say something back to you in Italian fast and you have no idea what they said, but that's what comes with practicing and learning. It will be such an amazing accomplishment once I understand what they're saying in those moments!

As the days were quickly approaching my first day of class, I began to feel a little nervous knowing that learning a new language was not going to be easy. I had already started some online lessons on my own to learn Italian a few months before my arrival, but now being in a class setting in person, things were going to be a lot different. My first day started on a Wednesday because of a holiday in Italy earlier that week. It was definitely nice to have my first week be only 3 days of class before the weekend. Once I arrived in class, after grabbing a croissant and coffee of course, they helped me find my classroom, and there I met my teacher and classmates. Everyone was so welcoming and I loved getting to meet people from all over the world. I was the only person in the class from the United States which I personally loved! The first few days were definitely a challenge and overwhelming, but the teachers were so understanding and helpful. Between the two classes we get a little break, which is much needed, and the perfect opportunity to go grab a coffee with classmates! 

My initial impressions of Milan were that it is such a beautiful city with lots going on and many many restaurants and coffee shops to try out. I love how Milan has a more modern feel, but is still very clearly Italy with its architecture and old streets. I have found that the people in Milan are very proud of their city and also very welcoming to visitors. I have only ever had positive interactions with the Milanese and have enjoyed my time already so much in their city. I am so excited to get to learn more about their culture and traditions in the upcoming months!