Student spotlight: Evie’s experience in Milan

Evie is an 18-year-old student from the United States who came to Milan for a nine-month gap experience, combining Italian language studies with her passion for fashion design.

Before arriving in Italy, she had traveled outside of the US only once: on a family trip to Italy. That’s why, for her, moving abroad on her own was a huge step, but one that ultimately helped her gain confidence, independence, and clarity about her future.

We asked her a few questions about her experience in Milan, from the challenges of arriving alone to discovering what she truly wants to do next!

Hi Evie! What made you decide to come to Milan?

My passion is fashion design, and of course Milan is the perfect place for that.

I was originally going to go to college in New York City, but I didn’t finish my portfolio early enough, and I didn’t really want to go anywhere else. So I decided to come to Milan instead: because I didn’t want to waste my time.

Plus, before I came here, I had met a guy from Milan. I already had a little idea of how the city was and knew someone here. But in the end I came for myself, because I knew this would be such a cool experience for me.

Before I came here, I had met someone from Milan, so I already had a little idea of the city, but in the end I came for myself. I knew this would be such a cool experience for me.

Was this your first time living away from home?

It was. The only other time I had been in Italy was during a trip with my parents the previous December. That was actually the only time I had ever been outside of America. Moving to Milan alone was a really big thing for me!

What was the hardest part about the beginning?

Definitely the first few weeks, because I didn’t have any friends yet and I had never really been on my own before. 

Before coming to Milan, I wasn’t very independent and I didn’t like being alone. I always preferred being with my family and friends. But when I came here, I suddenly found myself spending a lot of time by myself. That was really scary at first for me.

Then, I started school and I was the only American in my class who only spoke English. Most people spoke Spanish or some other language, and I felt really behind. I felt like I wasn’t learning as fast as everyone else.

That was probably the hardest part for me: feeling alone and like I was behind.

What helped you get through that period?

Definitely meeting people.

The first person I talked to was actually a guy working in a thrift store near my house. That day I was feeling sad in my room and thought, “What’s the one thing that will immediately make me happy?” The answer was clear: thrift shopping. So I went to the shop, and the guy working there was really nice and close to my age. Just talking to him gave me hope. It made me think, “Maybe I can really make friends here.”

And then I met Cambria, another student of IFA. That completely changed everything.

We met at lunch and later that day my phone was dying. She invited me to charge it at her apartment, and we ended up hanging out for the rest of the day. From then on, we became really close friends.

That was definitely the moment when things started getting much better.

How did you build your social life in Milan?

Most of it happened through school. Cambria introduced me to her classmates and friends, and we started spending time together after class.

We were also part of a big Milan group chat we found through TikTok. People would post messages asking if anyone wanted to meet up for drinks or activities, and we started joining those events. That became a huge part of my experience until the very end.

One thing I tell new people now is that it can be very tempting to stay in your room when you feel lonely. But just one time of going out can completely change everything. You could meet your new best friend. And the fun thing is, I almost said no the first time Cambria invited me to hang out. But then I thought, “What’s the worst that could happen?”

And honestly, that ended up being one of the best decisions of my life.

You also traveled a lot while in Italy. Where did you go?

I was lucky enough to visit a lot of places. We went to Amalfi, London, Budapest, and several places in the mountains close by. And we even went to Disneyland in Paris for Halloween.

One thing that really amazed me about Europe was how easy it was to travel. Most cities were only about one or two hours away. Everything felt so close!

What is your favorite memory from the entire experience?

I have many good memories, but one of my favorites actually happened in Milan.

Cambria and I were walking to get a poke when a large group of people walked past us and said hello. We said hello back and kept walking. But then? Cambria turned around and saw they were still waving, so we walked up to them and started talking.

They turned out to be a group visiting from Japan.

We ended up spending hours together. They told us about Japan, we told them about America, and we had such a great time.

I would have never had this experience if Cambria hadn’t turned around and if we hadn’t been open to meeting new people!

You decided to return home earlier than originally planned. How do you feel about that decision?

I’m actually very happy with my decision.

The biggest reason is simply that I miss home. I love Milan, I love my friends here, and I’m incredibly grateful for this experience. But I realized that nine months was a little longer than I personally wanted to stay away.

Some people hear that I’m leaving early and think I’m giving up, but that’s not how I see it. I have job opportunities waiting for me back in America, and I have a clear plan for what I want to do next. I know this is the right decision for me.

Looking back, do positive memories outweigh the struggles?

Absolutely.

When I think about my time here, I mostly think about the good memories. Of course there were difficult moments, especially at the beginning, but they were small compared to everything else. I had so much fun, met amazing people, and made memories that I’ll keep forever.

If you could give advice to someone who has just arrived in Italy for a gap experience, what would you tell them?

Listen to your parents when they tell you that you’ll get through it.

When I first arrived, I missed my family so much, and there were moments when I wanted to go home. My mom was very supportive. She kept telling me that this was a life-changing experience and that I just needed to get out and meet people. And she was right.

I would also tell people to say yes to opportunities. Go out, explore, meet people. Even if it feels uncomfortable at first. You never know which decision is going to change your experience completely!

What do you feel you’re taking home with you?

The biggest thing is independence. But I’m also much more confident about making friends and connecting with people. And I have a much wider perspective on the world.

When you stay in one place your whole life, your view of the world is naturally smaller. Living abroad helped me understand different people, different cultures, and different ways of thinking.

Honestly, I told my parents recently that I feel like I can do anything now. I can navigate public transportation, solve problems on my own, and even communicate with people who don’t speak English. That confidence is probably the most valuable thing I’m bringing home.

What’s next for you?

My plan is to apply to college in New York City, especially FIT, and begin studying fashion design next year.

In the meantime, I’d love to find work or an internship related to fashion design. Having this experience in Milan, along with the fashion course I completed here, has given me much more confidence about taking that next step!