Learning Life Lessons in Italy

Ciao! Or should I say “hi!” now that I am officially back in the States? Since being home, I have missed lots of things from my time in Italy: my daily (sometimes multiple times a day) cappuccino, the drawn-out dinners filled with endless stories and laughs, waking up to the beautiful Dolomites right outside of my window, the cheap but delicious pizza and pasta. The list could go on. However, I’ve also been cherishing the time I now have to reflect on my study abroad experience–the memories, lessons learned, growth, and everything in between. In honor of the past week and a half of reflection time that I have had, I decided to share with you three things that I learned from my five weeks spent studying in and traveling around Italy. Let’s dive in:‍

1. You will laugh about it someday (probably even a few hours later)!

The semester before I was set to study at CIMBA, I attended an information session held by a few CIMBA professors and past students. During the session, they shared some of their biggest advice, travel experiences, and takeaways. The professors all encouraged us to pack light, however, knowing that it would be a near-impossible task for me (overpacking is a flaw of mine), I continued to listen for more painless advice. A little backstory: I like to set travel plans and often set very high expectations for things, so when a past student began talking about the inevitability of mishaps and unforeseen complications, my ears perked up. She encouraged us to appreciate the mishaps as well as the high moments of our study abroad experience. She recognized that we had two options: to be upset and frustrated or to take a breath and appreciate the added adventure and spontaneity. “After all, one day you will look back and laugh”, she said! I took this to heart and found so much growth and freedom in tackling the unexpected changes as they came instead of letting them steal my joy. So, run through the train station to catch your train if you have to, or explore the small town you get stranded in for a few hours, and laugh because it's all just added fun and extra memories!

2. Appreciate and take advantage of the seemingly mundane moments during the school week.

There is no doubt that studying abroad is exhausting. Traveling every weekend is exhausting. Learning and studying information that is typically taught over the course of a semester in just four weeks is exhausting. You’re going to be tempted to go take a nap during your free time or have “scroll-time” on your phone but let me be the first to tell you, don’t do it! Or at least don’t do it every day. Time will fly by quicker than you even realize, and I urge you to take advantage of it. Instead, go for a walk to gelato, find a sunny place outside to study, go get a cappuccino and pastry from Bar Alpine, play darts or Uno at the local sports bar, or sign up for the free-block trips offered by CIMBA. When I look back on my time studying abroad, I don’t regret the exhaustion from skipping a nap rather, I regret the times that I skipped out on walking to gelato and spending valuable time with friends. Oh, and don’t forget to check out Matteo’s cheese truck on Tuesday! It’s the little things that make studying in such a small town like Paderno so special.‍

3. Build relationships and connect with people everywhere you go!

You would be surprised to find that some of your sweetest memories will be spent with people you might not have known before landing in Italy. Take advantage of being in a new place with new people! I encourage you to be bold, put yourself out there, and make new friends. Connect with your waitresses and waiters, the people you encounter on your train rides, the locals of Paderno and Asolo, and wherever you might visit. The people truly do make the place and the experience the best. Soak it in and connect! You might make a lifelong friend because you started a random conversation in your dorm hallway!

Soak every moment in because this experience will truly be the trip of a lifetime—it was for me. Embrace the growth, embrace the unknowns, embrace the newness of it all. Italy captured my heart, and I know that it will capture yours, too! It is here that I must now say arrivederci. Thank you for following along with me!