Waking up in Italy.

It’s amazing to finally be in Italy and to be experiencing first-hand how beautiful this campus truly is. Luckily when we finally arrived to campus, the majority of students were just as tired as I was. I suppose this is the only time that jet-lag has actually worked out in my favor. Despite the whole gang of us being tired and anxious to find a bed to sleep in, it was definitely apparent that all of us were eager to get on with the semester. The bus ride from the airport to campus was full of chatter and excitement the whole time, with the only exception of silence being when campus first came into view.

As I reflect on the first half of this week, I know that soon it will be bittersweet as these three months fly by so quickly. Check-in day was our only real chance to catch up on the sleep we had missed; unfortunately when day two rolled around many of us were still just as tired as before. I was fortunate enough to have traveled with some family for ten days beforehand (read all about it here!) so I was able to get used to European time before school actually rolled around. As all of us have quickly caught on, these first two weeks of school are going to be rather busy. Understandably, there is a lot of information to be gathered (travel info, survival Italian, LIFE & LEAP, beginning classes, ect.) and the CIMBA staff is keen on keeping a strict schedule. Though the schedule is demanding, I am truly starting to see just how rewarding this program is going to be.

Initially I was worried about making good impressions with the professors and students alike, but I knew my biggest challenge throughout the semester would be getting up early for 8:25am classes everyday of the week. Although that thought is daunting, when I wake up in the morning and peak out my window, I see the beautiful Mt. Grappa and know that everyday here will be wonderful. I definitely can’t complain that I will be waking up to this beautiful view for the next three months.

Now I just have to make the most of my time spent here in Paderno. Although I am extremely excited to travel throughout Europe, I have to keep in mind that my studies come first over all. It is called STUDY abroad for a reason, I suppose.

That’s all for now, my friends.

Arrivederci,
Natalie