Arriving in Milano Centrale train station is both an exciting and a terrifying experience at the same time. Immediately, you are thrown into the hustle and bustle of Italy’s second largest city with its crazy cab drivers and espresso bars aplenty- definitely a baptism by fire! You can tell, however, even from those first few steps that Milan is an incredible city.
I have never lived on residence before so I was very nervous about getting into my new room and even more nervous about meeting new friends. As per this blog I read, I knew that when it’s your first day on residence, you should leave your door open. I did, and let me tell you future exchangers, that is the best thing to do! People would come up, knock on my door and introduce themselves and I made many new friends that way! Then, came the orientation week. Tons of activities and sightseeing opportunities were provided for us as well as orientations to the campus and campus activities. Throughout these exchange orientation activities, I met many close friends who have now become a kind of exchange family for me.
Another amazing facet of being in Milan is it’s amazing proximity to other places in Italy and the rest of Europe! The first trip we went on was Venice for Carnival. It was incredible to see all the masks and costumes in the street. The next trip was a weekend in Monte Carlo. Monte Carlo is such a beautiful city both because it is right on the ocean and also because of all the glamorous and fabulous people stalking about. Most recently, we have taken a trip to Florence, which is one of my favourite cities in Italy. Florence has a rich history in art and culture of Italian Renaissance, food, and wine. It is not hard to see why it is one of my favourite cities in Italy. Finally… the shopping! Italian outlets are god’s gift to mankind and I have been taking full advantage!
Now I can safely say that I have settled into my residence and my school, but most importantly, I have settled into my city. It is a very satisfying experience when you can walk out of your door and know exactly how to get somewhere without needing Google maps. Furthermore, because both exchange and Italian students take the English course offerings here, I have met many amazing people who have shown me around the city. Milan and Bocconi are truly amazing places and I cannot wait to see what other adventures come down the pipeline.
Jordan Binotto is in his third year at the Beedie School of Business, concentrating in Accounting and Entrepreneurship. He is currently living the dream on an exchange semester at Universita Commerciale Luigi Bocconi in Milan Italy. Jordan has a passion for fashion and entrepreneurship and was able to access many contacts and experiences during his time in Milan. Excited, inspired, and full of knowledge Jordan is looking forward to using his learning and experiences at Bocconi to fulfill his goals.