Talk to me about: Adjusting to new cultures and stepping out of your comfort zone! Before I chose Milan and living with a host family, I was particularly nervous about speaking the language with only a few semesters of experience. I decided to challenge myself by taking all of my classes in their original language (Italian), and I could not be more pleased with my decision. If you are nervous about the transition and making lasting friendships with individuals that do not speak your first language, do not be afraid to reach out!

Advice: When you study abroad for a semester, you are no longer a tourist. You live in this new country! Do not be afraid to have conversations with people in restaurants, bars, and coffee shops that you visit. You can always explain to them that you’ve moved to their country for a semester, and in the case of Italy, the majority of locals you meet will be excited to tell you about places to visit, foods to eat, and clothes to wear. In my experience, I found that Italians were thrilled to have a person from a different culture interested in more about their country. On a similar note, if you are trying to master the language, travel within the country as much as possible in order to practice. For the first two-thirds of my journey, I visited different cities in Italy to really immerse myself in the culture, and I don’t regret a second of it. But, it’s still important to remember that adjustment/immersion to the new culture is not a linear process. Some days you might have a perfect conversation in your newly learned language, and the next day, you might not understand a word that your waiter speaks to you. It’s okay! By the end of your journey, you’ll be eternally grateful for your experience and well-versed in the language.

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