These past few days marked my first time in Milan, and Europe in general. It has been really wonderful to experience the daily life that I have previously only read about or seen on tv- morning meals of coffee and croissants, cobblestone roads intertwining through beautifully detailed architecture, and an abundance of the world’s largest designer brands headquartered around me. I absolutely love getting immersed in a country where the main language isn’t English, and trying to slowly build Italian language into my daily interactions. It’s also great to be here with a group from UT because we can bond over similar experiences and we’re all figuring out the process of traveling/living here together.
My first impression of Milan was that it was a city lying at the contrast of old and new- the two big sites we visited this past weekend were the Duomo and the Museo del Novecento, and I remember being shocked they were right next to each other; a Gothic medieval church from the 14th century and a modern museum dedicated to contemporary art. After that experience, I’ve started seeing this juxtaposition all around the city: Milan celebrates Italy’s vibrant history while pushing forward into the future of design. I’m excited for everything we’re going to see this upcoming week!
