Personal Development
I leant how to be present. I was in an environment where I had the opportunity to make decisions based on no one but myself, without needing to take in the consideration of someone else's emotions and opinions. I could truly think about what I wanted to do, how I wanted to do it and what steps I needed to take.
Picking up a bit of Italian is incredibly hard not to when you live here. My favourite place was the grocery store where I not only got to discover local foods but order at the deli in Italian.
Meeting other exchange students from Europe was such a unique experience. I met likeminded people who also wanted to explore Europe and had stories of their own travels. The exchanges of life stories was incredible.
Accommodation
I shared an apartment with my friend who is also on the same exchange program as me from UQ. We found our apartment ourselves on sites such as Spotahome and Idealista. I love our apartment - its newly renovated, in a safe neighbourhood and the metro station is around the corner.
I definitely recommend future exchange students to invest more money in their accomodation. Invest in your safety, comfortability and convenience. It's so crucial to have a place you can actually call 'home' and it makes the whole transition into a foreign environment all the more easier and smoother.
Highlight
There's so much beauty and life in Milan - especially the residential areas where there aren't tourists. I was hanging my laundry by the window one day and all of a sudden I hear this beautiful piano music travelling into the apartment through the window and I couldn't stop smiling. There's so much beauty and joy in little things you don't expect.
Actually seeing famous sites and monuments you've only seen in movies and photographs is surreal and yet it feel fake. It's unbelievable that it's real and for some people it's their everyday.
Advice/Top Tips
1. Definitely invest in a nicer, safer, convenient apartment. It's the one place you should be able to relax and feel safe.
2. Have more money saved aside - you will most likely spend more than you expect. There is always something unexpected around the corner.
3. Always be weary of your belongings in public and people around you. Australia is extremely safe and the comfortability we have can make us naive and ignorant.
