Friends, Frienemies, Living on the Edge, and in the Same Boat

As you all can imagine, a million billion things have happened since I arrived in Milan, each of them seemingly insignificant, and almost always silly. But just as it is kindling that fuels the fire, it is baby steps that lead to a grand adventure.

So, overview: Skype encouragement from the boy propelled me out of the "what did I get myself into can I really do this stage" and straight into the Italian crash course. I was immediately in over my head once again, but it was okay, because so was everyone else. When class got out, Eric, a masters-seeking exchange student from Texas, and his wife, Geisha, led the bright-eyed class of twenty-one year olds on a nighttime walk to the Duomo, followed by going straight through the Vittorio Emanuele II Galleria to the best gelato place in Milano. Following my dessert first philosophy, we soon settled on a chain pizza place, where I correctly ordered and fully enjoyed a thick slice and a birre (beer) for five euro. Since then, I have gone to the Duomo, the Galleria, and the gelato place nearly every day after class. I am learning my way around the city, and going to new places everyday. The class is getting easier, and so is making friends.

Duomo at Night

Spinning on the bull in the Galleria

Gelato!

So on the first day of class, my roommate and I left our room at 8 AM, and just as we were leaving, our neighbor was as well. Her name was Fay and she went to Cornell. The three of us went downstairs and were not surprised to find a large group of other students milling around and waiting. Every single person I encountered was super friendly, telling me where they were from and what they called themselves. Soon, we all left the building and went down the block to the train station. (After Fay graciously led me to the nearest Tabbachi to buy a tram ticket.) We all couldn't agree on which car to take, so half got on the three line, and the other half on the fifteen. We got off the three about twenty minutes later, and had no idea where we were. Luckily, Fay, the New York City girl that she is, didnt panic, and pointed us in the generally right direction. Unfortunately, we promptly accidentally left her in the grocery store we stopped in for breakfast. I quickly noticed we were down one, and went back to get her. Thus began our friendship.

Fay and I have crazy in common (said about crazy amounts and general crazy). She is an observer of people and an appreciator of everything interesting; a connoisseur of balancing work and play, and skilled in burritoing in soft blankets, giving hugs, talking about boys, translating with an old dictionary, making simple meals amazing, and exploring. Laid back like me, a lover of lighter wines, and a fan of fruity vodka, she is ready for anything. I drew a cartoon unicorn on her folder while she attempted to help me with my homework. She and I went to a department store this past weekend, to pick up pots, pans, dishes, hot plates, pillows, soap, sponges, boots, and school supplies. We have had many a Esselunga (grocery store) adventures, and have had enough Rosé, Chianti, and pasta between us, that we could have soaked our feet at the end of each day in that instead hot water. Her encouragement and positive attitude have brought me through a lot of rough patches these past few days, and something tells me Unicorn and Starchild will continue their adventure times for many moons.

Fay and my bedroom (minus the map of Milano)

Another interesting human I have met is my first-every frienemy. The social concept of frienemies surrounds those relationships that you both should and should not have. To clarify: Ryan is from Indiana University. He is the textbook definition of a midwesterner: genuine, eager, polite, attentive, likeable, and figuring it out as he goes along. Also, corn fed and farm bred, he is the self-proclaimed "biggest person in Italy," and the back of his cream-and-crimson IU jacket serves as the dangling carrot when everyone is travelling in large groups. (Too bad cream-and-crimson doesnt look good on anyone.) We officially became frienemies when Fay, Grace, and I ran into him in the Metro. He was going to an electronic store to find a ethernet adapter, and asked if I wanted to go along because he remembered I needed an universal adapter plug. He covered me for the underground ticket, and then we proceeded to get hopelessly lost. Finally, we stumbled upon a sketchy secondhand electronics store, where we gesturally explained what we needed, pooled our cash, and booked it back to Acro before it got dark. We squished onto the train, and exchanged hopes, fears, and laughs. The little old lady across from us smiled and tried to talk to us, and when I pulled out my "Just Enough Italian" book, the chic chick with Ray-Bans on let out a loud laugh. I quickly put it away, while Ryan, the spring chick he is, continued to attempt to talk to her.

Living here is getting easier as the days go on, especially now with a way to cook food, knowing what is around campus, and a general sense of direction (both in where to go, and what to do). I am looking forward to the concrete routineness of a full day of classes, studying, cooking food, travelling, and repeating. So many things are different, from the bathrooms to the government processes to stay in the country, and I have discovered that being an exchange student is actually really hard. As I learn what to do, I also learn what I can get away with. One such example is the tram pass. So you have to buy a ticket from the Tabbachi shop (aka a fancy convenience store), but then you have to validate it once you get on the tram. But, unless the police get on the tram and check your ticket, you can just hop on and hop off, and the fine for getting caught is the same as buying a pass. It is day six of living on the edge, and sofar I have spent 3 Euros on tram tickets. I will keep everyone posted.

Thank you everyone for your unconditional love and support. Shout out to my ohana for having the guts to put me on a plane and letting me go. Much appreciation to friends who randomly think about me and tell me they miss me. Indescribable gratefulness to the universe for the serendipitous meeting of my boy, the person who most understands and most pushes me through this, even from 5000 miles away. And of course, thank you to all my other exchange students, I cant wait to see where our same boat takes us.