Ciao! My name is Alexa, and I am a senior at Pitt. I am majoring in Economics and Italian with a minor in Business. I am looking forward to pursuing a career in economics after graduation, hopefully with the opportunity to work internationally. Outside of class, I enjoy fencing, watching soccer, and reading.

My studies in Italian and Economics led me to choosing the city of Milan as my location for the semester. The city displays the “dolce far niente” (the sweetness of doing nothing) culture of Italy but is still a rich international and economic hub for Europe. Through the Pitt Approved program AIFS Abroad, I am studying at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC), a beautiful university residing in the heart of Milan, Italy. This school has a massive international program that hosts students from around the globe! Throughout the semester, I hope to improve my Italian language skills, see an Italian soccer match in the historic San Siro Stadium, and branch out and try some new things!

I am living in an apartment with three other AIFS study abroad students only seven minutes from the main campus of UCSC! I have my own room but share a kitchen and living space. My favorite part of my apartment is the balcony that looks out on the street! It is the perfect place for a book in the morning or relaxing with my friends in the evenings. The location is wonderful, with a café on every corner and a street market with fresh fruit and vegetables just down the street on the weekends. 

Milan is a wonderful city, full of business and art. The biggest culture shock I had when I got here was the way everyone is dressed. While I expected designer clothes and fashionable attire from the residents of the “global capital of fashion,” I didn’t expect for everyone to be wearing pants and long sleeves in 90-degree weather! I felt as though I stuck out like a sore thumb walking around in my shorts and t-shirt (still sweating profusely) as I explored the Duomo area of the city. Thankfully, by the end of my first week it rained, cooling off the city by 15 degrees, and permitting me to feel as though I fit in better by wearing long pants. 

Thank you for reading, and I am excited to share more of my experiences in Milan with you!