Observations from Milan

Hi everyone! I’ve been in Milan for a little over a week now and I wanted to come on here to share some views and some of my initial observations. It’s been quite a great experience so far and I am ready to share what the rest of the semester has in store!

Observation 1: There are a LOT of dogs.

When walking on the street, you will see all kinds of different dogs, most of which are purebred and distinct. I even saw one with a raincoat and matching boots on a rainy day. I live in a more residential area south of Milan so this leads to a lot of dog parks and pet-related stores. Once I’m in the thick of the semester I hope that this will make me miss my dogs at home less.

Observation 2: Transit is very convenient.

Along with the metro system of Milan, they also have a strong tram system. I’ve never lived in any kind of city, so this is something brand new to me. Google Maps especially made it easy to figure out my routes to my university and my dance studio. I am also doing my Honors College thesis in transit so this is very exciting for me.

Observation 3: The pickpocket scares have been minimal.

One thing I worried about when going anywhere in Europe was pickpocketing. It’s common knowledge that pickpocketing happens in touristy areas around Europe, and since I have never been before I didn’t have a good gauge on how the pickpocketing would be. I have only had to worry about it in crowded areas like the Duomo and around Olympic attractions.

A view from the Olympic watch party! This goes on in a park really close to the cauldron where the torch was lit.

Observation 4: I need to charge my phone.

There were two times that my phone died and I had no idea where I was. The first was on my first day here while I was checking in with my landlord, and the second was when streets were closing on the day of the opening ceremony. Luckily, a lot of the locals are nice enough to route me back to places where I am familiar, and I definitely will not be making this mistake again!

Observation 5: This place is actually stunning.

You can find so many hidden gems here and the architecture is gorgeous. This city may not have as many ancient ruins like other Italian cities, but it is still very pretty in a lot of places. It seems like there is a lot of community in the residential areas which is nice to see, and the glitz and glamour of the main attractions is wonderful too.

A view of a night in Milan!

I will go more into detail into other aspects of Milan, but I wanted to give a general overview of my initial thoughts. Thank you for reading and more from me next week!