My Last Post: Vatican City

I am now back home in the U.S. and I am sad to say that this is my last post for Be International. It has been an incredible opportunity to document and share my Italian-European adventures.

For my last post, I wanted to share my last hurrah at the Vatican City.

Goals Met

The last two weeks of my study abroad trip consisted of going to two places that I have dreamed of visiting since I was a kid.

First, I visited Venice, the Italian town built on water. Venice has been one of my dream cities to visit since my mother took my sisters and I on a gondola ride at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. That was twelve years ago, and ever since then, it’s been a goal of mine to visit Venice. Now I have made that dream into a reality.

Something New

Since the last post, I have realized the apparent contrasts between the American culture that I know and love, and the Italian one that I’m learning to love.

First off, the whole university/college dynamic is a little bit different. The university I am studying at is Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, or UCSC for short.  Since this school is a religious institution, one would find statues and busts of various saints and biblical figures. There is also a chapel right on campus, an accessible way to pray and hear the word of the Lord.

Forks in the Road

Milan, Italy, an iconic city known for its fashion and culture, has stolen my heart. From its bustling City Center to the overabundance of gelato shops, Milan has left me in awe from its beauty.

Although I am studying mainly in Milan, I feel compelled to share a rather funny story about a day trip to Lugano, Switzerland, a Swiss-Italian town bordering Italy.