I cannot believe that I have already been here for over a week. I still wake up and have to second guess before I realize where I am, and I still get all confused about the time change when I see posts on Facebook from University of New Haven students on campus saying they are getting ready for an 8 a.m., when I have already finished classes for the day.

Now that we have been here for a little while, I feel like I am more comfortable with the area. I even know how to get to a few places without needing to take out a map, however I still keep it on me constantly to be sure I get from A to B in one piece.

We started classes this week and all I can say is how absolutely fantastic the staff here is. They are all so accommodating and welcoming to every student. The professors understand that we want to travel and they use it to guide where they go in the lessons. For example, our second Italian lesson went over how to say “station” and “Where is” among other things you might need to know so you can navigate yourself around public transportation.

In our Culture class, the professor shows us how to use the Italian train website so we can plan trips and find out when trains arrive and depart from different stations. She also gave us an assignment to go to a local café, get appetizers and ask questions to the people. This was assigned so that we learn to interact and not only focus on our language skills, but getting to know the culture, the people and their routines, since it is apparently very common for people our age to go to a cafe and get appetizers like that.

I honestly feel like I could walk up to any staff member and ask them any question and they would make sure to answer or help me find the answer without a problem— and they are always smiling! All of them! You can’t help but get a little bit more upbeat when you walk in and everyone is smiling while greeting you!

Another amazing thing about being here is the atmosphere in the school building itself. Along with the great staff, a lot of the students hang out at the school to do homework since wifi isn’t too great in housing, because Italy isn’t as technologically advanced as the U.S. There are always groups of students working on homework and hanging out that you can talk to or go grab lunch with between classes. It’s so encouraging to know that there are so many other people here that are all trying to get to know each other and explore this new country while still focusing on school. I love it.

On Friday, we learned how to take the public buses and went to the mall, ParcoPrato. It’s got so many different things; there are regular shopping stores, restaurants, a bowling alley, a movie theater, an ice skating rink, a gelato place (which was delicious!) and it’s all so close! We spent the day and had too much fun just being able to shop and bowl while getting to know each other away from school.