Ladies and gentleman I apologize for the wait but I am back. It’s official I have lived in Milan for one full year! To be honest this year has flown by and I thought what better way to finish the year with this blog than to do a year in review post. I have learned a lot this year not only about living here in Italy but also myself as a person, so I am here to fill you in on all the wisdom I have gained this year. Buckle up friends this will be a long one.
Before I dig into all the new wisdom I have learned this year I thought I would also fill you in on some major things that have happened since my last post. I have made a list so you can read or skip ahead easily and I will never know the difference. So here’s some major key things that have happened since May (I really do apologize for the long absence but life ya know)
My best friends, Karen and Nicole, surprised me here in Milan and we had the best weekend traveling to Bologna and Rimini
I made work friends. Sounds weird I know but often times I work at schools and rarely meet my coworkers but summer camp brought us together.
I returned home for July and a little bit of August
My cousin and his longtime girlfriend got married and I was lucky enough to be a bridesmaid! Seriously best weekend of my life dancing, drinking and eating with my family. I will be talking about this wedding probably for the rest of my life
I returned to Milan only to be greeted by a ghost town in August. Turns out the last few weeks of August is everyone’s vacation time so everyone disappeared.
I started work up again about mid-September because the schools here use the first few weeks to catch up on the last year and anything not finished over the summer
I work a lot! I teach 3-4 courses a day, 5 days a week, ranging from 6 year olds to 60 year olds. Not one lesson is ever the same.
I really do love my job. I have met so many people and have seen way more of Milan because of my job.
Ned Stark warned me but I did not listen for winter has come. No seriously I have never been so cold in my life. I bought my first heavy winter jacket that is not for skiing and I can’t say I enjoy wearing a large jacket with layers every single day.
Finally, I made a trip to my favorite place in the world, Florence. This city never grows old for me. It is always stunning and just so refreshing after living the “city life” (lol who am I?). Plus the food is heavenly so really you can’t go wrong there.
So those are the fun exciting things that I have been up to. Everything in between has just been me sitting in a park or on a beach reading, maybe even drinking (most likely drinking) but always enjoying this life. On to the wisdom I have gained because I know you all are curious.
So living here, I have not only learned about Italy as a country and the culture that has grown from it but I have learned a lot about myself as well. I look back (very fondly I might add) on my days as an au pair (foreign nanny) and can’t help and see how much I have grown up since then in Milan. Not only have I grown to love this city and everything it has to offer, I have fallen in love with the person I have become (cue the awwws). Here’s another list for y’all since I know you enjoyed the last one.
I do actually know Italian
I have struggled with this for a while now. Every time I talk to someone and tell them my story or go home to visit family I always get asked, “So like do you speak Italian?” My usual response is I am not fluent but I know enough to get by. Well I am done with that response because I think I have worked hard and have made a lot of mistakes to get to the level I am now. I mean I can speak to small children, explain an entire lesson and I can talk to parents about children’s behavior but yet I still say I can’t speak Italian? No way. I am not going to say it’s great Italian because hey I am still learning and grammar man is freaking difficult but I know it. Not to toot my own horn but I do get complimented on how well I speak for only living here for a year by coworkers and random people at shops I have to engage with (so toot toot). I hope within this next year to improve more and even take a test to receive a certificate that would be recognized all over the world and who knows could help in the job market in the future.
2. Getting lost is worth the extra 20 minutes
One thing I have really tried to do more this year is see more of Milan. This year I have been working Saturdays for some extra lessons. It is very common here because some public schools do have school on Saturday. Although I hate it when I get up early on a Saturday morning I really enjoy it because it gets me out of the house early and I don’t feel like I am wasting the day away. So after my lesson(s) are finished I try to walk in a new direction or meet a friend in a new place. Something I found I really enjoy is taking pictures. I love finding these new places and capturing little moments. One of my favorites was watching a young boy and his grandfather feed the pigeons by the canals. It was a cloudy day but everyone was out and about and it was so nice to see this little moment happening in such a busy area. For this, I also love getting lost. If I am lost and I have the time to enjoy it, I always find myself taking pictures of the area. I love seeing new buildings because really the architecture is incredible here. Sometimes it is not always noticeable at first so you have to spend some time enjoying the view. Sounds like a perfect Saturday to me.
3. Walking: the new frontier?
I love public transportation and I am all about it but this is Italy and sometimes walking is just as fast (seriously!). Also walking is healthy! I don’t live extremely close to the subway but I do live close to bus stops and tram stops but because I know the metro is 20 minutes away so I will walk. I do try to pick walking over public transportation and although it doesn’t seem like much is making a difference in my lifestyle. I always notice the difference in my energy from when I leave the house to when I arrive at my destination. Not to mention money saver! I don’t have the opportunity to go to the gym because they are crazy expensive here and add my crazy schedule I just don’t have the time so walking it is. When it is hot I try not to use public transport at all and although its cold now and getting harder for me not to use public transport I do make myself walk at least once a day somewhere. I did notice that when I visited the US for the summer I actually missed walking. I mean I had to drive everywhere and unless you’re walking in the park its almost frowned upon to walk somewhere. Don’t get me wrong I do miss my car and being able to get in it and go but I do also love walking and taking in the city around me.
4. Picky eater no more? Chef in the making?
I am sure you are reading this and thinking there is no freaking way! Is it possible? I have already told you about my picky habits but as the year progressed so did my progress with trying new foods. I am way more open to new food and I have even started cooking more at home. It is so much cheaper to cook at home and when you’re short on cash you become the best chef, I highly recommend. I probably won’t be a three course meal for my friends anytime soon but the kitchen does not scare me anymore. I did host my first dinner party but it was more of a fancy happy hour. Everyone brought a little something and me being a Wilson provided enough food for everyone and then some. We ate well and drank very well and I never felt so adult in my life. Maybe next time I have people over it will be a fully cooked meal but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Also check my other post about Christmas cookies for other things I have tried to make (so maybe a baker in the making).
5. Surprise! Dating isn’t fun in any country
I don’t think that it’s any surprise that I am single. I have always been single and that is no secret to anyone however something I don’t always talk about is dating. So surprise I date! I have dated in the US and I have dated in Italy and guess what it’s not fun anywhere. Besides the fact that I have to try and understand the opposite sex I am now doing it in a different language with some cultural differences. If I have learned anything from dating here is speak up (Trust me Italians won’t be expecting it)! Tell them you don’t understand or don’t agree with something and they will either accept it and help you out or they will leave. Either way you’ll learn quickly who is worth being around and who isn’t. All in all, it ain’t easy out there but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.
6. Grocery stores are culture epi-centers
Italy is full culture from the fashion to the food, it is everywhere. However, the one place I have always noticed all of this is the grocery store. I live very close to a large supermarket and let me tell you I have a love hate relationship with it. I love it because I can find everything I need and it is great for people watching. I hate it because I have culture shock every time I walk in there. You know all those societal rules no one really tells you but you know. Well if you’re visiting a new country I suggest going to the supermarket because you’ll see firsthand how people interact. For example, everything is in order by not being in any order. From the moment I walk-in chaos. Everything seems to have a place but the order makes no sense. It’s not just this store, by the way, its every supermarket I go to. Pushing, get used to it. Personal space is not existent here and well people will push you out of the way if they need something or just need to get by. My advice, don’t take it personal, take a deep breath and move onto the next item on your list. Surprisingly there are lines at the supermarket (unlike anywhere else in Italy) but don’t get your hopes up because if you are not lightning fast at bagging your own groceries (me!) the person behind you in line will not care and move up taking up any and all space you once had. Also the cashiers. Don’t expect a smile or small talk they are doing their job and if you want to talk they will happily talk to do but don’t expect a warm greeting. You can actually expect this is in most shops and restaurants. It’s not to be mean or that they don’t like you, they are just doing their job and trust me small talk is not a part of it (trust me its blessing because once it gets going it doesn’t stop). Every time I walk into the supermarket I learn something new about how I should behave or interact. Sometimes it’s a pleasant learning experience and other times it’s definitely a learning experience. Can’t complain too much I’m still in love with it here.
7. Birthdays
I love birthdays. I mean any excuse to go out am I right? Typically, you go out for someone’s birthday maybe you go to dinner or a bar who knows maybe they even have a party. When celebrating a friend’s birthday, I typically get a gift but if gifts are not being done I usually offer to buy a drink or maybe a dessert. Here in Italy it’s a little different. If it’s your birthday you are supposed to pay for the people who are celebrating with you. This could include the meal or drinks or both. Talk about an expensive birthday. Also you are the one who is supposed to bring sweets to your workplace or school on your birthday. This always makes me giggle because I feel like it’s taking advantage of their day. I always stand out as the foreign friend on these occasions because I can’t help it and at least pay for one drink. What can I say I bring diversity to the group?
8. Punctual is not my middle name anymore
There once was a Mackenzie who would arrive 20 minutes early to anything. Today that same Mackenzie will be at least 10 minutes late to everything (except work, gotta get paid). Since my main way of getting around is public transportation and well this is Italy I have decided it’s time to give up being on time. All I did was stress about being late and what did that stress do? Get me there faster? I don’t think so! Also why am I stressing when everyone around me isn’t? I mean the people on the street are in no hurry, the people I’m meeting for lunch are in no hurry, the other people waiting for the metro aren’t in a hurry, seriously why am I? Letting go has been a little personal victory for me and I look to many more victories in the upcoming year. Stay tuned friends.