By Julia Lim
23 August 2022

I’m halfway into my exchange semester in Milan, Italy now. While there’s still so much to discover about this fascinating country, I’ll be the first to admit that it’s truly different from the life I had back in Singapore.

In a short duration of two months so far, I’ve learnt a great deal of things about myself – especially what kind of traveler I am. After getting past the initial excitement and perhaps also, the slight nagging discomfort of how differently cities are run here in Europe, you get to see your host country and all the other places you travel to, for what they really are. I came on exchange hoping to see how I’d fare out of my comfort zone and got a lot more than I bargained for - being conditioned to the efficiency that Singapore offers, the chronemics of ‘Italian time’ were frustrating at the start and I’m (still) gradually learning to take it all in stride. Food-wise, there are no complaints – I can only describe my gelato runs, cosy apertivo nights and the heartwarming pasta and risottos I’ve had here in the superlative, but of course, I still go into an excited frenzy when I find my favorite Yeo’s Soya Milk at the supermarket in Chinatown here. When it comes to academics, Universita Bocconi has seminars very similar to SMU’s, save for the fact that one can have the option of being a non-attending student. While the concept of not having to attend classes at all and only taking a final exam may seem ludicrous (or enticing, depending on what kind of student you are) to many of us in Singapore, it takes an enormous amount of determination to stay focused should you choose to go for non-attendance, since all your learning is essentially self-directed.

I don’t think I’ll ever have the chance to experience the emotions I’ve felt on exchange once I head back to Singapore in a couple of months – the gradual cognizance of how differently people interact here, the immersive experience of dining in intimate, family-run Italian restaurants and the amniotic comfort of settling back in my apartment in Milan after a long week of travels in the cold winter months, among many others. But for now I still have two months to soak in every aspect of what I’m witnessing here and I’m perpetually reminding myself of how lucky I am to have the chance to discover both the quirks and beauty of Europe and its people.

For everyone still deciding on whether to head for exchange, many friends will be quick to tell you that the 5 months abroad will be an amazing time, and while I don’t contend with that, keep in mind that that’s all very la vie en rose. There might be bouts of homesickness and bouts of anxiety when things don’t turn out the way they plan, especially when we’re all on a student budget here, but it’s all part of the journey.

Julia Lim, from Singapore Management University, currently on exchange at Bocconi University (Italy)

 

 

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