Let me rewind, Friday morning, I headed with my class to Milan where we met up with the Duke in Venice students. Our first stop was the Last Supper, then we headed to tour of the Teatro alla Scala, one of the most famous theaters in Italy with operas from Verdi and Mozart. After visiting the famous Duomo di Milano gothic cathedral, and Italy’s oldest active shopping center, we headed off on our train to Lugano, Switzerland.

As I was sitting in the train, I began to see the stunning green mountains. I could’ve stayed here forever, but with only two days, we made the most of it. Saturday morning, we woke up bright and early to hike up a mountain for a panoramic view of the city. We took a funicular to the peak, and to say I was stunned would be an understatement. The view was incredible. This was one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to. In the distance we could see the mountain range and the sparkling blue river. I felt so peaceful and grateful to have this opportunity as I stood at the top. I’ve taken the time to reflect on how great of an experience this has been, and I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned.

With the day winding down, we prepared for our next trip to Lake Como. This was the perfect combination to enjoy the panoramic views in a calm city and enjoy a relaxing day by the water in Como. This quick day trip was the best way to end this amazing weekend trip.

We made it back to Bologna and were greeted by the familiar shop owners on our street as we walked back to our apartment. I realized how much I would miss seeing these friendly faces. In just five weeks, I had adjusted into a routine. I surprised myself with how comfortable I found myself in this new country. I prepared for the upcoming week in class and was excited for the variety of topics that we would be covering.

During this week, we took a trip to the Philharmonic Academy where Mozart and other composers studied. We also talked with Fillippo Mineccia, a countertenor singer and specialist in the repertoire of the castrato era. It was incredible to hear how high his range was and learn about the history of these performances.

Not only have I improved my Italian and learned about opera, but our topics this week were also focused on Italian immigration and the ongoing politics of Italy. We read an excerpt from Igiaba Scego, an Italian author and activist of Somalian descent who talks about her experience navigating these two identities with the ongoing political and social climate.

The trips during this study abroad experience have been amazing but what I will take back with me to America are these important conversations. This upcoming week will be my last in Bologna but I couldn’t be happier with the experiences I’ve had. As I head to Verona and Mantua, I’ll end this diary but until next time:

A presto!