As I have gotten closer with the other people on the trip I am increasingly excited to learn about their perspectives on our various topics in class discussions. I don’t know what to expect with the virtual setup of the class, but I am sure we will figure it out and learn a lot. Knowing that the class is approaching has made me very observant of the differences between Italian vs. American practices. In my last post, I discussed this in relation to sustainability, but I have also noticed a difference in how employees are treated. This may be specific to my company, but there is a very friendly and understanding environment here that I do not think exists to the same extent in America. I am excited to explore these topics more in class. 

In the days of work since we had our internship seminar I have felt like what I learned has served me well. I have been more conscious of asking direct questions about my tasks and I feel more at ease to match the more casual environment that my coworkers create. Additionally, when my boss asked me if I wanted coffee, I knew that I should say yes even though I am not usually a coffee drinker. It ended up being a really nice way for us to get to know each other more. Only one person at my company is actually from Italy, so I have a somewhat different situation than most students. Because of this, English is the language of my office which makes it very easy for me to be included in all conversations. 

I am loving my internship. I finally met the founder of my company in person this past Friday (she had been away at a convention). We had talked a lot online, but it was so nice to finally get to know her in person. It was really interesting learning about her past and how she came to start the company. We also bonded over being foreigners in Italy and our likes/dislikes. I had been preparing a presentation for her all week and presented it on Friday. I think that she was very happy with it and we discussed what I will be doing going forward. I still feel like there are a lot of unknowns about what I will be doing for the rest of my time here, but I feel much more settled in and confident than I did before. 

I have had a great week exploring Italy! I had fun on the ropes course in the Alps and the views were stunning. Our hike definitely had its problems, but it was a cool experience nonetheless. I also went to the Sforza Castle and Museo Poldi Pezzoli this weekend. They were both very cool to see and gave me a better understanding of Milan’s history. I am growing more accustomed to the language and cultural barriers, which is making it much easier to feel comfortable here. I am still struggling a bit with the food because it is hard to find chicken in restaurants and I do not eat pork which is in almost everything here. However, I have started cooking for myself more often which has made things a lot easier.