So, where were we? Oh! Dusseldorf, DE. We managed to get on our flight, and one very quick flight later we land in Malpensa airport, right outside of Milan!!! We quickly gathered our luggage (everything made it! Huzzah!), and made our way out to the waiting IES representatives. They were two kind University students doing an internship for IES, to improve their English. They helped us to change some money in Euros (1.6 $ to euro conversion rate) and then buy train tickets for the 30 minute ride into Milano. We arrived at the Cadorna station and somehow managed to wrangle all of our suitcases off of the train! There we met another IES rep (also wanting to improve her English) who helped us find a Bancomat (the Italian ATM) and then put Avery and I in a TINY white taxi! Madison's apartment was just around the corner from the Cadorna station so she walked! Avery and I got the best taxi driver! I told her that I speak Italian, so she continued to ask lots of questions and point out exciting land marks as we made our way to my apartment.
Madison, Avery, and I at the Dusseldorf airport, BEFORE the rain...!!
Upon arriving at Via Tiziano, 18, I hopped out, the driver helped me to unload my two suitcases, and I said "Ciao!" to Avery for the afternoon. She whizzed off in the taxi and I made my way up to the first floor (a.k.a. second floor in Italia) and my apartment with the help of our wonderfully kind doorman. Seeing as I arrived quite a bit earlier than the other girls, I was able to pick my own room! I chose the largest of the doubles (it's a three double, one single apartment) which is equipped with floor to ceiling mirrored closets, two desks, two twin beds, a red area rug, two bedside tables, two bedside lamps, light yellow walls, a glorious fan, and (best of all!) a balcony!! We look down onto Via Tiziano, which can get a bit loud, but there are giant trees that shade us from the hot sun. My CA, Annalisa, is from the southern end of Italy. She says, "You know that Italy is shaped like a boot? I am from the heel of that boot. It's where all the good food is." After giving me a little tour of the apartment, I excused myself for a blissful shower; there is little more enjoyable than cleaning up after a looooooooooong day+ of travel. Annalisa then made lunch for the two of us. My first meal in Italy: pesto pasta with fresh tomatos on the side and glasses of blood orange juice. It was delicious! She and I had some wonderful conversation, mainly in English, I was too tired to even remember my own name in Italian. Afterwards I went ahead and started unpacking, basically doing everything in my power not to fall asleep!
Five of us plus our awesome CA!
Not too long after, another girl arrived! Her name is Qianning and she is from Houston, TX by way of China. She chose the double room across the hall from me. Her mother had accompanied her, so the two of them set into unpacking right away. An hour or so later, three more of the girls showed up! Callie from Portland, Jessie from San Francisco, and my soon-to-be roomie Theresa from Reno. The girls got a little tour, Theresa chose to room with me and the other girls chose to room together. We were still missing one girl, but she didn't show up for another couple of days thanks to the hurricane. Once introductions had been made and everyone had settled in for a little and we had had our apartment safety talk, it was time for a tour around our neighborhood! We all got cellphones at the nearest Vodaphone store, saw where the grocery store is, and then took the metro to the first IES group activity: aperitivo!!!
After aperitivo outside of YGUana!
Aperitivo is this wonderful mix of a buffet and happy hour. Essentially one buys a drink for 7-10 Euro and then has access to the delicious finger food buffet. IES took us all to YGuana, which is down in the Piazza della Vetra area. IES reserved the entire upstairs for us! YGuana has a rainforest theme, so the walls were painted with lions and tigers peeping out of foliage, colorful birds, and an immense amount of green paint. Although exhausted from a long day of traveling, it was so fun to meet my fellow IESers! As well as the 10-15 DU students who are also here this semester!! We all were talking at about a million miles an hour and many a laugh was had. Around 9:30 or 10pm my flat mates and I decided to call it a night and head home. The second my head hit the pillow, I was out. I didn't even move until my alarm went off the next morning!
TUESDAY
A little after 8:00am I was woken up by sun streaming in my window (the alarm helped too ;D), my window in MILANO!!!! We all got ready and then headed out with Annalisa to a cafe' right down the street. We ordered cappuccinos and croissants and ate them under the tent outside. It was wonderful! Then it was off to the Universita Cattolica for IES orientation. We took the metro, as expected, and then walked a ways. The orientation started with pretty usual stuff: immerse yourself into the culture, don't walk around alone at night, etc. We met the staff of IES and learned how they can help us and heard about housing and heard from our CAs. Lunch was served in one of the Universita Cattolica lunchrooms. We had pasta, salad, watermelon, and several other choices. After lunch we had rotating sessions which were about medical services and safety. Then we split into different groups for tours around the Universita Cattolica campus; we have been given student IDs for this university so we can use their facilities (library, coffee shop, etc). Then the tour proceeded to include the IES center where the majority of my classes will be. At this point I was essentially a sheep in the herd and had nooo clue as to where we were! But it sure was cool! With the help of a CA, myself and a few others went to an athletic shop to get swimsuits (I was just along for the ride). It was crazy! It was like an REI on steroids!! My friend Airiel found something and then we headed to our next activity.
Colazione con Callie e Annalisa!
Il Castillo we passed on our way to the swimsuit shop.
The archway to the IES center from the courtyard.
Now comes the best part of Tuesday: the spa. That's right, IES took all of us to a spa in downtown Milan!!! It was amaaaaazing! You walk into a massive stone/marble building and get your robe, towel, locker key, and flip flops from the front desk. Then you walk into the red locker filled dressing rooms, change into a swim suit and then proceed, in your robe, to the main hall. At the end of the main hall there is a giant room in the center of which is a giant table filled with an extravagant assortment of fresh fruit, good food, and beverages. You can then eat to your heart's content while listening to the talented pianist in the corner, or head outside to the pools. There are three pools, each with a different healing power, such as sound waves! And the entire area is surrounded by ancient Roman walls made of red brick! If you don't feel like getting wet there is also the Relaxation Theater. It is a gymnasium sized room that is dark, except for the various soft colored light and projections lighting the different stations. The stations are divided by tall paper walls. There was a giant dome with beds arranged in a circle where one can lay down and watch soothing images make their way across the roof. Or perhaps the fire room which had a fire in the center surrounded by giant square pillows to lounge upon. Or perhaps one may enjoy the nest: a giant round mattress that is under arching iron bars, above which a soothing movie of swimming creatures is playing. Of course there are the music stations where one can plop one's tired butt down in a squishy chair, pop on the headphones which play 10 different genres of music, and stare at the projections of water on the ceiling. I think my favorite though was the Cloud Room. It is an all white room which holds multiple beds on which one lies down and stares at the glorious projections of clouds floating along the walls of the room. Let's say though, that you ARE in the mood to get wet. Then do they have the spot, or rather spots, for you! Downstairs there are over 10 different rooms in which one can find hot tubs, long tubs of hot and icy cold water in which to walk through, foot soaking stations, as well as my other favorite: a waterfall room. The soft rainbow lighting is the perfect setting for the cascades of water that massage any knot one may have. It was wonderful! Once one has finished relaxing away the day's stress it is time to graze the food table once more, then make your way through the locker room showers and hair drying station before making your way back onto the streets of Milan. Overall I'd have to say this is one of the most amazingly relaxing experiences I've EVER HAD.
Making our way home from the spa was quick and easy, and since we were in such a stay of relaxation I quickly dozed off.
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY will be in MILANO Part III!! Right now I'm off to IKEA to find a laundry hamper....
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