When I found out that Milan Fashion Week for Spring 2024 was coinciding with my Spring Break, I knew I had to go. At the time, only one designer was on the calendar, but I didn’t want to waste time and booked everything to see the smaller show. Arriving in Milan was overwhelming. I struggled to get my taxi app to work and was heckled outside the station to buy things from vendors.
So my time in Milan has finally come to an end. The packing nightmare is over, and I can finally relax and reflect on my time abroad. Though I am sad to leave behind this beautiful city, I could not be more happy to go back home.
When coming to Milan, I wanted to make a goal of engaging myself in my community the best I could. I was able to find a great motive for this very goal by working towards obtaining the SAI International Service Certificate. By doing so, I was able to get in touch with a local service group to obtain my volunteer hours.
17 weeks. I spent 17 weeks here in Milan, Italy. In those 17 weeks, I was able to go and experience 17 other places within and outside of Italy. Before coming abroad, I didn’t think that was possible let alone I’d be the one doing it over the next four months. So how did I do it? On top of still being a student, volunteering at a local organization, and still having time to relax.
Hello! My name is Gabrielle Haring and I am just finishing up my junior year at Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan. These past four months have contributed to some of the best times and experiences of my life. I am forever grateful to experience and gain an appreciation for Italian life, culture and customs. This country is beautiful in so many ways and I never want to forget it.
There are many important cultural cross-roads in Italy, locations which have blossomed over the centuries into great cities where diverse currents of thought, commerce and tradition converge. Rome, Venice, Florence, Ravenna, Sorrento, Syracuse: each of these communities can boast its own proud history. But few cities in all of Europe can claim both deep historical significance and vital contemporary relevance in so many domains as Milan.
Toss out any ideas you may have about virtual programs being boring or static, because NABA’s (Nuova Academia di Belle Arti) summer virtual programs in Interior Design or Fashion Image and Styling are anything but that! Colorful, fresh, young, vibrant, and contemporary, NABA is paving the way for a new way of learning.
I always knew I wanted to study abroad from the moment I began college. Study abroad was an adventure I knew I wanted to experience during my time in college, as I thought it was an experience and a different approach in my education that could further my knowledge in design.
The minute I decided to study abroad in the world’s fashion capital was the minute I started to stress about packing! It seems overwhelming to pack for four solid months, but now that I’ve been here for two I feel like I have a much clearer idea on what is useful and what is a waste of precious space! First of all, DON’T pack heels!
What is your favorite study abroad memory and why? Throughout my time studying abroad, my favorite memory would be traveling to the different cities with my roommates. Knowing that we were out of the country and making our way around is still unbelievable to me. All the sight-seeing we did and walking around was amazing. The food we had was just in awe. The cities we traveled to were Venice, Genoa, and Florence.
What is your favorite memory from studying abroad? I will never forget my day trip to Venice! Everything about the city was breathtaking! I loved walking around and observing the architecture. My friends and I even got to ride in a gondola! It was amazing to float down the water and observe the houses around us—talk about a dream come true! What does your study abroad experience mean to you?
Oh Milano, the city of change and evolution, history and unexpected beauty. To start off my journey, studying abroad was my first encounter with Europe, more so Italy. Whichever image I had in my mind of what Italy was like, was an understatement to the way it seemed once I moved to the country.
While only being here a few weeks I have come to learn quickly about tourist spots in Milan. The most famous and fabulous by far is the Duomo. It is a large cathedral in the city center surrounded with many things to do at all times of the day. Whether its shopping, eating, getting that perfect Instagram picture, or simply enjoying the view I am sure you will find something you enjoy.
During my study abroad trip to Milan, I realized I had a Sunday completely free. On a spontaneous inclination, I booked a tour to the legendary city of Venice. Although the tour began at seven in the morning, I enjoyed the bus ride through the rolling Italian hills, home to wineries and historic buildings. As we approached Venice, it was obvious why so many tourist are attracted to this gorgeous area.
In a city like Milan, home to fashion houses such as Armani and Prada, it is very important to look the part; especially for a Fashion Merchandising major like me. In the fashion capital of the world, the natives have an upscale sense of style and sophistication. The people of Milan are little to never seen wearing common American comforts such as leggings, athletic wear, or even jean shorts.
SAI Milan Program Coordinator Laurence is contributing to our blog this month. Laurence shares some wise advice for students considering studying abroad. New students must be slightly nervous about meeting their housemates for the semester. Multiply that by the whole group and you have my Program Coordinator semester nerves in a nutshell!
Clau Castaneda is the SAI Milan Program Coordinator. Below are some of their favorite events in Milan. Fashion Week is just around the corner and the city is buzzing with excitement! But there’s so much more than fashion and design to discover in this amazing city.
SAI Ambassador Zhenan answered some questions about his summer in Milan. Read what he has to say: What is your favorite memory from studying abroad? My favorite memory is the memory with my friends. We met with each other during the abroad program. We were all from different countries.
SAI caught up with Grace, who reflects on her semester in Milan. What does your study abroad experience mean to you? At first, study abroad was just a way for me to travel more. It was always an expectation of mine as my sister studied and lived abroad and my mom left Ireland when she was 18 to travel the world and found a new home in America.
SAI recently caught up with SAI Ambassador Richelle, who helps paint a picture of her semester in Milan. What was your favorite class abroad and why? My favorite class while I was abroad was The Fashion Market. It combined my two passions: marketing and fashion!
SAI recently caught up with SAI alumna Misha Maier, who completed her Masters degree abroad, to ask her about her experience abroad and her life now. Where and when did you study abroad? From 2009 to 2010 I attended the Masters in Interior Design and Living program at Domus Academy in Milan, Italy. Was there a class that you took abroad that really stood out from the others?
We caught up with SAI Milan Program Coordinator Laurence, who is contributing to our blog this month. Laurence is including some must-do’s for those first few days in your host city. Here are 10 alternative things to do during your first week in your new study abroad city: 1) Get the boring stuff done “Oh god! If this is number 1, I’d hate to see number 10.
If you’re like me, you know getting work done at home can be quite challenging. Personally, I find I need to have designated “work” areas, and a separate area to relax. If I start trying to write an essay in my bed, I’ll either want to go to sleep while I’m writing, or else I’ll feel the stress from the essay again later while I’m trying to sleep.
My absolute favorite part of my experience abroad was attending Milan Fashion Week 2017. Fashion Week was within the first few weeks of being in Milan and I had sent emails to probably every designer that was having a show. I got back a few rejection emails, which was still surprising that they even emailed me back. I received one invitation to a showroom from COMEFORBREAKFAST.
As the days remaining in my semester abroad continue to dwindle and I now have only about a month left in Milan, I’ve found myself reflecting upon my time spent here. I feel that my time in Italy has been transformative to my world perspective, and I know this experience will stick with me for the rest of my life.
In celebration of International Education Week, I wanted to highlight how studying abroad can affect you even after you leave. After studying abroad last fall, my first instinct when I got home was to look at graduate schools abroad. I was infatuated with the idea of living in Europe again, and I had to know more about it.
One of the most significant differences between my home university and NABA Milano is the learning style. Back in the U.S, we tend to employ a lecture style of learning, so the majority of our classes take place in the classroom, learning predominately from our professor’s knowledge and textbook examples.
We asked SAI alumna Kolbyn to tell us about her SAI Moment, a defining moment in her study abroad experience. My SAI Moment has to be my birthday in Brussels, Belgium. I turned 21 in the city of waffles, fries, chocolate, beer, and lace with some pretty rad people. We were functioning on a small amount of sleep and a large amount of wonder, which is often contradictory, but not in Brussels!
This semester in Milano is my first trip to Europe. So, needless to say, I’ve been experiencing my fair share of culture shock. I expected to be taken aback by the differences in language, the adjustment to going to a school where almost everyone had a different cultural background than mine, and of course, the infamous stereotype that Italians are habitually late.
Summer in Milan can be scorching, but not far from the fashion and design capital is a verified oasis, Lake Como. Our students each summer enjoy a day trip to the city of Como to explore the shores of one of Italy’s northern lakes. Saturday afternoon we pack our daypacks, hope on a train at Cadorna Station and in 40 minutes arrive to Como Lago Nord to tackle a day at the lake.
Hi guys, Shemaia again! Fashion Image & Styling II at NABA in Milan was the second class I took abroad. My class project was to style looks that featured design as well as creating a micro Instagram video (which is featured at the end of the vlog). My group and I used geometric shapes and graffiti art as our inspiration.
My name is Shemaia and I am currently studying Fashion Image & Styling at NABA in Milan with SAI. My class project was to style looks inspired by food. My group and I used fruit as our inspiration being that the colors are fun, vibrant, trendy, and perfect for the summer. With the looks we created, we collaborated with a photographer, live model, and makeup artist to bring it all to life.
Ciao bella! This week I traveled to beautiful Milano and have enjoyed a lot of time sightseeing. In the four days I’ve been here I have seen and learned a lot. This is the first country I have been to outside of the states so each experience has been new and exciting for me! Here are my three favorite places I have visited so far!
As a freshman at Rochester Institute of Technology, I attended a presentation about my Industrial Design (ID) department chair’s annual trip to Milano for Design Week. The pictures of the enormous fairgrounds, the product displays that seemed to go on for miles, and the stories he told convinced me that I needed to find a way to get there.
It’s official. I am leaving Milan in exactly fifteen days. Being in Milan has opened my eyes to a whole new world of opportunities, given me lifelong friends, and changed me for the best. I am more than excited to get back and share my experience with family and friends, but there are a few things I will miss once I get back to the states.
Over the course of 10 weeks I have taken eight trips, four of them to different countries. I love being able to explore different places, but one of my favorite things to do in a different country is try the traditional food from that region. Now I will take you on a what I like to call my own personal European Food Tour. First stop is Brussels, Belgium.
Since I am currently in the Eastern Hemisphere, I had greater access to a wide variety of awesome countries to choose from for my spring break trip. I have never been on an actual spring break trip so that was a first too. I chose to go up North and visit London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland. I was so excited to visit two very historical cities, being that I am a history buff.
This past weekend, I went to Le Cinque Terre. It is a collection of five small villages along the west coast of Italy, next to the Ligurian Sea. This weekend was full of nature adventures and local foods. There are no huge mountains in Kansas, so I was so excited to get to go hiking once again, as that is a rare activity for me.
The month of March was a big travel month. I visited the Colosseum in Rome (through an SAI excursion); wandered through the maze-like streets of Venice; soaked in the coastal views in Sorrento, and saw the sparkling lit-up Eiffel Tower in Paris. One of the most memorable trips this month was staying in Sorrento with my family. I took a train (lasting about 4 hours) from Milan to Naples.
DO create a plan of attack Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone are beasts of a market and design fair variety – monsters that take over the entire city. Rho Fiera (Salone del Mobile) itself is an overwhelming giant consisting of design displays from some of the top furniture design firms in the world. And Fuorisalone itself has over 1300 events! Needless to say, it’s a good idea to have a plan of attack.
One of my absolute favorite things about being abroad is, of course, the food! I love eating local food wherever I go, whether I am in Italy or another country. First off, some of my favorite things to pick up at the grocery store here in Milan are patate gnocchi, Italian sausage, and ravioli. I have always loved pasta and the amount that is available to me here is almost dangerous.
February has been filled with experience after experience. First let’s start with classes. Classes in Milan are very different, just as I expected. But I had no idea I was going to have the chance to have so many hands-on activities and projects. Since January, I have been on 7 class trips, some including the Mipel Handbag Show, Manolo Blahnik Museum, and the Fashion Hub Market.
Now that I have been in Milan for two months, I have made my way around the city and discovered some of my favorite spots. Most of these spots, I frequent, but some are little shops, go on walks to, or just visit on a nice afternoon. The first of my favorite spots is the city center where the Duomo is.
Although many may not notice it, the impact of the Fashion and Design has a far reach, touching almost every aspect of our lives. I was able to speak with SAI Program Coordinator, Clau Castaneda, about their view on the impact of the fashion and design word. Clau moved to Milan in 2012 to pursue a MA degree in Visual Arts and Curatorial Studies and joined the SAI team in 2013.
It’s too important to miss! 1. Stay Competitive in Today’s Fashion Market Today’s fashion market has seen an increase in brands focused on socially responsible design and sustainability within the supply chain.
One of my favorite classes at NABA (Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti) is Fashion Accessory Design. Last semester, I learned about textiles and designed and constructed a gym bag through a studio course at R.I.T. This course opened my eyes to the world of soft goods and is one of the reasons why I decided to pursue this interest at NABA.
It’s been exactly a week since my plane touched down at the Milan Linate Airport and I walked out of baggage claim to a sea of people. After a few minutes of scanning the crowd, I spotted the program’s driver with “SAI PROGRAMS” scrolling across his phone. My classmate and fellow SAI student, Hannah, and I got into the car, and headed off to our apartment, our home for the next four months.
Ten days down. Ten days full of adventure, shopping, and of course, endless amounts of carbs. I came to Milano knowing very little about the culture and the city itself, but in these last ten days, I have learned more than I could have ever imagined. My apartment is where it all began.
“A brief introduction to Milano” was a phrase that I heard a lot these first two weeks of my stay in the city. All of the locals kept saying how small the city is, although I could not imagine we were getting a complete look into Milan in such a short amount of time. Being from a small town in Kansas, every other city naturally looks giant to me.
Milan is a city that has many hidden treasures. Despite not being a city where there are a lot of tourist sights and attractions there is not a shortage of things to happen upon. This post will be a collection of photos that I have taken while wandering around Milan.
Elena studied abroad with SAI during the Spring 2015 semester. She completed one semester at Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti and her whole life path changed. Looking back on my semester abroad in my undergrad, I am amazed and thankful for where it brought me now. My experience the first time around was everything and more than I expected it to be.
Milan offers more than fashion shows and design fairs. Beyond fashion weeks and design week, Milan offers a myriad of ‘secret locations’ and activities to inspire any creative. Below are four of our favorite, but you can discover more on the SAI Milan blog. La Vigna di Leonardo: Landmark location frequented by Leonardo da Vinci, across from Santa Maria delle Grazie.
One of the coolest experiences that I have had in Milan thus far is attending the Luisa Baccaria fashion show, Milan Fashion Week 2016. The fashion show took place at the Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci, a gorgeous and unique venue. The crowd was incredible; women in glamorous outfits, men in suits. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be able to mingle among these individuals.
This past weekend SAI Milan traveled to Rome! Upon arriving, we met up with the students from SAI Sorrento. Friday night was a relaxing evening which was welcomed after traveling. We went to La Carbonara for dinner, a traditional Romanian restaurant. In the south of Italy, they’re known for fried vegetables. Not being a huge fan of veggies myself, I was skeptical, but these were amazing! (although anything fried has to be pretty good).
The highly prestigious QS World University Rankings by Subject 2016 have been released. Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore is listed as one of the top 200 universities in the world in 10 discipline areas. This result reflects the continuing determination and the growing importance of Università Cattolica in the areas of academic performance, research citations and employment outcomes.
NYC, LONDON, MILAN, PARIS. Fashion week travels from one city to the next. Fashion week, fashion week, IT IS FINALLY HERE. Milan fashion week is the biggest and best fashion week of them all. I have been looking forward to Milan fashion week since I arrived. Going to school in the Midwest, I never dreamed I would have the opportunity to attend fashion shows during fashion week.
As I walked off the plane in Milan, I knew this city was special. There were so many fashionable men and women, and this was only in baggage claim. From gorgeous leather handbags to beautiful coats and shoes, I realized the fashion here was serious. As I begin to settle in, here are a few things I have learned in my first week: 1. I should have tried to learn some Italian before I left.
Molly was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Spring 2016 term. She is a current student at University of Missouri studying at Nuova Academia di Belle Arti in Milan, Italy during the Spring 2016 term. 10 FUN FACTS ABOUT MOLLY I am studying Textile and Apparel Management at Mizzou. I am from Minnesota. I am very energetic! I am very passionate about fashion (One of the many reasons why I am studying abroad in Milan).
My time here in Milan is coming to an end. It’s all sorts of feelings, excitement to go home but sadness to leave all of my friends, experiences, traveling, and the city behind. Even though it’s so bittersweet, there are an endless amount of memories that I will cherish forever.
After getting to know the nine others within my SAI group, we finally made it on a trip together sponsored by SAI. We went to Venice the weekend of March 13-15. As always the trip was full of amazing food, beautiful weather and sightseeing. We met at the train station bright and early Friday morning around 7:45 so the train ride was good enough time to sleep before our day in Venice.
The scholarship competitions for the Fall Intake 2015 Master’s programs at Domus Academy have been announced! Any questions about the requirements can be directed to the Domus admissions counselor, Jamie Ronsheimer at: jamie@saiprograms.com.
Coming to Milan, I had no idea how I was going to pack my life into 2 suitcases for almost 5 months. But after getting settled in here, there were a few things that I forgot at home. When I looked at the weather for what I needed to pack, I saw that the lows were only 40s and highs around 60s for the time that I am here.
Ciao from Milan! I left from the states on Saturday, January 10 and arrived early morning in Milano on Sunday, January 11. I flew from Kansas City to Chicago then Chicago to New York. As I waited at the gate at JFK, I could already tell that there were few Americans boarding, and a majority of Italians flying back home.
Elena was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Spring 2015 term. She is a current student at University of Missouri studying at Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (NABA) in Milan, Italy during the Spring 2015 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I wasn’t really interested in studying abroad until my second semester of my sophomore year.
My experience abroad has been one helluva time. It’s taught me to accept discomfort, because no one should get too accustomed to one type of lifestyle or way of living. The world is ever changing and we must move and adjust with it. Accept the good, the bad and the ugly even if things don’t go according to plan. I have completely established myself here in Milano and I made myself at home.
When my semester in Milan was approaching, all of my family and friends told me, “Cherish every moment. It’s going to go by so fast.” That had to be the biggest understatement of the past few months. With my final projects due in a matter of days and packing for home on my to-do list, it is truly unbelievable that this experience is already coming to a close. But my Italian is finally improving!
Below is a list of my top favorite locales, in no particular order. These places are my “go-to” spots when I want to get out of the house. Since there has been better weather I’ve been given the opportunity to visit and see much more that exceed this list. Punks Wear Prada Nightclub: This club is my absolute favorite. I am surrounded by people who love fashion and music just as much as I do.
Now that I’ve lived in Milan for about three full months, I would like to think I know a little bit about the city and its local culture. So, I’ll take this blog opportunity to share with you: “Diego’s 10 Top Spots in Milan.” Ten quick and easy recommendations in case you ever find yourself in Milan and don’t know what to do! Here goes! For Lunch: Luini’s.
I believe it is always life changing when placed in an environment very dissimilar to your own. The culture of Milan has changed me into the person I’ve become.
Eating dinner at nine, placing your money on the counter instead of handing it to the cashier, ordering a coffee and actually drinking it there. Nothing groundbreaking, right? Right. So then why was I utterly confused when I wanted to eat at six but everything was closed? Or when the clerk placed my change in front of me.
Living in Milan is life changing. Its breath-taking view of the Alps brought me to tears as we landed at the Malpensa airport. Before I had literally touched the ground of Italian soil, I noticed how appreciative the people of the city were of life. They take their time: eating, talking, reading, meditating and living effortlessly. They take into consideration others’ beliefs and values in a respectful manner.
The English idiom “I can’t wait!” is translated into Italian as “Non vedo l’ora!” which literally means “I can’t see the time.” Throughout the previous year of planning and preparation, I repeated this phrase over and over, when the idea of studying in Italy was more of a distant fantasy rather than an actuality.
My time spent in Milan truly changed my outlook on life & the decision to study abroad was easily one of the best things I have ever decided to do. Not only did it broaden my view of the world but also of myself.
Study abroad wasn’t just a semester away to me; it was a learning experience and a time to branch away from my comfort zone. This experience as a whole has not only helped me with my future career, but it taught me so much about the way other cultures live and life in general. My outlook on the world has completely changed.
Well, it’s hard to believe that this is my last blog post during my study abroad term. I’m so incredibly sad to be reflecting on the end of my time here in Milan. The last four months have exceeded my expectations beyond belief and I can’t believe that I will be home in about a week. This last month has been one of my favorites here. April was filled with traveling traveling and traveling.
March has been a busy, yet amazing month! We were able to travel to Cinque Terre, Pisa, Siena, and Lucca. Could it get any better? Cinque Terre was absolutely amazing and might be my favorite place that I have been to so far. It’s an incredible place; made up of five villages and right on the water.
I can hardly believe I am already looking back on March and getting ready to leave for Spring Break! Another month down abroad and so many more memories to look back and smile on. The first weekend of March my roommate and I traveled to Cinque Terre. It was absolutely breathtaking and it was nice to get out of the city for a while and be on the coast.
Milan has been everything that I’ve expected and more. I know my way around the city, am becoming a regular at some cafes, traveling on the weekends and having the time of my life while doing it all. I am loving every minute of traveling. My roommate and I took a day trip to Stresa, Italy which is right by the Alps on the border of Switzerland.
The month of February has flown by so quickly, but been so much fun. I feel so much more settled into Milan now and it feels like home. My roommates and I took a weekend trip to Paris, where we shopped, ate so many crepes, and explored the city. We also went to Stresa, one of the Lakes right outside of Milan.
It’s no surprise that I have completely fallen in love with Milan and the study abroad experience as a whole already. Meeting people from all around the world, getting inspiration from the locals, and exploring a whole new country is just exhilarating. It’s only been two weeks since I have arrived, but it feels like I have been here my whole life. Milan is not what I expected at all.
These first couple weeks in Milan have been nothing short of incredible. Leaving home for a completely different country and knowing no one in my program is exactly the adventure I was looking for. how to increase penis size My first impression of Milan is that it is a beautiful city.
This past month of November I traveled to many cities of Italy, essentially taking a “tour of Italy”. I visited Rome, Florence, Venice, Naples, and Capri (and of course spent time in my abroad city of Milan!). Here were my experiences with the Italian cities and my comparisons between them! iphone spy software uk Florence Florence is the apple of the American’s eye.
In the month of September, my trips ended up being confined to Italy and Italian cities. This was great, and I loved seeing more of Italy, however, during the past month, I have ventured to new countries and cities in Europe! I have a friend studying abroad in London, and so I went to visit her for a weekend. And let me just tell you, I loved London.
My Study abroad experience thus far has been awesome of course! I traveled to Florence, Siena, Pisa, and Paris so far. I can honestly say I’m madly in love with Italy and Europe as a whole, the lifestyle here is so simplistic and beautiful. Fashion week was AMAZING, I got the chance to go to four shows and meet bloggers and professionals in the industry.
I arrived in Milan a few weeks ago and have had some time to explore the city and reflect on my thoughts. At first, Milan seemed like a very urban city and almost overwhelming (especially with the language barrier!) But I have really enjoyed getting to know my way around, and it feels much more comfortable now. I love exploring through the city streets and seeing how the different parts of town are connected.
how to get your ex back My Study abroad experience thus far has been awesome, although in the first week I struggled with homesickness and culture shock. Day 2 I felt a bit lonely being in another country with the 7 hr time difference, and it being the hottest period of the year for Milan to say the least it started off overwhelming.
So far Milan, Italy has been a wonderful and inspiring place to be. Although the transition coming from the United States to Italy was a rough one, it is finally growing to be such a wondrous experience! The flight here was not a bad one, for all I did was sleep much and my luggage made it safely, which helped a ton.
