~ Photography by the lovely Guiomar De Mesa ~
~ Outfit Details: Blazer (ON MAJOR SALE! I went down a full size) ~ Boots ~ Jeans (you can actually choose the LENGTH too! YES!) ~ Cami (it’s a favorite! Also love it for fall in these two colors here & here) ~ Necklace ~ Tote ~ Watch by Michael Kors (old but almost the same here) ~ Gold Bangles (10$) ~ Sunglasses by ASOS (old but almost the same here) ~ Earrings are vintage ~ Headband by J.Crew (old) ~
~ Well, it’s been over ONE MONTH since I first arrived here in Milan. Can you believe it?! I can’t. It’s flown by. I wanted to take the time to sit down and give a little update on life here, because, well, I think that it’s a pretty magical place and I’m learning so much everyday.
School has been wonderful and SO busy. Feeling pretty sleep deprived as we speak (please excuse any spelling errors)! Our mid revision week just passed and we had exam projects due this past week as well. It was a lot but I’m so glad! Getting your masters is supposed to be challenging! I’m learning so much every day and I have loved all of our lectures from accomplished professionals in the industry. Our professors and course leader really invest in us and want us to do well, and I believe that’s the best thing about Domus Academy. My classmates are amazing and add SO much joy to my life I CANNOT even explain! They are from all over the world (I am the only American) and I learn from them and get inspired by them every day. Not to mention, they are so sweet, talented, and every single one of them make me laugh so much!
Milan…ah…how can I even describe Milan and my first month here?! Well, I still have A LOT to see and to explore, but this city has my heart forever. The people are so kind. That’s the first thing that comes to my mind and the thing I’m most grateful for. Wether it’s the man selling me fruit at the market telling me to zip my bag, my next door neighbor offering to get drinks with me to practice my Italian, or every single Italian that corrects me when I misspeak or says “Che brava!” when I say something correctly. I feel the love everywhere I go. I also get inspired everywhere I go! The city is so beautiful. The colorful buildings, the stone streets, the architecture, the art, the way that people dress (Everyone is beautiful! Everyone!).
I moved from my temporary housing in Bovisa (I still miss Alberto and my friends in the model house!) and into a more permanent location in the Navigli area (the area of the canals). My studio is small, but it is close to school, newly refurbished, and SO AUTHENTICALLY MILAN! My building is yellow with light blue shudders, right on the canal, and I have a little balcony. I am slowly (ok, more slowly than I would have hoped) decorating and am enjoying my DIY projects! I am making a tufted headboard and it’s almost done (I’ll post more pics when it is!). Navigli is full of LIFE! No cars on my street…just people out in the streets drinking and talking and there’s a lot of live music. I love coming home here.
Now on to the most important part. THE FOOD. I was thinking of dedicating a whole post to this (and I still might, what do you think?). Being a Celiaca (Celiac) in Milan isn’t quite as easy as I had hoped, but I have found the BEST way around that: MARKETS! On my street, there are SO MANY markets! Flea markets, farmers markets (with cheese stands and nuts and VINO!), and flower markets GALORE! My favorite market is a 10 minute walk away and I usually can fill my entire fridge with fresh veggies (fresher and more colorful than you can even imagine) for under 10 euros! I bought a mini food processor to make the things from home I really miss (aka the GOOD “make-it-yourself” almond butter from Whole Foods and hummus). I also am trying to embrace the Italian flavors that I already love! TRUFFLE OIL is 3 euros and I basically put pesto on everything!
I am taking Italian class at night and am loving learning the language, even though I have a long way to go! Currently in the market for a tutor to meet with once a week to converse with! I feel very passionate about being somewhat proficient by April when internship interview time roles around!
There’s so much more I can say, but I just wanted to give a little snapshot of life here so far 🙂 I hope that you are all having a wonderful start to fall! Kisses from Milan!
Gratefully with love,
xoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo Rhiana
P.S.
THANK YOU so much for continuing to follow along even though I’m across the pond! I feel the love and am sending it right back <3
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