Introduction

Ok, so I decided to start this blog to make it easier to communicate with family and friends during my travels this summer. I am in Milan for 6 weeks (well, 5 and a half more at this point) as part of the exchange program between The Wharton School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan, Italy. I've wanted to participate in this exchange ever since I started the MBA program at Wharton because 1) I've always wanted to visit Italy and 2) Milan is a mecca of fashion, which is relevant since I have always had a personal interest in fashion and since I will be working in the fashion/apparel industry (I will be working as a retail apparel buyer come August). Not many people know this, but the road to Milan has been very bumpy and I have come very close to dropping out several times. First, I couldn't get funding from the university because I had too many credits. Then, my passport turns out to be MIA the day I plan to go apply for my visa. Then, I was going back and forth with my lender for over a month because they wouldn't accept my documentation of school enrollment. That's just the tip of the iceberg but this trip was meant to be, because I'm here. I started out my travel in London before heading to Milan. I am here with another Wharton student, living in a two bedroom apartment that is walking distance from the university and very accessible to downtown Milan. I will use this blog to report daily (or as close to daily as possible) about my experiences in Milan, and beyond, and hope that I bring a little bit of sunshine to whoever is interested enough to read this.