Swan Song

May 24, 2015
/
Europe Italy
/
No Comments

Okay so although I still have a few weeks abroad in Europe, I do indeed leave the love of my life, Milan, in one short week. To be honest, this kind of makes me wanna vomit. To think that I arrived here almost four months ago, truly is something I cannot fathom. Milan has been my home, and pretty soon I will have to say goodbye.

As I have mentioned in past posts, I really am a big believer in everything happens for a reason. So to think that I almost let fear hold me back from coming to this amazing country is insanity at this point. I am so glad that I left my inhibitions in the United States to come to this magical place. Milan will forever be in my heart.

To think back to my first day where I cried like a baby when my adapters wouldn’t plug into the wall, I received the wrong keys to my apartment, my phone wouldn’t work, I was alone, and I ate one of the worst meals of my life, FINALLY I can think back and laugh. Sure this experience has not been perfect. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I just feel so different (in a good way). I have grown up so much here.

Lucky for me this experience isn’t over yet. Although I do leave Milan in one week from tomorrow, I still have a couple weeks where I will be traveling around Europe. So I have a lot to look forward to.

Am I ready to return to the United States? I’m not really sure. I mean I kind of have no say in the matter. I have finished college, and now I must get a job, an apartment, and enter a new phase in my life. Would I stay longer if I could? Absolutely! But regardless my time here will never be forgotten. There was no better way to leave the University life. For those who are unsure of spending their final semester abroad, or studying abroad at all for that matter, I must encourage each and every college student to look into it.

Leaving our mark in Barcelona

The people I have met through this program are some of the greatest people I have met in my life. Milan holds a special place in my heart, but I know a big reason behind that is the amazing people here. However, I must give a special shoutout to one special lady Kara Buzzeo. New Paltz is small. And yet there are always those people you do not know. Kara and I both attended New Paltz, lived in the same hall, ate in the same places, worked out in the same gym, and yet it took coming abroad to Milan, Italy for us to meet. I now consider Kara one of my true gems that I will take away from the Paltz. My experience would not have been the same without her. Yes, I will not be continuing on with her in the fall, in New Paltz, but I know she is destined for great things.

Maybe I will write another post abroad, maybe I won’t. I just wanted to write this one now, to make sure I did it before leaving for the rest of Europe.

For now I will be galavanting around Milan, attempting to complete the things that I wish I had been doing all semester, but have neglected to leave to the last minute. Also if anyone would like to help me pack, feel free. Time to study for finals!

Till next time readers, continue to reach for the stars,

Tamara

End of the year celebration with my housemates: Bethany, and Allison!

Save the Drama For Your Mama

May 20, 2015
/
Europe Italy Uncategorized
/
No Comments

Il Dottore Selfie

So as most of you know I took a Dramaturgy course in Milan this semester. Our class finished up on Monday, and we had our final on Tuesday. This final was unlike any I have had in my four years at New Paltz. We as a class had spent our semester writing a play, in true commedia dell’arte fashion. We had two professors for this class: Laura & Stefano. Laura spent the first half of the semester teaching us the history of commedia dell’arte. Laura also helped us to write our scenes. Luckily for me, someone who has never written a play before, we were able to work in groups. With the help of Stefano we brought the words to life.

This was a long process. We went through many drafts, many opportunities for editing. Just when we thought we were done, there was always another change to be made. Stefano made cast decisions, and then for the second half of the semester we blocked and staged our production. I was cast as Il Dottore, the heavyset, old, know-it-all man. This was quite the humorous role for me. I have done a lot of theatre in the past, but I must say I have never done anything in the style of commedia dell’arte, so this was a first!

My mom actually sat in on the class a few weeks ago, so that she could see what I was up to. Needless to say, seeing us all in the masks, she got quite a kick out of it.

Monday was our final run-through, and despite (poorly timed) illness on my part, Tuesday we performed for the last time. The show: The Tooth Puller can be watched here on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLKQ_gNPa20

And with this my friends, I am done with classes, and in full finals mode! Tomorrow I have the end of year celebration and then I am actually off to watch Stefano perform in a commedia dell’arte play at Piccolo Teatro!

Till next time! Keep practicing those lines, and those lazzi!

Tamara

The Cast & Crew of The Tooth Puller

Ready For My Closeup

March 26, 2015
/
Europe Italy
/
No Comments

On the set of Pomeriggio Cinque!

The opportunities I have in Milan are truly mind-blowing. This past Monday I was able to take part in the recording of a television show, as a member of the studio audience. This is indeed something I have done before in the United States, so it was an interesting contrast to see what it was like in Italy. The even cooler part was that this was for one of my classes. Yes, this was a field trip for my Television, Advertising, Music: The Italian Approach to the Media class.

A screen grab from the episode itself

We were in the studio audience for the show Pomeriggio Cinque on Canale Cinque. The show is hosted by Barbara d’Urso. This really was a once in a lifetime opportunity for us. Here is a link to the show if anyone would like to watch the episode: http://www.video.mediaset.it/video/pomeriggio_5/full/lunedi-23-marzo_524295.html

Yes, the whole show was in Italian so I couldn’t really follow too much of it. But just by chance I got really great screen time, so that was pretty surreal. I kept gazing through the bright lights to the monitors, to see me looking back. I especially appreciated this considering I had not made the cut for screen time when I was in the studio audience for the Rachael Ray show (one of my idols).

The preparation for the show was MUCH more relaxed than for US television. The wardrobe requirements were simpler, and the seating was random. I was also exhausted because I flew in that morning from Barcelona. I went straight from Barcelona to class to the tv show. But I made sure to keep my eyes open as much as I could.

I would not be opposed to doing something like this again. I’m just excited to see what my next class trip looks like! Till next time, thanks for reading!

Tamara

P.S. No autographs please =P

My class with the host Barbara d’Urso

Just a Train Ride Away

February 26, 2015
/
Europe Italy
/
No Comments

Travel in my opinion is really what brings your study abroad experience to the next level. You crank out so much money, and travel so far to come start your life in a new destination. However, upon arriving you learn just how cheap, and how close other new, exciting places are to you. You have to make sure you don’t go too travel crazy, but with study abroad, the world really is your oyster. Or for any Friends fans, the world is your tub of ice cream and just like Ross we all must leave our comfort zones, and grab a spoon.

MK, Taylor, and I take on the Duomo!

Now keep in mind I have only been away from the United States for three weeks, but I already have been so many places, and have so many more trips planned. I have been around Milan, because you really should explore your home and become familiar with where you live. I love Milan, and can’t wait to explore it even further! Visiting other places also put my life in Milan in perspective, and I do not take for granted a single second how blessed I am to live here!

Touching Giulietta’s right breast is a sign of good luck in love

Beyond Milan, I have also tackled the famous V Italian cities: Verona, and Venice. As for Verona, what they say is true, Verona really is the city of love. I was enamored by the culture that Verona had to offer. LOVE is in the air, in this little Shakespearean utopia. I made sure to touch both Juliet’s right breast, as well as write a note to her for her wall. I think Juliet’s wall was one of my favorite things about Verona. It is just cool to see how many people have written to her, and then to become a part of that.

#NPsocial in Venice for Carnival

The key word for my trip to Venice was: adventure. That was the only way to describe it. Our ESN network at school offered a trip to Venice for Carnival, however unfortunately it filled up rather fast. Fellow New Paltz Hawk, Kara, and I were determined to experience carnival in Venice, truly a once in a lifetime experience. For me as cheesy as it may have been, this article that I received via email months ago was one of my driving factors behind the voyage: http://ilovefreeconcerts.com/20-amazing-festivals-around-world-must-see-die/

Kara and I did make it to Venice for carnival, which is all I could have ever asked for! The energy in Venice was just so electric, I was so in awe of the fact we had made it there. Plus spending Valentines Day like this wasn’t too shabby either. Don’t worry, I made sure to bring Kara some chocolate earlier that morning, because every girl deserves to have some chocolate on Valentines day.

Rainy day in Lugano!

Next up was my first trip out of Italy, however still by train. Ironically enough traveling to Switzerland proved to be even closer then any of our Italian voyages. I went to Lugano. Despite the weather not compromising with us, paying in Franks as opposed to Euros, and one miscommunication where I set off an emergency exit, I bought countless bars of Swiss chocolate & hot chocolate mix at the Schokoland and ate countless free samples. Being quite the chocoholic, this really made the trip worth it.

I am ready for many more adventures, all I can say is bring it on! These once and a lifetime opportunities will not be taken for granted by me. I am just ready for whatever comes next. Thanks for reading!

Till next time, I leave you with this photo of the magic that is Juliet’s wall in Verona:

Benvenuto a Milano!

February 23, 2015
/
Europe Italy
/
No Comments

Found this on the wall of my room in Milan, I knew it was where I was meant to be

I was so excited to get to Milan! I got off the airplane and there were so many other people waiting to be picked up by the housing service to be taken to our individual apartments. I met a lot of other girls from SUNY Albany! It was cool that even across the world, I still had some fellow SUNY sisters. We were divided up into cars, and taken to our apartments. I was supposed to be the first drop off, however, they had the wrong keys for me. I did panic internally a little, especially because I was the first person to arrive to my apartment, but I was calm knowing my housing service didn’t leave me alone. Everyone else was dropped off, and then I finally got in my home. Later that day though, my roommate Ashley from Buffalo State came home, so I was no longer alone. We napped, thus messing up our sleep schedule, but eventually we got the hang of the new time difference.

My school id card!

Right away the next day we had to go to school for Orientation. I had no idea how fast paced everything was, and how much we had to get done within our first week in Milan. We got the hang of the metro very quickly considering how we constantly had to run obscure errands all over Milano. We met so many people, in such a short amount of time!

Fellow SUNY sister Sarah and myself at orientation

The first week was jampacked, and our first weekend was that way as well. But I was so happy to finally be home =)

Welcome to Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore!

Exploring snowy Milan with my roommate Ashley, and housemate Bethany

Ciao USA

February 22, 2015
/
Italy
/
No Comments

It is strange how many mixed emotions one feels before they get ready to study abroad. I felt every single emotion humanly possible all at once. I was excited about traveling to Italy, a place I have never been before, and have always dreamed of going. I was nervous about the language barrier, having never learned a single word of Italian. I was in anticipation of the carb haven which awaited me. The month before I left flew right on by, especially because my mother was off to Hawaii for 2 weeks prior to my departure. I also wanted to make sure I said all my goodbyes, and then some. I ventured up to New Paltz for a few nights to say goodbye to everyone there, because by the time I fly home their semester will have ended. I was also very grateful for the wonderful friends in my life who attended my going away party in Queens.

Saying goodbye to my summer staff at Asian Fusion

Sisters of Kappa Alpha Gamma chapter of Kappa Delta Phi N.A.S. at my going away party

Luckily, just by chance I was flying on the same flight as another New Paltz student, Kara, so I had the comfort of knowing I would not be alone upon my arrival. I was also fortunate enough to have the knowledge that the housing service in Milan would be at the airport upon arrival to whisk us off to our individual apartments. Considering my lack of prior exposure to the Italian language, these were blessings for me.

Selfie with Kara at the airport

There was a lot that had to be done before I left. My flight was the same day as the Super Bowl, which was unfortunate however, Milan trumps football any day. My parents took me to the airport, and I was off to the biggest adventure of my life.