First Semester

The past four months have both flown by and felt like a lifetime. This feels like home, but also like a vacation that is going to be over in the blink of an eye. I’ve already learned so much about the world, wine, and actually, womanhood. I don’t really know how to put it all into words. I feel like I have a mental block because I’ve just been living, and sometimes it’s hard to reflect on life. You can write a book about a vacation—the things you see and do and the people you meet. But it’s a little harder to write about your day to day in a meaningful way. So! I’ll do my best to share what I’ve learned:

The World

I knew moving abroad would involve a bit of a culture shock, but I did not expect to fall in love with the way of life so wholly. Slow mornings, where you won’t find a soul on the streets before 8 am; strolling around the markets after eating a €2.50 breakfast (of a cappuccino and a croissant); a leisurely lunch (and maybe a nap) when all the shops close up for a few hours each afternoon; aperitivos with friends in the early evenings; drawn out, delicious dinners filled with laughter and wine; gelato before heading home and snuggling into bed. Of course, not every day looks like this... many are full of late busses and long hours at school or work and meals lacking proper nutrients and scrolling on your phone and being annoyed that every shop is closed when you need something. But despite the minor inconveniences of closed stores and unreliable public transportation, I love it here. The relaxed way of living. The consistent inconsistency. The way that their daily/weekly/monthly schedules revolve around to rest. I'm more nervous about the culture shock I'll get when I go back to The States.

There are some things about the culture though that frankly, I find stupid: Why can’t I order a cappuccino in the afternoon? Why can’t I have an espresso before a meal instead of after? Why can’t I eat dinner till after 8? Why isn’t soup considered a meal? Why shouldn’t I have an Aperol spritz after 9? Italians sure love their food and drinks and the rules they created around them. I admire them for it—their pride in their cuisine and culture—even though I get annoyed and sometimes go against their food laws anyway.

Wine

The best part about going to school for winemaking are the practical experiences like tastings and fieldtrips. It’s been amazing visiting wine regions I’ve dreamed about going to. To see the sights and the production facilities and drink the wine.

This Friday, we went on a fieldtrip to Piemonte to learn about Barolo and Barbaresco. It was stunning. They say it’s the best red wine in the world and—although I do miss big reds from Washington State and I do love a good Rhone or Bordeaux blend from France—I agree. Piemonte has been one of the top 5 wine regions on my bucket list, and it exceeded my expectations.

We went to one smaller winery in Serralunga d’Alba called Ettore Germano, which had a stunning view, then we headed to Asti and went to Pico Maccario. It’s the biggest winery in the region and, naturally, is more mechanized. Usually, I opt for smaller wineries, but I was blown away by Pico Maccario. I saw my first grape harvesting combine there, which shakes the vines and collects the bunches, sorting them into A and B baskets based on the fruit quality the machine assesses. As a girl who grew up getting to join my grandpa in the combine for wheat harvest, I kind of freaked out. What a cool machine!! Their marketing is also fantastic—everything is color pencil themed. Each row of vines is marked by a different giant colored pencil, and each type of wine is put in a case that's shaped like a colored pencil as well. How fun!!

In my opinion, based on the three fieldtrips I’ve gone on this month, Veneto had the best views (Prosecco Valley is a must if you are ever in Northern Italy); Trentino had the Dolomites andthe most unique and well-run wineries; Piemonte had the best wine.

As we were leaving Ettore Germano, the owner said, “I hope you increase your knowledge, but mostly your passion about wine”.  Amen. The more I learn about wine, the more I fall in love with it. It’s so fun to have a passion!

Womanhood

I have never considered myself a girls’ girl. I was a tomboy as a kid, have always been friends with more guys, and girl friendships can be hard. But this year I realized how fun it is to be a girl. Maybe it’s because living alone really makes you feel like the leading lady in a rom com. Maybe it's because I have such an incredible group of girl friends here. Maybe it's because in Italy, the style is more feminine and the looks are more natural. Maybe it's because as I approach 25, I am finally appreciating my body as it is, and I'm more focused on being healthy than looking healthy. Maybe it’s because The Barbie Movie, The Eras Tour, and trends like "girl math" and "girl dinner" have taken over the world. Maybe it's a combination of all of the above!

When I moved, I fully expected to be lonely for at least six months. Like Cameron Diaz's character in the holiday when she goes to England and spends the first night bored out of her mind watching movies, drinking wine, and singing Mr. Brightside alone in her cozy quarters abroad. Sure, that sounds kind of fun, but can you imagine how boring that movie would've been if Jude Law hadn't shown up?

Thankfully, after just a couple lonely nights of movies, books, wine, and singing alone in my apartment, school started. And I met the most amazing group of girls. Within thirty minutes of meeting, we knew who out of the ten of us had cried the night before. Within the first week, we had spent 6/7 days together. Within the first month, I had invites to visit 5 different girls in their home countries for Christmas. I have never experienced a "sisterhood" like this.

We are so different, with different interests and from different backgrounds, but we laugh at the same things. When we are sad or sick or stressed, we lift each other up. Being in a new country means gaining a new family of sorts, and I'm so grateful for the fun, strong, smart, and caring women that are in my corner over here.

...

I'm writing this post from the airport. I'm about to be flying home for the holidays! It's a bittersweet feeling. A whole month away from this slow life, these sweet friends.

I'm looking forward to seeing my family back home, drinking Washington wines, and going to Trader Joe's... but I'm also so excited to come back and keep developing my knowledge, my passions, and my friendships.

Cheers!!