The day started off with a session where we learned some basics of the Italian language. I found it very interesting because I noticed some similarities between Italian and French, which I studied for 5 years in grade school. I feel much more prepared to order at restaurants, ask for directions, and really communicate in general.

Next, we had a free lunch, so we broke up into groups and found different places to eat. We decided to try a place called Eataly. Inside, there were three floors, one with a market and desserts, one with food including pizza, pasta, and sandwiches, and one with wine. I enjoyed a delicious ham sandwich on flaky focaccia bread.

My favorite part of the day was our walking tour through Milan. We saw everything from glass and steel skyscrapers to traditional Italian-style buildings on cobblestone streets. The architecture is beautiful throughout the city. We saw some historical sites along the way and got to learn some history about Italy and specifically, Milan. I loved seeing so many different shops and eateries during this tour, as well. We were lucky enough to look around in a shop called Corso Como that carried many designer brands such as Gucci. We walked through an absolutely gorgeous Galleria that had even more Italian designer shops such as Versace, Prada, and Louis Vuitton. We ended the tour at the Duomo di Milano, an enormous, breathtaking cathedral. The architecture and detailing was truly something I have never seen before.