I was still completing my freshman year studying Mechanical Engineering when I decided to apply for the Materials in Milan study abroad program. The program was offered during the May mini-mester which worked out well because it also allowed me to work an internship over the summer. The intensity of completing a class in just 3 weeks might seem intimidating, but only having to focus on 1 class made it seem easier. MSE201 is a required Materials Science course for my major, so deciding to take this course abroad was an easy one. I also liked that this particular study abroad was UT faculty-led which made getting credit for the course as easy as taking a summer class in Knoxville. Studying abroad during the May minimester has helped me get ahead in my major and will hopefully help lighten the load in future semesters. The study abroad experience taught me a lot about the subject I studied, but it also taught me about the differences in cultures when comparing Italy and the U.S.. Now that I have experienced living abroad, I know that if I were given the option to study or intern abroad in the future, I would want to take advantage of the opportunity.

We had class most days of the week (even Saturdays) and had a test every week. However, the balance of several field trips that helped us relate what we were learning in class to real-world examples made the learning experience interesting and fun. For example, we attended the Giro d’Italia (Tour of Italy) and the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology.

Outside of the classes my classmates and I had free time to explore Milan in addition to a long weekend to travel outside of Milan if we wanted to. I chose to travel to Chamonix, France to see the French Alps. Talking with locals in both Italy and France was a highlight of the trip, the food was amazing everywhere I went. Overall, studying abroad was a fantastic experience and I would recommend it to anyone interested in traveling.

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