Sojin Josephson

I’ve been staring at this page for awhile trying to gather my thoughts about my upcoming journey. I’m going to study at the Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, Italy for a semester. Then I’ll spend about a month exploring the rest of Europe. I have anticipated this trip since I applied last year, but really I have anticipated it since junior high when I told my parents I’d be going to school abroad while in college. I am now one day out and probably underprepared, but still struggling to grasp that I won’t be in the U.S. at this time Sunday or the next six months (in retrospect, not that long.)

I’m actually surprised I’m sitting here writing about this journey. Generally I go for safe decisions. For most of my life, I have been the type of person to attend social activities only because I thought I had to, but I would have much rather stayed home to read. I can’t say I’m that person anymore, but nonetheless am now adventuring off to find new friends, a new culture and a new language. But rewinding a few months, I decided to take a chance and apply to go to school in Milan—a choice that was fast, unplanned and exciting. I originally wanted to go to the UK, but felt that was yet, another safe choice. So Italy it is. I’ve been practicing Italian on Duolingo for the last few weeks, but I’ve barely covered the basics. I’m going to try to embrace and navigate the new culture as best as I can.

It’s always hard to leave behind the familiar and I had a tough time leaving Missoula in December. Last semester was an adventure in and of itself and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. This week my fellow UMers started spring semester, and it feels odd to be in Big Timber still. Now, after a long six-week winter break, I’m ready to get back to school and learn how education works in another country, but I think I’m more excited for what I’ll learn outside the classroom. I enjoy school to the point where I feel a bit antsy when I’m not going to class or doing schoolwork—something I hope to change, or at least work on, while abroad. I take many mental notes throughout the course of a day, but the stories, culture and history that I can’t quite remember or put into words, I hope to capture through pictures. I got my first real camera, a Canon DSLR, this week (cutting it close, I know) and am eager to start slowly learning the hundreds of buttons and functions. My goal is to write everyday, even if only for myself, to document this experience and discover a more economic and resourceful writing method than I have now.

Well, I just packed up my entire life into one suitcase (a challenge for me) and am headed out. I have a couple of Rick Steves’ Italian phrase and guidebooks, not enough pairs of shoes and a journal. I haven’t made a single list (with the exception of places I want to visit while abroad), which is unusual for me. Normally I plan out every minute of the day with things to do and then cross them out one by one with my favorite red pen. But I’m happy to not have a plan. I’m just going to get on the plane and wait to see what the coming months bring—the things I’ll learn, the people I’ll meet and the places I’ll go.

Things I’m going to miss: Skippy peanut butter, driving, Costco, my books, my dog and bathroom dance parties with Mom. But I’m ready to eat gelato, laugh (a lot) at my mistakes and drink enough wine to forget I made the mistakes in the first place. Kidding, Dad.

But it’s not goodbye, it’s see you later. Arrivederci!

-Sojin