When I got accepted to the Bocconi Summer School, I knew it was going to be more than just a simple journey from A to B. I planned to visit different countries that interested me, and I was ready to embrace the opportunity to travel, discover new cultures, and experience different approaches to life across Europe. I was also curious about how the experience in Milan would be and how studying at Bocconi would be different from studying at the University of Sussex.
My journey to the summer school experience at Bocconi University started with my trip from London to Amsterdam, during which I noticed cultural differences in people, their massive use of bicycles, and a more active approach to recycling and sustainability. The way society shifted to accommodate more bicycle use, together with the implementation of cycling lanes and bicycle facilities, allowed people to massively switch from cars to bicycles. It was interesting to witness the different approaches to sustainability.
Then I moved from Amsterdam to Basel and Zurich for two short stops that didn’t even last a day. The availability of drinking water impressed me. Instead of buying bottles from shops, people simply refilled their flasks wherever they wanted. Basel, which is closer to Germany but still part of Switzerland, had harsher recycling methods, while Zurich was much softer in that regard.
The whole trip was extremely interesting because I got to try local food, meet different people, and travel. However, my final journey from Zurich to Milan went through the Alps, one of the loveliest ways to travel. It was truly marvelous. The only downside was that I had already spent so much energy that I fell asleep halfway through the Alps and woke up in Italy on the way to Milan. That’s how my journey got me from London to Milan.
I chose to travel by train because I thought it was more sustainable than flying. I also wanted to see different countries on the way to my final destination.
Bocconi University surprised me with its teaching styles, the direct approach of the teachers, and the corporate encounters. I really enjoyed the way they blended industry experience with education that would normally only be shown in textbooks.
So far, I have met many nice people and visited places in Milan, from the Prada Museum to Lake Como. I have really enjoyed the journey so far and look forward to what else this experience will bring.
Additionally, our course at Bocconi University has students from many different countries. We only have two people from Italy on our course, which was quite surprising to me. It has allowed me to see the blend of different cultures and how well people can get along despite coming from all around the world.
