This morning, as I was walking to school, I was in a hurry because I was a bit late. As I rushed down the street, I shoved my hands in my pockets and tried to stay warm. In this moment I thought to myself, ‘gosh, I wish there was more light on this road, the buildings block the sun!’ A few seconds later I found myself thinking, wait a minute. These beautiful, Renaissance Italian buildings are blocking the sun. It amazed me that already it seems so normal to me that I am living in Italy.

When I first arrived, the chaos and difficulties of everyday tasks frustrated me. Today however, when I have to complete ludicrously useless bureaucratic tasks (i.e. talk to professor about scheduling an early exam, get directed to the manager didattica, get directed to another office so that the Erasmus tutor can email my professors to ask them exactly what I have already asked in person…) I just go with it and laugh. Even when my bike was stolen, I had to laugh it off and walk home. Welcome to Ferrara, my roommates told me.

When I noticed this weekend that my almost-dry clothes on the line were getting rained on, I just had to marvel at the hilarity and move on. Make a cappuccino, read a book, relax, and just enjoy the (bumpy) ride.