Moving to Milano

After a short orientation period at the Terazetta, a wine vineyard in Pavia, I finally settled into my apartment in Milan. Located in the Indian immigrant section of the city, it is a short walk to the metro, walking distance to school, and conveniently located near two grocery stores. I am in love with the character in the apartment. The style of cabinetry in both the kitchen and in our bedrooms is from the early 20th Century, and the chandelier in the living room makes the apartment more of a home to me than a typical dorm-style living area. This homeliess is making adjusting to European life easier, though it has been difficult leaving home for such an extended period of time. My favorite part of the apartment, however, is the Kawai upright piano, rented especially for me by my program director. It has really been convenient and comforting to practice in the apartment instead of in a practice room at an institution.