Category: Mattie in Sorrento

Prior to my arrival in Italy, I didn’t know what differences to expect between this and my previous study abroad experience in Morocco. The biggest, and most unexpected, shock was the tourism scene. Meknes is no Marrakech, Chefchaouen, or Tangier when it comes to people visiting Morocco from abroad. My ten classmates and I stuck out like sore thumbs among the quiet city of locals going about their daily business. Sorrento, Italy, however, is a HUGE tourist destination. It’s difficult to feel out of place here because it seems like everyone is out of place. People come from all over the world to experience this beautiful town by the Italian seaside. I’m still not sure which setting I prefer. I felt more immersed in the local culture and routines in Morocco but Sorrento is so energetic and lively.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mattie (@mattie.goes.abroad)

Going to school in Sorrento definitely has its quirks, though. For example, my apartment here is about a 25-minute walk from the school. I don’t mind the walk, but the insane pedestrian traffic can get annoying from time to time. It makes sense: people on vacation with their partner or family strolling around and slowly taking everything in. Then suddenly a 21-year-old girl comes quickly weaving through the crowd like her life depends on it. I must look ridiculous whenever I’m running late to class. My education is everyone else’s vacation. I’m grateful that at least my apartment itself is slightly out of the way of the main city hub–definitely more than worth the half-hour walk.

The fun part about the walk is getting to see everyone having fun, dressing up, and letting loose. I like to live vicariously through couples day-drinking by the beach, girls getting their photos taken in elegant dresses, couples celebrating their weddings, and families enjoying fancy Italian restaurants. It’s hard to feel burnt out after a long day when there is so much vibrant relaxation all around you.

In all, I feel very lucky that I’ve been able to experience both of these settings. I’ve loved (and been slightly annoyed by) both, and I can’t wait to live out the rest of my time here in Sorrento.

Leading up to my semester in Italy, there was a sequence of events that had me joking about hopefully getting to go. This was in reference to my student visa, specifically the lack thereof. In all honesty, I submitted my application on the later side of the application window, but my passport and attached visa were still supposed to be arriving on time. As my departure day drew nearer, and as I continued to receive no information about the whereabouts of these documents, I became very very worried. So, the joke that I’d “maybe or maybe not” be going was born. A prime example of using humor to mask stomach-wrenching anxiety.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mattie (@mattie.goes.abroad)

Also experiencing these issues was my boyfriend, Boden, who is enrolled in the same program. He lives within driving distance to the Chicago consulate, so that Thursday, with only 2 days before leaving he went to check on the status of both our applications. Miraculously, the consulate said they were mailing both of ours out that afternoon. Now, he was able to pick his up immediately. Mine was a different story. I had paid for regular shipping on my return package, and it was a holiday weekend… so my package would arrive that Friday at the earliest. Thus ensued the wild goose chase around Chicago that I sent Boden on. With the help of my savior (the manager at the Montrose UPS Store), I had a plan. I’d pay for a new overnight shipping label; scan it on my phone and email it to Boden; he’d take it to a UPS store in Chicago to get it printed; and finally, he’d take the new label back to the consulate to swap out with my old label which was currently on the package. After a few hours, the plan was finished, and the new overnight-shipping label was attached to my envelope. I’d like to thank the Montrose UPS Store, Chicago UPS Store, and most of all, Boden for running around Chicago for multiple hours.

The entire rest of the day, I refreshed the UPS tracking website until the expected arrival date popped up: Tuesday. At this point, it was Thursday, and my flight was Saturday. I paid for overnight shipping, so clearly this must’ve been a mistake. But with the schedule of UPS pick-up in Chicago and the fact that it was Labor Day weekend combined to turn my overnight shipping into 5-day shipping. After all that, I’d still be rescheduling my flight and arriving in Sorrento 4 days late.

In a strange way, the certainty of it all was calming. I was getting the documents on Tuesday, flying out on Wednesday, and getting to Italy on Thursday. But still­ while my peers were going to be at welcome dinners and programmed pool parties, I would be stuck at home rewatching the Hunger Games trilogy, reading, and playing the Sims. I was experiencing FOMO more than I had in quite a long time.

Being at home that Saturday, though, made everything more than worth it. Since I refused to sit at home and let my emotions consume me, I dragged my younger sister out of the house to go on a hike in Telluride. That drive, hike, and the subsequent root beer floats were the best moments I’ve spent with my sister since I lived at home full-time. She is by far one of the funniest people that I’ve ever met–and she had me belly-laughing all day long. It reminded me of how much I treasure our relationship, and how lucky I am to have such a close relationship with my sibling. That one day more than made up for the days I lost in Italy.

Then Tuesday finally came. A package arrived on my doorstep with my passport inside, with my visa inside the passport. A weight was lifted off my shoulders, especially after learning that multiple other students in my program had been experiencing the same visa issues. In fact, there were two other DU students arriving at the airport around the same time I was.

Despite my initial jokes, I did eventually make it to Sorrento, Italy. Looking back, I don’t think I’d change anything that happened. I wish I’d been a little more relaxed, but that’s about it. I needed the extra time with family, so a slightly-extended-summer is what I got. I guess everything happens for a reason.

Ciao,

Mattie