* This was written 2 days before the lockdown of the whole country, click here if you want to watch my news interview withy Fox10 News’ Shelby Myers. A friend of mine and my previous mentor when I was doing my internship at WXXV News 25 in Gulfport Mississippi*
It has been a while since I gave an update on life here and just in general so here goes my PSA that things are fine.
I am healthy or should I say not infected with the coronavirus.
I have had MANY Facebook messages, texts, emails, insta DMs and communication via all social media platforms about what’s going on. Am I coming home? Am I staying inside? Blah blah blah.
The answer is no (sorry mom).
When the news first broke that Milan was the newest “hot spot” for the coronavirus, everyone fled. Even I got on a plane and left for some days to “escape” to Paris with my best friend Caroline!
Fact is, everything is fine here. Even if I was able to come home, I would most likely be quarantined for a couple days or whatever the US is doing to those people coming from the “red zones”. Which defeats the purpose of me coming home just to be stuck in another form of isolation. The only reason I even considered going home is because I would like to retrieve the rest of my belongings to bring back to Milan because believe it or not I still have more stuff to bring.
Classes have been postponed/moved to an online setting for the time being just to cut down on the public interaction per the Italian Government’s requirement. But life is still carrying on as normal.
The ministry has closed down the Lombardia area. So no one goes in or out. It’s just a mess of chaos and not clear information from anyone.
I appreciate everyones concerned messages and the people checking in on me!! Just wash your hands and stay healthy there (NC especially since now y’all have it too). Does anyone else find it funny that adults are being told to wash their hands regularly now?? Like did y’all not do that before the hype of this virus broke?? Just wondering.
SOOOOOO anyways, back to normal content, not virus related.
School is going great. Its so cool getting to learn about stuff I am genuinely interested in, and what I want to do with my life. Talking to people who know what I am talking about. I am able geek over who wore what in fashion shows and how some looks aren’t as great with people who understand. This is something that seems so small, but its awesome to me. Express
ing my feelings about brands, ads, and anything fashion related feels so good.
I wish I could properly describe how much I have enjoyed being here. How much I have appreciated my life and the opportunities to be here. I was even more excited to experience two fashion weeks. Here in Milan and on my spontaneous trip to Paris. I got to live out all my Devil Wears Prada dreams, and pretend I was Carrie Bradshaw circa season 6 of Sex and the City for a couple of days.
Learning online has been a struggle, because I am such a hands on person and love learning in a class setting or being able to go out and learn. So adjusting to my new classroom via the computer sitting in Starbucks for 6 hours at a time has been weird. Not the sitting in Starbucks part, that I am a pro at…especially if you knew me in undergrad. I am STILL waiting for WCU to give my girl Sheridan and I a plaque for the table we sat at daily for hours and hours.
The only thing I am worried about in the coming days/weeks, is the feeling of being “trapped” here in Milano. Before I was fine, sure bored at times, but managing. I had plans to go to Florence and Venice before the whole situation blew up. Now that the government has shut down the whole Lombardy state and we are stuck in this region, I know I will have a claustrophobic feeling. I do not do well staying in one place or doing the same thing every single day. So stay tuned on how the next month goes for me.
Until then, I hope y’all enjoy your first days of March and I’ll update you soon.
As always ending with a verse that I feel relevant to the current situation:
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
REBECCA ROSS 
Becca, I truely enjoy reading your updates. I think about you so often and pray for you all the time. I also saw your interview Fox10 that you posted. I am busy planting tomato seeds (about 3,000 so far and still planting) Would love to chat some time. Love you! Aunt Cindy
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