From Classico to Calcio

Shannon O'Leary
Feb 25, 2017
2 min read

It's hard to believe I have been living in Milan for over six weeks. It feels like I get a lot out of every day but time already feels like it's running out. Since my last post a few extra special events have occurred, including a piano recital and my first soccer game.

February 14th my chamber class and I headed to the Verdi Conservatory to watch and incredible performance by Sir Andras Schiff. His program included the works of Bach, Bartok, Janacek, and Schumann (sorry I don't have all the fancy accents, I can't find them on my computer). During the first half, Schiff alternated between Bach and Bartok creating interesting and positive results. If you know these two composers you'll know they'll fairly different and juxtaposing them in a concert was set up for very provocative discussion. Janacek and Schumann in the second half also created an interesting atmosphere. Each half was performed continuously (and from memory) with no applause between pieces.

The exposure to music here is what you make of it (as is with anywhere you are) and these opportunities are worth taking up.

Speaking of taking up opportunities, my first European soccer game was everything you'd think it'd be and more. In Italian, soccer=football= "calcio" (pronounced: "kal-ch-o"). The game was home and IES offered a group excursion to the event. Milano vs. Firenze and our seats were in the aficionado section.

There were banners, there was paraphernalia, there were countless songs and cheers custom not only to the team, but to the section we were sitting it. Unmoved by the swears when the other team scored (as many Americans would be) it was mostly the thrashing and pushing and setting things on fire after the home team scored that made the experience extraordinary. I'm not saying getting pushed off your seat is the ideal situation but being prepared and going with the flow helped you to enjoy the experience.

In the end, Milano won 2-1 and it was another quest entirely to get out of the stadium and back to the metro. Did I mention this "school field trip" was on a Sunday? With class the next morning? Well my 12:30 bedtime may have left me tired the next day, but experiencing calcio in Italy was definitely one for the bucket list.