Pickpocketing tourists in common tourism spots can happen
Common for businesses to close midday after lunch and reopen later for dinner.
People are always dressed well, so no wearing sweatpants outside.
keep your eye open at prices before you go and while you're buying things. When you travel to a place for long periods of time the prices fluctuate quite a lot, just always be on the lookout for prices.
Maybe buy a few new clothes or bring only certain things from your wardrobe. With Italy being a much more put-together place you might not want to the one that looks extremely odd. The weather is also different there so pack responsibly with what you will actually need.
Be prepared to walk, make sure you bring good shoes and you're ready to walk if you're not used to walking a lot maybe take some time out of your day to go on a walk just so you can get in the swing of things and not be immensely shocked when you get to Milan.
You will be using public transportation quite often, try not to think about it being similar to American transportation it is much nicer than ours so don't come in with a bad attitude about it. Always be open to try new things!
Learn a few common phrases in Italian! simple things that you know will pop up often if you just need to ask a question. Things like "How much", "where's the bathroom", "dinner, lunch, breakfast", "thank you", "hello", and "how are you" all things like those just so you know something to say and you can maybe deduce what they are trying to say. Or things that have different meanings in Italy for example latte, in Italian that just means milk, not coffee and milk, if you're a heavy coffee drinker maybe learn a simple order just in case.
Don't be in denial when you come to the point where you miss your home and family which is completely normal. Just like moving to college or a new school, you are going to miss your home. But don't let that stop you from trying out new things. You know it's going to come but don't try to push it down or take over your whole body be one to accept it for how it is.
always be a little cautious when eating new food, always try new things but if you see it is not looking great maybe don't or if you try something and it doesn't sit right maybe don't go for that dish again. But always try new things!