5 weeks down the line, I have finally managed to remember to write something down! Time has passed by so quickly here that I didn’t actually realise that it had been quite so long since I’d written anything… So, what’s the most important thing I’ve learnt about life in Italy? It’s that about 90% of the people you see out and about are either walking their dog or pushing a baby around in a buggy! I’ve seen every breed of dog you can possibly imagine – Great Danes, Chihuahuas, Dachshunds, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Old English Sheep Dogs, Terriers… You name it I’ve seen it!! This is clearly a town of dog lovers. Which is really, really lovely actually, except that it makes me realise just how much I miss living with my 4-legged friend in Nantes! It’s so weird to once again be living without a pet in the house – I really hope my housemates go through with buying a kitten like they’ve been planning! I need some kind of animal companion in the apartment. Speaking of my apartment, I should probably expand on what’s happened here over the last few weeks…
Settling In
Finding somewhere to live actually turned out to be surprisingly easy! I found a notice pinned to the university noticeboard and sent a text inquiring about the room… Within a few hours I’d set up a meeting to view the room (for 2 days later), and 2 days after that I signed the contract before moving in the next day, after dropping my mother off in Milan to catch the plane home – I was so surprised to have somewhere to live and be all moved in less than a week after arriving! Luckily for me, housing has been really easy to sort, both here and in France 🙂
My housemates are all really lovely… I currently live with 3 Italian girls; although only two are actually here at the moment. The third has moved back home because she’s finished her degree and will be graduating in about 2 weeks time – I shall tell you all about the ceremony! (And of course the after-party too!!!). The girls are lovely – one is doing the Italian equivalent of a masters in Engineering, and the other is a first year Law student; both very, very busy people. They’ve adopted me into the house and we all get on really well. They always make sure to include me in any plans they have and we’ve had meals at their friends’ houses a few times already.
Compared to my experience in France, the administrative process was also extremely simple! Everything was all sorted within 3 days, and I have been able to just sit back and start enjoying my time here. The only similarity that Pavia University administration has in common with that of the uni in Nantes, is that nobody is ever in the Erasmus office during their office hours. I have been trying for weeks now to get my Certificate of Arrival returned to me so that i can send it back to Cardiff!! Luckily it seems that Pavia University has forward the document for me without letting me know – helpful and yet ridiculously irritating all at the same time.
Since getting here, I have done a fair bit of sight-seeing. Mum and I wandered around the town a lot while she was here, and we spent my birthday trying to find all the main tourist attractions here in town so that I could have a nice set of photos to mark my 21st birthday!
I’ve since done some more wandering on my own, and I also spent a weekend sight-seeing in Milan (which I will write about next!) as I am determined to see more of Italy than I managed to see of France. I have officially found my favourite part of Pavia and I have been known to spend hours and hours there. So where is it? My favourite part of Pavia are the forest trails that run alongside the river for miles and miles. On a sunny day it is amazingly peaceful to just wander along and have time to yourself to think or even just to daydream – which I am known to do more often that is healthy. It’s also a great place to sit, if you can find a picnic bench that’s free, and read; or even start working on ideas for a blog post. I’ve never seen a more gorgeous place, and it’s particularly special to me because it reminds me very much of home at times!
The most exciting news that I have to share so far, is that I have booked a trip to Budapest for the end of May, as a good friend of mine is turning 21 and that is where she would like to spend her birthday! Seeing as I spent a fair few Sundays watching tv with her in her little cell (AKA: Nantes student accomodation), it will be great to see get out and see the world with her for company. I should probably learn a couple of key phrases in Hungarian before I go though! For right now though, I have plenty of work to do with revising for my Mythology exam next week – I have never been so terrified to face an exam before!! Note to any and all Erasmus students that may be reading this: Do yourselves a favour and make wise module choices in your host countries! For instance, Mythology is a rather specialised subject, and not one that I would recommend dipping into for 6 weeks. I know nowhere near enough to be able to pass this exam, but I shall have to do my very best all the same!
So what’s the moral of this month’s update?
Be careful which module choices you make, because it may come back to bite you later on in the year!!
Welsh Lass Lost In Translation 