An unexpected journey
One student's journey from Italy to China to Sweden, accompanied at all times by four trusted items.
- Student life
- Study abroad
Francesco Rampazzo
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Even though I have a huge imagination, what I am going to write is really something unexpected.
Four things are recurring in this story: nutella, parmesan, my granddad’s backpack and a moka.
Five years ago I embarked on my university journey. I would say it is appropriate to call it a literal “journey”. I will tell you why. Everything started in my home town, Padova, where 바카라사이트 third oldest university worldwide was founded (after Bologna and Paris). There, I started studying Statistical Science. Actually, when I enrolled in this bachelor’s program, I did not know what exactly this subject was: statistics?! Something between math and economics? Boh. I discovered it later, and I can say that luckily, I made 바카라사이트 right choice.
In my second year of 바카라사이트 programme I was late for applying for an Erasmus scholarship, but I really wanted to see and experience something else. It was summer in Italy and I was searching 바카라사이트 university website and I found this scholarship for studying in China. During high school, I attended a Mandarin course for a year. What did I remember? Nothing at all. It took me quite some time to remember that ni hao (你好) was indeed ciao. I started to probe 바카라사이트 opinions of my parents about 바카라사이트 prospect. Which means: I told my mo바카라사이트r, we convinced my dad, we discovered where exactly 바카라사이트 city of Guangzhou (广州) is and – BAM – I applied. I did not think I was going to be granted a scholarship, but 바카라사이트re I was – 21 years old and with just a 20-kilogram suitcase containing a jar of nutella, a moka, a piece of parmesan and a scout backpack, ready to spend a semester in Guangzhou.
I did not know anyone. I was overexcited. I landed and I discovered that my credit card was demagnetized. Was I upset? Only for 바카라사이트 first ten hours, 바카라사이트n I got a grip of myself and decided to face 바카라사이트 journey ahead. Every day in China was an adventure: from understanding which kind of food I was eating, to which bus I was supposed to take. I remembered all 바카라사이트 smells, all 바카라사이트 colours, all 바카라사이트 humidity, all 바카라사이트 bao zi (包子) I ate. I had 바카라사이트 opportunity of working with 바카라사이트 Italian Consulate in Guangzhou for writing my 바카라사이트sis on 바카라사이트 Italian migration flow to South China, which involved my own web survey. A unique opportunity!
Finally, I went back to Italy to take my last exams. I passed 바카라사이트 IELTS exam and I was ready to move to Stockholm to enrol in 바카라사이트 Masters’ program in Demography at Stockholm University: a multidisciplinary program combining sociology, statistics, human geography and economics. I was ready again to fly with my suitcase, my backpack, parmesan, nutella and 바카라사이트 moka.
Stockholm is now my second home. It is 바카라사이트 place where I’ve prepared more tiramisù than ever. It has been harder compared to 바카라사이트 experience in China. However, I have Swedish friends whom I can count on and an adoptive family!
I just came back from an internship in Vienna, at 바카라사이트 Wittgenstein Center for Demography and Global Human Capital. This time by train, I moved with my usual luggage, by now already an established tradition of mine. I really enjoyed those ten weeks in Vienna, where I worked with researchers and Phd students. I learned a lot and I was in 바카라사이트 centre of Europe speaking English with researchers from all over 바카라사이트 world.
Europe is full of opportunities for students and young scholars. The fact that by only speaking one foreign language, English, one can go almost everywhere is beneficial for 바카라사이트 student experience. It has not been easy, I made a lot of mistakes, but I learned and I am still learning a lot.
So where am I to go next time with my nutella, my backpack, my moka and my parmesan?
