Ciao a tutti e tutte, sono Laura Maria, ho 23 anni, vengo dall'Italia, da Vellino, ma studio a Forlì all'Università di Bologna e sono una studenti esterasmus a Strasburgo.
(EN Translation: Hi everyone, my name is Maria Laura, I'm 23 years old, and I'm from Vellino, Italy. However, I'm currently a student at the University of Bologna in Forlì, and I'm an Erasmus student here in Strasbourg.)
How long have you been here? Have you had time to experience Strasbourg?
It's been six weeks since I arrived in Strasbourg, so it was the end of January. The weather was milder than I expected. I've already been to the Parliament. I've been feeling a bit more like a Strasbourger for the past two weeks, and yes, I almost always eat baguettes. I'm not sure if that really adds to my sense of being in Strasbourg or not. I'm not sure.
Why did you chose the city of Strasbourg and its university?
I chose the University of Strasbourg because it's a research university with many campuses throughout the city center. I believe there's truly a wealth of content and courses to choose from for my exams. I also have the opportunity to experience what it's like to study in France.
What was your mindset before leaving?
So, before leaving, I was quite excited, I would say, because new experiences always bring a certain enthusiasm but also a kind of anxiety... I had concerns... not really anxiety, but you know, you're going to a different city in a different country, and maybe people won't understand what you're saying if you have problems or if you're just trying to communicate with others and you don't feel really understood. But I would say I was quite ready to embrace these new experiences as well.
What would you say to encourage your peers to come and study at the University of Strasbourg?
I strongly encourage you to come to the University of Strasbourg because it's truly beautiful. The atmosphere is incredibly welcoming, and I would say you'll find your new home here too, thanks to all the different events throughout the city. Also, because of the European institutions, you'll feel even more European or part of an even bigger family called Europe.