On Babes Wandering Abroad we share experiences of babes who live, work or study abroad to help and inspire other women. It can be good to read about someone else’s experience, in the hope you can get something out of it.
Via Instagram we got in touch with Eliana, a Portugese girl who is currently doing her Erasmus in Italy. We asked her whether she would be open to share her experiences on her (erasmus) life in Padua, and she said yes! Read how Eliana is experiencing her Erasmus journey in Italy.
Erasmus in Padua, Italy
What is your name, nationality and age, and where are you doing your erasmus?
My name is Eliana. I am 24 years old and I am Portuguese. I am doing my Erasmus in Padua, Italy.
Why were you interested in doing your erasmus in Padua, Italy?
I always wanted to go on Erasmus but as I study law, I was afraid of doing it during my bachelors. I have heard many stories of people who went on Erasmus and didn’t have part of the credits recognized at my home University (because the laws are different from country to country).
Anyway, now I am doing my master’s in international law, and going on Erasmus made all the sense. Plus, as I already took all my exams, my only task here is to write my thesis, which in normal conditions would give me plenty of flexibility to travel. That was my main goal for Erasmus – travel as much as I could!
Regarding the country choice, as I am a trainee it was mandatory having an adviser in the host Institution. That meant I had to be the one contacting the professor/university and convince them to accept me. And, trust me, it’s not that easy. Half of my classmates also applied for Erasmus and all of them told me that almost nobody was replying to their emails.
My strategy was to ask my adviser back in Portugal for some names that would be interesting to work with and that would be likely to accept me (as they know my adviser in Portugal). He suggested either Italy or Belgium. Italy had the best weather and Padua was the cheapest best-located city, with a prestigious University. It seemed like a natural choice.
How do you experience living abroad in Italy?
I didn’t have the chance of travelling a lot before coming here, but I had been to Italy before and I already spoke the language (I studied Italian in my home University for 2 years before my Erasmus). So, I was counting on having a very easy adaptation. Well… it wasn’t as easy as I expected.
When I arrived here at the end of October, all the Erasmus students seemed to have already created groups and were not that open to meet new people. Plus, as I came here only to do research (which means reading and writing alone), I didn’t have many chances to meet new people and it took me some months to make friends. For that reason, I advise any Erasmus coming on my conditions to come at the beginning of the semester, as a regular student. On the second semester, for example, I started meeting the new Erasmus right after they arrived and things were much easier.
Regarding Padua itself, I found people very welcoming and the food is very good. The location is perfect (20 minutes from Venice, close to Treviso Airport and well connected with other cities by train).
Nevertheless, the weather isn’t the best in Italy – the city is full of fog during winter and it’s very hot during summer.
Would you recommend doing an Erasmus in Italy, and why?
It depends a lot on the student’s priorities. On the one hand, Italy is a great place to live, eat and travel.
On the other hand, it’s a bit expensive (at least for a Portuguese student) and some Erasmus complained that the exams were hard. Plus, professors usually don’t speak English, which makes communication harder.
I guess Italy is a good choice if you don’t mind some obstacles. You have to study, but you also get to have lots of fun!
Are there any tips you would like to share about Padua or Italy in general?
First, I advise people to try more than pasta and pizza in Italy. Italian gastronomy has much more to offer than that and it varies a lot from region to region. For example, in this region (Veneto), they eat more rice and polenta.
Second, learn some Italian. Most Italians don’t speak English, so it’s always useful to know the basics.
Third, if you’re coming to Padua, buy a bicycle. This city is incredibly easy to explore by bike!
What advice would you give to other girls who want to do an Erasmus or go study abroad?
I know many girls (and boys) are afraid of moving to a foreign country alone. Many people try to go with a friend, so they feel less insecure. That is ok, but this is also a great opportunity to go solo for the first time.
It’s amazing how self-discovering it can be going on Erasmus by yourself. Plus, you won’t be alone because you will meet many other students in the same situation. Everyone is basically trying to make friends and having a good time.
In any case, be careful and do your research before you go. For example, study the map of the host city in order not to get lost while holding big luggage upon arrival and try to find accommodation in a safe part of the city. This can be the best experience of your life, so we don’t wanna any bad situation to ruin it.
Have fun!
Many thanks to Eliana, we are very happy and grateful that she was willing to share her stoy. She hopes to inspire and help other girls by sharing it. You can follow Eliana on Instagram (@erasmusgirl) where she takes you on her Erasmus journey abroad in Italy. You can also visit her website www.erasmusgirl.com on where she also writes about her (erasmus) experiences living abroad.
Would you like to share your story or experience? Get in touch with us! Send us a DM on Instagram (@babeswanderingabroad) or send an e-mail to mail@babeswanderingabroad.nl