Ivana’s Mobility Experience: Hospitable People and the South of Italy, a Perfect Match
.jpg&h=1000)
Ivana Markovic, the student of the Faculty of Architecture in Podgorica, decided to apply for master studies at a foreign exchange program after graduated specialization studies. She chose the University of Polytechnic in Bari among a few given options.
‘The first reason was my desire to become familiar with Italian culture and architecture, and the second great experience of two students who had stayed in Bari a year before me’- Ivana said.
The student said that the residence in foreign country might have seemed terrifying because there were too many obligations to have been done upon arrival. However, with help of a colleague who introduced all administrative things and daily life in Bari to new students, they were also welcomed by the student organization of Erasmus+.
‘The first impression was great, even though you need some time to adapt - hospitable people and the South of Italy, the perfect match’’, Ivana said.
Ivana says that she has noticed many cultural differences.
‘Italians keep their culture and heritage. By saying this I don’t think only on collective consciousness about the importance of cultural treasures but also on conscious of each individual. However, they are not very open to cultures of other people and countries. Television, series, movies, absolutely all media are synchronized. That is one of the reasons why other languages, especially English, are not presented among youth. This is not the case in our country. If we make exception of basic knowledge of language learnt in school, I believe that for conversation in foreign language is also important listening or ‘absorption‘ through the media. What I would definitely like to see in our country is the love for life that Italians have, as well as fostering cultural, historical and architectural treasures‘‘, Ivana said.
In addition to cultural differences Ivana said that there are differences in study programs of home and exchange countries.
‘‘The students of architecture in our country have the right to choose their own style of expression, design of drawings; we are more technically oriented school. Every professor has a unified graphic for the subject at the Faculty of Architecture of Polytechnic in Bari. They think and talk differently about space in general at their faculty‘, Ivana said.
As she said, Ivana has a lot of free time speaking about faculty obligations; she has organized meetings with her mentor about paper on her master thesis. In addition to work and research, Ivana spends her free time with friends visiting nearby cities.
The student believes that her improvement of Italian Language will be helpful in her future work, as well as professional opinions of professors she had a chance to talk to.
‘’I believe that experiences like this may enrich a person, both on business and private field. Above all, I have learnt to think in a different way, I made new friendships and acquaintances from all over Europe’’, Ivana said.
Ivana says: ‘Don’t hesitate, because any experience is always a positive thing. Erasmus+ exchange really helps students in maturing and progress. You will meet new people, see new things and visit new places.’’