Catarina's Interview

PROFILE

Name: Catarina

Surname: Gonçalves

Nationality: Portuguese

Age: 21

General Information

Sending University and followed year: University of Porto, ICBAS, 4th year 

Erasmus + Period:  1st semester of 2018/2019

 

 

 

 

 

BEFORE THE ARRIVAL 

 

1. Why did you decide to do an Erasmus Experience and to come to our University?

Erasmus seemed liked a unique experience, allowing us to be able to study and live in a different country. Within the choices we had at our faculty, Italy was my first choice. It is a country I always wanted to visit, and Italian looked like an easier language to learn. I then chose the university of Bologna because it looked like a good one and I had a positive feedback from some friends who also had been there doing Erasmus.

 

Offices and bureaucracy

 

1. Did you have any problem with the bureaucracy, to communicate with our Erasmus Offices, to have the information that you needed about our University and our available courses? Did you have the right support from your Erasmus coordinator and professor?

No problem. Yes, it would probably had been good to have a bit more help in terms of which classes to take or not to take, but other than that everything was ok. 

 

2. Evaluate with a number from 1 to 10 the quality and the efficiency of our Erasmus Offices during the process:  

8

3. Was it easy to choose the courses to follow in our University and to write the Learning Agreement ?

It was a bit tricky, but I had some friends from my faculty that had a similar Learning agreement in the past, so at the beginning I followed there’s and it made it easier.

 

Accommodation

1. Where did you decide to live? In Ozzano or in Bologna? Why?

Initially I planned to live in Bologna, but it seemed impossible to find a house and very expensive. Once I was already in the city I was able to find a place in Ozzano.

2. Was it difficult for you to find accommodation?

Yes

 

*In case of negative evaluation give some suggestions to solve the problems for the future Erasmus students: 

 

 

DURING THE ERASMUS PERIOD

 

First days and Welcome

 

1. Was it easy to gain confidence with the transportation, with the city and with the structure of our University ? 

Yes, relatively easy. 

 

2. Did you feel welcomed from our students, professors and the citizens? 

Yes, welcome, but not that well integrated.

 

3. Did you attend the Welcome day? 

Yes, I did.

 

4. Did you have any considerable first impression (positive or negative) different from your country,your university and the way to live of your country’s citizens ? 

I had a positive impression overall, but nothing was that much different from my country.

 

Evaluation of university, courses and language difficulties

1. Was it difficult for you to follow the practices, considering language and timetable?

In the first few weeks language made it a little hard, but after that it became easier to follow the classes. In terms of timetable yes, I had some overlapping classes because I had classes from 3 different years.

2. Did you receive the help that you needed from students professors and student’s associations (IVSA/OMNIA/ESN) ?

Yes, I think so, every time we asked something people would try and help.

 

Free time and Fun

 

1. Did you have time to visit Bologna and other places around it? If yes, which one? 

Yes, I had. I also visited other places like Ferrara, Rimini, Florence, Veneza, Verona, Genova, Milano and Perugia.

2. Did you do some party or chill event in Bologna or with our associations (Omnia/IVSA / ESN) ?Did you enjoy it?

Yes, not that many and mostly with ESN, but we always had a good time.

3. Did you visit some museum/ art expositions? Did you enjoy a cultural event? Did you do some excursion trip? 

We visited a few museums and cultural events, mostly those free or for students.

 

Cost Consideration

1. Compared with your country, was the life here more or less expensive (Accommodation, daily life, transportation)? Did you receive some help contribute from your university/country? Was it enough to live here?

It is more expensive in Italy than in Portugal. We received an Erasmus scholarship but it was definitely not enough for all the expenses, it almost just covered accommodation. In terms of transport Bologna had a good deal for Erasmus students, but it did not cover all the way from Bologna to Ozzano, it ended 3 or 4 stops before.

 

*In case of negative evaluation give some suggestions to solve the problems for the future Erasmus students:

Trying to solve that problem of the Erasmus transport card to include all the way from Bologna to Ozzano for veterinary students would be a good thing and maybe a little more help from the university to try and find accommodation, but I know that last one will always be very hard.

AFTER THE ERASMUS PERIOD

1. At the end of this experience, are you in general satisfied about the choice of this university ?Would you suggest to someone else this University ?

Yes, I’m very satisfied. I would suggest it, although I think now that other choices might have been easier, depending on what a person is looking for, some subjects are a bit hard, and doing the “tirocinos” requires a lot of time. But the city and the country are great.

2. Do you think did you do everything that you wanted to do? Do you have any regrets? 

I think I did pretty much all I hoped for, yes.

3. Has this experience opened your mind and have it taught to you something new to your way of thinking ?If yes, what? 

I think it made me grow, and might have opened my points of view, seeing thinks in different perspective. It also pushed me to wanting to meet new people and places from all over the world and learning more and more, being it about veterinary or not.

4. Did you learn something new, positive or negative, about Italy, Italian people and Italian students and professors ? 

It might seem like a cliche, but it is true…they are always late!! In general, all Italians are very friendly. Unlike my university, in Italy there are a lot of oral evaluation and it seemed students were better prepared to explain and talk about a given subject and I think that’s good.

5. If you want, tell me three best moments that will always be in your memory: 

The trips will always be a must, I also definitely won’t forget the new people we met and spend time with.

Date: Bologna, 26/06/19

COURSES EVALUATION