Leire's Interview

PROFILE

Name: Leire

Surname: Benavente Sanchez

Nationality: Spanish

Age: 21

General Information

Sending University and followed year: Universidad Complutense de Madrid  2018/19

Erasmus + Period:  September-June 2018/19

BEFORE THE ARRIVAL 

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

I decided to do the Erasmus Experience because I’ve heard from everyone that it was a really enriching experience, that allows you travelling abroad, meeting people from all the World and studying for a year in a different University with different offers.

First I looked for English speaking universities, but once I was refuted, from those of Italy I chose Bologna as I’ve heard it was a really nice city for students with a lot of life, and the University was one of the best of Italy.

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?

I didn’t have to communicate a lot with the Erasmus Offices before I arrived because I did almost everything with my home Erasmus tutor. 

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

10

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

In my case it was easy because in my home university they had written the convalidations the other students have made in the years before. Finding the courses available was not difficult but finding its contents maybe a bit more.

Accommodation

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

I decided to live in Bologna, because even if it was one hour away from the University, the opportunities and activities that it could offer were much more better than those in Ozzano. I would suggest future students to do the same, as it is just one year the one you will pass abroad and you also need to make the most from the city you live in. 

As an inconvenient I would say that the communication between the two cities is really really bad, with a big frequency between the available buses and with the time of the last bus being so early.

2. Was it difficult for you to find accommodation?

It was really difficult. I looked for months, and searching the flat through internet without coming here was really hard.

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

The cost of the transport from Bologna to Ozzano is also remarcable, because there’s the opportunity to get an annual transport card for 10€ to move in Bologna for international students. However, to arrive to Ozzano, we are 4 stops out of the urban zone of Bologna, and only for this difference we have to pay 28€ each month to get the transport card. It would be really useful if the University of Veterinary of Bologna could make also an agreement with the Tper to allow us come with the same 10€ card.

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 ? 

First days we often mistook the bus stop to arrive to University. Also first days (and months) was difficult for us to find different classes inside the university.

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

In general yes.

3. Did you attend the Welcome day? 

Yes, and I really liked the welcome aperitivo in the garden.

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 was a little bit disappointed with the organization of the lessons here, because they often changed timetables without doing an official communication, just through whatsapp groups.

For us, taking into account that we have lots of lessons that sometimes overlapped, is hard to organize if on top the timetables change daily without notice.

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

It would be nice if those timetable changes and other important things would be communicated by e-mail.

Evaluation of university, courses and language difficulties

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

As I’ve said, because of the overlapping lessons it was quite difficult for me to follow. Regarding the language, it wasn’t a big problem, even if it turned easier as long as I improved and learned more Italian.

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

Generally yes, but for some lectures it’s been difficult for us to find what we had to study and how to get it.

Free time and Fun

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

Yes. Ferrara, Verona, Venezia, Dolomiti, Bolzano, Lago di Garda, Vicenza, Napoli, Capri, Tornio, Genova, Cinque Terre…

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

Yes! With the associations here was more difficult as we had as always the problem of how to return to Bologna (no public transport available at night).

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

Yes!

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?

The help is not enough to live here, as the flats in Bologna are really really expensive (similar to the prices in Madrid). Daily life is more or less similar to Spain. The problem with the transport is the one I said before.

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

It would be really helpful to have the agreement between the university and the Tper for the transport in the Zone 2.

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, generally yes. Even if the organization has made me go crazy sometimes.

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

I think it’s impossible to do everything I wanted to, and I feel that I still have lots of things to do, but I don’t regret what I’ve done.

It’s true that tirocinios take lot of time and being absolutely compulsory, they limit a lot the possibilities to travel and do other activities (comparing to students from other universities).

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’s helped me to know myself better and to grow as a person. It was my first time living abroad and I think that seeing you are able to do it is enriching.

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

I think that in general Italy is more sexist than Spain, but the total balance is positive.

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

I can’t choose just three!!! 

Date: Bologna, 27/06/19

COURSES EVALUATION