Semester in Rome: Studies, Travelling, New Friends
HSE University has more than 100 partners all around the world. The choice of a host university for a mobility is wide: from Brazil to South Korea. Today, we share the story of Maria Kostina. The fourth-year student of the bachelor's programme 'International Programme in Business and Economics' went to Tor Vergata University of Rome for a semester. Read on to find out how study process in Russia and Italy are different and what a mobility programme can give you.
— Why did you choose Tor Vergata University?
— I wanted to go on a mobility programme only in Europe. I have been to Italy with my family several times. To be honest, this is one of our favourite countries in Europe: their mindset, Italian expressiveness, the sun, incredibly beautiful basilicas, rich historical and cultural heritage—all these things which make Italy such a unique place. This is why I was certain—I wanted to study in Italy.
I applied for both available institutions: the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan and Tor Vergata University in Rome. I believed in myself, my scores, and it happened: I got that opportunity and spent the best semester on the academic mobility programme in Rome.
— Which courses were the most interesting and why?
— I was impressed a lot by the course 'Sustainable Business Models Innovation' delivered by Natalia Marzia Gusmerotti, a brilliant professor. She is very talented at making students interested in her course and gives particular attention to each team when they work on a project.
I also liked the course 'Marketing Analytics'. It offered a pleasant atmosphere: we worked on a project during the lectures in a free format and could consult the professor. Sometimes, together with the professor, our whole group could take an espresso break. An interesting fact: we worked on the project as a team, but we had to present it to the professor individually. I had faced such an approach for the first time: it allowed all the students to present the project the way they understood it, from their point of view. The professor was eager to hear everyone's ideas and opinions.
— What do HSE University and Tor Vergata University have in common, to your mind? What key differences did you notice in the study process?
— I talked a lot to the Tor Vergata professors, and they were also genuinely interested in what the study process at HSE University was like. From what I've seen, HSE University offers a more practice-oriented training and pays a lot of attention to seminars. Tor Vergata focuses on theory more. There are no seminars as such—just lectures that combine all at once. At HSE University, the deadlines are stricter, and at the same time, there are more projects. Though in Rome, we gained some experience in taking oral exams, reasoning and writing long essays. In long answers, they value the depth of the topic disclosure. HSE University values conciseness and accurate wording. Different approaches are one of the most valuable things in studying at a foreign university.
Another great advantage was that the teams were always multinational: the team couldn't include more than three people of one nationality. It helped to see how different the approaches of students were, to highlight something new for yourself or, vice versa, teach them something new and share your knowledge.
— What problems did you have to face in Italy, in terms of studies or daily life?
— Different approaches to teamwork. We are used to distributing responsibilities fast and working individually, but some international teams, in which I worked, preferred to discuss the tasks longer, collect opinions and organise video calls.
Another challenge was the necessity to get involved in the new social environment quickly. I had to open up to new people and build trust much faster than I was used to. It wasn't easy for me, but thanks to this experience, there were trips together, new friends and vivid memories.
I faced some interesting cultural peculiarities in daily life as well. For instance, the unspoken rule is that people drink cappuccino only in the morning, before 11am. During the day, it is common to order espresso, and another choice may cause some gawping reaction (I experienced it myself).
From time to time, we had some difficulties with transport as well: buses let us down many times, so we got used to coming in advance.
In winter, the apartment turned out to be quite cold. Despite the mild weather outside (around +15), they turned on the heating only for a few hours in the morning and evening, and it wasn't always enough for a comfortable temperature in the room. So I would recommend bringing warm clothes and wool socks.
Another interesting thing is the metro. If you are used to reading on the go, listening to music or just diving into your thoughts, it is much harder to do on the Italian metro: it is a very noisy place for active communication.
— What did you do in your free time?
— We tried to participate in all the events at Tor Vergata University. We joined the trips with Erasmus organisations (in Rome, there are two of them—ESN and ERA). Thus, together with the student organisations, I went hiking in theDolomites, Sicily, joined them for a ski trip and a summer visit to the residence of the Pope in Castel Gandolfo. I also visited museums and basilicas, roamed about the streets of Rome, enjoyed lasagna and tiramisu, and got to know the history and culture of the city. Besides, we planned our own trips around Europe and visited new countries and cities.
— What did you gain (or reconsider) over these five months of living away from home?
— I realised that lots of limits existed only in our heads. Talking to people from all over the world, I understood that we were very similar: we are all students, we are interested in meeting new people, travelling, talking about life and making future plans.
I got more interested in the cultures of different countries, their traditions and lifestyle. I realised how wonderful the international mobility programme was as it united students from across the world and gave a chance to create long-lasting ties. I made friends and acquaintances from different countries, and it is very valuable.
Of course, I had to step out of my comfort zone: for instance, I had to live for six months without my favourite curds (but we learned to cook baked pudding with ricotta); I got used to the local coffee culture, where, for daily life, they often choose more traditional coffee formats—espresso, in the first place. But I gained much more. These six months felt like five years—that's how eventful each day was!
— What advice would you give to students who plan to go on a mobility programme?
— If you passed the selection and got a chance to go on a mobility programme, you are incredibly lucky. Take everything that this experience gives you: attend events, join trips of ERA and ESN, and don't be afraid to make new acquaintances. Erasmus students are very open and friendly! Of course, if you have a chance, travel and discover new places.
Practical advice: prepare a bank card which operates in Europe in advance. When I arrived in Rome, I bought a SIM card straight away, applied for Permesso di soggiorno, and I got a convenient virtual card issued for payments and transactions—this made my life much easier. I also recommend mastering Italian at least on a basic level: it is very useful in everyday life.
The most important fact is to bring big suitcases and a great mood with you for the mobility programme!
Ogni giorno è un nuovo inizio (Every day is a new beginning).
