Gloria

I am Gloria and I study Lingue, Letterature e Culture Moderne in Padua. I started University in 2004, so I am in my third year. Anyway, I just spent my first year and I am now spending my last one here in Padua. That's last year because I studied in Portugal as an erasmus student, in Braga. I know it would sound quite strange, but now I feel like describing Braga more than Padua, because I have much more to say about that city than about the Italian. It is due to the ocean of memories I have of the beautiful months I spent in Portugal, that little country situated at the bottom of Europe, much more inclined towards the ocean than towards the old continent. I don't know if over there - you are so far away, my gosh - you have something similar to our exchange program called "Erasmus/Socrates", but I guess you must have. Erasmus/Socrates is an opportunity that European students have to study abroad for one or two semesters, in an European university. Since I study English and Portuguese, I decided to go to Braga, which I didn't know at all before going there. The only reason why I chose it it's the fact that I had the opportunity to study there for 10 months, whereas in other more famous cities - such as Lisbon or Coimbra - there was just a 6 months scholarship available. I know this is not a deep reason to choose a place where to live for one entire year, but I wanted to be sure to have a "full-immersion" experience once I had to go out of Italy on my own. It was once, I had to take my chance and make the best of it. And, I have to confess that I succeeded. the only problem is that I had to come back. Anyway, never mind. I was so happy to hear about this other exchange program we are about to start that now I am already dreaming of visiting you in the other hemisphere... joking! Nevertheless, it will be quite interesting receiving news from the other half of the world in Italian! Our language is spoken in such a little country that I am very much impressed by foreign people who get interested by it. It must be something that has to do with its charming sounds, so quiet and never harsh. Well, except when we get angry! I have to stop now, but it is only a beginning, also because I didn't speak so much about me. It's to be made little by little. ;)