(D5) Erasmus in Venice: markets, snacking and making music

Dear Venice,

I was informed that there were different markets in the city, and I was pleased to see that many of them were organic. As I've always had a healthy lifestyle and respect towards the environment, I decided to walk long the Rio Terà dei Pensieri (a river in Venice) all the way to Santa Marta to check out the market.

Discovering the Venetian markets

The walk was so lovely, it was a complete contrast to the rues touristiques bouchées du carnaval d'hier (tourist streets which were packed from the carnival)! I even passed by my university, which made me get my bearings ready for tomorrow. (Tomorrow it's the Welcome Day for foreign students).

It was such a relief to have found the market which sells local organic products, and sold without any plastic packaging (I managed to buy my nuts!)

It takes place every Monday and Thursday from 9.00a. m. to 2.00p. m. along Terà dei Pensieri street.

Oh I definitely plan on going back! As it's next to my university, I'll buy my food from there, when I have my own student residence in Giudecca (at the moment I'm staying in the Domus Civica convent which provides you with food).

My snacking habits

Right, I think it's time to talk about something which has bothered me a little during these past few days: snacking.

Up until now, when I lived with my parents, the kitchen was really far from my bedroom and I didn't just go there as and when. But after my room also became the pantry, food was within easy reach. .. and I found it hard not to snack!

So yeah, I tried to clean out everything and move them into the canteen, but when I did that, I felt frustrated and I was only ever thinking about food! And since then, it's always been a real challenge to stay focused and to work!

Anyway, I only let myself have a few pistachios (it's a reasonable amount for a snack), except once I start, I find it incredibly difficult to stop!

I tried to replace them this morning at the market when I bought some nuts, but I had the same problem. I may well hide them at the back of the cupboard, but it's still really hard to resist them...

So there you have it, I've just shared this "challenge" (I don't like using the word "problem") which is an everyday struggle. Even if I've left out some details, it's all part of new things going on when you have your own student accommodation. So instead of ignoring it, it would do me good to be comfortable with it and write about it!

Taking music lessons in Venice

I've also discovered the music society called Ermano Wolf Ferrari. It's a society which gives music lessons in Venice!

To give you a bit of background information, I started playing the cello in September, and it was a bit frustrating for me to say that I would not be able to continue playing for 5 months during my Erasmus experience (and that I would risk forgetting the basics I had learnt up until now).

It was actually my cello teacher who said "you should find out whether there are music societies which give cello lessons, if not, you'll have to start from scratch if you don't practise regularly".

I was therefore super happy to have found this group, who let people in half way through the year and who provide the instruments in the lessons!

The only thing is, I have a tight student budget... and equally my parents weren't really for it, they would prefer me to devote myself entirely to university and to take advantage of being in Venice...

However there is a society, and the price is reasonable for what it is (if you compare it to some music conservatories in France). For example, a year's subscription is 105 euros, and for a pack of "4 30-minute lessons", it's 60 euros.

So beyond piano lessons, there are cello lessons which are really worth considering... Well, this will be interesting to see!

Thank you Venice for this day,

- for your variety of regular markets

- for your variety of campuses and different universities, which gather us all together

- for giving me such joy every time I discover a new area

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