A year lost in Padua

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When I arrived in Padua I thought that a brilliant 9 months awaited me and without realising it, 5 marvellous months have already passed by here. I can say that this experience is the best that I've had in all my life.

The first days are an odyssey, you're in a city you don't know, a foreigner, where they speak a language that you just about can babble, and that gives you a bit of fear, yes, but you calm down when people start saying 'Ciao! ' to you with a smile of their face, when they help you with everything they can and welcome you as if you're another Italian.

When you go out on a Wednesday to Piazza delle Erbe and you find it full of people with whom you can practice Italian whilst having a drink... After when people start to disappear little by little, you go on your bicycle (the form of transport used by the majority of people, older people, children etc. ) to the club or Pedro (the social centre where they have concerts) and there you can spend the night with your people who slowly become your family.

And not to mention the escapades to Prato della Valle at 2 in the afternoon with a sandwich, guitar and the cajón, with all your friends.

The university is a separate topic, you go to class and you're a little lost, you don't know where you class is and when you finally find it, you realise that both your teacher and fellow students make it easy for you, they help you with everything they can and try to make you feel even more of a student.

The truth is that this town is dazzling, I would stay for a lot longer... but the scholarship is ending and I have to make the most of my months left.

And there's nothing more to say about Padua, which is the best, so anyone who hasn't gone on Erasmus without a doubt should ask for a grant to go to Padua. 100% would recommend.