Another week!

Another week and a bit has gone past since I last posted in this Blog, and, as I am trying to keep this a little more up to date, I felt the need to write something. My second flatmate, Federico, has finally arrived, and in a week Hannah and my parents will be coming out to Italy to see me and experience a little taste of Ferrara. I have finally gotten around to eating more Pizza, and have been shown a nice little take-away place that I shall be frequenting for lunch from now on! I have also branched out with my Gelato, and found another place that sells quite nice Gelato, although I would honestly say that my usual place is better!

I have just realised that a large amount of the things that I deem interesting enough to go in this Blog are about food...

Anyway, I am slowly starting to understand the content of my courses a little better, and have begun my English teaching course (although at the moment the course deals more in discussions about the theory behind teaching, and I won't be taking part in lessons for a little while yet). Basically, all is good in Ferrara!

Ciao!

Long time, no post!

I gather that people may have realised that I haven't posted in this Blog for a while - I've been rather busy sorting out all of the various details that enrolling at an Italian university entails, and haven't gotten around to writing anything new - so I will sum up the time since the last blog posts!

Well, I enrolled at the Uni, and have started courses (an Italian for foreigners course, and "Modern History", which covers everything between 1450 and 1900, which is a bit much to remember...), and have made several friends at the Uni. I've slowly explored the city more and more, and have gotten to know the way around the southern part of the city, in particular around the University and Piazza Trento e Trieste. I have found a very nice Gelateria, and therefore have been eating unhealthy amounts of Gelato, which I make up for by walking everywhere (my apartment is around 30 minutes walk from the University, in baking heat, across a level crossing - there is a bus, but I enjoy the walk!).

I have sorted out most of my paperwork, and the only things left to deal with is my Learning Agreement, which will enable me to get lots of money from the EU!

Anyway, as a footnote, I will aim to update this Blog far more often from now on, so keep reading!

Castello Estense

The Mountains

Packing, Journey and First few days!

I have been in Ferrara for a few days now, unfortunately upon arrival I was told that the Internet was not yet installed, and that I would have to wait a few days - however, I have found a connection, giving me the opportunity to post this!

Eventually, I managed to narrow down my life into 31 kilograms of hold luggage and a rucksack full of hand luggage, including the most important items for an Englishman, 2 230g bars of Cadburys Dairy Milk, a packet of McVities Chocolate Digestives and 160 bags of Yorkshire Tea, and at 1am on Saturday 10th September my Mum, Hannah (my girlfriend) and I made our way to Gatwick Airport, where, after my last British cappuccino, I boarded a flight to Bologna. After a few hours on the plane, I arrived in Bologna, grabbed my things, hopped on a train to Ferrara, and was picked up from the station by my landlord and lady, Daniele and Cinzia. They showed me around my apartment, which I discovered on arrival was situated above Cinzia's mother's house, and offered me lunch, consisting of far too much food - Cappelletti (sort of like "pumpkin tortellini", exclusive to Ferrara), various breads, wine, fruit, mortadella, cheese, and much more! Everything was finished off with a coffee, and I was left to settle in in the apartment.

I had a little explore of the city - not a massive city, but a city nonetheless. It is like living in a little Italian stereotype, with little winding cobbled streets, medieval and renaissance buildings with new shops built into them, lots of people on bicycles not watching where you are going, and beautiful Piazze.

This morning, I went to the University to register, although I haven't yet enrolled on any courses (other than my language course). I was relieved to find that I am in the University records, and that I haven't just turned up to a University that is unaware that I am coming. I will be returning on Thursday morning in order to speak with a departmental tutor, who will help me register on various courses, etc.

First Post!

I just wanted to fill up the empty space with something, so, a brief summary of what this blog will be about - I am leaving to study in Europe this year, at the Università degli studi di Ferrara, Italy, and Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, in Austria. I will keep this blog updated with photos, stories, and the day-to-day goings on in my life in Europe.