A Day in the Life of an Italian Graduate Student

How do you get around?:

Life here in Perugia is pretty comfortable. I usually go to university using public transportation, although having a car is still necessary, especially in the evenings when I go out with friends. 

What types of clothing do you like to wear?:

I try to dress casually or elegantly, depending on the occasion—after all, I’m Italian, so I have certain standards to maintain (even if I don’t know how to cook!)

What do you like to do in your free time?:

I usually like to go out with my friends, and on weekends I go back home to my parents' or take care of my niece.

What language(s) do you speak? How do you say "Hello" in your language?:

I speak Italian and English. My English isn’t as good as it should be, but I’m working on it. We have many different ways to say hello, depending on who you are talking to or even the time of day. When addressing professors or people in authority, we say salve, which is a formal "Hello". Informally, we typically say ciao. In the morning or early afternoon, we also say buon giorno, which means "good day,", and in the evening we say buona sera, which means "good evening".

Do you have pets?:

I’ve never had pets, unless a goldfish counts, though it didn’t last long. As a kid, I was too busy playing football outside to take care of animals. One day I’d like to have a dog.

Have you traveled? Where have you traveled to?:

I’ve traveled mostly for work and a few vacations with my parents. During my university years, I attended schools and conferences, always within Europe.

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