Meeting Matilde: An Interview with an Italian University Student

How do you get around?:

"Inside the city center I walk everywhere! To get to the grocery store and places outside the city walls, I take the bus, but it's often late. To get home to Mantova, I take my car, but I almost never use it in the city. The roads are always full of people walking and are very narrow, making it more effort than it is worth to drive." 

What types of clothing do you like to wear?:

"Most days, especially now during the fall, I wear comfortable clothes. Since it is getting colder in Siena, I am most often wearing jeans and a sweater. Also, since it is raining all the time, I am always carrying my umbrella. In the summer, I wear more fun clothes. I love bright colored skirts and fun patterned dresses."

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

"I do not have a lot of freedom; it feels like I am always studying! When I do have free time, I usually hang out with my friends, go to cafes, talk and study. When I am not worried about school, I love to read. I read books in English to help me learn new vocabulary. I try to do the same for French, but I am still reading kids' books. I also love to go on runs, especially when I am in Mantova and can run through the hills rather than the city."

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

"I speak Italian and English fluently, but I am learning French as well. I have been learning English since I was seven, and some people tell me I speak with a British accent! I have only been learning French for the last two years, so I am not as good at it. In Italian, we say ciao for informal scenarios and salve for formal ones.

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