Jessica Beavon - QLD to Italy

Fri 15 Feb 2008

Jessica Beavon, from Good Counsel College in QLD, is currently in Italy on our year program. Here is her latest news.

I have been in Italy now for two weeks and it has already been such a wonderful adventure... I met up with two lovely Student Exchange Australia girls, who travelled with me to Singapore and Paris. They were great company and we were amused by the surprisingly good food on the plane, latest movies, airport trolleys, and very good looking French hockey team who travelled with us. In Singapore we met up with the other 4 exchange students and together we hopped on the 14 hour plane trip that would take us to Paris... By the time we got off the plane in Paris, we had joined up with the other SEA students, and Alia (one of the other exchange students) and myself were off to Milan. We were greeted by the beautiful snow-covered Alps and strangers holding signs with our names at the airport, mine stating 'WELLCOME JESS. In too your family (new).'

I never thought it was possible to live in a family with six children at home, but it is. The home is always full of noise, arguments and laughing which makes me feel so incredibly at home. They are all very welcoming and considerate that my Italian is not up to scratch. They are also keen Basketball players and attend church so I am kept very busy with their family timetable, which is great. Other than that, their English is improving at a great speed and my host mother is making sure that I am reaching a worthwhile weight gain.

School is very different over here, with students attentive in class and teachers making no fuss over students smoking in the hallways. (I couldn'tbelieve it!!!) I stay in the one classroom all day with the same small class of 14 from 8am to 1pm, then I return home for lunch. I am at a scientific school which means no arts or languages as some other Italian schools have. My subjects include Italian, English, Maths, Chemistry, Physics, Philosophy, Religion and Sport which is quite like the subjects I did back in Australia. I was heavily involved in music in Australia so hopefully, while I am over here, I am hoping to receive some singing lessons and even go into Milan to watch a couple of Operas at La Scala!

Pavia itself is not a big city, and, like the Italian reputation - everybody knows everybody. The weather is pretty cold, however I wont be experiencing snow I don't think as the weather is 'too hot’ at 4 degrees apparently. But I did get to be amazed by the remarkable Alps as I came into Italy, which I am happily content. I must say that I miss being able to wear only one or two layers of clothing, but I love being able to dress up in scarves, stockings and gloves.

The people are so lovely and welcoming in Italy. I have found nothing but hospitality, laughs and kindness here and could not imagine myself anywhere else in the world at the moment. ‘La Dolce Vita’(my sweet life) is exactly that in Italy…

Take care and best of luck to those of you who areapplying/considering going on exchange.

Jess Beavon