Motivation letter to come in Lisbon vs. general opinion about erasmus students' life in Lisbon

Dear Sir/Madam,

since I have decided to begin my University studies, one of my purpose was to move for a period to another european city. I didn’t know exactly what that would mean, in fact I had only heard about other students leaving for ERASMUS and everytime defining that period as one of the most important and beautiful of therir life.
Now, three years later, I can better understand how important could be in the modern society this kind of experience. So even deciding whether to leave is not easy, especially if it means leaving behind one’s home, family and friends for a long period, I decided to catch this incredible opportunity.

I am in the middle of my academical studies, attending the third year of Foreign Languages, and going to get my first degree in 6 months. During this period I have also joined an international student association, called BESL (Board of European Student of Languages) that allowed me the opportunity to travel all over Europe attending short courses, workshops and competition. It also improved my skill in organising and getting in contact with people. I am a dynamic person, I like to travel, meet new people and get to know other countries with their traditions and cultures. Nowadays I cannot imagine my life without travelling.

So I think to be ready to undertake the challenge of living abroad for six (or more) months. I believe that it could be a unique opportunity to increase my ability in every field, academical, social, and practical. For istance I could learn how to live by myself, organise my time, find out a different way of thinking, more indipendent and consciouss. It could be also a great opportunity to discover a lot of opportunities for my future career, and get involved in a more international background.

Personally I have never been in Portugal, but I have meet many people from Lisbon and Porto, and I have realized that if all people in Portugal are like them, it should be really a great country.
Moreover I have a friend studying in Universidade Nova de Lisboa, that is now attending the Erasmus in my here at University of Florence, and he gave me really good credentials of his university, about the teaching methods, the general organization, and the social activities.

I am aware that studying abroad, attending lessons in another language and creating new friendships could be not so easy. Nevertheless, I am convinced that this experience could help me to reach my highest potential, stimulate my intellectual curiosity and improve my ability to think creatively and analytically about a wide range of topics.

vs.

Sleep -- Struggle to get out of bed -- Take your laptop in bed -- Dieing of pain of feeling hungry in bed. -- Go to a fastfood restaurant and discover it's already dark outside. -- Get the first beer of the day -- Try to remember the last evening -- Call other ones and ask if you did something stupid -- Start to plan the next evening --Check your current account --Start to act the plan --Go to four parties during a night --Drunk again -- Sleep -- Struggle to get...

Elena Martini

Poggio a Caiano,
a kind town, where you will be welcomed by colours and flowers!


One of the most peasant surprise of Tuscany is the small village of Poggio a Caiano, situated between the Florentine hills. Poggio a Caiano is an unusual tourist destination, but you are invited to visit this little town. Poggio a Caiano is born between three important Tuscan cities: Florence, Prato and Pistoia, and, for this reason, you can easily reach it. There you can find a developed and modern town, plunged into a Renaissance atmosphere. A visit to this delightful village is like going back to the Medici’s time, in fact, on the top of the knoll, there is the wonderful “Villa Medicea”. Surrounded by a suggestive garden, the Villa is one of the most attraction of the town. It was built at the end of the XVI century by Giuliano da San Gallo, wanted by Medici’s family, and it was decorated by the most important artists of the time, such as Pontormo, Giambologna, and Andrea Del Sarto. Once the Villa was the summer residence of Lorenzo il Magnifico and his family. He chose this position for the strategic view of the zone, in this way he could prevent enemies attacks.
If you are thinking to visit Poggio a Caiano, you should get into the Villa and take a look at the
great variety of trees and flowers present in the curtain garden, where you can also see a century tree.
Another Renaissance element is the Barco park, that once it was part of the Villa’s garden, then it was used to hunt and for curtain games; for Poggio a Caiano’s inhabitants is a place to relax, where you can stroll around, and do picnic or you can simply find a bench where sit yourself in spring an summer. Not with standing there are a lot of things to see in this town, you can get everywhere on foot, so if you want a tip, be sure to put on you walking shoes. From the Barco park, you can easily reach the most ancient church of Prato’s province: San Francisco church, on Bonistallo hillock. Nowadays this medieval church is only a interesting place to visit, but the church of the community is another, the most recent.
Poggio a Caiano is not only famous for its history, but also for food specialities that you can taste in tipical restaurants. One of this speciality is called “migliaccio” and it is simply spice blood cooked like a crepes; another is “ribollita”, a soup made of bread and vegetable. Logically you can eat the incredible “fiorentina”, the most famous steack of the world! But you can’t appreciate it without the most vintage wines of the Tuscan region: Chianti or Brunello di Montalcino.
If you visit Poggio a Caiano in the third week of September, you can partecipate at the “Assedio alla Villa”, a popular event that took his origin from a medieval attack to the village and his Villa.
Poggio a Caiano’s inhabitants won the battle with the aid of their wine, so, the feast starts with the opening of the wine fountain, a very suggestive tradition. A lot of people, above all young people, take part to the parade composed by the typical medieval costumes. The last day of the “Assedio” the Villa Medicea is decorated by the lights and the colours of the fireworks.
If you are planning about where to go to sleep, don’t worry, because in this kind town there is a
great choice: the best is “Hotel Hermitage”, on Bonistallo hill. It has a pool surrounded by great
pines and it has a very wonderful dining room, usually used for marriage. The position of this hotel is very favourable and there is no problem for parking, because is not very trafficated. Here double rooms cost at least 60€ for a night.
From Poggio a Caiano you can reach a lot of interesting places, such as Artimino and Carmignano, where you can enjoy the attractive and romantic panorama of Florence and his closeness. Here there is another Villa, called “La Ferdinanda”, characterised by his “thousand” chimneys.

Elena Martini

Valentine

This is a poem that I like a lot.

So I'm going to share it with all of you

Valentine

( Carol Ann Duffy )

Not a red rose or a satin heart.

I give you an onion

It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.

It promises light

Like the careful undressing of love.

Here.

It will blind you with tears

Like a lover.

It will make your reflection

A wobbling photo of grief.

I am trying to be truthful.

Not a cute card or kissogram.

I give you an onion.

Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,

Possessive and faithful

As we are,

For as long as we are.

Take it.

Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding ring,

If you like.

Lethal.

Its scent will cling to your fingers,

Cling to your knife.

Ana Simoes

New Friendship

Hi.

We hope you enjoy our Blog.

Here, we're going to share a lot of ideas, thoughts, events and information that you can read and comment.

Welcome