WUR prospective student from Italy
By Ester
Luca is a prospective student from Italy. After his Bachelor’s degree, he’d like to come to Wageningen and start the master in Food Technology. We are aware that this tough situation has brought a lot of uncertainties and issues regarding application processes. However, we are sure that all the measures taken will curtail the spread of coronavirus and we will be able to see you next September 2020 in The Netherlands. We wish you and your relatives all the best. Stay safe and healthy!
Hi! I’m Luca and I’m from Italy. I live in Po Valley (Mantova) and I’m a student of Parma University (BSc Food Science). I am attending the last year of my bachelor and I would like to join Wageningen University and Research next year and keep on studying what I like (everything about food).
Luca, Italy.
As everybody knows, Italy has been strongly hit by the virus. We didn’t take serious enough the situation at the beginning, now we can see the results. Nobody expected such a dramatic effect.
The worst status is in the north of the country, south regions have not been affected as bad as the North side. Maybe is due to the amount of inhabitants in the north, which is much higher, or it might be because most of industries are in the north, or because the pollution, or maybe because virus has not yet reached the south. Who knows.
Health problems are emerging: lack of hospital beds, lack of doctors, lack of general guidelines. There are also political and economic problems, with a succession of controversies and debates on what is right and wrong. In addition, many people have not yet understood the danger we are experiencing and continue to live normally. Without safety controls, the virus will also reach The Netherlands.
Even though if my city is located north of Italy, the situation is not so dramatic. The crisis is still ongoing though, and above all the mayors of the various countries, have taken action to guarantee a certain level of security for citizens. We are in a quarantine lockdown.
Nice things and lovely acts
The mayor of my municipality, in order to ease the quarantine a little, moved and distributed Easter eggs to all the families of the municipality (almost 7000 free Easter eggs to the families). Which is really nice and shows appreciation towards our people.
My Bachelor courses
My study programme adapted quite well to this situation. There are online video lessons (not streaming) that I need to follow in order to keep up with the lectures and courses. All related with travelling outside the university is cancelled, therefore, internships are suspended.
Empty supermarket parking during the lock down, Italy.
I’m working in a supermarket that provides food, they reduces my wage though. However, our work isn’t changed so much. We just need to wear gloves and mask. Also, for customers there is an obligation of gloves and mask. The number of people coming to shop has decreased.
Within my family, there hasn’t been significant changes, except a change in habits related to exits (shopping, commissions, appointments, etc.).
In Italy, we can’t go out for a walk. We can go out only for work (if you don’t work by smart-working), for food expenditure or for necessity (medical problems, pharmacy, etc.). Some people have problems, especially who lives in the city centre or in a small apartment. Someone has economical problem related to (not) work and other has boring problems.
We you go out you can feel a tense atmosphere and you try not to stay close to others.
Hopefully, this will be solved soon. Did this changed your perspective on life? Will you change some things you used to do after this though situation?
Certainly, this situation has impacted many on people’s lives and in many cases habits have had to change. It is an opportunity to reflect on many things today: economic problems, work situations and possible improvements, environmental problems and possible improvements, etc. (everyone can think different things)
I think there is no lack of inner reflection, especially for those with few commitments.
It is necessary to find one’s own internal balance, dedicating time to oneself but in some way to others. I refer, for example, to finding hobbies in your spare time, spending time on your body (doing some gymnastic exercises for example), spending time with others (a call, a message), not forgetting your work / school commitments.
Above all, I believe that in some way you need to appreciate your free time, even empty moments – with nothing to do can become an opportunity for reflection and amazement (just look out the window and observe nature).
Keep your mind focused on your goals and, even if the situation does not allow it at the moment, make sure to be prepared for the day when everything will resolve itself, more aware than before.