Top login menu

Murray Edwards College
University of Cambridge

Aasta Kendall: Working and Teaching in Italy

  • Home
  • Main page content

    05 Dec
    Aasta Kendall (thumbnail)

    This summer, I worked for two months as an au pair in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. I used my gateway funding to help fund language lessons at the nearby language school. As an MML student, I have a keen interest in language and culture, and I was excited to embark on a new challenge, learning the basics of another European language. Through these lessons, I was able to gain a more formal and structured understanding of Italian grammar which aided my understanding of the phrases and language I had picked up in the more informal setting of my host family’s home.

    Although I was lucky to visit some smaller towns and villages with my host family that would otherwise have been inaccessible to me via public transport, I made the most of my free weekends to travel further afield and explore the rich and diverse culture offered by Italy’s art cities. Just an hour from my host family was the city of Bologna, the food capital of the region. It is slightly off the tourist trail, and it was fantastic to experience the vibrant and international atmosphere of this University city. Despite being a relatively small city, the food and culture on offer were some of the best I experienced – the tagliatelle was not to be missed! 

    During my holiday time I was also able to travel further to the popular tourist destinations of Florence and Siena. This was my first experience of traveling alone, and I soon gained a new appreciation for the independence and freedom it offers, especially in the settings of these cultural and historical cities. Nevertheless, I also enjoyed spending time with visiting friends and family during my stay and meeting other au pairs and solo travellers.
     
    An unexpected highlight of my trip was a cycling tour from Riccione, a seaside town near Cesena, home to a cycling hotel. I enjoy road cycling in the UK and was able to join one of the hotel’s group rides for a day. Climbing the hills in the heat was certainly a challenge, but this was an incredible opportunity to explore the region in a completely different way, and it was fantastic savour the views of the Italian countryside whilst enjoying the authentic Italian coffee. 

    Gateway undoubtedly allowed me to make the most of my time in Italy. Thanks to this experience, I have built on my confidence, independence and linguistic and cultural knowledge, and would recommend the programme to all students. 

    Aasta Kendall
    Modern & Medieval Languages