Giusy Amato

Hello everyone, I'm Giusy, a master's student at the Department of Physics and Astronomy “Ettore Majorana” in Catania (DFA). In particular, I study Applied physics. I have been an Erasmus student at Ege University in İzmir (Turkey), during the second semester of the A.Y. 2021/2022. I spent more than 5 months in İzmir, from the end of February until the end of July. But I thought I'd stay over the summer months (at my expense) to enjoy a little more this wonderful land, which offers incredible surprises and adventures every day. Thanks to the Erasmus program I had the opportunity, in fact, to know and appreciate a country outside the EU, but which really has a lot in common with Europe, and I hope one day it will become part of it.

I still remember the day of my departure, in my head a mixture of emotions and sensations: the fear and adrenaline of the unknown, the happiness of leaving, but also the melancholy of what I was about to leave, even if for a few months. Suddenly you are in another country, another language, other people, another way of life. And this is where the real adventure begins! That initial melancholy soon vanished, because Turkey and Ege University made me feel immediately at home. I found a modern, young, vibrant city, full of services, multicultural and very safe. The international community (ESN) very active and engaging. The university campus is well organized with a large student community. The professors have always shown themselves available and understanding, very prepared and have always involved me in various activities even outside of teaching, such as laboratory activities, projects and international conferences.

Turkey was a nice surprise! The affordable cost of living allowed me to do lots of activities and lots of trips, together with other young people from the community, but also alone, without worrying too much about the budget. Turkey: a state full of history and breathtaking places (such as Cappadocia, Istanbul, Pamukkale, etc.) not to mention the cuisine, which is absolutely delicious. There are many prejudices about this country. In fact, initially, I was worried about safety and also annoyed by the many "opinions" which later turned out to be unfounded.

The Erasmus experience made me grow a lot, both from an educational point of view and as a person. In fact, in addition to studying, it allows you to meet people from all over the world and also to bond with local people, thus immersing yourself in the culture of the country. The Erasmus experience also allowed me to practice and improve my English, giving me more confidence and awareness. Leaving the comfort zone encouraged me to challenge myself and face my fears. It helped me to overcome prejudices and allowed me to experience, travel, know and keep learning!

I recommend everyone to venture into this experience ... It will change your life for the better and open you to new horizons!