Introduction – Ludovica

On 10th October 2021 I was in far from my friends and family, struggling with the cold weather, desperately looking for an apartment, having the scary feeling of not knowing what would happen next.

When I arrived in Munich, I had left my comforting life in Anzio, a warm, quiet sea town near Rome.
I had been living there since I was born, with my mum and my older sister. My university was in Rome, but because of Covid-19, I did not even have the chance to move out, as every lesson was online.
My life was based on a flawless schedule, where every appointment was perfectly embedded within my daily routine. I knew exactly what time I was going to study, when I was going to the gym and where I was going to spend the Saturday night. My life was based on a good balance that seemed to work well: I had excellent results in university, I followed a healthy diet, and used to sleep eight hours a day. However, I always felt a hunting sense of restlessness inside of me.

I knew that Anzio was not my place, and that sooner or later I would go elsewhere. This is why I decided to study languages: they could enable me to travel all around the world. So, after high school, where I learnt English, Spanish and French, I applied for “Intercultural and Linguistic Mediation” at Roma Tre University. I included German to my studies to widen my knowledge of European languages, and I decided to come to Munich to dive into the German culture and language. I was very excited about living abroad, but I was not aware of how challenging it can be.
Nevertheless, all the difficulties I encountered made me overcome the limits I had imposed on myself. The stories of the beautiful people I met amazed me and opened my mind. I was so happy with the choice I made that I have extended my stay to the whole year.

Erasmus life is unpredictable and intense. Planning your week here is impossible, there are so many things to do and people to meet, that you get simply carried away. Munich is a calm and safe place to live in, but what makes it exciting is the number of international people it hosts. From a Brazilian party to a Korean dinner, you can get in touch with a number of different cultures that make every day a new discovery.
I have stopped planning for the future, and I have started to enjoy the moment. I have decided to take more risk and I have discovered new sides of myself. Here the sense of restlessness that I had disappeared, as I have never felt more alive.

Today is 04th May 2022, I am surrounded by wonderful people, and it is sunny outside. I have found a lovely apartment in the city centre, and I have the exciting feeling of not knowing what will happen next.

Thank you for reading, I am looking forward to publishing more here.
Ludo 🙂