If you are young people who were born into the world of the Internet, you are probably used to seeing your parents, since time immemorial, walking around with mobile phones. You were born into this being, and hence you will learn from a young age the saying that “the world is open”, that you can go anywhere and that you don’t really need to limit yourself to what you know. Sound familiar? If you are wondering how to turn all these sayings into reality, it may be that right now, at the moment when you have to choose a profession for life, and an educational institution to which you will enroll, is the time to dare and take the step. Let’s start from the end: studying in Italy is not really what you were told. It does sound sexy, you learn Italian and you see Italian men and women dressed according to fashion in every corner, but the challenge here is very big. On the other hand, you can be sure that if you meet this challenge successfully, there won’t be anything you can’t do in this life and there won’t be a goal you can set for yourself without being able to conquer it. So is it worth it or not? This is a difficult question.
The difficulty of studying in the land of the boot
We’ve all been to Italy, or at least we all know people who have been there. Italy is a charming country in southern Europe with more than 62 million inhabitants that attracts tourists from all over the world. It includes countless well-known cities (of which we know Shemen, to our shame, because countless pizzerias throughout the country are named after Shemen), such as: Rome, Florence, Pisa, Naples, Milan and more. In addition, it also includes wonderful regions, headed by Tuscany, which is so beloved by Israelis, but it is important to understand: studying in Italy is very different from a week’s trip to the land of the boot. The difficulties that studying in Italy presents to those interested in it are many: it starts with the question of how to even choose the university where it is worth studying and it continues through the question of how to register, what forms are needed and more. In addition to all these, one cannot ignore the fact that in Italy they study in Italian. If it sounds romantic to you, and you hear the Italians talking to each other and it sounds like poetry to you – just try to imagine how your first lesson in quantum physics in Italian feels.
The close and so different culture
The other difficulty you will face almost every day during your studies in Italy includes the cultural difference. Apparently it is customary to say that the Italians are similar to us because they are also nervous and they also drive dangerously on the roads. This is true, but only half true, because any Israeli who has really tried to integrate into daily life in Italy and make new friendships will be able to testify that it is not easy. First, start from the assumption that most of the students in your faculty will be younger than you, because you served in the army and therefore you start your studies about three to four years later than your colleagues in Europe. Secondly, don’t forget that the Italians come with their friends from high school, so getting into a cohesive group, when you are foreigners breaking your teeth to speak Italian, is not an easy task. In addition to all these, there are also different social codes and the truth is, most Israelis are not even familiar with all the Catholic holidays, which is of course the dominant religion in Italy. Does that sound difficult? It is indeed so, but on the other hand, it is possible.
So why is it still worth studying in Italy?
Most Israelis, almost without exception, travel to Italy to study medicine or veterinary medicine, simply because they are not accepted to study in Israel. Alongside them, there are a number of Israelis who choose to study in Italy special subjects such as architecture or car design, and there is no doubt that these are two subjects that would be wonderful to study at the various universities in Italy. In the end, there are also some crazy people who are simply thirsty to see the world, to get to know Italy more closely and deep inside they also dream of returning to Israel with an Italian woman who will convert for them. Either way, you can be sure that studying in Italy brings with it a very big challenge, but on the other hand, it is an experience that will shape you in an amazing way.
We are all used to being away from home during our years of military service, but we are still playing on the field we know. On the other hand, to enroll in studies in a foreign country, and even more so in a place like Italy, is to take on a bigger, different, and different task. Despite all the difficulties, you will see that over time you get used to it and even manage to do oral tests in front of the great professors in the faculty you chose to enroll in! It is impossible to describe in words the feeling after the first test in which you get Trenta E Lode (the highest score you can get in tests in Italy), and after the first time you have a current affairs conversation in Italian. All this is joined by the first dream you dream in Italian and here, little by little, the dream comes true and you become citizens of the great world. Italy is a whole world and studying there, despite the challenge they pose, can be the turning point in your life. Therefore, whether you are thinking about medicine, literature or any other profession, it is very worthwhile to check the possibility of studying in Italy, because it is considered the cradle of culture for a reason.
