Umbria ( Perugia - Universita' per Stranieri )
Universita' per Stranieri, Perugia
I have chosen the Universita per Stranieri at Perugia over Siena for various reasons. I prefer a less touristy city and Perugia is located right in the middle of Italy although Narni should be the centre of Italy. Perugia being the capital of Umbria is well-connected by regional trains. The University at Perugia is well established and gained good recognition worldwide. It is a privilege to attend my Italian courses in such a refined city like Perugia where many monuments are well-preserved since the 14th century.
The university’s main building is at Palazzo Gallenga, a well-preserved building with nice paintings in the ceilings and beautiful chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. In one particular salon, there are 12 zodiac signs featured on the walls. The classrooms are fitted with hard wooden benches which seemed primitive to some but adds an antiquity touch to the university ambience. The university first started since 1925 and will be celebrating 80years of anniversary in 2005.
During the first day of the enrolment, I was at the student’s office unable to utter a complete sentence in Italian. Nevertheless, the staff were multilingual and spoke fluent English. That swept away my fear and prompted me to find out more about the intensive course (“corso intensive”) or normal course (“corso normale”). Since I am taking the course for 4 months, I decided to embark on the intensive course especially when I gather that it is only offered during Jul to Sep. What a nice timing to learn as much Italian language at TGV/Eurostar speed.
After choosing the course, I went to the Banca dell'Umbria counter within Palazzo Gallenga. When I made payment for the course, there is a little stamp pasted on the receipt and I have to pay a small stamp fee. That is something that is not widely used in Singapore. Next, I was directed to the basement to the Questura to apply for my permit to stay “Permesso di Soggiorno”. This important document has to be requested upon arrival in Perugia and I need it to register for my lessons too. However, it proved to be a very tedious process to apply for this permit as there are many documents need. Copies of student visa, arrival stamp on passport, address of local residence, marco da bollo and passport photos are required. The queues are separated for EU and Non-EU students and the queue for Non-EU is moving at snail speed. Furthermore, if you are not there early, you will have to be back 2days later as the opening hours are short (9am-12noon).
With a temporary Permesso di Soggiorno, I can register for my corso intensivo and receive my timetable. Finally, with the latest timetable , I was trying to have gauge of my free time so as to plan trips during the free time. However, with 27 hours under the intensive course, the morning classes starts as early as 8.30am everyday with occasion afternoon classes on certain weekdays.
Next, as we were in our first level (primo grado) and as it is the summer months, we were not scheduled for classes at Palazzo Gallenga. Instead, we were allocated to different campus about 15 minutes walk away. The primo grado classes were held at Palazzo Lupatelli and Palazzo Orvieto. There is a school canteen ( La mensa ) which offered cheap lunches to the students and staff. On certain days with afternoon lessons, I joined my classmates for lunch at the canteen and chit chat a little in our limited Italian.
I have chosen the Universita per Stranieri at Perugia over Siena for various reasons. I prefer a less touristy city and Perugia is located right in the middle of Italy although Narni should be the centre of Italy. Perugia being the capital of Umbria is well-connected by regional trains. The University at Perugia is well established and gained good recognition worldwide. It is a privilege to attend my Italian courses in such a refined city like Perugia where many monuments are well-preserved since the 14th century.
The university’s main building is at Palazzo Gallenga, a well-preserved building with nice paintings in the ceilings and beautiful chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. In one particular salon, there are 12 zodiac signs featured on the walls. The classrooms are fitted with hard wooden benches which seemed primitive to some but adds an antiquity touch to the university ambience. The university first started since 1925 and will be celebrating 80years of anniversary in 2005.
During the first day of the enrolment, I was at the student’s office unable to utter a complete sentence in Italian. Nevertheless, the staff were multilingual and spoke fluent English. That swept away my fear and prompted me to find out more about the intensive course (“corso intensive”) or normal course (“corso normale”). Since I am taking the course for 4 months, I decided to embark on the intensive course especially when I gather that it is only offered during Jul to Sep. What a nice timing to learn as much Italian language at TGV/Eurostar speed.
After choosing the course, I went to the Banca dell'Umbria counter within Palazzo Gallenga. When I made payment for the course, there is a little stamp pasted on the receipt and I have to pay a small stamp fee. That is something that is not widely used in Singapore. Next, I was directed to the basement to the Questura to apply for my permit to stay “Permesso di Soggiorno”. This important document has to be requested upon arrival in Perugia and I need it to register for my lessons too. However, it proved to be a very tedious process to apply for this permit as there are many documents need. Copies of student visa, arrival stamp on passport, address of local residence, marco da bollo and passport photos are required. The queues are separated for EU and Non-EU students and the queue for Non-EU is moving at snail speed. Furthermore, if you are not there early, you will have to be back 2days later as the opening hours are short (9am-12noon).
With a temporary Permesso di Soggiorno, I can register for my corso intensivo and receive my timetable. Finally, with the latest timetable , I was trying to have gauge of my free time so as to plan trips during the free time. However, with 27 hours under the intensive course, the morning classes starts as early as 8.30am everyday with occasion afternoon classes on certain weekdays.
Next, as we were in our first level (primo grado) and as it is the summer months, we were not scheduled for classes at Palazzo Gallenga. Instead, we were allocated to different campus about 15 minutes walk away. The primo grado classes were held at Palazzo Lupatelli and Palazzo Orvieto. There is a school canteen ( La mensa ) which offered cheap lunches to the students and staff. On certain days with afternoon lessons, I joined my classmates for lunch at the canteen and chit chat a little in our limited Italian.
posted by Benny at
3:19 PM
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