DICTAabroad
S
Elle Outram in Bologna, Italy
La Dolce Vita: Hours in the Park,
Moments in the Law School
unshine, pizza, and gelato. That is how
we all perceive Italy, is it not? Well yes,
that is precisely what one can expect to
pack into a week – long summer excursion
to Sardinia. Day-to-day life in Italy is, however, somewhat different. Sadly, winter exists even in the Med – and a permanent
diet of the aforementioned foods would
lead to unrivalled obesity rates; a cherry on
the cake of Italy’s long list of public problems. In bocca al lupo (good luck) to all
of the poor Italians who currently face the
prospect of living in a country governed,
quite literally, by comedians.
I decided to work as an au pair whilst
simultaneously dedicating myself to studying Law at the world’s oldest and most
famous Facoltà di Giurisprudenza – at the
University of Bologna. The aim was to
gain a wider exposure to Italian language
as well as to have a fascinating cultural insight into Italian family life – a foolproof
plan, or so I thought. Suffice to say that
my year abroad has not been quite what I
might have imagined.
My Italian host family – Fabio, Patrizia,
five-year-old Alessandro and eight-yearold Alice – were incredibly welcoming
from the start and have been supportive
throughout my time in Bologna. Every afternoon for the last seven months I have
religiously tried my hardest to enact the
role of Buzz Lightyear throughout endless games of Toy Story, to paint multifarious dinosaur pictures, and to play barbies
as though it is my favourite past-time in
the world. The vocabulary I have picked
up is entertaining and varied, though not
necessarily appropriate for future legal
work... unless of course clients wish to
discuss Disney films on whose turn it is
to go on the swings in the nearest park.
The children have been great fun and have
brought a huge smile to my face on many
unforgettable occasions.
Turning now to my slightly alternative
experience of university life: law courses
take place over one semester and consist
of about six hours of lectures per week
(attendance not necessary) with no supplementary tutorials. At the end of the
course, there are at least three opportunities to sit an oral exam in which one is
tested on the contents of a maximum of
two textbooks. Success as a Law student
in Italy lies in learning these books off
by heart: an uninspiring task for students
who, at home, are encouraged to undertake individual research.
Despite the spells of intense frustration at the university’s lack of organisation
and the moments of utter despair whilst
ironing and folding underwear for the
family, I have made some fantastic friends
this year and look forward to my last few
months as the sun finally shows its face
again and I am able to take trips to Verona,
Siena, and many other