Towards the end of this school year 2023-24 I had the opportunity to spend a month in Innsbruck thanks to the Erasmus+ exchange program of my school. I spent 30 days at the Höhere Technische Bundes-Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt Innsbruck Anichstraße (HTL Anichstraße) located in Innsbruck, Austria.
During my stay I've attended a variety of classes ranging from Project Management and Mechatronics to Business, Law and Digital Technologies. The teachers were all nice, available and supportive and my classmates didn't struggle to include me in the group.
Outside the classroom, I managed to blend well with both my classmates and roommates, building friendships and even playing football with some of them. I also enjoyed learning more about Austrian culture—small things like their love for dialects.
I remember that at first I was slightly afraid of how the people would be because here in Italy I've often heard that Austrians can be quite cold and detached, especially with foreigners. All the doubts immediately went away the moment I stepped into the classroom. It for sure was a pleasant surprise.
During this time I did not spend my days with a family, like it usually happens, but I stayed in a dormitory. I was in a room with 2 other guys, although the weekend I was alone. This really gave me the opportunity to prove myself that I was independent and it has helped me grow as a person.
This experience helped me become more self-sufficient and being fully immersed in another language (and culture as well) was a unique experience. While the time flew by, I cherished every moment of living and learning in a new country.
Samuel Tardiota, class 4^DS