Why Pisa?
'I could have done my internship in the Netherlands, but I saw this as the perfect chance to experience life outside the country—both in terms of work culture and the weather. I reached out to several universities and companies abroad and eventually got responses from both the Robotics Institute in Pisa and a company in Sweden. I chose Pisa because they responded quickly and clearly, which gave me a better sense of trust.'
First impressions?
'Pisa is a small city; the historic center feels similar to Enschede’s. Once you move past the touristic crowds, there’s a relaxed, cozy vibe. With the warm weather, everyone heads straight to the terraces to sit outside. The work environment is also pretty laid-back. As an intern, I’m just integrated among the PhD's and postdocs. That took some getting used to—I still find it surprising that we all eat together and often play a game before the break ends.'
Biggest differences?
'What really stood out to me is how few people speak English. In the Netherlands, we’re used to high English proficiency, but that’s not the case here. Maybe I’m in a bubble, though, because everyone at the institute speaks English. But if you ask someone on the street or in a supermarket—say, about a bus ticket- chances are they won’t understand a word.
Unlike Enschede, where student sports are everywhere, you won’t find that here. And Pisa is not bike-friendly at all. In the Netherlands, you have bike lanes everywhere, but here you’re basically cycling on an 80 km/h road. I only ride on streets with a 30–50 km/h speed limit.'
Student life?
“Socially, it’s going well. I’m here with two other students from Enschede—one is leaving soon, and the other is staying for another month and a half. Last week, we went out for dinner and, since one of them is leaving soon, we hit a bar afterward. I also want to check out the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
What’s next?
“For me, this is all about stepping out of my comfort zone: going abroad alone, handling things independently, and going on trips. I still want to do a specific hike: Cinque Terre, a coastal trail. I’m also considering a day trip to Florence or a midweek stay in a hostel. I’m here for a while, so the options are endless.”
