Can you briefly introduce yourself?

My name is Gabriela Macari and I come from the University of Iasi in Romania. For my mobility, I went to Poitiers in France from September to December 2020. I was a sophomore in Literature and Languages, option Translation and Interpretation.

Why did you choose this city and this partner university?

For my specialty, I needed various courses and I found that in Poitiers there was a wide choice. Moreover, it seemed a nice city to me.

How did your mobility unfold?

It went very well because in general I liked all the courses that I chose. The teachers, the staff of the faculty and the people at the international relations department were also very nice.

Apart from that, I played tennis, danced salsa, and I went to a concert. I also went out with Erasmus students and met other students at the residence.

Could you speak the local language?

Yes, I could. I started to learn French in secondary and high school. Then I chose French as my specialist language at college. I also had French courses in a centre of Poitiers.

What has this experience brought you?

It has brought me a lot. When I was there, I stepped outside my comfort zone and got to know a lot of people. I did new things, like starting to learn Portuguese. So all in all, it was a very nice and interesting experience despite the sanitary restrictions.

Can you tell an anecdote about your stay?

Before classes started, I went with another student to La Rochelle. We stayed there for a night and slept on a boat; it was the first time I did that. Then, in the morning we had breakfast on the boat and visited the town. It was one of the most memorable day there.

A word to describe your mobility?

I would say that it was intense and great.

Do you have any advice for students who want to study abroad?

“Go with the flow”. You have to let go. Don’t be afraid to do something because it allows you to be more open.

What do you think of the EC2U project?

The virtual mobility caught my attention. This aspect of the project is a good opportunity for people who cannot do physical mobility but who want anyway to learn more, to improve their language, and to get in touch with people from other cultures.