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- The environment and the community : Moving to a new country is hard, especially when you are not familiar with the language, which was my case. However, my team and colleagues were very welcoming and proud of their international community and this was a huge factor that helped in easy integration.
- PhD modules to get you into shape: My PhD program does not include any coursework here, but there are some modules, which are weeklong classes of 2-3 hours each where some specialized topics are covered. These not only include astrophysics, but also modules of scientific writing and presentations. These are very important to get a sense of what we are stepping into.
- Flexible work environment: work-life balance is of absolute importance here. We periodically take vacations, we work from home when required, and no questions are asked. This allows us to view work as enjoyable and not some 9-5 ritual.
Dislikes
- Paperwork: The formalities to be completed on arrival in Italy are to be handled on our own, which can get overwhelming. However, experienced seniors can definitely help you, which is how I figured everything out!
- Finding accommodation: Its very difficult to find accommodation in Bologna. To get the visa, we need to show them proof of our accommodation for the first month. So, we have to look houses online in a country we barely know! While the university had portals for international students to look for accommodation options, its not guaranteed that we obtain a room through them.
- Health insurance : The Italian national health insurance is extremely expensive. So I took an insurance policy from India.
- There are WhatsApp groups where vacancies are advertised. There are many agencies that offer houses, but they do have high agency fees.
- The monthly rent can be around 400 for a double room and above 550 euros for a single room. They can be with or without a contract, which is very careful to consider, as accommodation has to be verified to get a residence permit. Sometimes utilities like water, electricity, gas, and wifi are included in the rent; sometimes not. Those matters have to be agreed upon in the beginning with the landlord. Finally, a caution deposit, which is refundable, has to be paid in the beginning.
- The university of bologna campuses are scattered throughout the city. Finding rooms that are close to your department can be a challenge. Other considerations include whether you want to stay within the city walls or a bit on the outskirts. The rents can change dramatically depending on its closeness to the centre.
- Recommendations: start ASAP. Contact as many people as possible. Set up online room viewings to interact with prospective housemates so that you can assess whether they are compatible with you. In the end, it's very probable that problems will emerge with the other room occupants, so it's very important that you convey your expectations to them and also try to understand their expectations of an acceptable housemate.
- My room is around 45 minutes by bus from my office. On extreme traffic days, the time can go till 1 hour. However, my choice was based on the rent and closeness to the city centre.
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