Miriam Brunelli is an Italian girl from Ancona, which is located in the centre of the country. She has decided to come to ISEP, because some of her friends had been here already and liked it very much. So, she took the chance and is making an internship at GRAQ (an R&D group from ISEP), in order to finish her Master thesis. The 24 years old girl is enjoying this experience and fell in love for the Portuguese food, also for Porto’s city. One thing that she was particularly surprised is related with the Welcome Week – an initiative promoted by the International Office where the Erasmus students are clarified about everything they need to know?

– Why did you choose ISEP to enjoy an international experience?

I chose ISEP for the stories of other friends that were here, and for its contact with my University.

– What are your expectations?

I was very excited to come here and to meet a new Higher Education institution’s reality out of my country, in a place where everything was new for me. This is the best challenge that I would like to face up.

– So far, what are you loving the most at ISEP?

The thing that I love the most in ISEP is the feeling of being at home. Every time you can find people, also on Saturday and Sunday, and the students live completely their university organising a lot of events for enjoying and for learning.

– What are the main problems that you are facing through?

At first it wasn’t so easy, because when you go to another country it’s usual to have some doubts, and the fear is that you don’t know who to ask for. However, all of these problems at ISEP disappeared in the first day that I came (and I guess that the same will happen to everyone that wants to study here). Because there was on February an awesome Welcome Week, where everything was explained even before I needed to make a question. In this way, everything became clear for me: information about ISEP, documents, exams, life in Porto, student’s organisations, places to go, among other aspects.

– Is the environmental much different from your country?

The environment it’s not so different from my home institution, but when you are far from your country you need to find a place that gives you a home feeling.

– Study in ISEP means living in Porto. Are you liking the city?

Amazing! This is the only word that i can say. You have to try to understand. Porto for me is a romantic and adventurous city at the same time. Sea, river, a lot of churches, buildings, azulejos... and what about food? I’m Italian, and we think that it is difficult to find great food outside, obviously I’m kidding!! But, I love Portuguese dishes, and what about the countless cellars of wine? A little paradise.

– Is this your first time in Portugal? What places did you visit here already?

I have also visited a lot of other places in Portugal in these last months.I went to Lisbon and Sintra, Guimarães, Braga, Ponte do Lima e Viana do Castelo, Fátima, Coimbra, Aveiro and other places.

– If you get the chance, would you repeat this experience?

If I have the chance obviously I would like to repeat this, but could be that I would like to change the place, just to start a new challenge. Never stop to know new place and new people.

–  Would do you suggest ISEP to other foreign students?

I recommend you to come, now!

– What kind of advice would you give to anyone who is thinking to study outside their country?

Just come! Otherwise you would lose something very special in the world.

Profile

Cinema: My favourite movies are the “Forrest Gump” and “Shutter Island”.

Literature: Oriana Fallaci and Stieg Larsson

Music: Fiorella Mannoia

A dream trip: Adventures trip

Favourite food: Obviously Pizza

Hobbies: Playing volleyball, watching tv shows, reading books, staying with my family and friends.

If you could change the world what would you do? Less ignorance, more love.

A life’s philosophy: Live and let the others live.

ISEP in one word: A family.

ISEP is a trademark of engineering education and innovation. Since 1852, we have been pioneering the training and specialisation of engineers with a strong creative and entrepreneurial mind-set. In addition, our research groups are in the front line of investigation in Europe. In this scenario, it’s understandable that every year lots of international students are choosing our campus for a mobility experience.

With the returning and the refresh of the rubric “What They Say About Us” we want to find out what our foreign students are feeling about their new home.