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He came from Italy to learn about history: I drink espresso too fast for your waiters!

 

Most foreign students who are enrolled in University of Montenegro come from the region, and speak some forms of our language (Serbia, BiH). Still, there is a number of students who come through programs of international mobility. They stay for longer than a month, and in 2015/16 there were 16 of them in total. The students come from Austria, Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Romania.

One of them, Italian Frederico Godi, is a student of history, and he spoke to Weekend Edition of Dnevne Novine daily on his experience in Montenegro, that he came to love in a short time.

“I am in Montenegro on my postgraduate studies that last for 6 months. It is a project called “Research fellow”. I have a PhD in history and my chosen subject is the Italian occupation of Montenegro during World War II. In Italy, I am an assistant on University in Genoa, but I was born and I live in Rome. I wanted to come and stay in Montenegro for some time to finalize my book “Fronte Montenegro”,” Godi said. According to him, research work was not difficult for him because it is his passion.

Still, he underlined that the system in Montenegro has made it easy for him to work because it is “simple”.

“Everything went down fast. When I came to the Rectorat from the airport, I was awaited by people who informed me of everything. They gave me brochures in English and Montenegrin language and told me of my possibilities. I was assigned a mentor and I started working”, Godi said. In conclusion, the great advantage of Montenegrin system is that the administration does not take so much time as it does in Italy.

“My experience with administration in Montenegro is great. I have sent mails to institutions here, and they replied promptly, which is very professional. It is important for students because it enables them to solve administrative issues in a week. This is not the case with institutions in Italy. Maybe you will be surprised, but I think that administration in Montenegro is not an issue”, Godi said.

He is accommodated in the New Student Home where he has been living since December 1st, and he experience hospitality from both the management and the students.

“Students that come here can expect hospitality and a new, good system. I went to lectures in Nikšić and I was surprised that they were in Italian. It is good for a student. I have lectures three times a week and I am pleased with them. There is a good archive in the library and I use it extensively. There are lectures in English, but I have decided to learn Montenegrin language”, Godi said, saying that he had met students from other countries, but that he has also made many local friends.

“I think an Italian student in Montenegro can enjoy the simplicity of life, because there is an openness for Italian culture. Montenegrin people love Italian cuisine”, Godi said, adding that he has noticed that there are many differences between Italians and Montenegrins, but there are similarities as well.

“When I first arrived in Podgorica, I ordered an espresso in a coffee shop. I drank it too fast for waiter’s standards. He asked me to slow down and started talking to me. He asked me: „Kako ide?” It is a joke, but an important joke because it speaks of time and natural ease of talking with people”, Godi explains.

He is mostly fascinated with people.

“I became fast friends with people here. Montenegrins love me, and I believe the hospitality people have here is the reason you have progressed so much and are building a new, better society. Acquaintances are very important. Italians know what went on here during the 90s and they can not believe when I tell them how much everything has changed. Montenegro has beautiful nature. It is a mixture of new, modern system and tradition. I was in many countries in Europe, but to me Montenegro is unique”, Godi added.

He is promoting a book on Montenegro

Godi said that an idea for the book “Forte Montenegro” occurred to him when he was awarded a national award for the best thesis on Italy’s contemporary history.

“I think this book is important for my country as well because Italy’s history has changed since 2000. Also, there is not one book on Italian occupation of Montenegro. It is interesting how Montenegrins responded to the occupation, I was interested in the history of the society under siege. Finally, I am very happy that the first presentation of my book will be in Podgorica on April 21st”, Godi said.

Translation to Montenegrin language is expected next year, and he already has new book ideas.

“Montenegro is very interesting and I want to write another book on Italian camps in Montenegro. Mamula, Prevlaka, Zabjelo, and there were many on Albanian border as well. There were also camps in Italy, especially for people from Montenegro. Montenegro is important for the history of nazi occupation in Europe, because we saw first resistance happen here, in July of 1941. It was the first rising in Europe”, Godi reminded.

UCG is organizing Welcoming Day

Foreign students who come on mobility programs are placed in the New Student Home. After rooms are given to Montenegrin and foreign students with permanent residence in Montenegro, the right for accommodation and food is given to foreign students.

“Foreign students in exchange programs have classed with mentors in English language. That means that the professors work with them, and are available for the consultations on literature and workload. Office for international collaboration in the University organizes a course of Montenegrin language for free, a Welcoming Day for students, and a road trip to Cetinje and Kotor. It provides help with accommodation, residence permits, and other practical matters. A network of students called “Buddy Network” is also organized to help students during their first days in Montenegro and their integration in new academic environment. It also organizes social events for students during their stay in University of Montenegro”, they said in UCG.

Foreign citizens have a right to enroll in study programs of University of Montenegro under same conditions as Montenegro national who pay school fee, in accordance with the Law on Higher Education and UCG’s Regulation, if not specified otherwise with an international contract.

 

“When it comes to students who are on UCG on mobility programs, they mostly come to do research work on their Master and PhD thesis, or postdoctoral research. The mobility between Montenegro and other countries is still at a low level, and we expect that the current process of reforms in the system will change that, by opening possibility for our study programs to come into accordance with European ones”, they said in UCG.

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