Mariam Gagoshidze
The Pontifical University of Salamanca (Spain)
Mariam Gagoshidze, a PhD student at Sabauni Doctoral School, was at the Pontifical University of Salamanca in Spain with the Erasmus+ student mobility program. As Mariam notes, this session was full of pleasant challenges, exceeding many expectations. "My first desire as a doctoral student was to be in a quiet, cozy environment where I could actively work on my dissertation topic. Of course, I was setting expectations in this direction. To be honest, continuing my studies at the University of Salamanca as part of the exchange program exceeded my expectations. Although I knew that almost no one in Spain spoke English, I still did not expect that no one would be able to speak English at the communication level, even in state institutions, although I can look at this fact positively. I had to learn Spanish at the basic level, and I want to continue in the future." One semester spent abroad was fruitful for Mariam in terms of personal skills development; as she notes, she learned to allocate time correctly, use her own resources correctly, and also that this period will help her to reassess her values.
When comparing student life, Mariam uniquely highlights society's attitude toward learning. "As a doctoral student, I cannot compare. Even public perception was different when they found out that I was a student in a doctoral program, especially in the philosophy of law. In Georgia, I always have the feeling that status is devalued, and for this reason, society's attitude is like this: almost no one understands why I don't have time or how much work I have."
It is a fact that exchange programs offer many opportunities to students, but for Mariam, this period was more important because of different experiences: "Of course, the goal of exchange programs is primarily to get an education, but I think what is always memorable is the experience we get within the framework of the exchange program. It's as if you change and become a different person the moment you arrive. Especially in Spain. It is difficult not to follow the rhythm of people's lives. I would advise all students to participate in exchange programs and use as much time and opportunity as possible to study the culture of the host country.
Returning to Georgia, Mariam will miss everything related to Spain and Spanish culture. Loud people and total silence on Sunday; environment; old walls of the university; smiles on the faces of strangers; free life Living in a small, quiet town where, after a while, everyone knows you—on the street, in the store, wherever you go—and most importantly, "Napolitana".