Reserapport - KI-student
Lärosäte: Università Degli Studi di Firenze
Utbildningsprogram: Läkare
Utbytesprogram: Erasmus
Termin: Hösttermin 14/15

Innan avresa

There was never any doubt in my mind that I wanted to study abroad for at least one semester. By studying abroad you learn a language, broaden your perspectives, increase your self-confidence and gain new friends and experiences. I had been to the south of Italy on a clinical exchange programe with IFSMA for one month and had studied Italien in Italy before. Not only was I familiar with the culture and the healthcare system in Italy, I was (and still am) very fond of the Italian culture and lifestyle.  Despite the language barrier, I did not hestite to study in Florence, the only city in Italy KI has collaborations with. 

Before I began with the appliaction process, I was worried about the load of paper work that had to be done. But to my surprise, the application process was not as complicated as I thought it would be. When I was nominated for a placement in Florence I officialy applied to the University and filled in a study plan for my 9th semester. After several emails the university in Florence accepted the studyplan and learning agreement. Fortunately, emails were anwered very quickly. 

Ankomst och registrering

I flew to Florence one week before the start of my first internship. I strongly recommmend everyone to the same or even earlier if you are looking for an apartment. I finished my last course at KI several days before my departure and I had enough time to pack and get ready for Florence. As soon as I arrived I contacted the international erasmus office located at Careggi Hospital and I registered myself the same week. Università degli Studi di Firenzes campus is spread out in florence and neighbouring cities. All my three internships were located at Careggi Hospital.  

During the registration I was not introduced to a studentorganisation (fadderoganisation) nor did i have a contact person at the host university. I was given some information about language courses which the host university offered international students for a short period of time for free. I was  also given a bag full of maps and information about the city and university and some documents which needed to be signed at the end of every internship. Don't forget to ask for your student card, I never got mine. You are offered plenty of student discounts with your student card. 
 
The first week of my stay I intensively searched for an apartment and got to know my way around the city. Just like most students going through the same experience, during the first couple of weeks, at times I felt frustrated, lost and overwhelemed. It's all part of the charm of studying abroad and eventually everything falls into place. 

Ekonomi

Florence is an expensive city compared to other cities in Italy. There are always some extra costs when you are living in a new city. Everything is cheaper the further you go from the old town and avoid the turist traps. All the costs and expenses of living in Florence and traveling around in Italy were convered with CSN and erasmus stipendium. Although it was not necessary for me, I advise students to save some money before, there is much to do and see in Florence and tuscany.

The closer to the city you live the higher the apartments rents are. Most students share an apartment together minimizing the costs of living in Florence. The supermarket Conad was just outside my apartment and I found that the prices were relatively cheaper than in stockholm and I lived just outside the boarders of the old town. However, restaurant prices at the heart of florence were the same as in stockholm. Ask the florentines which places they usually go out to eat. This way you experience the Italian culture and avoid the places packed with turists and international students. 

There are cheaper and student friendly options as well. The aperetivos at bars and restaurants costs between 5 and 10 euros including drinks and buffe. I bought a bicycle my second in week in florence however the traffic in Florence is not suitable for cyclists on the roads outside the old town. Florence is small city and you can easily get around with a bicycle. You can find secondhand bicycles on facebook and newspaper adds for about 50 euros or ask the florentines. 





Boende

Unfortunately the university does not arrange accomodation for students. Its up to you to find an apartment. Most students share an apartment together which is both cheaper and social. It is a great way to meet new people and make new friends. One room apartments is both expensive and very difficult to find. Renting a room in an apartment costs between 250 and 500 euros per month depending on its location, the closer to the old town the higher the prices. Gas and water and electricy cost a lot in italy and many times it is not included in the rent. Florence is a student city and there are plenty of options when it comes to renting rooms but I chose to live just outside the borders of the old town which is much more quiet  and less touristy and i had only walking distance to the beautiful historical center. It was very convenient since most busses stopped running after 11 pm and its common with buss strikes in Italy.

Finding an apartment in Florence is stressful. I had a very difficult time finding an apartment because most landlords signed contracts for at least 9 months to 1 year, a 3 month contract is very uncommon.I flew to Florence one week in advance and lived in a hostel outside of Florence. Although there are plenty of options, there are just as many students looking for apartments, mostlly international students. I searched for an apartment through different websites (listed below) and I had joined different facebook groups. It was not easy making a phone call since most of the italians do not understand English. I eventually found an apartment through facebook and I lived with two other spanish speaking students. A friend of mine met a few other international students at a language course before the start of her internships and toghether they found an apartment at an agency. Apartment agencies are scattered around in Florence. It's the easiest way to find an apartment if you are a few people but you pay double rent the first month.  

Studier allmänt

I only had clincal rotations at Careggi Hospital. The education system is different compared to KI. It's up to you to make the most out of your rotations. There is no one who tells you where to be or who to be with. If you show up on time and show an interest, doctors will show an interest in teaching and showing you around. But you have to make an effort, take the first step and make contact with the doctors. Although both the healthcare- and the education system is very heiarchial, I felt welcomed by the professors and the nursing staff. Italians are warm and kind people and they are very fascinated with KI, Stockholm and Sweden. They were curious and interested to know why a Swedish student had come to Italy to study. 

The patient doctor contact was genuinely warm and caring. Patients have a great deal of respect for doctors in Italy. With a few exceptions, almost all patients were with a family member when they had doctors appoitment and the elderly were never alone. There is no computer system saving patient journals, these were kept by the patient itself. Everything is reported by hand and there is a tremendous amout of paper work being done everyday by the doctors. 
 
Having clinical rotations in Italy, you don't have the advantages of examining as many patients as you normally do at KI. You can always make up for it by going several night shifts at KI, as was the case for me. By studying abroad you gain so many other qualities that are just as important both on a personal- and professional level. The medical programme in Italy and mediterranean countries in general is very theoretical. It's not until you begin your residancy that have you responsibility for patients under supervision. 

I studied the theory on my own and wrote my exam back at home and it worked out just fine. Follow the core curriculum, buy the course literature and study old exams and you will be fine. At the end of each rotation you have 2 papers that need to be filled in and signed by the chief of staff, one from KI and one from the university. Dont forget to make an appointment for the signture in advance, I forgot to make an appointment at my last rotation and the chief of staff did not have time to sign my papers the last day. I had to rebook my flight back home and stay longer in Florence. 

Kurser under utbytet

Kurser motsvarande termin 9 på KI

I was on a study exhange for ophthalmology, neurology and psychiatry in my 9th semester. I had 4 weeks of rotation for each clinical placement and studied the theory on my own. Fortunately, lectures on these course were being given the same time as my clinical rotations. I got permission from my supervisor and went to a few lectures out of curiosity. It was fun, different and very interesting! I got full credit for all my placements but in order to pass psychiatry I had to go several night shifts at KI. Learn how to write a "vård intyg" if you are studying psychiatry abroad. 

 

My first clinical rotation began with ophthalmology. The first day of my placement the doctor in charge of the department gave me and another Swedish exchange student from Denmark an introduction and showed us around the different clinics. We were also given a paper that needed to signed by our supervisor by the end of each day. My days usually began at 9 o'clock and I finished around 14-15, sometimes later. I was free to choose where I wanted to go. The emergency department was very educational so I spent most of mine time there. I went by the clinic and asked the residant doctor if he/she could supervise me. At times I was not allowed to because there were too many patients in line, so I went to other clinics. During my 4 weeks, I saw much more than most students at KI. The course is shorter at KI. Ask the doctors to teach you how to examine the patients and use the different instruments. 


My second clinical rotation was psychiatry. I started my days at 9 and ended around 14. I was placed at the ward and outpatient clinic. The mornings at the ward usually began with a morning round which took about 2 hours. Afterwards the doctors went out to the nearest cafeteria for a strong espresso. Unlike my clincal rotations in ophthalmology and neurology, I followed the same doctor at psychiatry for the most part. 


My third clinical rotaions was neurology. I was placed at the ward but I also took the freedom to go to MS, Parkinson and Huntington clinics, to mention a few. I found that it was much more educational and I had the opportunity to take neurological physcal exmaminations. The freedom to choose where to go is an advantage but at the same it requires you to have discipline. 

Språk och kultur

Prior to my exchange I had been on a clincal exchange programe for one month in Italy and had also studied Italian in Italy. I was familiar with the culture and the healthcare system. I am very fond of the Italian culture. Italians are very welcoming people who love to relax and socialize. In Italy, conversation is an art form and Italians of all ages are always engaged in intense conversations. Much can be understood by studying their body language.    

Language is definitely a barrier. Study Italian before your exchange. The more you know, the more you get out of your experience. My knowledge in basic Italian was useless at my internships. I didnt understand anything in the beginning, but as time passed by I got the hang of it. If there was enough time in between patients, my supervisors explained patient cases in english. Most italians do not understand english, but all my supervisors spoke decent english. 

The university offers language courses for free for a short period of time but you have to be on an A1 level. You can also register yourself at different schools which is a great way to meet new people. If you don't pass A1 level, you study on your own and retake the test. I did not pass A1 level so I found an italian tandem through a friend. It s a fun way to learn italian and you get an insight to the italian culture and lifestyle amongts its many other benefits. My tandem eventually became one of my good friends in Florence. Join a a facebook group and find a tandem. LIving with other Italians is the best way to learn italian. However it is much easier said than done, considering how difficult it was fidning a room. 

Fritid och sociala aktivteter

The student life in Florence is great. There is so much to do and see in Florence. It's easy to fill your days with diverse activities. A great place to study is the library near Santa Maria Novella, It's a historical building with nice view over the cathedral. Most evenings were spent at different aperetivos at bars and restaurants. The historical center of Florence is an open air museum and it's the birthplace of the Italian renaissance. Florence's museums, palaces and churches house some of the greatest artistic gems. The last sunday of every month most museums have free entrance and most places offer student discount. 
 
There are numerous student organizations organizing different activities for international students for reasonable prices. These activities included buss trips to different cities outside of Florence, sport activities such as volleyboll and football and salsa classes, to mention a few. I registered myself by joining their facebook group. It's a great way to find friends and most people are open to meeting new people. 

Traveling to other cities is cheap and easy with trains. Take the opportunity to travel to Pisa, Sienna, Arezzo, Bologna and Modena during the weekends. The Medici palaces scattered around in tuscany are also a must see. the Medici family had a lot influence during the renaissance. Fiosele is a small city outside of Florence situated on a hill offering a beautiful view over Florence. 
 

Sammanfattning

My exchange in Florence has been a fantastic experience! And if I had the chance and circumstances I would study abroad again. There is a possibility to prolonge your stay and study two semesters in a row. But its up to you to find clinical placements. 

It is not always easy and fun but in the end it is definitely worth it. I recommend all students to study abroad for at least one semester, you will not regret it. Pretty soon you will settle in and find your circle of friends and most students are in the same situation as yourself. By studying abroad you challange yourself, increase your self-confidence and re-evaluate your priorities and values. You step out of your comfort zone and grow both on a personal- and professional level. 

Last but not least, live with Italians, learn Italian before your exchange and enjoy your time in beautiful Florence.