Hello Martina! How are you? How are things going today, rather busy or perhaps calm 🙂 ?
I’m back from Padua after a few days of vacation, and as always, coming back is challenging. I’m procrastinating a bit before starting to read all the emails and Slack messages!
This might be challenging, but could you describe your typical working day?
This is a really challenging question, especially now that I’ve switched teams. In my past year at Uniser, I was part of the Sending team. It’s difficult to define a typical workday, but I’ll try, especially because, as a colleague once nicknamed me, I’m “an agent of chaos,” so beyond the nature of the job, my personality plays a role as well.
As a Sending Account, our responsibilities revolve around the behind-the-scenes planning and management of the project. A typical day may involve creating documents, planning for the opening and closing of calls for proposals, booking flights, monitoring and staying within budget, finding ways to bring the budget back on track when it inevitably goes over, addressing the concerns of schools, accommodating requests when possible, and delivering tough news when it’s not. In essence, we work closely with Erasmus coordinators and school administrators, strategize, and strive to balance the books.
What is your role at Uniser?
As mentioned, I was part of the Sending team, and now I’m part of the Mobility Coordinator team. In this new role, I will be more involved in the operational aspects of mobility, and I will be in closer contact with the joys and challenges of the participants, partners, and schools, ensuring that everything goes as smoothly as possible. I hope that taking on more direct responsibilities in managing mobility will provide me with a more comprehensive understanding of the process and the needs of all parties involved.
Why did you apply for this position? What caught your attention?
I was nearing the end of my European Voluntary Service year in Ireland when I stumbled upon the job posting for Uniser. I had no idea about the direction my career would take at that point. The job ad offered an opportunity to work in an international and youthful environment, which immediately piqued my interest. Coming from a background of European volunteering, I had already come to appreciate the value of cultural diversity and working with people from all around the world. This job seemed like a natural extension of what I had begun during my volunteer year.
What made this opportunity even more special for me was what Erasmus represents. Through my volunteer work and other experiences abroad, I had witnessed firsthand the positive impact this program has on the lives of young people and how it contributes to building a stronger European community.
Working for Uniser has given me the chance to continue supporting this cause and contribute to the future of young Europeans and young Italian people .
In short, my transition from volunteering in Ireland to Uniser was an unexpected step in my career, but it was a choice that made my work meaningful and rewarding. I am excited to continue contributing to the promotion of the Erasmus program and to be a part of such a dynamic and diverse team.
What did you learn during your studies that helped you in your current role?
Having studied psychology and delved into related subjects such as anthropology and sociology, I believe that this helps me gain a broader perspective in times of difficulty. Psychology, anthropology, and sociology provide me with a deeper insight into human dynamics, behaviors, cultures, and social structures. This understanding can be invaluable when working with people of different ages, backgrounds, and educational contexts. It allows me to better appreciate the motivations and influences that can drive the behaviors of students, teachers, school staff, and organizational dynamics.
I particularly believe that my training in psychology often supports me in the difficult challenge of suspending judgment. This can be especially useful in relationships with colleagues and schools, as it enables me to better understand the challenges and concerns of all involved parties, including students, parents, teachers, and school’s management.
What’s been the most challenging part of your role so far?
Throughout the year, there have been many challenging moments. Certainly, the start has been quite tough for me. Transitioning from working outdoors in a community setting to being alone in front of a computer was a significant change. In general, it was a complex process for me to understand how the work functions, the timelines, and what the priorities were. Fortunately, I had excellent mentors and a lot of support from my colleagues. Of course, another challenging aspect of my job is the relational one. It’s not always easy to remain calm in the face of certain reactions, but witnessing the growth of the trust relationship with teachers, despite the difficulties, has been a source of great satisfaction. This year has greatly helped me gain confidence in my abilities.
…and the most satisfying?
As I’ve mentioned before, witnessing the growth of the trust relationship between me and my counterparts has been extremely gratifying. One of the greatest satisfactions has been the ability to organize mobility experiences abroad for many young people with fewer opportunities and young neurodivergent people. These mobilities are among the most challenging to organize, but knowing that the young people were satisfied and that, thanks to our work, they had the opportunity to spend a month working abroad and become more independent, filled my heart with joy.
Now let’s switch to your free time: what are your biggest interests outside of work?
I have a real passion for theater, and I’ve recently picked up acting classes again!
I absolutely adore festivals, especially those centered around electronic music, and I have a fantastic time volunteering at these events. Music plays a vital role in my life, and I listen to a wide range of genres. Last year, I had the pleasure of attending concerts by various artists, such as Paolo Nutini with his pop-soul music, 9 times 9 with their acid techno and ’90s rave vibes, and The Scratch, who fuse metal with Irish music. In a nutshell, I make sure not to miss out on anything.
I’m also a big fan of stand-up comedy, and my favorite comedians include Bill Burr, George Carlin, and Louis CK.
Psychology remains a strong interest of mine, and I continue to read extensively on the subject. Currently, on my nightstand, you’d find a novel by Nick Hornby titled “A Long Way Down.”
I also have a deep love for animals. Unfortunately, my current phase in life doesn’t allow me to have pets of my own, but I’ve often taken on the role of a dog sitter because I find it hard to imagine a life without furry friends.
What countries did you live in and finally what made you move back to Italy?
I had two Erasmus experiences in Spain, one in Madrid and one in Valencia, and I lived in my beloved Ireland. They were not always easy experiences. My first Erasmus in Madrid was a disaster, for instance. I wasn’t prepared, or perhaps my expectations didn’t align with reality, and it was very challenging. In Valencia, I fell in love with the city, but after a month, COVID-19 arrived, and it wasn’t a walk in the park there either. Ireland, on the other hand, changed my life forever. I believe that some places allow us to flourish more than others, but unlike flowers, we have the ability to move, so we have more control over our destiny and personal growth. Leaving is not always enough to solve our problems; in fact, it may not be the solution at all. Returning to Italy was a choice driven by the need for stability. Living in Ireland with an Italian salary is not advisable, and at this point in my life, I chose to prioritize my job and my loved ones.
What will you miss the most about your life in Ireland and what are you expecting from your new Italian life?
Oh, I miss everything about Ireland. I’m still in the process of separation, so everything at the moment is a source of nostalgia, a bit like when you break up with your boyfriend and suddenly remove all the things that didn’t work. I miss the landscapes, I miss the silence and the simplicity of life in a small community, I miss Ireland’s ever-busy skies, the greenery, I miss driving in Ireland, and the thorny gorse bushes, the sunny days that are so rare they’re worth more than gold. I miss music and beers at the pub. Of course, more than anything, I miss my friends and the kind attitude of the Irish; anyone who falls in love with Ireland falls in love with its people.
From my new life in Italy, I expect new adventures. I’m in a new city, and I expect it to be easier to move around and travel (sometimes I tend to feel claustrophobic in Ireland), to be able to spend more time with my loved ones and friends, some of whom I haven’t seen for years, and to experience more in-person work life. I really like our work environment, and my choice to come and live in Modena and get closer to it was definitely influenced by this.
Thank you so much for the interview; it was nice to reflect on all these aspects of my life!
Thank you!
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