The last one and a half week Corona was the main topic on different levels. Right now University stays closed till March 15th but they install online classes, Events are banned till April 3rd. I needed to get out of Bologna (and especially my accommodation), so I am in Rome this week.
Actually there is not much to add. Most of the time I am waiting for my university classes to start again and trying to learn some Italian in the mean time. I am also changing my accommodation, because I found an other place, which fit better for me. Unfortunately that room isn’t free before March the 15th. I used the circumstances to get out of Bologna for a while and explore Rome. Wanted to do that in May actually but at least now there are not so many tourists here. Which means not so many lines and the sights not too crowded. Thank you Corona at least for that.
When the ban started, I asked my University what to do, because I was wondering, when University stay closed or how to get home, when things get worse (at that point people were talking about closing borders). The answer was basically “There aren’t any financial regulation when you dropout early as long as the Foreign Office doesn’t say it’s a catastrophe. You have to decide yourself what is more important to you: money, time, performance or your health.” Wow. Thank you for nothing. The Bologna University on the other site write to us every day and install online classes. Till Monday every class should be online, so my day will get some structure back. Yesterday the schools and universities in all Italy were shut down but the Rettore of UNIBO was like “What we do here is political, we (the students, technical-administrative and teaching staff) don’t let the life and work of such an important and complex institution like university complety blocked out because of that outbreak”. Honestly I am totally in love with the passion of this university.
Meanwhile I am monitoring the situation in Germany. There are still less cases, still less rules for protection. When international events got cancelled there is always a lot of people complaining like “it’s just a cold, what is wrong with you.” But obviously on the other side people tend to turn into preppers. I heard in some shops Pasta, toilet paper, canned food and flour is sold out. Also its harder to get disinfection stuff and people steal from hospitals and doctors offices. It’s like the germans want to keep their events but prepare to be deadly sick after. I really don’t know what to say to that.
In due of the situations probably I’ll write a bit less. Like only once a week. There is not much happening and even I still have some prepared stories, it is hard to stay focused on that right now. I am sorry, but I hope you understand.
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