Voices from Abroad: Nicola Benatti
Seoul (South Korea), Exchange Program. Yonsei University
Hanoi (Vietnam), International Internship. UNIDO
 Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia |
A Living Adventure
The desire of adventure has changed my life over the last three years... Moving eastward I explored Asia, discovering a world completely new to me, where the majority of people base their existence on routines which are very different from the ones I was used to.Everything started with my undergraduate exchange experience in South Korea, one of the most hi-tech countries which however still maintains its strong traditions.The skyline of Seoul, perfectly in harmony with the Buddhist temples around the city, clearly gives the idea of the culture of this great country which, besides its incredible economic growth, maintains strict and ancient social norms.The never-resting soul of Seoul rises in Yonsei University every morning, a huge green campus – including a mountain – in the center of the fast growing city. At Yonsei I had the chance to study with the methodical Asian students and an American-style education system based much more on class interaction than on final exams. This helped me develop my intercultural communication skills greatly, and learn the Asian approach of finding something interesting in any person. The international environment I found at Yonsei was fundamental in this experience. The group of exchange students soon became one big family, probably because only people with a similar frame of mind choose to go on exchange in such a far away and unknown country. The relationship among us became so strong, learning from each other's culture that now we all still keep in touch.During my stay in South Korea I also had the chance to travel to Japan and to the charming Philippines. Other cultures to approach, other wonderful landscapes...
 Nicola at the United Nations offices |
As I missed Asia and that special relationship one establishes with its people, one year later I followed the winds flowing eastward once more, and moved to Vietnam for an internship at UNIDO. The hot and humid summer in Hanoi is not an easy thing to stand at first. There are motorbikes everywhere, cars honking, chaos, no space to walk on the sidewalks. But you only need one week to get used to it, which is the time it takes to fall in love with this country. Colors, fragrances and amazing landscapes will make you feel something you have probably never felt before. The experience of arranging my accommodation and handling all the bureaucracy by myself with little time before my departure from Italy was another adventure in and of itself.Unlike Korea, I went to Vietnam to work and not to study. This reduced the opportunities to travel around but let me discover how the UN system works. The incredible networking you can do in Hanoi, if you are interested in a career in International Organizations, is amazing.During the internship I had to work on poverty reduction through sustainable activities, focusing on how Climate Change will afflict poor people living on the Mekong Delta, but I also analyzed industrial sectors to be made "greener." The welcoming environment of my office – thanks to my wonderful colleagues – and the UN system made me feel at home very soon.Once again, the international friends I made there were a real added value to my experience. All great people who had had incredible experiences all over the world. Many of them were doing exactly the same job I had always dreamt of.Although Vietnamese people are not as welcoming as Koreans, once you get close to them you become part of the family and it is common to be invited to their home to taste traditional food.Once again, beside working all week, I had the chance to travel extensively around the country and to make a solo-trip crossing Cambodia, the wonderful land of ancient temples in the jungle. Now I am only looking forward to experiencing a new adventure once again...