Swapping sunny, carefree Italy for rainy and much calmer Lithuania? It happens. Italians working and studying at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics (MIF) at Vilnius University share their stories, the advantages of life in Lithuania, and why they enjoy living here.
Italians at VU MIF. Photo by Ugnius Bagdonavičius.
To Lithuania – for Love or a Scientific Career
Daniele Ettore Otera, originally from Sicily, came to Lithuania thirteen years ago. He wanted to get to know his Lithuanian wife's homeland and learn the language. Life took an unexpected turn, and Daniele got a job at Vilnius University and settled here with his family. According to the mathematician, the Lithuanian capital Vilnius is a great city for families, with plenty of nature and green spaces – and far less chaos compared to Italy. “There's less bureaucracy in Lithuania, public administration is efficient – simply incomparable to the system in Sicily,” he says. Otera believes that life in Lithuania can be a truly interesting and valuable experience. “And the cold isn’t as bad as it seems at first,” jokes the scientist from Sicily.
Daniele Ettore Otera. Photo by Vytautas Karpauskas.
Marco Marcozzi, born in the Marche region of central Italy, first came to Lithuania as a visiting researcher during his PhD studies. After a short return to Italy, he eagerly awaited the opportunity to come back – and has now been living in Lithuania for over two years. A scientist specializing in quantum technologies, Marco is convinced that a small and dynamic country like Lithuania can offer excellent career opportunities and, for those with an entrepreneurial spirit, ideal conditions to start a business. He believes that in a country with high-quality education like Lithuania, anyone can find their path to success – whatever that may mean to the individual.
Marco Marcozzi. Photo by Ugnius Bagdonavičius.
Studies Led to Lithuania
Giovanni Menon, from the city of Padua near Venice, came to Lithuania for his master’s studies – he is pursuing a degree in international cybersecurity and cyber intelligence. The unique study program stands out because students spend each semester in a different country. The second semester is held at VU. Giovanni is pleased that everything in Lithuania is much better organized compared to Italy. He notes that studying at VU allows him to experience a different academic model – one with more hands-on assignments rather than just dry theory. “Living and studying abroad helps you grow as a person,” the Italian student believes.
Giovanni Menon. Photo by Ugnius Bagdonavičius.
Hailing from a small village near Milan, Nicolo Pellegrinelli is enrolled in the same study program as Giovanni. He is happy that the program has allowed him to combine two of his passions: cybersecurity and travel. Nicolo is convinced that studying abroad is a great way to see the world from a new perspective and opens doors to additional career opportunities. The Italian does not rule out staying in Lithuania after his studies: “Vilnius is a wonderful city,” he says, praising the capital.
Nicolo Pellegrinelli. Photo by Ugnius Bagdonavičius.
Italians living in Lithuania agree on one thing – the country truly has its advantages. Beautiful nature, a peaceful environment, high-quality education, structured public systems, and career opportunities – isn't that a great place to live?
The VU MIF is producing a series of video interviews featuring Italians who are working or studying at the faculty. You can find the interviews on the MIF YouTube channel.