Federico writes in his native Italian about his experiences and impression of London (English translation follows):

Veniamo a noi. Io sono uno dei tanti italiani che sono qua a Londra per imparare la lingua, mi sono laureato lo scorso anno in ingegneria informatica. Amo la musica, e per un po’ l’ho pure suonata. Ora pratico Aikido qua a Londra, cercando di proseguire una strada che ho iniziato in Italia più di 3 anni fa. Nel tempo che mi rimane mi piace stare con amici, e leggere un po’ di tutto, anche se il mio argomento preferito restano le religioni, specialmente quelle orientali.

Di Londra mi piacciono molte cose: La mentalità, Le possibilità, La cultura e la storia.

Non c’è una mentalità comune, non c’è uno stile di vita più o meno simile perchè Londra, essendo uno dei punti di riferimento a livello mondiale, ospita gente di ogni razza esistente. Si va dai quartieri in cui prevale una certa etnia ai quartieri centrali in cui prevalgono gli inglesi “inglesi”. Ed è proprio per questo aspetto che la gente non giudica, non constringe a certi atteggiamenti, e rispetta la diversità. A Londra non puoi sapere a priori che tipo di persona hai davanti, e ciò è positivo perchè ti permette di incontrare tante culture diverse e imparare a vedere le cose in modi differenti.

Ho menzionato le possibilità perchè Londra offre veramente qualsiasi cosa, da musei, biblioteche, a tutto quello che riguarda la vita notturna, pub e club di qualunque tipo, da quelli tematici (ex. jazz club) a quelli più conosciuti, “internazionali”.

Personalmente, apprezzo molto anche l’aspetto culturale, pur non essendo un esperto in letteratura o in arte, è comunque molto bello poter ammirare certe opere d’arte, la storia contenuta nei musei, la letteratura, ciò che ha reso l’uomo diverso dagli altri animali.

English translation:

Let me introduce myself. I’m one of the many italians here in London to learn the language, i graduated the last year in computer science. I love music, and for a while i’ve also played it. Now i practise Aikido here in London, looking for continuing a way started in Italy more than 3 years ago. In the remaining time i like to stay with friends, and read some of everything, also if my best subject still remains religions, especially the oriental ones.

Of London i like a lot of things: The mentality, the opportunities, the culture and the history.

There isn’t a common mentality, there aren’t more or less similar lifestyles because London, being a world-level point of reference, hosts people of every sort. From areas which are likely to be prevalent in one ethnic to central quarters in which most of the people are english “english”. And it’s exactly for that reason that people don’t judge, don’t force certain attitudes, and respect dissimilarities. Here in London you cannot know before what kind of person you have in front of you, and this is positive because it allows you to meet many different cultures and learn to see things in different ways.

I mentioned opportunities because London offers almost everything, from museums, libraries, to all regarding nightlife, pubs and clubs of any kind, from thematic ones (ex. jazz club) to ones more known, “internationals”.

Personally, i greatly appreciate the cultural aspect, also if i’m not an expert in literature nor in art, is however very good the possibility of admiring certain masterpieces, the history contained in museums, the literature, everything that render the man different from the animals.

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Buena suerte!