They may not find the best
pizzas in Delft, but for Italian students Riccardo Petrocco and Francesco Petillo, life here has its advantages.
Petrocco, who is doing his PhD in parallel distributed systems, moved to the Netherlands from Rome, six years ago for his MSc.
Petillo, originally from Naples, started his Msc in maritime technology three months ago.
What drew you to Delft?
Petrocco: “Things are definitely easier here, in terms of living and studying. In Italy the competition is far more intense but the end result is often not worth it.“
Petillo: “In Italy, academia can be boring. I wanted to try a different approach and really liked the way the courses are structured here, with more focus on application rather than theory.“
What is the best part about pursuing a degree at TU Delft?
Petrocco: “Research departments in Italy are good, but they’re closed off from the industry. Here there’s a lot of networking and researchers get involved with companies. Companies also provide funding, which encourages more exchange of ideas.“
Petillo: “Professors and courses are up-to-date with the latest research in their respective fields. This way, when we step out of university, we’re not at bay with the present developments.“
Tell us a little bit about your interests outside the classroom.
Petrocco: “Most of my interests take me out of the Netherlands. I enjoy rock climbing, photography and riding bikes. Usually, I go to Germany to bike and get on the autobahns. One of my hobbies is restoring old bikes – I have five motorcycles at the moment.“
Petillo: “I’m taking a couple of English courses, but that’s about it. I’m a very lazy person, so riding my cycle is enough sport for me.“
Given how popular Italian food is all over the world, is it tough to find a good selection in Delft?
Petrocco: “I never eat Italian food at restaurants outside Italy. There may be brands such as Dominos everywhere in the world, but no Italian will call what they serve pizza. As for the ingredients, I usually order in bulk from Italy. One time, I drove down to Rome with my girlfriend, and we loaded the entire back seat with food on our way back.“
Petillo: “I get my brand of pasta – DeCecco- at Albert Heijn, but it’s not always available so I stock up.“
Any survival tips for new Italian students?
Petrocco: “Enjoy the beer here, you’ll find some of the world’s best beers here. Keep an eye out for Italian concerts, they’re cheaper to attend here than back home.“
Petelli: “Don’t be afraid of your professors. In fact, you are encouraged to ask questions and participate in class.“
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