My name is Angela, I come from a small town in the center of Italy. Last April I got my degree in Molecular Biology at University of Camerino. I was interested to spend a studying or working period abroad to enrich myself both personally and professionally. For this reason I applied and then I got a 6 months’ research scholarship with a collaboration project between my laboratoty and the Professor's Wei Miao Protozoan Functional Genomic Research Group at IHB in Wuhan. 

Some of my friends and colleagues had already chosen China as a destination for study or work and their positive opinions encouraged me in this choice. Before leaving I also consulted this same page for useful information about the Institute. 

By now I am here for over than a month. I repeat already known things, but I have to confirm that I had been warmly welcomed: I had a prepared room, a workstation in the laboratory and a team of patients and kind “helpers”! Unfortunately I cannot speak Chinese then the aid of my lab mates has been (and still is) really precious to me especially during the first week. 

Permit me to say, our research group is very close-knit and well organized; every week there is a lab meeting and if there are any doubts or problems we try to cooperate to solve them. The experiments are performed with interest and curiosity. I think that it's a great place to work and I hope to learn as much as possible and also to be helpful to others. 

The campus is really accessible, there is no traffic but at the same time there is everything you need. In 5 minutes’ walk from the dormitory to get in laboratory you can choose between canteens, restaurants, little shops and markets and if it is not enough there is the whole city, well connected with subway, buses and taxis. 

During the weekends in Wuhan I had the opportunity to appreciate the Yellow Crane Tower, the Hubei Provincial Museum and the Hubei Museum Of Art crawling with children, who drew in the shade of famous paintings (fantastic!) 

The Chinese food: I had no doubt that I would have loved it, and it is so. I cannot largely "understand it" ... but it is delicious! 

I consider myself really lucky to be here, I will not lack to thank all the people who are making it possible and I hope to continue to live this experience as best I can.