To celebrate European Day of Languages we asked our languages alumni to share their stories about Warwick and travels!

Claudia Lussana (BA, Hispanic and Italian, 2017)

What did you study at Warwick?
I studied Hispanic and Italian studies at Warwick from 2013-2017. In fact, we were Hispanic Studies’ first cohort!

A memory from your time at Warwick?
I would have to say my year abroad. Does that count? It was a hard time to beat; from sand boarding in the Atacama Desert, climbing active volcanoes, and galloping through sand dunes on horseback, to endless espressos and frequently getting swept away in Palio processions lead by horses and groups of patriotic, flag-waving Sienese fashioning medieval pantaloons. After effectively setting up a life for myself in two different countries, attending university in two foreign languages, and trekking the length and breadth of South America and Italy all in the space of a year, the memories of that year will stay with me forever.

Favourite place to travel?
Argentina! Unsurprisingly, not long after graduating, I found myself gravitating back to South America. This time, to the other side of the Andes, to Argentina. Before long I had slotted seamlessly into the chaos of Argentine life and for a while lived and worked in the city of La Plata, Buenos Aires as a teacher of English. Not only is the country’s rich culture and vast natural beauty utterly spectacular, but its people are some of the warmest, most generous and inspirational I have ever encountered.

What are you up to now?
After spending the last three and a half years abroad (including a short stint teaching English in Soweto, South Africa as part of the charity organisation, Warwick in Africa) I am finally back on British soil. I am currently working as a trainee teacher at a school in Surrey whilst in the process of completing my PGCE as a Modern Foreign Languages teacher.