Virtual Friendship in difficult times
Kseniia from Russia and Benedetta (Benny) from Italy share a passion for languages. They met during a Virtual Exchange at the end of last year and since then, their friendship has flourished.
“It was friendship from day 1,” explains Kseniia, “we just clicked and became close quickly. We met during our online exchange lessons back in November, and soon we were chatting every week on WhatsApp too.”
Benny continues, “I really loved exchanging and sharing opinions about books and films, our interests, our dreams and passions. We also talked about serious things,” she adds.
The girls' friendship deepened as they discussed missed opportunities or regrets about studying the wrong subjects. At Christmas, they exchanged packages.
“Kseniia sent me some Russian sweets, and Russian novels – a simplified Russian language version of Anna Karenina and some Checkhov and Dostoyevski, and I sent her some Italian sweets and fantasy books,” says Benny, “It was also a cultural exchange”, chimes in Kseniia.
So imagine their joy at finally being able to meet each other and hug in the flesh! Kseniia managed to secure a trip to Italy via her university. She arrived in Padova to be met enthusiastically by Benny’s family who welcomed her with open arms.
“My family in Russia weren’t worried about me at all,” says Kseniia, “as they knew I would be well looked after by my friend in Italy. I also felt really safe and not alone at all.”
Kseniia arrived in Italy at the end of February, just before the COVID-19 pandemic exploded onto the world stage.
Benny says, “I was so happy to meet her finally, it was really emotional and I knew we’d get on just fine”.
Unfortunately for the girls, the pandemic means they are again separated, with Benny stuck at home in her small town and Kseniia stuck in the university dormitory.
“I would have invited her to stay with me for 6 months,” sighs Benny, “but we can’t because of this emergency situation”.
They are both disappointed that their plans to visit Verona, Florence and Venice together have been dashed, but they are hoping things might change before Kseniia has to leave in July and return to Moscow.
“We cannot see each other”, they both sigh, “and we are in different cities in lockdown. It’s such a shame.”
But they continue making plans for the future and Kseniia has invited Benny to visit Moscow when the situation calms down. “I’d jump at the opportunity”, says Benny
Till then, Kseniia and Benny will keep taking part in different Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange activities, a good alternative to social distancing.
