From Italy to Lithuania: Clelia Says Vilnius Surprised Her More Than She Expected

Two years ago, Italian student Clelia Pellegrino, who has Lithuanian roots, decided to spend her final two years of school in Lithuania. Her decision was inspired by her older sister’s example, a desire to try something new, and the opportunity to follow an international education programme at Erudito Lyceum in Vilnius. Today, Clelia says that living in the capital has taught her to be more independent and that the city has exceeded her expectations. According to her, Vilnius offers far more activities and opportunities than she had imagined before moving here.

Tell us about yourself. Where are you from?

I am Clelia Pellegrino from Latina, Italy, a city of around 120,000 people. It is located in central Italy, near Rome and close to the Tyrrhenian Sea. I grew up there and have spent most of my life there.

Your older sister also studied in Vilnius several years ago. Did her experience influence your decision to come to Lithuania?

Yes. I have always admired my sister’s courage and the decisions she makes. When she decided three years ago to study the International Baccalaureate programme at Erudito Lyceum in Vilnius, her experience truly inspired me. She was the one who encouraged me to consider experiencing life and education in another country myself.

Moving to another country for the final two years of school is a rather unusual decision. Why did you make it?

I felt that I needed a change. I have always enjoyed discovering new things, and at the time, everything at school had become quite monotonous. I wanted new experiences and a different environment.

I did not feel entirely at home at my previous school in Italy. I hoped that an international education programme in Vilnius would be a better choice, both for my future university studies and for the learning experience itself.

What did you think about Lithuania before moving here? Did anything surprise you?

I have Lithuanian roots, so I often visited Lithuania during the summer and was already somewhat familiar with the country. Still, I did not expect Vilnius to be so vibrant. There are so many different events and activities here, so the city was a pleasant surprise. I think many people still underestimate just how much Vilnius has to offer. Living here has made me appreciate it even more.

What are the biggest differences between studying in Lithuania and your previous experience in Italy?

The biggest difference is the International Baccalaureate programme. Here, we can choose the subjects we want to study. In Italy, that option is not available—you choose a particular type of school and follow a predetermined curriculum.

I really like that we study fewer subjects here but explore them in much greater depth. The assessment system is also different. In Italy, we had significantly more tests, so studying often felt more stressful.

What has been the greatest challenge of living and studying in another country?

The biggest challenge has been the language. Although I understand Lithuanian much better now, speaking it is still not easy. This can make communication more difficult in some everyday situations, as it is not always possible to communicate in English.

How has this experience changed you?

I think I have become much more independent. Living in another country has pushed me to step outside my comfort zone more often and taught me how to adapt better to new situations.

What advice would you give to another student considering studying abroad before university?

I would advise them to remain open to new experiences and not to become discouraged if things do not happen exactly as they imagined.

Before leaving, we often create a particular picture in our minds of what everything will be like, but the reality is almost always different. That does not mean the experience will be worse—it will simply be different. And that is often the greatest gift such a journey can offer.