She has been the best of neighbours for entire generations of students. “They bring life into this simple house”.
Built in 1922, Rosanna’s house lies just a few steps from where the Rilke path starts and therefore borders the College premises. Her home hasn’t just been close to the College for decades, she has also been the best of neighbours for entire generations of students, as the many pictures, mementos and even posters received from students with heart-warming expressions of affection show.
Alumni still visit her to this very day and even now, at the age of 82, she speaks with joy and enthusiasm about having “friends all over the world”, not without some regret for not yet being able to socialise with the generations of 2020-22 and 2021-23 owing to the pandemic. Still, she waves hello cheerfully whenever she sees them pass by and winks as she says “I must take good care of my health so when this is all over you won’t think I’m too old”.
I am a simple person, I worked as a kindergarten nanny for over thirty years and my English is far from perfect. But my door has always been wide open for College students and we have spent many hours together having coffee and cakes, exchanging recipes and experiences: “They bring life into this simple house”.
The incessant COVID testing of students entailed a huge effort and commitment for Sandra and Enrico. As a residential school, there was simply no alternative: swabs for anyone who had the slightest symptom, but also for their roommates and all who had come into close contact with them.
At the beginning of the year molecular tests were used. Unlike the rapid tests – that became more reliable and available on the market in the course of the year – molecular tests must be processed in the laboratory, and for Sandra and Enrico this entailed much toing and froing from Trieste. In the latter part of the year, thanks to rapid swabs, the procedure became simpler and faster.
Fortunately, the 2021-2022 school year has started with greater confidence. “The vaccines have provided a much needed sense of calm,” says Sandra. “The students who were unable to get a vaccine at home had one here and we have just finished the first round.” This was not without a considerable effort – there was a lot of data collection and filing for each of the different personal cases: from the type of vaccine made, to the number of doses.
Expectations are now that the community will be able to function more like it used to before, incuding trips outside of Duino when the student’s have free time.
Remembering all we’ve been through is very emotional,” says Sandra. “It was a tragic experience, yet it has left us with something positive. The students rose to the challenge and were even able to face long periods of isolation whilst in quarantine. The College staff had demonstrated great teamwork spirit even beyond those involved in medical professions: from the Mensa ladies to those in charge of organizing isolation whenever necessary.
