Hello, lovely readers!
My name is Fernanda Garcia, I come from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I am currently a first-year master student in Rare Books and Digital Humanities at the Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté (UBFC). In Brazil, I
completed my undergraduate studies in Library Science at the Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), a program that was originally created by the National Library itself.
Throughout my studies I worked as an intern in a university library and was later promoted to library assistant. I have had a passion for ancient books since I was a child. This enthusiasm only grew during my studies and my work in libraries. Initially, I never considered pursuing a master’s degree, let alone overseas, as I’m very attached to my home and family. However, this program caught my attention, and I felt an undeniable pull towards it. I applied and was so excited to get accepted. Within less than a year, I found myself preparing to move to a country I had never visited and whose language I didn’t speak.
It is such a curriculum of this program that struck a chord with me because it uniquely combined historical knowledge with the digital one, which is so crucial in the modern world. I am especially fond of studying Latin, a language I have always loved. Before coming here, I took Latin courses at the National Library in Brazil, which further developed my interest in this language and its association
with rare and ancient texts.
It has been a beautiful experience here in Besançon. The city is extremely charming, the nature is really beautiful and adds to the historical and cultural richness of the city. It was great to take myself out of my comfort zone and realize how much more I could grow with all the new challenges a new country brought. I have also made some amazing friends here, making the whole transition process much more rewarding.
