Navigating to Vilnius University – A Morning Stroll from Their Apartment

The morning light filters through the curtains of their apartment, casting a soft glow over the wooden floors. Julia is already up, sitting at the small kitchen table with a cup of coffee, scrolling through Google Maps on her phone. Emma walks in, stretching.

Emma: “You’re up early. Couldn’t sleep?"

Julia: “No, I slept fine. Just trying to figure out the best way to get to the university. I know you went yesterday, but humor me—let’s pretend we’re lost academics navigating the world of technology."

Emma: [grinning as she pours herself coffee] “Alright, let’s see your plan."

Julia tilts her phone toward Emma, displaying the Google Maps route from their apartment to Vilnius University.

Julia: “So, it says about a 12-minute walk. We head straight down this street, turn left at the square, and then just follow the main road into Old Town."

Emma: “That sounds right. I took a slightly different way yesterday, but this should be more scenic."

Julia: “And by scenic, you mean more cobblestones to trip over?"

Emma: “Precisely. Shall we?"

They grab their jackets and step out into the cool morning air. The city is slowly waking up—a few pedestrians walk past with fresh bread from a nearby bakery, a cyclist glides down the quiet street, and the faint hum of traffic echoes from a distance.

As they walk, Julia occasionally glances at her phone for directions, though the streets themselves are starting to feel familiar.

Julia: “I love how compact this city feels. Everything seems close, but there are still so many little alleys to explore."

Emma: “It’s one of the perks of old European cities. No matter how many times you walk the same route, there’s always something new to notice—a different window, a hidden courtyard, or an old sign you missed before."

They turn onto a slightly busier street, where a row of pastel-colored buildings with wrought-iron balconies line the sidewalk. The scent of fresh coffee wafts from a small café, and a cat lounges lazily by the entrance.

Julia: “Okay, I take it back—getting lost in this city doesn’t seem like such a bad idea."

---

前往維爾紐斯大學 —— 從公寓出發的晨間散步

清晨的陽光透過窗簾，柔和地灑在公寓的木地板上。Julia 已經起床，坐在小小的廚房餐桌旁，一邊喝著咖啡，一邊滑著手機上的 Google 地圖。Emma 伸了個懶腰，走進來。

Emma：「妳這麼早就起來了，睡不著嗎？」

Julia：「不是啦，我睡得很好。只是想確認一下怎麼走到大學。我知道妳昨天已經去過了，但就當作陪我走一次吧——假裝我們是迷路的學者，試著靠科技找路。」

Emma：[一邊微笑，一邊倒咖啡]「好啊，來看看妳的計畫。」

Julia 把手機稍微傾斜，讓 Emma 看清楚 從公寓到維爾紐斯大學的 Google 地圖路線。

Julia：「地圖顯示大概步行 12 分鐘。我們先沿著這條街直走，在廣場那邊左轉，然後沿著主要道路進入舊城區。」

Emma：「聽起來沒錯。我昨天走的是另一條路，不過這條應該風景更好。」

Julia：「所以所謂的‘風景更好’是指更多鵝卵石路，好讓我們有機會摔倒？」

Emma：「正是如此。準備好了嗎？」

她們拿上外套，走出公寓，迎接微涼的晨間空氣。城市正慢慢甦醒——幾名行人提著剛從麵包店買來的新鮮麵包，一輛自行車靜靜地滑過街道，遠處隱約傳來車流聲。

走著走著，Julia 偶爾看一眼手機確認方向，不過街道已經開始讓她感到熟悉。

Julia：「我喜歡這座城市的規模感，一切都好像很近，但又有很多小巷子可以探索。」

Emma：「這就是老歐洲城市的魅力。不管你走多少次，總會有新的發現——某扇以前沒注意到的窗戶，一個隱藏的中庭，或者一塊從沒留意過的舊招牌。」

她們轉進了一條稍微熱鬧的街道，兩旁是一排粉色、淡黃、天藍色的歷史建築，陽台上裝飾著黑色鐵欄杆。從一家小咖啡館裡飄出陣陣咖啡香，門口的台階上躺著一隻懶洋洋的貓。

Julia：「好吧，我收回剛才的話，在這座城市迷路也不算壞事。」

As they turned a corner, the grand Baroque façade of Vilnius University came into view. Its historic buildings, with white and pale yellow walls, contrasted against the bright blue sky. The entrance archway, adorned with intricate stone carvings, led into a large cobblestone courtyard where a few students lingered, chatting quietly.

Near the entrance, Professor Tomas Petraitis stood, chatting with two younger researchers—a woman with a sleek ponytail and a sharp gaze, and a tall young man flipping through a well-worn field notebook.

---

Meeting Professor Petraitis & the Graduate Students

Tomas looked up as Emma and Julia approached, a warm smile spreading across his face.

Tomas: “Ah, there you are! Welcome, welcome! I trust you didn’t get too lost in the Old Town’s maze?"

Emma: “Not lost, just… momentarily enchanted by all the architecture."

Julia: “And slightly tempted to stop for coffee. But we made it."

Tomas chuckled and gestured toward the two people beside him.

Tomas: “Before we start the tour, let me introduce you to some of our researchers. This is Marta Juknevičiūtė, PhD candidate in history, and Lukas Kavaliauskas, geoscience master’s student. They’ll be around if you ever need help navigating our academic world."

Marta nodded, her sharp brown eyes taking in Emma and Julia with curiosity.

Marta: “Welcome to Vilnius. Tomas mentioned you’d both be working on projects connected to history and geography. I’m sure we’ll have plenty to talk about."

Lukas gave a small, polite nod, adjusting his notebook under his arm.

Lukas: “And if you need help with fieldwork or maps, let me know. I do a lot of work on Vilnius’ underground layers and river history."

Julia’s interest piqued at that.

Julia: “Underground layers? Now that’s something I’d love to hear more about."

Tomas clapped his hands together.

Tomas: “Good! Then let’s not waste time. I’ll give you a quick walk through the university before we head to lunch. Follow me!"

---

前往維爾紐斯大學 —— 穿越老城的晨間散步

當他們轉過街角時，維爾紐斯大學宏偉的巴洛克式外觀映入眼簾。這些歷史建築以白色和淡黃色的牆面，在蔚藍的天空下顯得格外醒目。裝飾著精緻石雕的拱形入口通向一個鋪滿鵝卵石的寬廣庭院，幾位學生在那裡駐足，低聲交談。

在入口附近，托馬斯·彼特萊提斯教授正與兩位年輕研究人員交談——一位梳著俐落馬尾、目光銳利的女性，以及一位翻閱著一本已經使用多時的田野筆記本的高大年輕男子。

托馬斯抬頭看到艾瑪和茱莉亞走近，臉上露出溫暖的笑容。

托馬斯：「啊，你們來了！歡迎，歡迎！我想你們在老城區的迷宮裡沒有迷路吧？」

艾瑪：「沒有迷路，只是……被那裡的建築短暫地迷住了。」

茱莉亞：「還有點想停下來喝杯咖啡。但我們還是準時到了。」

托馬斯笑了笑，指向身邊的兩位同事。

托馬斯：「在我們開始參觀之前，讓我介紹一下我們的研究人員。這位是瑪爾塔·尤克涅維丘特，歷史學博士候選人；這位是盧卡斯·卡瓦利奧斯卡斯，地球科學碩士生。如果你們在學術上需要任何幫助，他們都可以協助。」

瑪爾塔點了點頭，銳利的棕色眼睛帶著好奇打量著艾瑪和茱莉亞。

瑪爾塔：「歡迎來到維爾紐斯。托馬斯提到你們的項目與歷史和地理有關，我相信我們會有很多話題可以交流。」

盧卡斯微微點頭，禮貌地將筆記本夾在腋下。

盧卡斯：「如果你們在田野調查或地圖方面需要幫助，請告訴我。我主要研究維爾紐斯的地下層和河流歷史。」

茱莉亞聽到這裡，興趣盎然。

茱莉亞：「地下層？這真是我想深入了解的。」

托馬斯拍了拍手。

托馬斯：「很好！那我們就不浪費時間了。我先帶你們簡單參觀一下大學，然後一起去吃午餐。跟我來！」

Entering Vilnius University – First Explorations

The moment Emma and Julia stepped through the arched entrance of Vilnius University, they found themselves in a large cobblestone courtyard, enclosed by buildings painted in warm pastel tones of cream and pale yellow. The morning sun highlighted the delicate white stucco decorations that framed the tall windows, casting soft shadows on the red-tiled rooftops.

The university exuded an air of quiet scholarship. A few students passed by, their voices murmuring softly in Lithuanian, while a professor in a dark coat walked briskly toward one of the lecture halls, a leather-bound notebook tucked under his arm.

Julia: “Wow… It doesn’t feel like a university at first glance. It feels more like a historical quarter of the city."

Emma: “That’s what I like about it. It doesn’t impose itself on the city—it grows with it."

Tomas walked a few steps ahead, waiting for them to take in the scene before speaking.

Tomas: “This courtyard is the heart of the university. It has changed over the centuries, but the essence remains the same—a place of learning, debate, and discovery."

As they crossed the courtyard, Emma’s gaze lingered on the architectural details—the arched doorways, the balconies with ornate wrought-iron railings, the small engraved plaques marking the names of past scholars.

Meanwhile, Julia’s eyes were drawn downward. She knelt slightly to touch one of the pale gray limestone slabs set into the cobblestone ground.

Julia: “These stones… they feel older than the rest."

Lukas, the geoscience student, noticed and walked closer.

Lukas: “Good observation. Some of these limestone slabs date back to the 17th century, while the rest of the courtyard has newer materials from restorations."

Julia: “So, the city’s history isn’t just something we read about—it’s beneath our feet."

Lukas: “Exactly. Vilnius was built on layers—geologically and historically."

Marta, who had been quietly observing their reactions, finally spoke.

Marta: “And that’s what makes this place so fascinating. Every part of this university tells a different story, depending on what lens you use to look at it."

Tomas smiled, pleased with how quickly Emma and Julia were engaging with their surroundings.

Tomas: “Come, let’s move on. I want to show you the library before we head to lunch."

---

初步探索維爾紐斯大學

當 Emma 和 Julia 穿過 維爾紐斯大學的大拱門，迎接她們的是一座 鋪滿鵝卵石的寬闊庭院。四周環繞著 溫暖的奶油色與淡黃色建築，高聳的窗戶上裝飾著 精緻的白色灰泥雕花，在晨光下投下柔和的陰影，襯托出 紅瓦屋頂的層次感。

整個校園瀰漫著一種安靜的學術氛圍。一些學生低聲交談著，匆匆穿過庭院，而一名身穿深色大衣的教授則快步走向講堂，懷裡夾著一本皮革封面的筆記本。

Julia：「哇…… 這裡第一眼看起來不像大學，更像是城市的一個歷史區域。」

Emma：「這正是我喜歡它的地方。它不是一座與城市隔絕的學術機構，而是與城市一同成長的存在。」

Tomas 走在前方，等著她們消化這片景色後才開口。

Tomas：「這個庭院可以說是大學的心臟。雖然經歷了幾個世紀的變遷，但它的本質始終如一——一個學習、辯論和探索的場所。」

當她們走過庭院時，Emma 的目光落在那些建築細節上——拱形門廊、鐵藝雕花陽台、刻著過去學者名字的石碑，仿佛這座校園本身就是一本打開的歷史書。

與此同時，Julia 的視線則是朝著地面。她微微蹲下，輕輕觸摸著地上鋪設的 淺灰色石板，發現其中一些與周圍的鵝卵石略有不同。

Julia：「這些石頭……感覺比其他的更古老。」

地質學碩士生 Lukas 注意到了，走近她身旁。

Lukas：「觀察力不錯！這些石灰岩石板可以追溯到 17 世紀，而周圍的鵝卵石則是後來翻新時鋪設的。」

Julia：「所以，這座城市的歷史不只是寫在書裡，而是直接埋藏在我們腳下。」

Lukas：「沒錯。維爾紐斯是一座‘層層堆疊’的城市，無論從地質還是歷史的角度來看，它都充滿了時間留下的痕跡。」

一直安靜觀察的 Marta 這時也開口了。

Marta：「這正是這座大學最吸引人的地方——它的每一個角落都藏著不同的故事，取決於你用什麼視角去解讀它。」

Tomas 微笑著，對於 Emma 和 Julia 能夠這麼快投入環境觀察感到滿意。

Tomas：「走吧，我想先帶你們去看看圖書館，然後再去吃午餐。」

Emma 和 Julia 相視一笑，邁步跟上，準備探索這座學術殿堂的更深處。

---

The Library Tour – A Scholar’s Paradise

Tomas led the way through another arched passage, this one opening into a smaller courtyard. On one side stood a tall wooden door with brass handles, its surface worn smooth from centuries of use. Above it, a Latin inscription hinted at the library’s long history.

Tomas: “And here we are—the heart of academic life at Vilnius University. The library."

Emma felt a familiar sense of anticipation—the kind only a historian experiences when standing at the entrance of an old archive. She didn’t rush in, though. Instead, she took a moment to admire the details: the aged stone steps, the subtle scent of paper even before the door was opened, the way the morning light illuminated the carved wooden frame.

Julia: “Alright, lead the way before Emma decides to just camp outside the door like a bookish stray cat."

Emma: “I would do no such thing. I have standards."

Tomas: “Good, because there are rules about sleeping in the library. Come in, let’s take a look."

They stepped inside, immediately greeted by the warm, comforting scent of old books and polished wood. The interior was breathtaking—tall wooden shelves stretched toward a vaulted ceiling, filled with leather-bound volumes that had likely outlived multiple empires.

The reading hall was furnished with long wooden tables, each lined with green-shaded reading lamps that cast a soft glow over neatly stacked manuscripts and open notebooks. A few students sat silently, absorbed in their research.

Julia, not usually one for archives, let out an appreciative whistle.

Julia: “Okay, I get it. This place is pretty spectacular."

Emma: “It’s perfect."

Marta, who had been watching their reactions, smirked.

Marta: “And this is just the public reading hall. The real treasures are in the restricted archives downstairs. That’s where you’ll find original maps, handwritten chronicles, even some early Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth records."

---

圖書館初探 —— 學者的天堂

托馬斯帶領他們穿過另一道拱形通道，這次通往的是一個較小的庭院。一側矗立著一扇高大的木門，銅製門把在長年使用下變得光滑無比。門楣上方的拉丁文銘刻暗示著這座圖書館悠久的歷史。

托馬斯：「我們到了——這裡是維爾紐斯大學的學術核心，圖書館。」

艾瑪感受到一種熟悉的興奮感——那種只有歷史學者在站在古老檔案館門口時才會有的悸動。不過，她沒有急著進去，而是先花了一點時間欣賞這座建築的細節：斑駁的石階、門尚未開啟就能隱約聞到的紙張氣息、晨光灑落在雕刻精美的木框上的光影變化。

茱莉亞：「好吧，趕快帶路吧，免得艾瑪決定直接在門口紮營，變成一隻書蟲流浪貓。」

艾瑪：「我才不會做這種事。我可是有原則的。」

托馬斯：「很好，因為圖書館裡可是禁止過夜的。進來吧，我們來看看裡面。」

他們踏入圖書館，立刻被溫暖的木質香氣與舊書的氣息包圍。內部景象令人驚嘆——高聳的木製書架直達拱形天花板，擺滿了厚重的皮革裝訂書籍，這些書籍可能已經歷經了數個帝國的興衰。

閱覽室內擺放著一排排長木桌，每張桌子上都排列著綠色燈罩的閱讀燈，柔和的光線映照在整齊堆疊的手稿與筆記本上。幾位學生靜靜地坐著，專心投入於研究。

一向對檔案館不太感興趣的茱莉亞忍不住吹了聲口哨。

茱莉亞：「好吧，我懂了。這地方確實蠻壯觀的。」

艾瑪：「完美。」

一直在觀察她們反應的瑪爾塔帶著一抹揶揄的微笑。

瑪爾塔：「這裡還只是開放的閱覽室，真正的寶藏藏在樓下的限制區檔案館裡。那裡有原始地圖、手寫的編年史，甚至還有一些早期的波蘭-立陶宛聯邦文件。」

---

Office Arrangements – A Casual Introduction to Campus Life

After their delightful tour of the library, Tomas led Emma and Julia through a series of charming courtyards, each revealing more of the university’s historic architecture intertwined with modern touches. The sun peeked through the clouds, casting playful shadows on the cobblestones, and the air was filled with the distant hum of student chatter.

Tomas: “Now, let’s sort out your office spaces. I promise, no bureaucratic nightmares—just a quick stop to get you both settled."

Emma: “Sounds good to me. As long as there’s a desk and a decent chair, I’m happy."

Julia: “And maybe a window with a view? I wouldn’t mind that."

Tomas: “We’ll see what we can do." [He winked.]

They arrived at a quaint building adorned with ivy creeping up its walls. A small sign read “Department of History and Cultural Heritage."

Tomas: “Emma, this is your new academic home. Let’s find your office."

Inside, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the halls, and bulletin boards were adorned with colorful flyers announcing upcoming lectures and events. Tomas led them to a door labeled “Visiting Scholars Office."

Tomas: “Here we are. It’s a shared space, but your desk is by the window."

Emma stepped in to find a cozy room with two desks. One was already occupied by a neatly organized setup, complete with a potted plant and a stack of books. The other desk, by a large window overlooking the courtyard, was empty, save for a welcome note and a small basket of local treats.

Emma: “This is lovely. And the view is perfect."

Tomas: “Glad you like it. Your office mate, Professor Aldona Petrauskienė, is on sabbatical, so you’ll have the space to yourself for now."

Emma: “Even better. More room for my clutter." [She chuckled.]

Julia: “Don’t get too comfortable. Let’s see where I’ll be stationed."

They made their way to another building, this one with a modern facade seamlessly blending with the historic surroundings. A sign read “Department of Geography and Earth Sciences."

Tomas: “Julia, this is your stop. Let’s find your workspace."

Inside, the vibe was bustling yet relaxed. Students huddled over maps and laptops, and the walls were adorned with geological samples and topographic charts. Tomas led them to a spacious room with several workstations.

Tomas: “Julia, you’ll be here, next to Lukas, one of our graduate students. He’s out in the field today but will be back tomorrow."

Julia glanced at the adjacent desk, noticing a rock hammer and a collection of mineral samples neatly arranged.

Julia: “Looks like I’ll fit right in. And plenty of space for my gear."

Tomas: “Absolutely. Feel free to personalize your area. We encourage a comfortable and inspiring workspace."

Julia: “I might just take you up on that."

Tomas: “Now that you’re both settled, how about we grab some lunch? There’s a charming café nearby that serves the best cepelinai in town."

Emma: “Count me in. I’m starving."

Julia: “Lead the way. I’m ready to experience some authentic Lithuanian cuisine."

As they left the building, the trio walked through the lively campus, the conversation flowing easily. The initial nerves had dissipated, replaced by a growing excitement for the adventures and discoveries that awaited them in Vilnius.

---

辦公室安排 —— 輕鬆融入校園生活

在愉快地參觀完圖書館後，Tomas 帶領著 Emma 和 Julia 穿過一系列迷人的庭院，每一處都展現了大學歷史建築與現代元素的融合。陽光透過雲層灑下，為鵝卵石投下俏皮的陰影，空氣中彌漫著學生們遠處交談的低語聲。

Tomas：「現在，我們來安排你們的辦公室。我保證，沒有繁瑣的手續——只是簡單地讓你們安頓下來。」

Emma：「聽起來不錯。只要有張桌子和舒適的椅子，我就滿意了。」

Julia：「也許再加上一扇有景觀的窗戶？我不介意。」

Tomas：「我們會盡力安排。」 [他眨了眨眼。]

他們來到一棟被常春藤覆蓋的雅緻建築前。小小的標牌上寫著 「歷史與文化遺產系」。

Tomas：「Emma，這就是你新的學術之家。讓我們看看你的辦公室。」

走進內部，氛圍溫馨而誘人。走廊中瀰漫著新鮮咖啡的香氣，公告板上貼滿了色彩繽紛的海報，宣傳即將舉行的講座和活動。Tomas 帶他們來到一扇標有 「訪問學者辦公室」 的門前。

Tomas：「到了。這是一個共享空間，但你的桌子靠近窗戶。」

Emma 走進去，看到一間舒適的房間，裡面有兩張桌子。其中一張已經被整齊地佈置好，擺放著一盆植物和一疊書籍。另一張桌子靠近俯瞰庭院的大窗戶，空著，只有一張歡迎卡片和一小籃當地的點心。

Emma：「這真不錯。而且景色很棒。」

Tomas：「很高興你喜歡。你的辦公室同事，Aldona Petrauskienė 教授，目前正在休假，所以暫時這個空間是你的。」

Emma：「更好。更多空間給我的雜物。」 [她笑了笑。]

Julia：「別太舒服了。我們看看我的辦公室在哪裡。」

他們來到另一棟建築，這棟建築的現代外觀與周圍的歷史環境無縫融合。標牌上寫著 「地理與地球科學系」。

Tomas：「Julia，這是你的地方。讓我們找到你的工作空間。」

進入內部，氣氛既繁忙又輕鬆。學生們聚集在地圖和筆記本電腦前，牆上裝飾著地質樣本和地形圖。Tomas 帶他們來到一間寬敞的房間，裡面有幾個工作站。

Tomas：「Julia，你將在這裡，旁邊是我們的研究生 Lukas。他今天外出實地考察，但明天會回來。」

Julia 瞥了一眼旁邊的桌子，注意到一把岩石錘和整齊排列的礦物樣本。

Julia：「看來我會很合群。而且有足夠的空間放我的裝備。」

Tomas：「當然。隨時可以佈置你的區域。我們鼓勵創造一個舒適且激發靈感的工作環境。」

Julia：「我可能真的會這麼做。」

Tomas：「現在你們都安頓好了，怎麼樣去吃午餐？附近有一家迷人的咖啡館，供應鎮上最好的 cepelinai。」

Emma：「算我一份。我餓了。」

Julia：「帶路吧。我準備好品嚐正宗的立陶宛美食了。」

當他們離開建築時，三人穿過充滿活力的校園，談話輕鬆自如。最初的緊張已經消散，取而代之的是對他們在維爾紐斯即將展開的冒險和發現的興奮。

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