up in the sky

Flight to Turku via Helsinki

Fortunately my tutor, Maria, was supposed to take the same flight to Helsinki, because she had spent the new year’s eve in Switzerland. Unluckily I was so late, that it was already “last call” for boarding. So I got exhausted on the plane. I felt asleep right away and when I woke up, I searched for my tutor. Due to I knew how she looks like (thanks to whatsapp), it was quite easy. After I had found her, we started to talk about random stuff. Due to the short flight time we landed soon in Helsinki. That’s where we split up again, because she was going to take the bus, and I had another flight to Turku.

During the waiting time I started to imagine how my “new” life would be. My dad was sure, that I will fall in love with Turku and that I never want to come back home again. I doubted that. I was so afraid of all the darkness, the cold weather and the language. Then I nearly started to cry again. But fortunately it was already time to board.

The airplane from Helsinki to Turku was very small. I think I’ve never flown in such a small airplane. We also had lot turbulences, which didn’t make me feel better.

That is why I was just happy to be still alive when I arrived at Turku airport.

time to let go

Saying goodbye

When I woke up on second of January I was not nervous at all. I just felt a slight depression of the next half year. I was not ready at all to leave my family, my friends and my home. But due to the scheduled flight time I had no other choice than leaving my home around 8 o’clock. 

My family and my best friend drove me to the airport. I had such a heavy suitcase that my brother helped me with carrying it around. My dad, my brother and Deborah (my best friend) decided to have a coffee at Starbucks while I was waiting with my sister at the check in desk. We talked about how much we will miss each other. Then I was next in line. My suitcase was, as I already told, quite heavy. That’s why I had to pay a fee about 40 Euros. After this little disappointment we joined the rest at Starbucks.

My dad already pushed me to hurry, but I just didn’t feel like I had to. At 10 o’clock (boarding was planned for 10:20am) I decided to go.

Just right in front of the passport control I had to say goodbye. And that was the moment where my poker face broke. Especially while I hugged my sister. I couldn’t help but cry. Tears were rolling down my cheek. Unfortunately I was running out of time so I just had to let go.

So I started my way towards the security check with moisturized eyes. And that was the moment when I realised that for a half of a year I will be without my beloved ones..

accomodation application

Where do I want to live for the next half of a year?

I heard that it is hard to find an accommodation, if you are applying to late. On the internet I read that they accepted applications on the first of October. It was already mid-September, that’s why I got a little nervous. But by the end of September I was ready to fill out the accommodation application. Unfortunately it was not as easy as I expected it to be. It was hard to figure out which option is the best. Every possibility seemed to be so expensive. For a short moment I was shocked. How was I going to afford me a room or a flat for half a year? 

Also I had no idea where I wanted to live. Many different areas with various house types. (Aamurusko, Päivänpaiste, Haliskylä,..)Due to I never visited Turku before I had simply no clue which district is the best connected one to the city centre. In the end, I applied for 5 different housing types.

I almost got red till I received an answer from the TYS office. I think it took about 2 months to get an answer to my application. And the irony is, that I had to confirm the offer in two days. So, what I was going to do? I just accepted the offer for the Students Village because I had not had any idea about other places. And to be honest, “Students Village” sounds like a lot of fun, doesn’t it? 

First difficulties with the courses

Booking courses

I cannot remember how I exactly managed to book the courses. Sarah, a student who is joining me in Turku helped me a lot.

We received per email a catalogue with the available courses. Due to the rule that we have to make 30 credits we had to take nearly every course. First I did not feel comfortable with my choices, because there were not many courses which really interested me. After filling out the learning agreement we had to send it with a motivation letter to Turku. It took me quite a while to write the motivation letter, because I was struggling with my English. (Same as I am doing now, but it’s getting better with every blog) J.

first decision.. where to go?

Why Turku?

The first meeting about exchanges semesters were hold in March 2014. I already was very excited about this opportunity, because I was sure that I would love to spend a semester abroad.

When I received the information about all the schools and countries which are partner of my university, I got even more excited. We had to choose 3 priority schools and I was not ready to decide. The day when the lottery finally took place, I was so nervous. My first priority was Amsterdam, my second one was Lincoln and the third one was Tallinn. Unfortunately 7 other students wanted to go as well to Amsterdam but there were just two places for us available. As you can guess, I did not make it. Otherwise I would not be here.

After the first round of the lottery all places of my priority list were already gone. Nowhere was a place left. My international coordinator told us, that there might be some changes, so it was still possible to get a place in another school. Due to many other interested students she decided to write us an email, as soon as she signed the contract for another exchange place. The first person who had answered her mail, got the place.

Totally unepected I received two weeks later an email, that in Meppel (Holland) was now a place for exchange students available. So I answered as soon as I saw it, and got the place. I was so happy, because Holland or specially Amsterdam was anyway my first choice.

Then the subject “exchange semester” was kind of done. My coordinator told us to be patient till the end of August.

In August we received the information about our schools. Just after reading this email I wrote one to the coordinator in Meppel. Unfortunately I got the answer that they cancelled the exchange programme for spring semesters in general.

At that moment I felt really bad. I nearly started to cry. So I just went straight to the office of my coordinator. She could not understand why they cancelled the place after so many emails. But she promised me to offer me another place. After a few days of unsureness she wrote me a mail with the following available places. University in Liberec (CZ) or in Turku.

I cannot remember why I choose Turku. But that is why I am here now.