Erasmus Turku

1. 1.       Make a presentation of yourself.

I have to admit it: I still don’t understand myself what kind of person I am :/ I can say I’m a living contradiction. For example, generally, I use to think I’m quite misanthropic, I always prefer to stay alone and avoid other people like one avoids an infection. At the same time, there is a part of me that’s extremely curious and loves to meet and get to know new people, especially from different parts of the world. I think it’s like knowing what other life styles exist on this planet, which is so interesting to me. I know, it’s quite strange, but everything’s true!

Also, in brief, I’d say I am very open-minded, I have no prejudices about anything, and, due to my curiosity, the things that I don’t know or don’t understand only attract me more! I’m convinced cleverness and education are the key to be an accomplished person, and if people don’t try their best to enrich themselves with new knowledge... Well, in my opinion, they are wasting their life!

1. 2.       Describe briefly the place you are from.

I’m from a very small town in the center of Sardinia, an island of Italy. Like every small town, there is nothing to do there. Literally. If you are a person who likes nature, you can find anyway something to enjoy yourself, since there are broad green areas and even woods in my town. Otherwise… You either get bored to death or go living somewhere else!

1. 3.       Tell us how the city where you study is.

No big changes from the city I am from. Another little town, though much nicer and with a little more opportunities to have fun. Perfect to concentrate on studying and enjoy oneself from time to time, I’d say, but no big deal..

1. 4.       What do you think about your home university? (Before you go on Erasmus) Be honest ;)

They say my university is the best organized in Italy. I quite agree, but it’s far cry from perfection. There is plenty of courses that are completely useless, due to lack of fund many other far more useful have been removed… After all I can’t complain, but I don’t exactly think this is the picture of a high quality university.

1. 5.       What encourage you to go on Erasmus? Reasons, etc..

First of all, my curiosity, for sure. Secondly, I am studying to become an interpreter, so I needed to practice my foreign language skills.

1. 6.       When you decide that, what countries / destinations you had in mind and why?

I was thinking of Russia, Great Britain and Finland, because there they speak the three languages I have been studying.

7. Once you know definitely the destination

a. How did you feel?

Great! First of all, I was going to Finland, the country in the area of the world (the Northern one) I always dreamt about. Secondly, I had had an excellent opportunity to fulfill my goal, how could I not be excited?

b. What did you think about the place?

Honestly, in the first place I thought that was the perfect place to go. I was going to Turku, a place I had already been to and knew a little, so it would have made think a lot easier for me to about living there.

c. What your closest people (family, friends, colleagues ...) told you or thought about it?

Every one (like all people from southern Europe, I think) was frightened to death for all the cold they thought I would have had to endure (while I love cold climate!). A part from this, they were a bit sad at the idea they wouldn’t see me for 5 months… But they were happy all the same for the opportunity I had!

d. If you had a choice to choose another one, what would have been?

Going to Great Britain would have definitely helped me more in getting familiar to the British accent, something very useful for what I want to be in the future. But I have Finland in my heart, I don’t regret about my choice at all!

8. For how long is / was your stay? Do you think that's enough? Would you have liked to have stayed longer? / Would you like to stay longer?

I stayed there 5 months. I would have stayed longer, certainly, it’s never enough when you talk about the place you’d love to live in… But I had to graduate, so I was practically compelled to get back to Italy! I’m planning to go to Finland again anyway.

9. How did the paperwork, formalities, etc..? What do you think about all this?

Of course, I had to fill in all the paperwork both in Italy and in Finland. When I was in Finland, everyone was so helpful and never left me alone. When I was in Italy... I thought I was about to suffer a nerve breakdown! I had to everything by myself, no one ever offered a little help.

10. How is the city where you live or you used to live during your Erasmus?

Perfect for me. It has everything I want: nature, culture, a liveable atmosphere. And, in my opinion, it offers a wide choice if you are seeking for amusement. Maybe it’s not like London or Saint Petersburg, and though I enjoyed myself a lot in metropolis like those, I think Turku is just enough for me.

11. Where did you stay (residence, apartment, dorm)? Explain how it is.

I stayed in a hall of residence. The way it is depends on the people you get to live together with. It is for sure a perfect chance to make friend and experience life with other persons, but you also have to be in tune with the others, if you want to make your stay sustainable!

12. Well, what about the Host University? How it is? What do you think?

In brief: extraordinary. It was so exciting for me to study in a place where everything works, where teachers are willing to help you with anything and where only trained staff supports all the activities. Sadly, everything was so different from where I had been studying until then…

13. Compared to your home university,what advantages and disadvantages do you get when compared to the host university?

I think the previous answer can be used also to respond to this last question. If you want to know about disadvantages, I can say that people in general are more “flexible” in Italy than in Finland, and this applies also when it comes to university rules and deadlines…

14. During Erasmus, it iscommon make trips taking advantage of the staying in other countries and places. Did you already make a trip? Got one in mind? Where do you want to travel? Where have you gone?

I could go to Stockholm and Saint Petersburg. I had also the possibility to go to Lapland... But no money anymore L

15. Finally, the most important. Tell us as Erasmus generally is in the place you are or were (as applicable). How the partys, the other Erasmus, social life, student organizations, associations Erasmus, are and so on (The more you can write, the better!).

Unfortunately, there is not much to say. Universities (at least mine) organize nothing of the services I found in Finland. For example, in Finland I had a “tandem pair”, a native student with whom meet to develop our linguistic skills (mine in Finnish, hers in Italian). Here this does not exist, if a student wants to they have to organize it by themselves with Italian friends etc, and, obviously, they get no credits for this.

As for the parties, pubs and the like try to organize the so called “Erasmus parties”, but Erasmus students generally avoid them (I can well understand why: all pubs are microscopic and all the coolest ones are too expensive and “elitist” to even be interested in it).

There are no organizations or associations for Erasmus students in the town I study in. I still don’t understand why foreign student would want to come here at all...