It is not easy...

For those who want to make a Erasmus, in Umeå, or not, you should know that there will be many many problems. I will summarize some of mines, because I had a few. Although I must say that my case is special, because I will do an Erasmus in the first cycle (I'm the first in my faculty to do so), and because, with bologna on my shoulders, I have to pass yes or yes, to be able to enter in biochemistry (second cycle), and my subjects are very specific (4 of 12 credits each one). In addition, in Sweden there is a problem: most of the subjects are in Swedish. Only some advanced are English.

My problems began to give me the destiny of Umeå. It was not what I had asked for first option, but anyway, the thing is that I had to find subjects similar to mines in Spain: Ecology, Genetics, physiology and plant physiology. the remaining credits, did not have too much problem. I got more or less, an advanced ecology, an advanced genetics, animal and plant physiology together, and an extra course to complete the credits, called Evolutionary biology.

My coordinator gave me the okay, and I sent all the papers on time, even earlier.

This was around mid-March. The 11th May, I receive an email from Umea:;Department of Ecology does not accept you, the genetics department also doen´t accepts you.; and, also it says;sorry, but we lost all of your papers, you have to re-send.;

Anyway, I went to send the paperwork (with my anger and astonishment of the international office, as Sweden is supposed to be a serious country) and I started to try to find other subjects, or that maybe they would accept me in advance Ecology or advance genetics

Genetics was not very difficult, after a few emails, I am forced to read a book and now. The problem comes with ecology.

-I try to do something similar to me genetics: impossible.

-I try to change it to another subject of ecology easier: it is still too advanced

-I try to get other subjects, which are projects of ecology: I can not, because I need someone to be my coordinator. So why give me the option to choose it?

- Back to try, pray, cry, to accept me, doing whatever, if I can´t make this subject, I can´t go to Erasmus:;fuck you; they did not tell me those words, but close.

-Eventually, the solution came from my coordinator, who, behaving very well, left me to convalidate evolutionary biology and ecology (something not legal, but well, it´s ok... )

So, having spent more than a month of this mess, I thought that I had everything fixed, and Iwas already happy. BUT NO! I received the letter of Umeå, telling me I was accepted into genetics, biochemistry, physiology, but not in evolutionary ecology. HOW IT IS POSSIBLE, IF YOU DIDN´T SAY ANYTHING OF THAT COURSE! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

angry, I sent an email to Umeå,;You told me that I had problems in ecology and genetics, no in evolutionary biology;

Umeå´s answer;I´m sorry if you have understood you were admitted, but no;

Again, sending emails, looking at the prerequisites;30 credits genetics; ADVANCED GENETIC BUT IF I WILL DO IT THERE!

Finally, after some mail, asking... ACCEPTED!

That's my story about my erasmus problems. I had some more, but not so important.

My advice, do not despair, for everything there is a solution.

Tomorrow I will buy my air tickets, and then, I will not be able to come back again... :)