Hello! Tell us something about yourself. Hi! My name is Anniken, and I am from Norway. I am currently studying in the UK, at the University of Liverpool, where I am completing my full undergraduate psychology degree. I am currently in my last year. My favourite flavour ice-cream is strawberries in clotted cream, yum! I am 21 years old, I love cats, and I enjoy spending my free time in the outdoors, either climbing or walking. What is the word that best describes your experience abroad? Enlightening - not only am I learning academically, I am also learning about myself, about a different culture, and I have gained a new perspective on the world and on life. What was the best thing that happened to you during your experience abroad? While it is difficult to pick only one thing, I would like to highlight my research internship that I undertook in my department during my second year of study. I was able to work on a project alongside two professional academics - one from the UK, and one from India, which is an opportunity I would not have had in my home country. What was the worst experience you had there? To be honest, I haven't had many bad experiences at all, but sometimes I feel a little bit homesick. Luckily, my family is only a phone call away. What is the best food you had there? While the English aren't known for amazing food, I have come to love the full English breakfast. There is nothing better on a Sunday morning! Was there a situation that made you step outside of your comfort zone? As someone who is quite shy, simply moving to a new country was a step out of my comfort zone. I felt very vulnerable when I first arrived in the UK, but I quickly settled in, made friends, and I never once regretted my decision to study abroad. What is the biggest difference between UK and Norway? Norway and the UK are quite similar, however, everything is a lot cheaper in the UK, and people seem a bit more welcoming and open-minded. Where did you live? Was it difficult finding/renting a place? In my first year I lived in university halls (on campus), which is guaranteed for all first year international students. In my second and third years, I lived in a house with three other students, about 20 minutes from campus. This is the normal thing to do in the UK, and finding a place is very easy. Rent varies massively - in my first year I paid around 160 pounds a week, and in my second and third years around 70 pounds a week. What is the best mean of public transport in Liverpool? Bus and train. Can you see yourself moving to UK? Absolutely, and to Liverpool specifically. I consider Liverpool my second home. What should a person visiting Liverpool definitely do there, according to you? See the two beautiful cathedrals, and go for lunch in one of the many (cheap) restaurants on Bold Street. Which cities have you visited during your stay abroad? Tell us about your travelling adventures. I have visited Edinburgh, which was absolutely amazing. A very beautiful city that I would absolutely recommend going to. I have also been to Leeds, London, Manchester and Leicester, and next on my list of places to go is Chester. Additionally, I have spent quite some time in the national parks in North Wales, the Peak District and the Lake District, walking and climbing. Why did you choose this specific university? I chose the University of Liverpool because it is a well-known and reputable university, and also because it is located in such a beautiful city. What was your favourite course? I have enjoyed most of my modules, but the ones related to addiction, substance-use and appetite have been especially interesting. What were the professors like? All my professors and lecturers have been very welcoming and happy to help. They answer questions in a timely manner, and seem to genuinely want the best for their students. Where did you meet most of your new friends? I have made friends everywhere - my flatmates in halls, people on my course, and most importantly, people in the sport clubs I joined. What is the best way to save money there? I would say to get a part time job (if possible), and when food shopping, go to Aldi or Lidl (the cheapest supermarkets). How much money did you spend monthly on: What is the most important thing you learned from your experience? I have learnt to grab opportunities as they come - you may never get the chance again, and you only regret the opportunities you didn't take. Before you leave, tell us Goodbye in your native language! Ha det bra! :) Did YOU study abroad? Share your story with us!
Your name: Marc Portugal City you visited: Ireland :P 1|Best food: The one that Dean McDonnell cooked for us ^^, 2|Best place to hang out: Cobblestone Pub :D (77 King St North, Smithfield, Dublin 7) 3|Best memory: I was supposed to stay at the Hostel during Christmas, in Dublin. At the end, Dean called me and he invited me to stay at his place, with his family. Definitely this was the best Christmas Ever!!! <3 (Thanks Dean) 4|Best activity: Instead of all the live music, everywhere, in any pub (which is soooo not boring at all :D ), go with Dean for a walk with his dogs, or listen for 3hours Disney songs with Chloé, or go to beautiful museums DINOSAUR Museum, called Ulster Museum, in Belfast (Northern Ireland)!!!! and of course, the Guiness Factory, I fell in love for that place ^^, 5|Best photo: Share the best of your favourite city!
Summer memories from the STA team - Sander, Marija, Anna, John Paul, Reb & Andrew. <3
Your name: Sander Roosen City you visited: Istanbul 1|Best food: Iskender Kebab. Its meat with tomato-yogurt sauce and pieces of bread. An interesting place to eat this is Gani Gani restaurant, near Istiklal street. In that restaurant you take your shoes off and sit on a pillow on the ground. 2|Best place to hang out: Under the Galata bridge to enjoy narghile (shisha), or if you fancy a party with many Erasmus people, I recommend EskiBeyrut and Club Beat. Also Ritim Rooftop bar is recommended for wild times. 3|Best memory: Celebrating my birthday with many friends and people I had never met before. 4|Best activity: There is much interesting cultural heritage to check out such as Top Kapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, and Sultan Ahmet Mosque. For me however, wandering by night through just the regular streets of Istanbul is what truly makes me feel the spirit of the city. It helps when at 5 o'clock in the morning, when you come home from your nightlife adventures, you hear the Ezan (call for prayer) calling from the mosques. Share the best of your favourite city!
Your name: Rebecca Xiberras City you visited: Utrecht 1|Best food: Burgers from Meneer Smakkers 2|Best place to hang out: Kafe Belgie 3|Best memory: Reading a Batman comic book in park while the sun was setting. 4|Best activity: Me and Clara went for an hour and a half jogging in the morning and went straight for a session of yoga in a park near Cambridgelaan straight after. 5|Best photo: Share the best of your favourite city!
We travelled all the way from Amsterdam to the beautiful Rio de Janeiro. The great big city with stunning views and widespread beaches. Unfortunately, there is not only a bright side. Probably there is no other city in the world where there is such a fine line between poverty and wealth. Big villas are on the edge of big slums, or favelas, how they are called in Rio. In these favelas it is not rare to be a part in the trade of weapons and drugs, even if you are only eight years old. The people here don’t have many opportunities, which makes it so attractive to dive into the world of drugs and violence, and earn a lot of money. The only problem is that being part of that world, you always have to look over your shoulder, and you are never secure of your life. A couple of years ago we started ‘Soldados Nunca Mais’ to raise money for projects in the favelas of Rio. This summer we travelled to Rio to visit the projects and see the cruel reality of the life in the slums. With the Olympics coming up, there was a lot of news about the local people in Rio. The police tried to control the violence and unrest in the city. Their strategy is to beat the violence with more violence. We wanted to experience the persistent things between the locals and see with our own eyes what it is like in the favelas. Our friend, Fabio, who grew up in the favela and once was a drug lord, took us into the favelas. Through the streets where we were confronted with poverty, we came by a little school called Vila Nova. Beautiful colours and laughing children is what we ran into when we took a step inside the school. This is a special place, where kids can escape from their daily reality. The Brazilian Luciana, owner of the school, gives children the opportunity to develop themselves and to truly be a child. Fabio told us that this was just one small part of all the favelas in Rio, while the favelas were already reaching further than we could see. We were confronted with the reality of thousands of people living there, in circumstances we can’t even imagine. Together with Tota, who also grew up in the favela, Fabio gives soccer training to boys and one girl in one of the most dangerous favelas of Rio. Behind every single child is another particular story. These kids struggle with issues a child shouldn’t be struggling with. They share a pair of shoes or are coming to the training without having food before, because there is just no money to buy it. The big question is always; are these projects really effective in an environment where it is so easy to have everything you want, except the security of being alive? Fabio answered this question and explained to us that it isn’t a lot what these kids need: a daily routine, a good conversation about the future, or a dream. A dream to be a professional soccer player for instance. These things can really make the difference. It feels so important and special that we can contribute in making that difference. It was an amazing experience and again we saw why this is so important. The war in Rio is not over, but with projects little steps are made into another direction. We hope that we can support this for as long as needed and can let these kids, just be kids, not soldiers. Thank you Camiel and Vivian for sharing this inspiring story with us! Do you want to know more about Soldados Nunca Mais?
Visit www.soldadosnuncamais.nl , like their Facebook page https://www.facebook.comSoldadosNuncaMais, or contact them at [email protected] With this, you are already supporting the foundation. Hello! Tell us something about yourself. Hi! My name is Marija Lugarić. I am a third year psychology student at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb in Croatia. Since I was a kid, I've liked thinking about thoughts and have been immensely curious about the brain, especially after my mom told me that it's fireworks happening there. I am going to tell you about a week of August I spent attending the courses in the field of cognitive neuroscience at the Radboud University in the Netherlands. What is the word that best describes your experience abroad? Enriching. In terms of knowledge, friends, experiences,... What was the best thing that happened to you during your experience abroad? The best thing I experienced was definitely holding the real human brain in my hands. The fact that I was holding a squishy mass full of someone's memories, thoughts, feelings, knowledge,... life! was mesmerizing to me. Besides that, I am extremely happy to have met such brilliant young people, from Brazil to Indonesia, from Iran to South African Republic... friends all over the world! (photo stolen from my friend Sebastian Schneider <3) https://www.instagram.com/sbstnschndr/ What was the worst experience you had there? Haha, Dutch "summer". Coming from Croatia, I found it pretty unusual to wear winter hoodies in the middle of August. And that one time when we finished with classes and went outside of the Institute to see the pouring rain. Then two Dutch girls said: "Noup, it's not gonna stop.", so we hopped on our bikes and biked to the city centre all wet and frozen. In the middle of summer. But hey, I wouldn't say it was the worst experience, just the weirdest. What is your favourite word in the language spoken in the country you visited? I actually really like Dutch, but this is a hard one. So I'm going to say "luipaard" which means leopard, but the literal translation is lazy horse. What is the best food you had there? Bitterballen and stroopwafel. And licorice. And did you know that Dutch kids (and not just kids, haha) eat bread with sprinkles for breakfast?? Yup, me neither, but it is so good! Was there a situation that made you step outside of your comfort zone? Yes! We toured the lab of our course leader, prof. Arno Koning, and he encouraged us to try something like virtual reality. So you sit on a chair, put on a headset and you see your back. As if you were standing behind yourself and looking at you. Weird, but that's not it. Then the professor started to gently tap on your chest with a stick, and at the same time showed the stick to the camera that was behind your back, using two hands. So you were seeing the stick coming to tap you on the chest, and feeling the tap. He did that for some time, and then he showed the scalpel to the camera. Now you freak out because he is going to stab you! But actually you receive just a small tap, like usual. Mind-boggling. What is the biggest difference between your host and home country? There is no summer in the Netherlands. :P Besides that, the atmosphere there is amazing. The cities feel vibrant, friendly and chill. I like that people there are much more open and accepting than in Croatia. Where did you live? Most of us stayed in a dorm which was offered to us by the university, but some people rented a place through airbnb. We lived to the fullest that week, and only slept in our rooms so we didn't spend much time there. What is the best mean of public transport in the city you went to? Trains! Very accurate and easy to use. Can you see yourself moving to your host country? Definitely! I just haven't figured out how to take my dog with me yet. What should a person visiting your host city definitely do there, according to you? You should definitely go to pannenkoekenboot, a boat where you eat pancakes while cruising the river Waal. Which cities have you visited during your stay abroad? Tell us about your travelling adventures. After Nijmegen, I spent a day in Utrecht and chilled and partied with EFPSA guys Jurjen and Sander! Why did you choose this specific university that hosted you? I chose it because they offered this great course in collaboration with world-renowned Donders Institute, and I've never been to the Netherlands before, so that was a plus. What was your favourite course? It was actually a neuroanatomy practical where we examined the brains and even performed a rat's brain dissection. In addition, I enjoyed the lectures in linguistics and brain imaging methods. How is the study experience in your host country different from studying at your home university? The professors there have a very friendly attitude and are easily reachable. They treat you as if you are one of them, a part of the scientific community, which is not really the case in Croatia where there is more "space" between students and professors. Besides that, I think that the Netherlands invests a lot in education as their universities are extremely well equipped, with top machinery, labs and loads of study material. Accordingly, students have many opportunities to do internships and work in labs while still at uni which is, sadly, hardly possible in Croatia. What is the most important thing you learned from your experience? That there are so many amazing things to learn and work on, and that there are much more amazing people from all over the world who are all so different, and at the same time all so similar. :) Before you leave, tell us Goodbye in your native language! :) Doviđenja! Did YOU study abroad? Share your story with us!
Hello! Tell us something about yourself. Hey friends! :) my name is Andrew, and I am a Psychology student from Malta. A little fact about myself is that coming from a place popular among tourists due to our warm and sunny weather, strangely enough, I am more of a winter person! I would like to use this particular space that the EFPSA Study and Travel Abroad is giving to all Psychology Students in Europe, to share my experience as a psychology Student Exchange participant during the summer of 2015, between Maltese, Slovenian, and Finnish students. The students spent a week in Malta during the month of July, then it was our turn to go for a week in Slovenia and week in Finland during the months of August, and September respectively. What was the best thing that happened to you during your experience abroad? During the exchange, we visited beautiful places, attended very interesting workshops, tasted amazing food, among many other things. However, the most special thing about this exchange, and any other student exchange, is the fact that you get to share these amazing memories with other students, both from your country, and other countries. What is your favourite word in the language spoken in the country you visited? A word that comes to mind right now is 'Hvala', which is 'Thank you' in Slovenian. What is the best food you had there? I would say reindeer meat, with mashed potatoes and berry sauce, in Helsinki, Finland. Amazing! Mentioning berry sauce, I was also intrigued by the fact that in Finland, red berry sauce is used with both savory and sweet recipes. What is the biggest difference between your host and home country? Whereas Malta is a country popular for beautiful beaches, both Slovenia and Finland are greener countries than Malta, and the breathtaking views of green mountains and valleys in Slovenia, and forests in Finland, is something I will never forget. Where did you live? Was it difficult finding/renting a place? I am lucky to say that I had amazing hosts in both countries. I was hosted in the central area of Ljubljana when I was in Slovenia, and hosted by two different hosts in Finland; 3 days in the outskirts of Helsinki, and 2 days in Turku. I would really use this opportunity to once again thank my hosts for their patience, and their hospitality. What should a person visiting your host city definitely do there, according to you? The Castle in the city center of Ljubljana, Slovenia, is something you should visit if you are in the city! The view of the city from the top of the castle is something which cannot be described by words. In Helsinki, Finland, I would really suggest a ride on the SkyWheel. From up there, you can see quite a few surrounding attractions, such as the Harbour area, and the very well kept market place. When it comes to Turku, I would recommend going for a walk in the park by the river flowing through the centre of the city. Which cities have you visited during your stay abroad? Tell us about your travelling adventures. Since I have already mentioned the cities which I was hosted in in the previous question, I would like to use this question as a continuation. What I really enjoyed in Ljubljana were the chill-out evening in parks, and by the Ljubljanica river. Metelkova is also a place to visit if you're into street art and nightlife! During our week in Slovenia, we also visited the famous Lake Bled and got to swim in Bohinj! Among the experiences in Finland, we spent a night in a cottage inside a Forest near Turku. The academic Finnish student 'dinner', SitSit, was also a fun experience. It is a dinner involving songs, and rules, and participants are punished in very unorthodox manners if they are caught breaking these rules, or disrespecting the song leaders. It is unique moments like these make exchange experiences very special, and unforgettable! Why did you choose this specific university that hosted you? Slovenia and Finland were countries I always wanted to visit, and I used this exchange opportunity to actually visit both countries :) Of course, I don't regret it one bit! What was your favourite course? A workshop which I really remember was regarding marginalised groups and minorities, and this was delivered when we were in Ljubljana. During such workshops, it is interesting to see the similarities and differences between different countries, when students from the different countries give their feedback. How is the study experience in your host country different from studying at your home university? Since I only spent a week in the two countries, I can only give observations on what I could see in the short span of time I was there. From the workshops we had in Finland, and the information we gathered about the Universities, especially the University of Helsinki, the high level of education in the country was strongly evident. Students are even given paid internship opportunities while at University. Every Country should follow Finland's steps when it comes to planning a good strategy for education. What I was really impressed by in Slovenia is the atmosphere in the city. At night, students tend to chill out in parks, which is something very different from the clubbing culture here in Malta. The atmosphere in Ljubljana gave the impression that it is a very student friendly city. What were the professors like? I think that over all, the workshops and discussions we had in all the three countries were very intriguing, and the professors delivering them encouraged active participation. What is the word that best describes your experience abroad? Unforgettable is the word I would use; the places I visited, and the people I met, will surely be never forgotten, and will always have a special place in my heart. Before you leave, tell us Goodbye in your native language! :) ċaw! Did YOU study abroad? Share your story with us! Please, introduce yourself. Viktorija Bondikjova Home country: Macedonia Host University: University of Rijeka, Croatia Well....I consider myself as a curious and enthusiastic psychology student & gender rights activist with a higher level of need for cognition, haha. I love art, travelling, poetry, mystery movies, and psychology, of course, that's my passion. Volunteering and travelling is something that I strongly identify with and I would like to dedicate my life on the three particular parts: science & research in psychology, travelling and art. What is the word that best describes your experience abroad? Focus. Why did you choose this specific university that hosted you? Well...to be honest, there was not much of a choice regarding Universities that my home University has signed bilateral contracts with. My first choice was Italy but with the lack of English language courses, I couldn't apply there. I have chosen University of Rijeka due to the overlapping of the study curriculum and program and the beauty of the Adriatic sea, of course :) Also, I already had friends there that I met during one conference and I could easily get along. Also, I fully understand the language and right now I speak Croatian fluently. All in all, I like Croatia as a country and I thought that because of the nice weather, wonderful and liberal city and extremely polite professors, I could have nice experience there. :) What was your favourite course? I cannot choose between Introduction to psychopathology and Organizational psychology. What were the professors like? That's something I'm most satisfied with! Some professors really motivated me to study, devote myself to the subject and stay strong while there were so many exams and finals ahead of us. They are flexible, open-minded, open to collaborate and discuss about any issue, communicative, polite and easy to talk to. They often adapted to my needs and schedules and I always felt comfortable in their company, I felt respected and part of the community there. I totally didn't feel like a stranger! How is the study experience in your host country different from studying at your home university? Even though there is not much of a difference in the course materials and study content, I see the main difference in the relation professor-student. The professors here are mostly like friends, maybe that's because of the small groups(around 30 students in a generation compared to my home Uni with almost 90). Also, studying in the host country takes more devotion, since we have mid-terms, a lot of paper-works, seminar writings and finals are obligatory. So, you must learn during the whole semester and equip well for the finals. At my home Uni, you cannot "stay in touch" with the professors (at least to some of them), some of them don't even know you exist, their "word" is the last, so they prefer autocratic system. Here, they are collaborators and they can motivate you to study (at least for me). Where did you live? Was it difficult finding/renting a place? I live (still live) in a private apartment close to my University and I don't have any flatmates because that was the decision that I made before. It was difficult to find a place since you cannot physically go there and check the flat in advance, so someone else must do it for you. Also, it's more difficult to find a small place just for you for a good price. So, I may 260 euros for one-bedroom flat, which is considered higher price. However, it was late and I didn't have any choice. I spend more than expected, but I like my flat and the location as well. What is the best mean of public transport in Rijeka? I use the public buses, or sometimes taxi services. What is the best way to save money there? Hm... you can save money on food, definitely. Since there are two student restaurants, one of them in the city center and one of them at my University, you actually spend around 50 cents-1 euro for a whole meal (salad, soup, full meal). That's something that I will definitely miss when I come back. What is the best food you had there? Sea food in one restaurant in the center of Rijeka. It was really fresh and delicious! What is your favourite word in the language spoken in the country you visited? Utjecaj, means impact. I don't know why, maybe because it's totally different from my native language and I use it too often when describing something, also in studying. :) Where did you meet most of your new friends? Most of my friends I met at University (they study with me) and also at Erasmus events. So I also have many locals friends and some international Erasmus friends who study at other Universities in Rijeka. What was the best thing that happened to you during your experience abroad? What I like the most-the opportunity for travelling and meeting new people every day. So the best thing/s are my trips in the neighboring cities and countries and exploring many new places/meeting different people in such short period of time. That makes me happy! Was there a situation that made you step outside of your comfort zone? I step out of comfort zones every day. :) What is the biggest difference between your host and home country? Even though there are not many cultural differences since we used to be one country in the part (Ex-Yugoslavia), maybe the mentality of people (without generalizing) which is more consisted of politeness, slowness and calmness. So, I feel like they say "there's always time for everything", like you don't have to be in a rush, everything will be fine at the end. That level of carelessness is visible in every domain of living here, also in studying and work. Can you see yourself moving to your host country? Yes, but not in the city that I am currently settling. I would prefer to live in Zagreb, the capital. What should a person visiting your host city definitely do there, according to you? Walk through Korzo, eat sea food, swim and visit the beaches, engage in the cultural events, hang out! And last question, was it all worth it? Since it's not over yet... I guess it would be worth it :) Did YOU study abroad? Share your story with us!
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