by Stéphanie Gautier and Céline Valette

We want to know more about them! Who are they precisely? Why do they move from home? Home sweet home versus Erasmus’life! Why have they this will to discover another country and leave home? What is exactly this “Erasmus’ spirit?”

For this year 2006, all of them are in Helsinki, we just want to understand why, why here? And how are they living the experience? Different nationalities, different origines, different personnalities, different studies… You want to know more about some Globetrotters in Helsinki… read the following interviews!

Alexander Agronovsky, the economist!

Alex… He forgot to say that he cooks very well and… that he loves France very much! Even if he is not in Berlin right now, Alex enjoys the moments in Helsinki! Let us introduce you this serious student, but a very funny guy, who likes organisation, responsibilities, management…like a German, doesn’t it? I know, cliché… ;o)

Surname: Agronovsky
Firstname: Alexander or Alex
Nickname: Sacha (like Alexander but in russian)
Distinguishing mark : 3 colors for the eyes (green, grey and blue)…
Born in : Lwow (Ukrainia)
Lives in : Berlin
Date of birth : 13/12/1981

Describe yourself in few words : “I can take a lot of pressure sometimes and become really stressed. What else?…I’m able to adapt myself with different kinds of people! And to conclude with this question I like to take responsibilities in general. That’s all.”

Brief story: Alex lived ten years in the URSS. After that, during the Golf War, he spent one year in Israel. After that he left to Germany, to Hanover. When he was 21, Alex decided to move to Berlin! He lives there now. He is very proud of this city!

What do you study?: “Economy.”

Why did you want to study abroad?: “To have this experience on my CV. It looks good for the employers. And at the beginning I thought the education system was a bit better but it’s not the case!”

Why did you choose Helsinki?: “Actually for two reasons : firstly, I wanted to attend a course with a professor that I knew before thanks to some books. Unfortunately he doesn’t teach anymore. Secondly, I wanted a Nordic country because I like their ways of life. The condition was a big city.”

Do you miss your choice? Why?: “I don’t really miss my choice, it’s not the right word, but Helsinki is not as big as Stockholm for example! I prefer Stockholm, the city is more beautiful. But I like Helsinki too! All things are very close, that’s useful!. So, I don’t miss my choice, I’m fine here.”

Did you travel in and around Helsinki?: “For sure : Espoo, Porvo…”

Describe this experience with 3 key-words: “Exhausting, exciting and…new!”

Could you live this experience again? Why?: “For sure again! I’m used to do it now!”

Do you travel a lot usually?: “In Germany a lot! (Hamburg, Bamberg… some student cities where my friends are. But not outside Germany.”

Which things do you prefer when you travel? (fiesta, landscape, people?): “Visits for the day and fiesta for the evening sure!”

What do you want to do after this year? How do you imagine your future?: “Go on studying, one more year! And after, looking for a job in Berlin. Otherwise… nothing special!”

by Céline Valette

Alexander Spring, so British, isn’t he?!

Irony could really well describe this guy! Very British with a very good English although he comes from Switzerland! Full of humour, Alex likes to move and discover new things all the time, meeting new people, learning about different cultures… No limits for his curiosity! Look at the interview, very funny!

Surname: Spring
Firstname: Alexander
Nickname: Alex
Born in: Bern/Switzerland
Lives in: Bern/ Switzerland
Date of birth: 01.01.1984

Your favourite sentence: “How can you live like this?”

Describe yourself in few words: “The organized chaos”

Brief history: “Born and raised in Bern and now here (that was brief).”

What do you study?: “Law”

Why did you want to study abroad?: “Home sucks (from time to time)”

Why did you choose Helsinki?: “I was impressed by the high score of Finland in the Program for International Student Assessment”

Do you miss your choice? Why?: “Not one second!”

Did you travel in and around Helsinki?: “Yes, but not enough”

Describe this experience with 3 key-words: “Strange, wild, good”

Could/would you live this experience again? Why?: “I would like to live this experience again, but maybe in a French speaking country (like Switzerland?)”

Do you travel a lot usually?: “Yes as much as possible”

Which things do you prefer when you travel? (fiesta, landscape, people?): “The difference”

What do you want to do after this year? how do you imagine your future?: “My mother would ask this kind of question, so I wont answer…”

by Céline Valette

Julija, always with a smile!

A smiling girl, and what a beautiful smile! Optimistic, she really likes life! Let me introduce you a very pretty girl…

Surname : Novikova
Firstname : Julija
Nickname : Juul
Distinguishing mark : “I smile a lot”
Born in : Latvia
Live in : Latvia, Riga
Date of birth : 4th May 1987

Your favourite sentence: “Everything that happens, happens for good!”

Describe yourself in few words: “I’m a nature lover and I like to bring happiness to other people, I like sports, music, traveling and parties. I love my dog. I have worked hard as a waitress. I try to be optimistic every day, sometimes I’m lazy, sometimes I’m hardworking. I like all the seasons of the year because changes are always nice. I still love fairy-tales, winter evenings and I spend my summers by the sea.”

Brief story: “My story is the same as average person has.”

What do you study?: Finno-Ugrian studies

Why did you want to study abroad?: “Because I never had such an experience and when I realized there is an opportunity I just decided to try it.”

Why did you choose Helsinki?: “Because it’s quiet close to my home country and my major subject is Finnish language.

At my home university there is no free course choices.” Do you miss your choice? Why?:“No, I’m satisfied, I’m fine!”

Did you travel in and around Helsinki?: “Yeah, I did. It always depends on the weather!”

Describe this experience with 3 key-words: “Rain, neighbours, sauna.”

Could/would you live this experience again? Why?: “Yes I could because I like it.”

Do you travel a lot usually?: “Actually I started to travel only a year ago but since then I have been to six countries (Poland, Austria, Italy, England, Malta and Finland!).”

Which things do you prefer when you travel? (fiesta, landscape, people?): “Landscape and architecture most of all and then comes entertainment which means fiesta and people!”

What do you want to do after this year? how do you imagine your future?: “I have no proper thoughts about my future but next year I want to find a job (part-time job) related to my studies. And dance a lot…”

by Céline Valette

A French living in Helsinki

Surname: Papin
Firstname: Dominique
Nickname: “Dom”
Born in: France
Date of birth: 9th November 1971

Your favourite sentence: “Why are you living in Finland ?” – “ ‘cause it’s a good opportunity to have fun with Finns!”

If you were a color: “White.”

Describe yourself and your situation in few words: “I am a french who made the choice to live in northern Europe for its immense peace and quiet.”

Why did you want to work abroad?: “For my personal flowering and to live something different.”

Why did you choose Helsinki?: “I had the opportunity to come to Finland for my studies and I wanted to go on in Helsinki, where you can easily find a job.”

Do you miss your choice?: “No, but it’s time to go somewhere else.”

Why?: “To live something else, life is so short ! Because of boredom too.”

Describe this experience: “In fact, I have my own company in Finland. After difficult starts in french products’ importation in Finland, I have created a french and free newspaper (Le FRANCOFINN’) for years ago which continues to grow.”

Could you live this experience again?: “Yes but obviously using the experience not to do the same mistakes!”

Why?: “Because it’s interesting doing things that you wouldn’t necessary do in your home country.”

What about your future?: As I said, having new experiences abroad. And of course make sure of the continuity of what I have done until today.

by Céline Valette

Nuria, a crazy curly hair girl from SPAIN, but so lovely!!!

I met her at the beginning of this adventure and like every people who knows her, I have quickly started to like her! She loves doing a lot of things, going everywhere she can have fun, always smiling and laughing! Let me introduce her:

Surname :Cabot
Firstname : Nuria
Born in : Madrid
Lives in : Madrid
Date of birth: 16th November of 1983

Your favourite sentence: Bon apetit!! (I love to enjoy my meals)

Describe yourself in few words: Curious to know everything (as positive quality) and also, a little bit lazy and little bit crazy

Brief story :Since I was born I have not been sleeping that much at night and I can not wake up early, but on the other hand, nights have always been very important in my life (to study, to read, to watch movies, to enjoy the silence and of course, to enjoy the party and so on). And now, in Finland, the night is still very important because I hardly ever see the light, but it is ok, I like it.

What do you study?: Advertising in Spain, Musicology here.

Why did you want to study abroad?: Because it is much better than staying at home. Experience, new people from everywhere, living in such a different country, the new (maybe not delicious) food…

Why did you choose Helsinki?: Because it sounds exotic.

Do you miss your choice? Why?: No, I am very happy and proud to be here. Italy or France are very similar to Spain.

Did you travel in and around Helsinki? : Yes

Decribe this experience in 3 words: …Rain, fog and very tall trees

Could/would you live this experience again? Why? : I think so but I’ll tell you when I’m finished in 6 months

Do you travel a lot usually?: Yes, I try to do it

Which things do you prefer when you travel? (fiesta, landscape, people?): To see, to see, to see everything.

What do you want to do after this year? how do you imagine your future?: UFFFFFF, so difficult question, maybe in April I’ll know it better…I hope I’ll be happy!!!

by Stéphanie Gautier

Aldo, the Sicilian…

Destine brought him to Helsinki and we are happy it happened! Even if he had to study a lot for his course (law) he would always be ready to party and to talk to his friends! Such a kind person, our Aldo from Domus! With a big sense of humour (except for some delicate subject that I promise not talking about anymore!)

Surname : Corsello
Firstname : Aldo
Born in : Palermo
Lives in : Roma
Date of birth : 18/01/1986

Your favourite sentence er aspera Ad astra

Describe yourself in few words: sometimes too serious, but always ready to have fun!!!

Brief story : I am from Sicily, and I lived there till two years ago, when I moved to Rome for studying. I have two brothers, both older than me, and one of them studies in Rome, just like.

What do you study?: Law

Why did you want to study abroad? The possibility to meet new people with a completely different background and, of course, to improve my not so wonderful English (I tried also to learn finnish, but I understood soon that is not for me)

Why did you choose Helsinki? Long long story, let’s say that has been the destiny.

Do you miss your choice? Why? No, because I found very friendly people and a very nice city, but a little bit more of sun wouldn’t be bad.

Did you travel in and around Helsinki? Not enough, but I still have time!

Describe this experience with 3 key words : new, funny, cool

Could/would you live this experience again? Why? Of course I’d like, to make an interview for you again!(laughter)

Do you travel a lot usually? Never how much I want

Which things do you prefer when you travel? (fiesta, landscape, people?) People and fiestas are welcome, but I try also not to forget the landscapes.

What do you want to do after this year? how do you imagine your future? Travel a lot around Europe, then for the future, actually I don’t want to see!

by Stéphanie Gautier

Aurélien, typical French name…

He belongs to the Erasmus survivors who didn’t give up learning finish, he likes Hockey a lot, has no problem with this terrible weather… we could wander about him not having finnish blood?! But not a drop, he is 100% french !

Surname : Léger

Firstname : Aurélien
Born in : Caen, France
Lives in : Caen, France
Date of birth : 06/05/1983

Your favourite sentence: he does not have one

Describe yourself in few words: I’m 23 years old, blond haired, 1m81 tall. I’m fond of sports, new technologies, and cinema.

Brief story: Once upon a time, a little boy called Aurélien was born in Caen. I spent until now all my life in this city (where it doesn’t rain as much as everybody think, I really want to mention it). Well so I made all my schooling in Caen, also in the University, and I’m here today.

What do you study? : I study law, especially private law (business law).

Why did you want to study abroad? : Because as I said I have always lived in the same city, and it’s supposed to be my last year studying, so it was maybe the last opportunity to go abroad for such a period. It’s not the same thing than to just go on holiday, that is really a wonderful experience. And as everyone, I wanted to improve my English, such a big deal!

Why did you choose Helsinki? : The main reason is quite uncommon. Actually I’m a big hockey fan and I discovered Finnish hockey players in the team of my city a few years ago. Then I started to discover this singular language which is Finnish (ja nyt opiskelen suomea), and the landscapes of this country.

Do you miss your choice? Why? : Not at all. Till now, all is really good. The weather isn’t that cold (I don’t know what to expect about the weather in February); the night time at 16.00 isn’t a problem for me. And of course I can play hockey and watch games of the SM-Liiga (the best league in the country).

Did you travel in and around Helsinki? : Yes, of course. I first went to Suomenlinna, a small island near Helsinki. Then to Tallinn (Estonia), a pretty, small city. In October to St Petersburg in Russia for 5 days, the city is big and full of history, but it’s also a city of contrasts. And to Tampere three weeks ago. I will go to Lapland in the beginning of December.

Describe this experience with 3 key-words: Experience, independence, friends

Could/would you live this experience again? Why? Yes, because I really enjoy it.

Do you travel a lot usually? Maybe not a lot, but I try to go abroad once a year. I also travel in France but it doesn’t count I guess.

Which things do you prefer when you travel? (Fiesta, landscape, people?) Landscape and different culture and language.

What do you want to do after this year? How do you imagine your future? I’m supposed to start working. Serious things will begin.

by Stéphanie Gautier