Erasmus+ exchanges
INDIVIDUAL STUDENT MOBILITY 2023-2024
EXCHANGE STUDENT'S POSTCARD - 1 month @ Hellu
**Patricia, Madrid, Spain**
Everything here was new; the culture is vastly different from Spanish culture. The most notable distinction is the extensive use of computers for all aspects of schooling in Finland. The exams were also quite unique. The weather is much colder than I anticipated, and it gets dark surprisingly early, which can be quite exhausting. The food was a pleasant surprise; contrary to my expectations, I found it quite good, especially the pea soup. Lunch is served very early here, which I found a bit unusual. People are generally quieter here. Additionally, I had the opportunity to go on a weekend trip to Tallinn, Estonia, which I discovered is a common practice among Finnish people.
EXCHANGE STUDENT'S POSTCARD - 1 month @ Hellu
**Sophie, Köflach, Austria**
My stay in Helsinki has been truly wonderful. I've learned so much about Finland and its school system. I've gained many new friends, and I spent the majority of my free time enjoying their company. We explored Helsinki multiple times, and my favorite spot in the city was Esplanadi Park, especially during the Christmas season when all the lights created a beautiful atmosphere.
I also had the chance to visit the charming old town of Porvoo with my host. It was a picturesque town, revealing a different side of Finland compared to Helsinki. Another highlight was a visit to my host family's cottage, a cozy retreat for the weekend. We lit a fireplace and indulged in delicious homemade crepes.
This exchange has been a tremendous opportunity for personal growth and a chance to see the world from a new perspective. I cherished every moment of my stay, forging lifelong friendships along the way.
EXCHANGE STUDENT'S POSTCARD - 1 month @ Hellu
**Julien, Quimperlé, France**
For me, this trip was an extraordinary experience! The highlight was undoubtedly when we visited my host family's summer cottage. During that weekend, I felt like a true Finnish boy. The forest ambiance, the house, the sauna, the lake—everything was vastly different from my previous experiences. It was like stepping into another world, far removed from the city, and I genuinely relished spending that weekend there.
The most striking difference was the school. The building was exceptionally new, clean, and equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including TVs used for classes and an extensive air conditioning system that kicked in the moment you entered. All the courses were digitized, eliminating the need for pencil cases or notebooks, which felt quite unusual for me as we rarely use computers in my school. I believe the Finnish education system is effective because students don't experience the typical stress and pressure often associated with school and exams. The environment and teachers create a supportive atmosphere. In this school, you're encouraged to express yourself freely, regardless of nationality, religion, or sexuality. It's incredibly wonderful, fostering an open-minded culture without discrimination or judgment.
Nature in Finland was absolutely breathtaking! The trees, lakes, hills—every landscape demanded admiration. The weather was pleasant, not too cold, with a bit of sun towards the end of my stay. Helsinki was a delightful surprise compared to Paris, offering a relaxing atmosphere, efficient public transport that minimizes traffic congestion, and numerous beautiful places to explore: accessible museums, historical buildings, and a sea pool that truly sets it apart!
Engaging with many friendly Finnish people and fellow exchange students made my experience even more enjoyable. With them, I felt like a true European citizen.
I can say with absolutely no doubt: Suomi on kaunis ja uskomaton maa!
EXCHANGE STUDENT'S POSTCARD - 1 month @ Hellu
**Nora, Köflach, Austria**
My exchange experience in Finland stands out as one of the best decisions of my teenage years. I made so many new friends and did so many fun activities. On my first day, my host and I explored Helsinki, indulging in a bit of shopping as well. Throughout the week, my free time was filled with a variety of interesting and exciting pursuits. We visited the Flying Cinema of Helsinki, enjoyed moments at Espresso House, and explored several shopping centers. The constant use of English during the entire stay has significantly enhanced my language skills and improved my proficiency. Without a doubt, I would definitely do this experience again.
EXCHANGE STUDENT'S POSTCARD - 1 month @ Hellu
**Fabienne, Schweich, Germany**
Fall in Helsinki unfolded like stepping into a vibrant wonderland. The trees transformed into hues of red and gold, casting the city in the enchanting palette of a painting. Navigating classes proved a bit disorienting as we arrived in the darkness and departed amidst the evening gloom.
Despite the weather, I ventured to outdoor attractions on clear days, while even rainy ones became captivating at the local museums, a delightful perk being their free admission for students—a pleasant surprise compared to Germany .
Exploring Helsinki's Old Market Hall, brimming with fish and local treats, was a treat in itself. I succumbed to the temptation of indulging in cinnamon rolls and an array of chocolates. A unique experience was visiting Hesburger, where I could place an order without engaging with a cashier. And as the days grew colder, playing in the snow was my favorite pastime.
Helsinki's autumn wasn't merely about the changing leaves; it became a distinctive chapter in my exchange journey. The city's harmonious connection with nature, the warmth of its people, and the kaleidoscope of colorful experiences have etched it into my memory as a chapter I'll always cherish.
EXCHANGE STUDENT'S POSTCARD - 1 month @ Hellu
**Camille, Köflach, Austria**
I've observed several differences between Austria and Finland. For instance, here in Finland, most classes take place on the computer, and students ca choose their own subjects. Additionally, I've noticed that school lunch is provided for free. Another distinction I've observed is that many buildings have two doors at the entrance, and sometimes even three.
Throughout my stay, I've experienced a noticeable increase in cold weather, with temperatures dropping below zero even in November, a phenomenon that typically occurs only in December in Austria.
On a positive note, I've had the opportunity to explore some incredible places, including Järvenpää, Suomenlinna, and various museums. The friendships I've formed during this time have truly made the experience unforgettable, and I will miss them dearly.
I am genuinely grateful for my time here and want to express my thanks to everyone who has assisted me during my stay.
Kiitos kaikille!
EXCHANGE STUDENT'S POSTCARD - 1 month @ Hellu
**Pauline, Köflach, Austria**
The moment I decided to go to Finland for three weeks as part of an exchange program, I wasn't sure if it was a good decision. But now I can confidently say it was one of the best decisions I've ever made, and I'm genuinely saddened that it'll end so soon. I cherished every second of my trip and gained valuable insights into a completely new culture. We engaged in so many enjoyable activities, like going to the cinema and exploring Helsinki. Those three weeks were among the best experiences of my life. Now, I can't wait to introduce my exchange student to Austrian culture.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone, especially my host family, for helping me find my way and including me in your daily life.
EXCHANGE STUDENT'S BLOG POST - 1 month in France
**Daniel, Quimperlé, France**
7-14.1.2024
My first week in Quimpérle was very exciting and interesting. The school was different, the nature was different, nothing was quite the same as in Finland. Everywhere I looked was green, no snow in sight and temperatures were over 15 degrees warmer. The first days in school I was a bit nervous and lost,but everything started to clear with the help of my correspondent and routine. I discovered that I actually understood French quite well and could pretty easily follow the lessons without help.
After school, we toured the city and the surroundings which were extremely interesting and beautiful. The city was full of nice old architecture that are not common in Finland and for example both of the churches were quite breath-taking. The three rivers that flow through the city also add a nice element to the landscape and all the tiny bridges crossing them were super cute. I also tried some French pastries like the galette de roi which is eaten around Epiphany.
During the weekend, my correspondent and I participated in his scout patrols event, which was super interesting for me being a scout myself. We toured the city and did some exercises and I looked horrified as the poor French scouts had to wear shorts even if it was only plus 1 degree outside! That is one of the major cultural differences between French and Finnish scouts. The French impose rank a lot more and have more rules regarding the uniform etc. Also, they are a lot more religious in this branch in particular, being Catholic.
After the exercise track, we watched some videos of last summer's summer camps’ and had a religious activity in the chapel.
On Sunday, I visited the nearby small town Pont-Aven and bought some of their famous cookies. We also visited the shore of the Atlantic Ocean which was really cool and I learned about oyster farming as an industry.
15-21.1.2024
During the second week, I held a presentation about Finland in English class and participated in the Erasmus exchange English course. This is a good place to tell a little bit about the school on Notre Dame Kerbertrand: There are around a thousand pupils and students in the primary-, middle- and high school combined. It is a semi-private catholic school meaning part of the funding is gotten from the parents and other sources that are not the state.
There is also a monastery on the school grounds with some nuns living there, because they originally founded the school. The school has a boarding possibility as well, which is not very common in Finland.
The main differences in the actual schoolwork were that they don’t use computers for pretty much anything. Some exceptions are physics and occasionally Erasmus, but they use the school's computers in the computer room. The days are longer, but the lessons are quite short, only 50 minutes. Some days they can have school from 8 to 16.58 , but they don’t have school on Wednesday afternoons at all.
Overall, the students have more work compared to our work in Finland, partly because they can’t really choose their subjects excluding three specialities, but they come on top of everything else. School life can be hectic at times, because there is no exam week so the exams are just whenever, and there are a lot of evaluated oral presentations.
On the weekend, we visited the highest point in Brittany, which was super cool. During the week, I also got to know the Breton cuisine better, as we ate different types of crabs, crepes and even snails.
22-28.1.2024
In the third week, there was an orientation convention happening in Brest which is a city around one and a half hours away. But due to the farmers’ strikes, we had to take an alternative route because the farmers had blocked the highway as a protest. The bus ride to the convention took around two and a half hours. The convention had a lot of universities and colleges of applied sciences there to advertise and it was an interesting experience.
During the weekend, I visited my correspondent’s grandparents in Guingamp on the Northern coast of Brittany, and we visited the city’s castle as well as the city of Morleaux and a neolithic monument known as a Cairn. It is the biggest of its kind in France and over 5000 years old. It was likely used as a burial site, but no bones have been found due to the acidic soil so the purpose is based on an educated guess. It was discovered by a road-making company who used it as a quarry for stones, meaning that, unfortunately, it was partly destroyed before discovery.
By the third week, school was going pretty smoothly and I even took some tests. (English and math), though some lessons were canceled because the year below us was on a skiing trip. My favorite lessons overall during the exchange was the specialty experimental physics and chemistry, because the subjects were really interesting and I already knew some of the stuff, so it was easier to follow. But I learned a lot of new things as well.
29.1-3.2.2024
The last week is a quite sad period of time. Doing everything for the last time is a bittersweet feeling because it also means that you have made it through, and in a sense that is a rewarding feeling.
At the end of this text, I’ll tell what I gained and learned from this experience. I gained a lot of self-confidence in my language skills, especially English but also French. I was able to study in a very different environment and gained a lot of good memories that will be cherished. I also gained a lot of new acquaintances and connections to France, as well as the courage to travel on my own.
I learned a lot about French culture and society and especially Breton culture. In school, we were studying democracy, French history, vectors and electron configurations, derivation and conductors as well as Chinese, English and the European union. Even though I knew some things about the subjects studied, I still learned something new about all of them because the learning happened in a different environment with a different curriculum.
In conclusion, I would recommend an Erasmus+ exchange program for people who want to challenge themselves and get cool new experiences.