As my time in Jyväskylä is coming to an end, I just wanted to reflect on what life is like here. First of all, Jyväskylä is a city in central Finland. With a population of 138,000, it is the largest city in the region and I think the 5th largest city in Finland (Finland only has a population of 5 million). It actually feels about the same size as Bellingham and as I’ve mentioned earlier it looks similar too, so my environment is not too different. Part of me regrets choosing to study in Finland because of this, but I’ve made so many amazing friends that I can’t really complain.
Now that we have started school, I am very much in a routine. Our schooling is really intense but I absolutely love being immersed in theatre all day.
For those who don’t know, I have been studying at the National Theatre School of Ireland: The Gaiety School of Acting. It is a conservatory style two year program, of which I am only taking the first semester.
End of my Internship Program: Preparing for Re-Entry & Maintaining my International Connections
Although the food is amazing here in Italy, I really do miss breakfast! Breakfast in Italy consists of a pastry and coffee, not much else. I miss my biscuits and gravy, as well as pancakes
I am a little over the halfway point of my program. I return home in about a month and a half, but after being here for over two months, Prague feels like home now too.
The university is one of the UK’s most international, which creates an interesting atmosphere. There are many different languages spoken and campus, and a myriad of cultures represented. Many of the other students I’ve met are international.
“We strolled through the beautiful Venetian streets capturing great photos and memories of our time there. My dreams coming true right before my eyes, seeing the spectacular city. I was so giddy that I didn’t care about only having four hours of sleep on the sixteen-hour plane ride it took to get over here.”
We strolled through the beautiful Venetian streets capturing great photos and memories of our time there. My dreams coming true right before my eyes, seeing the spectacular city. I was so giddy that I didn’t care about only having four hours of sleep on the sixteen hour plane ride it took to get over here. My first flight was great! I was right behind first class, aisle seat next to two gentlemen who were very kind. That plane ride was only about five hours so I decided to stay awake so that I could sleep on my next flight that would be nine and a half hours. My layover was in Philadelphia and that airport is HUGE! I had to walk from one side to the other and it was about fifteen minutes (I’m guessing) and that whole walk was through a MALL! Serious! There was a GAP , Victoria Secret, Nike store, and more! That was crazy fun to walk through, but I didn’t want to stop to buy things, knowing I was going to Italy. My layover was two and a half hours, so I enjoyed a glass of wine while I waited. There was this big commotion going on where the planes got mixed up on us. We ended up getting a smaller plane than was planned. So they kept announcing over the airport intercom that there weren’t enough seats for everyone on the plane and that they were willing to give airfare credit and accommodations to a hotel and food in order to catch the next flight out the next morning. They needed five people to give up their seats and no one seemed to be taking the offer. The amount they were offering jumped from $500 to $1,000 for airfare credits. I almost took the offer, except I had plans to keep.
“When coming to Prague I really didn’t have too many expectations. I hadn’t traveled before so I didn’t know what to expect. I just went into it with an open mind with the idea that anything and everything is possible. The good and the bad.”
“So I kinda freaked out when I first got here. I was overwhelmed by being halfway around the world all on my own. I convinced myself that I wasn’t going to make friends and that I would be miserable here. But everything changed once my suite-mate arrived and orientation week started.”
“There are 10 productions Gaiety takes us to throughout the semester as well as any additional 5 that we are to see on our own – I’m so excited to be experiencing so much theatre! “
“When you think about all of the things that you need to get done before you depart it can seem really overwhelming. But if you make a list (for example writing down all the papers I have to collect or what I need to pack) it can seem much more organized and you can start working your way through it. Once I got started with a list like this everything became much more manageable and in the long-term the paperwork and preparation is a momentary (but still important) stress that’s nothing compared to the excitement that I’m going to be able to study in Europe for an entire year.”
“I’m not too nervous about anything yet, other than the plane ride over there. Slightly worried about homesickness but I know I’ll be having fun – This blog and art journal are really going to help me connect to and take in my surroundings and I’m so excited to experience a new place. “
“Besides being scared and nervous, I am just as excited. I am looking forward to finally seeing another part of the world and immersing myself in a different culture. I am excited to meet new people and hear their stories, and of course, I am excited about all the food I am about to eat.”
When I chose to go to Finland, I did so knowing that I was going to a less populated, Western, and English-speaking country. I figured since I was going to study, it would be a good idea to choose somewhere that was relatively easy to get around. Even with this in mind I’m still going halfway around the world on my own for four months. But I’m sure this will help increase my independence and give me the opportunity to meet many new people.”
“Despite the shortness of my time in Lyon, the time I’ve spent here makes it easy to call it home. I love my host family. They have made me feel very welcome and even though I am still struggling with the language barrier, I love talking with them. One of my favorite parts of the day is sitting around the table and continuing to talk long after we’ve finished dinner.”
“Lyon is more wonderful and welcoming than I ever expected. It has the excitement of a big city, the quaintness of a small town, and lacks the touristy kitsch found in Paris. It’s lovely and genuine and I can already tell a month will not be enough!”
I improved my language skills to a point where I can get by in most daily conversation. This has connected me to a unique group of people who I never would have known if I stayed in the United States. The world seems a lot smaller to me now. I learned that I can form friendships and find community anywhere I go.
I know I am going to miss Ireland. It feels like I’ve only just gotten here. I am going to miss the friendly people and the beautiful views of the sea and rolling green hills…
