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author
Beatriz Domingos
Beatriz
faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences
academic year of the stay
2023/2024
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author
Beatriz
faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences
academic year of the stay
2023/2024
traineeship
study stay
short-term mobility
other
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Portuguese Republic: Embassy of Portugal in Helsinki
How does Beatriz rate their stay?
university
city
accommodation
financial demands
about university | organisation
What made your university special? What were the facilities where you studied and the university equipment like?
Working at my host organization, and embassy, felt like a dream come true. With my background in international relations and current studies in international security, I gained a lot of knowledge regarding these fields. Working in an office setting, I had access to essential tools such as a computer, mouse, and other office supplies, aligning with the nature my role.
What made it special was that it was in a state organization of my home country, Portugal and it felt like home.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about your "adoptive" university? What made it special? What were the premises where you studied and the university facilities like?
As the only trainee during that period, I carried out a wide variety of tasks at the embassy. My responsibilities included assisting diplomats and technical counsellors and attending briefings and meetings as Portugal's representative. I was also involved in drafting reports and diplomatic correspondence. In addition, I played an important role in organizing the embassy's cultural events and activities and was responsible for managing the embassy's social media platforms.
The representatives of the organisation were extremely helpful and super accessible! They always helped me and guided me very well.
I would definitely recommend this place to other trainees!
What is student life like at university?
Did you study in English or in the language of the host country? What language requirements does the university have?
At the host organization, Portuguese predominated as the main language of communication. At the same time, given its status as an embassy, English was also a widely used language, particularly at events involving individuals from different linguistic backgrounds and in diplomatic correspondence.
about the city
What was your impression of the city? How would you describe it? What is interesting to see here?
Helsinki is a calm and cosmopolitan city! I loved the relaxing saunas, the art-packed museums, the festive Christmas decorations, natural parks and how they cherish nature. My favorite spots were by the sea, enjoying the beauty of the Baltic Sea. Also, experiencing a snowy winter here was fantastic, since I was able to have a real nordic winter.
about finances
In your experience, how far does the scholarship go? What percentage of your expenses did it cover? What is your opinion on prices in the country in general?
Finland, being a Nordic country, is in fact more expensive than the Czech Republic. The notable differences lie in the cost of accommodation, public transport (around 65€ per month) and even food (if you go to a restaurant you will not pay less than 25€). Despite the higher costs, I think the scholarship is quite beneficial, although it's not entirely enough to sustain life here, as it only covered two months of my accommodation costs.
Please advise your classmates on how to save money—Where to shop? What services can be used to save money?
If you want to save money, the simplest way is to get your groceries from Lidl, which is the cheapest supermarket around here. Also, consider buying your clothes back in your home country as it's likely to be much cheaper. Try not to eat out too often and avoid ordering from Wolt too much because it can get expensive.
about accommodation
What type of accommodation did you choose? Would you recommend it to others? If not, what type of accommodation do you think is best based on your experience (dormitory, private apartment, private dormitory, shared room, etc.)?
Finding accommodation in Helsinki, including dormitories and apartments, for short periods, isn't that easy. Although it can be expensive, a convenient option is to stay in an apart-hotel, such as Unity or Noli, which is what I chose. This way, I had my privacy and the direction of the building was excellent.
about experiences
Did you use your stay to travel around the country/Europe? What are your best travel experiences? What would you not recommend?
Fortunately, I got to travel a lot during my time in Finland. I visited Turku and Rovaniemi, which is in the Arctic Circle in the north of Finland, known for being Santa Claus's town. Despite the cold, I had the chance to experience the beauty of nature with snow. Additionally, I explored Stockholm in Sweden, Copenhagen in Denmark, and Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Tallin in Estonia. I recommend all these places, specially Rovaniemi.
Language and culture: what cultural differences did you notice? How did you cope with the national language? Was it also the language of your studies? Do you feel that your language skills improved during your stay?
I've observed some cultural differences here, with people being quite respectful and valuing their personal space. They tend to be quieter, but at the same time, they're very friendly, and everyone speaks English, which is great since Finnish is a challenging language. Despite that, I made an effort to learn a few basic words to make a good impression. The main languages during my internship were Portuguese and English, and I believe I maintained a good level of proficiency.
about experiences
Did you use Erasmus stay to travel around your country/Europe? What are your best travel experiences? What would you not recommend?
Language and culture: what cultural differences did you notice? How did you cope with the national language? Was it also the language of your studies? Do you feel that your language skills improved during your stay?
Did you use Erasmus stay to travel around your country/Europe? What are your best travel experiences? What would you not recommend?
final rating
Why here? What makes this location special? Why would you send your friends to your country/city?
What made my host organization and location exceptional was, most importantly, the people. They were incredibly helpful and welcoming throughout the entire experience. Moreover, Finland is actively engaged in international affairs and security matters, making it an excellent choice for developing knowledge in these areas. Living in a Nordic country is also an exceptional experience!
live-saving tips
If I went again, I would definitely remember to pack...
thermal shirts, very warm jacket, gloves, scarf, ski trousers
Before leaving, I would like to know that...
it would be that cold
What surprised me most was that...
The friendliness of the people and the organization of the country! I can see why Finland has such a good reputation for living.
The hardest thing for me was...
the weather. I am used to sunny days in Portugal.
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