Team Oulu is complete!

Dear readers…

Now it’s for real… TEAM OULU is complete; Lore arrived Saturday evening. Whoop whoop

So, we are guessing that you’re already very curious about our following adventures.

Let us begin with looking back and at the previous story where it ended with some excited and also nervous feelings for the orientation days. Well, Laurence can say that she has done well; she survived! To summarize; a lot of practical information, a tour around the campus, student Union OSAKO and Erasmus Student network (ESN) telling us all about the great stuff for this semester, getting to know each other by creating personal profiles in pairs and… However, the actual lessons start on Thursday.

On Friday evening, Laurence and a German friend were guided by their tutors through Oulu.

The day after that, Laurence ‘risked her life’ by jogging through the snow. That went surprisingly well! In the afternoon she went to a party from ESN. Getting to know the other Erasmus-people by playing in the snow. We had lunch with typical finnish Karjalanpiirakka (rice pies).You should really try that out, you know…. And ended the day by going to the sauna alternated by dashing through the snow! (Yeah, we did it the Finnish way :p )

Then, as already said; Lore arrived in the evening.

“Sunrise, sunrise, it’s like morning in your eyes…” Sunday, we woke up (for the first time) with the sun.

We went to see the public library. We were glad to find some English books. We ate pancakes; normal size, but it wasn’t our (Belgian) normal size. They eat so much; we were stuffed like a turkey on Thanksgiving!

In the evening we went to a jam session in a local pub.

Today, Laurence went to ‘Kauppahalli’. It’s a foodmarket like the ‘holy food market in Gent, but less fancy.

Although we’ve been here a few days or almost a week… we still have that vacation feeling; don’t realise that we are ‘stuck’ here for 5 months But it will be fine!

We listen already at Haloo Helsinki; a Finnish well known band! You can listen with us, if you want

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS6Ta6SrTHs

Kind regards

Lore & Laurence

First days of Oulu

Hi everyone

Finally, I'm settled in OULU.   

Yesterday, when I arrived in Oulu, around 3 p.m. I went to the 'wrong' office for picking up the key for my accomodation. So, I was crawling on and off into the snow with my 'heavy' luggage. Finally, I got my keys! Yes!

Then, I met my roommate from Korea. Her name is Yeojin. I asked her name now for 3 times, but I'm again forgotten how I pronouncing it right. She is the sweetest girl I ever met! And she bows every time I leave the room or when we finnish a conversation; this is like so cute!   Today, she also gave me some gifts and a kindly note:

So after a 10-12hour (beauty)-sleep, I woke up by some guys who entered my room for checking the fire alarm. Safety first, you know!   

Today was a little chaotic... The wifi in my room didn't work; so I had to go (again) on and off to the office. After 3 hours looking for the problem, we finally managed to get it working. What a releave! 

In the meantime I locked myself out. So I had to go after the spare key. Luckily, they were very friendly and understanding   .

Tomorrow is a big day... Orientation day! I'm excited, a little nervous for meeting my new classmates, knowing the practical stuff of the school and....

You see, lots of stories to tell...it's up to you to read it!   

A warm hug from Finland ( here it is now -4 degrees; that is not so cold for Oulu)

Laurence

Travel blog OULU

Hello and welcome to our travel blog!

The place to stay informed of all the adventures and experiences during this trip.

From now on you will also regularly find new stories and photos here, and you always know exactly where we are and where we have been on the map! More information about ourselves and the ERASMUS (OULU) journey that we will make; you will find in the profile.

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We would like to see you back on our travel blog and leave a message from time to time!

Nice that you are traveling with us!

Greetings,

Lore & Laurence