Vaasa - City of students
Bad public transport. Tetiana Lienkova (on the left) and Alexandra Spivakova think that having a bicycle is necessary in Vaasa if you want to get around conveniently. Photo: Kaj Paulamäki
Every semester people from different countries come to Vaasa as exchange or International Master students. How did they imagine Vaasa before and after moving in? Three foreign students tell their stories about their preconceptions and experiences.
Alexandra Spivakova, former exchange student and now first-year Master student in Industrial Management, says that before she came to Vaasa she imagined it as a small, calm, cozy and picturesque seaside city.
She formed her image of the city mainly through the websites of the university and travel agencies.
"I was deeply impressed by the university campus, especially by how close it is to the sea."
Spivakova's image of Vaasa didn't change much when she began to live here in 2009.
"Of course, Vaasa is small and provincial in comparison with St. Petersburg, but it didn't disappoint me. I am glad that I don't have to waste my time in traffic jams. I can spend the hours I save on my studies, sport activities and friends."
She appreciates the education opportunities in Vaasa, considering the place perfect for exchange and Master's degree studies.
"I am glad I chose this city and university. You get to develop your language skills because so many students from different countries study here. However, if you are a foreign student, do not forget to book a room in a dormitory well beforehand."
Like Spivakova, Ukrainian second-year Master student in International Business Tetiana Lienkova imagined Vaasa as a small town. She was also surprised and impressed with the city's sheer amount of education opportunities.
Like many foreign students, Lienkova used Internet sources to collect the necessary information before coming here. These sources comprised of the websites of the University of Vaasa, the city of Vaasa, and the Study in Finland information guide.
"When I started to look for information on the city, I found out that Vaasa is really a student city since there are lots of higher education institutions for such a small place. All of the sources were useful and reflected the real image of this city", Lienkova says.
Now she feels that Vaasa is a good place to live and study, although it has some drawbacks.
"I have experienced problems with the medical services here, which are very expensive and not of a very high quality. Another problem is public transport, which isn't regular and is quite expensive for the foreign students. I realized that even though the city is considered to be small, it's very difficult to get everywhere without having a bike."
Italian Erasmus exchange student Salvatore Trotta chose Vaasa because in the pictures he had seen the city and the country looked tidy and efficient. His home university provided him with all the "survival" information about campus, such as accommodation etc.
Trotta also received information about the Finnish lifestyle from a friend of his family who had already been in Finland. He admits that he did not bother searching for information or worrying much in advance.
"I was sure that the destination was organized and ‘safe'", Trotta says.
He has lived here for five months now, and it turns out that his preconception of the city was quite accurate. Vaasa is a quiet, peaceful town, Trotta thinks.
"This is a perfect place to settle down and have a family. It is also decent for personal growth and education, but definitely not suited for my career needs. There aren't enough opportunities and international connections."
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