Who am I?
This might be the easiest or the hardest part to write I don’t know yet. But what I know is that you need to know something about me because this is a guide or a blog so you need to get the perspective clear: who is the author? What is he like?
So with that previous sentence I already revealed that I am a male. I’m a 25-year-old male from Lapland Finland and I’m doing a 16 weeks of training period here in Leiria and ESTG. I previously lived in Rovaniemi, the city of Santa Claus and I finished my studies during the autumn. I’m now a Bachelor of Business Administration. I was born in a small town called Ranua in Lapland Finland and I spent my first 19 years in my hometown until I finished the high school. After that I moved to Rovaniemi, did my army time and started my studies at Rovaniemi University of Applied Sciences and also worked most of the time during my studies. My studies kinda dragged at times and it took me almost 5 years to finish them. My thesis took only a few weeks though so the ending was quick.
To know me you also need to know what I like don’t you? Well I’m a really sporting person: I like to exercise in many ways and also attend to sporting events if possible. I also like to read good books, listen to music and just enjoy the weather for example. The nature is important thing to me because I have hunted and fished since I was a young boy and I’m still doing those activities at times and those are some things that I miss from my home country. I’m also a really poor and lazy photographer. Always looking to improve in everything I do.
My photographing equipment
In this guide I only use photos that are taken by me and to do that I do need a camera. Actually I have two. In some situations I have been forced to use my cellphone which is a Motorola Moto-G 4G. The camera is quite bad generally but it can also take some decent photos when I have enough light available. The main camera is a Nikon D5100 that I bought in December 2012 and it is basically the best traveling partner I could imagine. Generally I use the 18-55mm objective because I have to be able to vary the distances and I cannot always do it by walking. I also have a better objective a 50mm Nikkor that makes a better job in those pictures taken from longer distances and less light available.
How did I end up in Leiria?
Well I have never been abroad before this stay of mine but the whole working abroad thing has been in my mind for years: I have wanted to do it for a long time. The opportunity surfaced in September when I was finishing my thesis. I got an email which was the last notification about the Erasmus program. I had difficulties finding a job from Finland so I didn’t think twice: I just applied.
I applied both to Northern-Ireland and Portugal and I was supposed to go to eastern Portugal Castelo Branco. They never replied so I was just waiting and waiting. I think that it was in November when I finally got an answer from my Finnish coordinator that I have a chance to go to Leiria. Leiria was a familiar name to me: close to the coast and in the middle of the country. Once again I didn’t think twice: I replied yes.
After being accepted we just arranged the starting date (which was 2nd of February) and I was on my way.
My travel
My travel started early on in the morning from my parents’ house in small town called Ranua. We took a car ride of about one hour in dark winter morning and arrived to the Rovaniemi Airport about 9 AM. After that I was alone and actually traveling to abroad for the first time in my life if you don’t count those holiday trips I have done.
A flight from Rovaniemi to Helsinki also takes about an hour so it is a short journey. At the Airport of Helsinki-Vantaa I had about two hours to chill out: have a cup of coffee with a doughnut and actually realize that this is it. I also visited a candy shop which allows you to buy candy for cheap if you’re actually traveling abroad.
From Helsinki I flew to another capital: this time Oslo the capital city of Norway. In the plane I chatted with a nice Finnish gentleman who was more used to traveling but even he was a bit surprised that I’m going to the middle of Portugal to work.
In Norway I quickly noticed that my flight was postponed. For over an hour so this was a good time to actually have something to eat. The chicken wok was quite overly priced and tasteless but that’s basically what you can expect at the airport. The main thing was to be able to eat.
And drink. Next: Lisbon.
The lights of Lisbon in bad quality picture taken on board.
So this is the full flying schelude of mine. Obviously it’s in Finnish but you can get the basic information there: a long day in terms of traveling. My luggage had traveled on its own since Rovaniemi and it was actually relief to see it at Lisbon. The walk from the airport bus to the luggage reception seemed endless: I think that it was at least 10 minutes of walking and I constantly looked worryingly to the signs at the roof. (I have actually managed to get lost at Helsinki – Vantaa once so it wouldn’t be tough task to do it in a bigger airport where everything is new to me…) But there I was at the right place at right time: my luggage was even out first of the all and it was such a good feeling to have it back.
At this point I took a break of ten minutes just sitting at the lobby, telling people that I have landed my new home country alive and well and now heading to Leiria (hopefully). I was also thinking whether I needed to ask for help in using the taxi which I chose instead of the metro.
My main worry always was the getting from Lisbon to Leiria. My Internet-connection didn’t work outside the airport of Lisbon. Taxis were waiting just outside the airport and of course no-one spoke any English. “Be brave boy, nothing can actually go wrong.”, I was thinking when I entered a taxi with an old male driver. I had lost the note with address of the right bus station so I ended up going with words “Bus” “Station” “Leiria”. Didn’t do the trick as the taxi driver kept just repeating the word “bus” in a way “What is a bus?” you know.
I have always been kinda creative person so I took my pen and decided to create a new note and quickly drew a picture of a bus as well as I can. Sadly I have lost that picture now: would have been nice to actually introduce it here but anyways. That did the trick and the driver experienced that Heureka-experience. “No taxi Leiria?”, he was now able to say and I was finally able to actually laugh. “No no.”, I replied.
I ended up to the right place and withdrew some cash from the ATM. After that I asked for help from some lovely local lady with English skills about buying the ticket. 10 minutes to the departure, just on time I was. I bought the ticket from rear of the bus station and the cashier actually spoke very good English.
The trip to Leiria was satisfying. I had a functioning Wi-Fi in the bus and was actually able to catch up with my family and some of my friends. In Leiria bus station I ran into trouble again as I didn’t actually know which way to go. Luckily one older local couple spoke some English and even gave me a lift to the hotel which was Ibis.
After that I had a good night sleep and in the morning I went searching the IPLeiria’s International office and the rest is history…
General feelings
When writing this introduction I have already been in Portugal for six weeks so six down and ten to go. At the moment there are many thoughts inside my head considering the whole issue. I have liked Portugal a lot and the best thing was to get out of the snow of Finland to a place where it actually is warm at this time of the year.
I have made mistakes: been lazy learning the language and choosing the wrong accommodation option for me but otherwise it has been a good experience. Haven’t found any friends yet but that has always been hard for me…
My training period ends at end of May but I haven’t decided yet whether I go back to Finland or not. There’s not much point doing that if I am not employed as it is really frustrating to live there unemployed.
I like the food, I like my job and my colleagues at the office, I usually like the weather and the city because it’s actually looking old so it’s nothing like in Finland. I also like exercising during the evenings: mostly running along the riverbed.
What next?
Hard to say. The first priority would be to find the perfect job from my home country and return there in the summer with one good experience richer. Have to stay positive and keep trying. On the other hand I’m not making long term plans currently: I’m just living in the moment and try to see everything that the World has to offer for me.
In Portugal I want to learn something new in every day. Maybe even find people to hang out with. I’m also trying to learn the language more everyday. It’s like with a little kid: baby steps. At least now I can say some sentences already…
I’m waiting for the warmer weathers and being able to hang out at the beach and at the moment I’m waiting for the lunch time because I’m starving.
