To-Do list 7.1.2020

The organization of the exchange has went well so far. We have had quite clearly in mind what is the next bigger step to do, and we haven't stressed almost at all. Until this point, we haven't got any list of our doings and non-doings. But now it is better to make a list, what we have already done and what we still have to do, so that all things really will be done at time. Especially because of many smaller tasks, the list is very important, so that everything will be done.

The situation is rather good at the moment. All the biggest tasks are booked, meaning the destination, apartment and flights. The rest are less important, except one bigger task: car.

Here below is a fast-formulated list of the current situation written from memory. Most probably something is forgotten, but they will be added and updated, when they come to mind.

[ ] The destination
[x] The application to University of Vaasa, all documents, signatures, etc...
[x] Get a place behalf of University of Vaasa, wait for the nomination
[x] The application to University of Regensburg, all documents, copy of passport, etc...
[x] Get a place from University of Regensburg
[x] Check all the hundred e-mails, what to do to really get the place
[x] Declaration of consent for an insurance company in Germany
[x] Pay the semester fee
[ ] Check finally, do I have to send some documents back or not
[ ] Relax for this, as finally you can be sure, that by sending all the documents etc. the place is secured

[x] Apartment in Rebensburg
[x] Get to know the apartment markets and possiblities
[x] Ask for help from University of Regensburg
[x] Decide and book the apartment

[x] Flights
[x] Look for cheapest and easiest flights
[x] Negotiate one day to both ends of the renting contract so that we can have cheaper flights
[x] Book the flights

[x] Order EHIC-cards from Kela and receive them

[x] Passports
[x] Photos for passports
[x] Applications for passports
[x] Identification at police station
[x] Receive the passports

[ ] The Car
[ ]  Plan, what to do with the car
[ ] Plan A: Sell it in Finland, buy new one in Germany
[ ] Plan B: Bring the car into Germany, fly back to Finland

[ ] The apartment and belongings in Finland
[ ] Cancel the apartment contract in Finland
[ ] Seek for a warehouse for the belongings for the time of exchange
[ ] Clean the warehouse
[ ] Go through all the belongings, spare the needed, sell the unnecessary and throw the rest away
[ ] Pack
[ ] Move out, transport all belongings into the warehouse, clean the apartment

[ ] Telephone subscriptions
[x] Get to know about german telephone subscriptions
[ ] Check and change the telephone subsriptions, so that we won't get any surprises in Germany

[ ] The trip to Regensburg
[x] Plan the trip to Regensburg
[x] Ensure overnight accommodation in Helsinki
[x] Buy train tickets to Helsinki
[ ] Check yet the plan, especially for the eatings and doings, so that the kids are happy throughout the whole trip
[ ] Plan, what to take with
[ ] Pack the suitcases
[ ] Reserve food
[ ] Reserve patience and good mood. Now we are getting to the trip we have waited for 3 years. Let's have fun, not angriness.

Well, the list became not so long as I awaited for. But then, I didn't write the application phases to detailed (because I don't remember them so well anymore), but they would have given many rows more.

Until next time. Thank you!

Destination

The destination of the exchange studies was selected to be University of Regensburg in Germany. The consideration of the exchange destinations began from New-Zealand, because of its beautiful nature, Canada, Nordic countries and Europe. Also, we considered more exotic destinations such as Asia.

The Nordic countries were excluded, because when we really go to exchange, it is a bit unimaginative, not getting farther away than Nordics. New-Zealand and Canada would have been good choices, as the family could develop their English skills and getting along would have been easier for my wife with local language. Anyway, my university doesn’t have an agreement with a university in New-Zealand, so I should have acquired one by myself and addition to that the tuition fees are rather high. In Canada there was one destination ready, but here also the tuition fees would have been rather high.

At this point the choices were limited in practice to Europe or some Asian destination. The practical means started to guide more the selection. Maybe the most important criteria were, that with kids the destination must be safe. Because of that the exoticism of Asia wasn’t so appealing anymore. The only exotic choice left was Las Palmas, which was rejected because of requirement of Spanish skills.

For myself one important criterion was the job possibilities of the future and the impact of the exchange to the job possibilities. My big dream is to have a job from BMW in München Germany. For this goal the exchange in Germany would be the most useful. We could learn the language, experience how the living in Germany feels, get to know the culture, people and places, and to get a foot in the door of BMW. The exchange would work as a test for the whole family, how the life in German would be. Based on that experience we could decide of possible permanent living in Germany. Because of these reasons we chose Germany.

There was variety of universities in Germany, of which to choose from. I picked those options, where BMW has production or other offices. Our university has mainly two choices: Leipzig and Regensburg. In Leipzig there is two alternatives: private top-university Handelhochschule Leipzig, in which the teaching is held in English, or the public university Universität Leipzig, which requires min. B2 German skills, because there are no courses held in English. In Regensburg there were also courses held in English.

So, the destination was selected to be Regensburg. Regensburg is located in south Germany in Bavaria 125 km to north from München. In Regensburg there are 166 000 residents, so its size is in halfway between Jyväskylä and Turku. Regensburg is known of its old town, which survived well of the bombings of World War II. There is also a big production plant of BMW, where they produce for example 1-series and X1 & X2 models. In the university of Regensburg there are 10 faculties and 21 500 students yearly.

Until next time!

Decision

Almost three years ago in autumn 2016, when I decided to go back from worklife to studying, it was clear for me from start, that I wanted to go exchange during the studies. The exchange studies didn't interest me the last time I was in university, and that was starting to regret that more and more.

Getting international experience in form or another started to feel more interesting during worklife. Many times moving abroad was in my mind and I was thinking about different possibilities to make it happen. We also discussed about these plans with my wife. But realizing it would be somewhat challenging. You should find a new job abroad, discontinue your safe contract, find an apartment and so on.

When you study it is a totally different game. Practically, you will get to exchange, if you only decide and fill some application forms. No need to search job, go to job interviews, be anxious about the results, discontinue contracts etc. Only by filling the form you will get an exchange destination with almost 100% probability. Wonderfully easy! Well okay, there are some hiccups along the way, but my intention is to write about these in here.

Anyway, my own decision to go exchange was crystal clear and nothing would weaken that decision. No children, not the possible schoolgoings by kids and nothing else either. I. Had. To. Get. To. Exchange.

And because the idea is to write here about organizing and experiences of exchange from the approach of a family with children, let's tell that I am 31 year old father of big family, and we have 5 kids with my wife. This sets special challenges for the exchange, that differ greatly from other exchange students' challenges. Despite the challenges, the aim is to gain common and wonderful experience for the whole family.

At the time many things is already nailed down for example the exchange destination and apartment. About all these I will write here in the coming weeks and months. The exchange will start in the beginning of April 2020, meaning there is still 7 looooong months to wait.

Until next time!