Pilar, an exchange student in the IBTM programme
Pilar is a 22-year-old student from Spain. She comes from Madrid, where she studies at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. She arrived in Finland in August 2007.
In Madrid, Pilar studies administration and management of business, and in Lappeenranta she is studying in the International Business and Technology Management programme IBTM.
Comparing student life at her home university in Madrid and at Lappeenranta University of Technology, Pilar finds many benefits to studying in Finland.
“In my home university in Madrid, there are fewer services and comfortable areas for reading, studying or simply talking with fellow students. We don’t have a student union similar to that in Finland. At LUT we get a discount on meals at the university cafeteria and on public transportation. And all students get financial aid in Finland.
”Pilar discovered LUT by accident. “I decided to come to Finland for student exchange, and they told me that Lappeenranta is my town. I didn’t know much about Finland, but I searched for information on the Internet and from guide books. I first thought that I’d stay in Finland only four months, but now I’ve extended my stay to eight months, which is an entire academic year.”
“Life in Finland is calm and peaceful, and so are the people. Here I have more time for daily studying, more time to be at home and more time to relax. I like winter very much, there’s so much snow.”
Pilar spends her free time with other exchange students mainly cooking and playing games.
“I do the same things with my friends here as I did with my family back home. Now my friends are ‘my family’. We are together all day. My room-mate is a Finnish girl; she is really nice and always helps me. Also the staff at LUT is very helpful. I have recommended LUT to my friends because this place is amazing. Living in a different culture is a new and exciting experience!”