Week 1 - 2nd April-->8th April 2012

Well, this has been a pretty eventful week I have to say! 

It began with my first visit to the university on Monday afternoon (my first lovely surprise - no early morning start!). There, I discussed my work plan for the duration of my 12 week internship here and came to a nice work arrangement. This week has been a planning week and next week I will begin teaching English to the staff of the university (the students will have a holiday of one week). I will teach from Mondays to Thursdays, only in afternoons & evenings -- no working mornings -- I can't even describe how happy this made me!!! And even better, I have every Friday off. After next week, I will be teaching students and staff until June, when it will again just be for staff. How strange it is to meet lecturers whom I will be teaching, as opposed to them teaching me! Yes, a rather nice work arrangement, I think so indeed. 

Midweek came, and my lovely Swiss man arrived following a long journey via Riga. We spent his first day in Klaipeda at a university event in the city centre, including some nice activities and a flash mob! Thomas even got the opportunity to show off his awesome cycling skills...
After that we enjoyed a beautiful sunny walk around the Old Town of Klaipeda, and made a wish by a small mouse monument that you wouldn't know was there unless told by a local (which I was).
Later that evening, we followed the advice from my tutor about romantic places to go here for couples... we enjoyed a gorgeous meal in Viva La Vita, a restaurant on the 20th floor of the Klaipeda Amberton Hotel, overlooking the city and the Baltic Sea. Of course, we timed it perfectly to admire the stunning sunset...
 The meal for two plus drinks set us back 30€, a pretty reasonable deal we agreed!

The theatre, closed for reconstruction, & small market stalls.

Here it seems that if you are used to expensive countries such as Finland or Switzerland, this is a cheap place to be. Perhaps not as cheap as you would expect for some simple items such as eggs, but still, very cheap. For example, my tutor helped me register and get a Lithuanian student card in order to buy a student bus card. The bus card will cost me 19 litas(lt) per month - approx. 5,50€ per month (!), as opposed to 90lt a month without a student card (still less than 30€, therefore still cheaper than Finland). I was just awestruck by this for some time, simply not believing that it could be so cheap - I can use any bus all day, all week for a whole month for 5,50€. Nevertheless, I have learned that it is not the same for the local Lithuanian people. For them, Lithuania is expensive, and this is mainly because the low cost of living is matched by a very low salary, with the minimum earnings per month being around 800lt (~230€).

Eating out in Klaipeda

While I'm starting to feel more at home here, finding my way around, etc. I am also learning a lot about the Lithuania system. The education system, for example, is an interesting set-up. Basically, if you study hard and perform well, you do not need to pay. If you achieved good grades in your high school exams and work with consistent effort throughout university, your education will be free. If not, you can expect to pay - how much you have to pay, I am not sure. But still, a very different approach; at least not one that I have ever come across. We discussed during the week that they need this kind of system as an incentive to work hard, because the lack of employment opportunities and low salaries do not provide enough incentive to gain a good education.

To bring a bright end to the week, the next idea on the agenda was THE BEACH! Thomas had been dying to go there since he arrived; his excitement and enthusiasm for beaches is understandable considering that it is the only thing missing from Switzerland. Having grown up on the island of Ireland myself, I have a solid appreciation of beaches and very much enjoy being by the sea. So, we hopped on the ferry at Klaipeda to cross the lagoon and reach Smiltynes, where the glorious beaches of the Baltic Sea lie, a popular holiday destination in the summer. And it did not disappoint. 

The beach was beautiful and seemed to stretch on as far as the eye could see! It wasn't even as cold as we had anticipated and fueled our desire to sit and enjoy the view for some time. I love the relaxation that I'm overcome by when watching the waves crash on the perfectly, rippled sand. Later, we took a walk through the forest and visited the Lithuanian sea museum before catching the ferry back to the city. I'm not sure exactly what we expected from the sea museum, but it didn't quite live up to expectations. It is located amongst an intriguing fort, surrounded by water, with a dolphinarium next to it (closed for reconstruction since Oct 2010 - not sure the dolphins will ever return...). Once inside, the museum holds one small, hidden exhibition with model boats, etc. but the main attraction is a huge circular aquarium building, and performing sea lions. Forgive me, but I was actually interested to learn something more of the history of the Baltic Sea, but I will settle, of course, for the many species of fish, and especially, the friendly penguins.  


Next week: more on Lithuanian food & language, etc. For now, Happy Easter!

First days...

The first few days moving to a new country are always crazy – everything is new and exciting and terrifying at the same time! But let’s backtrack a little…

My last week in Turku was just fantastic, and made me realise how much I will miss the very good friends that I’ve made there. I had the opportunity to catch up with a few special ones before I left, and was even presented with a surprise cake! There must be nothing better in life than surprise cake ;) 

Meanwhile, it seemed that the weather back home in Northern Ireland was ridiculously warm, while I was overheating in the +6˚C “spring” sunshine in Finland. Anyway, it’s all preparation for my early summer by the Baltic Sea…

The ghetto I live in ;)

In preparation for my move, I decided to already become acquainted with Lithuanian money. So, I went to Turku city centre and changed some euros to litas, and emerged feeling rich! I’m very much appreciating the exchange rate and the cost of living in Lithuania. After that, I spent some time sorting out my purse and found myself immersed in like a million different currencies – euro, sterling, Lithuanian litas, Swiss francs…! Too much, I thought. Too much. Not that that means too much money, since most of the time I was counting pennies and cents (I’m still a scummy student, after all).

The view from my room...

Anyway, let me tell something about my arrival in Lithuania. I left my place in Turku at 5am to take my flight from Turku to Copenhagen. It turned out to be the most small-scale flight I have ever taken – the plane was tiny and there were only a handful of other flyers on board. But the journey was smooth and I slept most of the way. I then spent a few hours in Copenhagen airport, found an appropriately named “Quiet Area” with awesome (purple!) seats with footrests and a nice view of the planes. I relaxed there for some time, before my flight from Copenhagen to Palanga.

When leaving, I swear it must have been by the same plane. There was no difference except this time there were a few more people on board. But still, I was seated in row 14, which happened to be the very last row in the plane (so that gives an idea of how tiny it was – only 4 seats in a row, 2 on either side of the aisle!). 

It's not a cardboard box :)

As we flew into Palanga, I could admire the view of the Baltic Sea beaches through the dense cloud and light rain. It seemed rather too much like Ireland! I was greeted at the airport by a lovely, Lithuanian student mentor and a driver. They took me to my accommodation in Klaipeda, and helped me settle in. It was a relief to see that I wouldn’t be living in a cardboard box, although my first impression from the outside was like a ghetto. But my place far exceeds any expectations I had – it’s almost like hotel service. I was even provided with bed sheets and towels! 

Then the catch came. Of course there must be a catch if I’m paying less than 60€ a month! There is a strict curfew – you cannot come home any later than midnight. Every time you leave the building, you must leave your key in reception, so if you return after midnight you simply can’t get in. Rather harsh, one could argue. Also, there are no laundry facilities. After asking how I can wash my clothes, the answer, “by hand” was given. The students who stay here usually go home at the weekends and do their laundry then, so since my home is far away I will probably rely on my kind neighbour or my tutor to help me :) 

So now, I will continue my settling in phase and update you on the wonders of Klaipeda soon!

The countdown begins...

Turku, Finland -> Klaipeda, Lithuania

In one week's time, I will begin my journey from Finland to Lithuania; battling with the baggage allowance, saying hasty "see ya later"s (not goodbyes!), and rising at 4am to catch an early morning flight. All the usual pre-trip adventures when you will be gone for several months. I think I know this process pretty well by now. I have left my home country of Northern Ireland to pursue more of the student life in Finland, and this will be my second Erasmus; my first being part of my Bachelor degree (Belfast -> Turku).

But the difference this time is that I'm older and I'm not going there to study, I'm going there to work. Sure, I plan to really work... I need this internship since I'm no longer so sure about what I want to do with my career. But, I know I'm not 21 anymore and I struggle to keep up with the exchange students in Turku, but surely I will find my long-lost, inner exchange student soul when I'm one of them again, right? And it's Lithuania...it's about a million times cheaper than Finland! 

At least that's already my impression, judging by the amount of rent I'll pay - less than 60€ per month (compared to 250€/month in Finland). But of course, that could mean I'll be living in a cardboard box, sharing with 20 other people...who knows. I don't particularly care, and don't intend to complain, as I am just so glad that I will be living in a cheap country for once!

So, watch this space ... I will keep you up-to-date with my Life in Lithuania :)