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Posts
I'm keeping myself and my 17 squaremeters warm with 9 candles and gingertee. Once in a while I open the window, 'cause the candles steal all the oxygen to breathe. The freezing breeze cools the room temperature down again.
The nice landlord sent us (finally) a man to fix our radiators that heatet with 20% potential. Now they don't heat at all.
For the next 5 days they promised rain, rain and more rain, with doesn't make me wonder.
I'm not gonna blame the people anymore for staying home and for not socializing, it's only better for them.
I guess I knew what it was going to be, living in Münster.
- Yup, to work now!
Thursday, 5 November 2009
Saturday, 12 September 2009
Ana, Münster, few days free and a feeling of overwhelming happiness
Few days ago my dear friend Aniña left. She had been few days here in Frankfurt to visit me from Spain and we went to Münster to see where I was going to study (that was also the first time I went there :D).
I had 4 days off, which included some stressy flat searching (didn't find one) completely wet in a very rainy Münster, just few hours of sleeping and going out, travelling hours and hours in train, meeting relatives and going to the sauna! After those days, although I hadn't been sleeping a lot I felt like my battery was recharged. It was perfect to be with a good friend those days. And I can't complain about the support my boyfriend has given me!
Now I've been working 4 days already and I'm still not sick and tired of it :D THIS IS A RECORD! I've met some nice people at the airport (even surprising guests), amazingly I've caught the 1st train every single day at midnight so I haven't had to wait another half an hour to get home, I've had some cosy time with my honey, I've done a lot and at the same time nothing. My plan for the month is completely full, but I'm taking it step by step.
It's not only that my days go fast and smoothly because I had some good time on my days off with my friend or because my freetime goes so fast, cause I've got so much to do... It's also the fact of NOT HAVING TO WORK MORE THAN 2 WEEKS ANYMORE! Wow, it feels like now I could work for ages (because I know I don't have to). I'm happy, I'm energetic, I don't mind about the little things anymore... I'm relaxed at work. Because the first time I can only say: I DOESN'T REALLY MATTER NOW ANYMORE.
Oh sweet student life - here I come! I've been waiting for this - maybe 22 years now? :D
Do you know, what it feels like... knowing you are not gonna work more than 2 weeks anymore?
AMAZING I can tell you.
By the way; I don't know if my work is considered dangerous (can coffee making and selling be?), but every day I hurt myself. Sometimes with the oven (had by far 6 burn marks in my arms at the same time), sometimes with the hot liquids coming out of the coffeemachine, the black marks at the hight of my hips come from me walking towards fences and tables (OK, here I have to admit that either I'm stupid, too hectic or I don't look ahead when I walk)... well and the water and cleaning stuff that makes my skin fall apart. Well that is going to change as well!
PS. Tomorrow my dear Flatmate/Landlord is going for holidays. When she returns, I've gone already. I'm gonna miss this, living together, because she is amazing :/
Picture: Aniña riding a bike after 15 years of not riding one. Beautiful: she, the university behind her and the short moment of sun shining.
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Finally, I'm going to study...
...Oecotrophologie in Münster! I can't really explain what it is, more than it has something to do with being a dietician. I'm not necessarily going to do it forever, but I'll try it, at least one semester!
It wasn't that easy to get this place 'cause I found about getting there last week and had to get some special documents for it, but I managed to do it!!!
I'm a bit scared 'cause this means searching new job in a city I never been in, searching a flat there, starting from the beginning. I will also have to pay studing fees that are not required in Hessen. But this city is going to offer me something Frankfurt can't: Münster has the 3rd biggest University in Germany with about 48 500 Students in a population of about 270 000. Everyone uses a bike and the city is old! Sounds perfect for me!
Yep. Had some changes in my plans, am pretty thrilled about finally getting this place and going to do a big adventure about it! Wish me luck! Today I'm going to celebrate my success with my beloved one :)))
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
How to get to College in Germany?
Someone asked me to do a post about the application process for the German colleges, so I’m gonna explain shortly about the things I had to go through, at least the things I remember.
This goes for the foreign applicants. I’m a EU-citizen, so be careful, the conditions for non-EU-citizens are partly different.
Important is to know that it is wise to start with the process 1 year before the begin of the studies. If you could imagine reading this text all in German and understanding it, you can be sure you won’t have problems, ´cause some of the important Web-pages just offer information in German. If you are still in school, don’t hesitate to ask your German teacher to help you out with the documents and Web-pages. Germans like to use difficult language to explain stuff :D
The most important thing of course is that you have finished your High School and passed your A-levels (in some cases other educational forms are also accepted). Different graduation certificates from different countries are differently accepted. You can find out about the acceptance of your certificates (also college degrees) at www.anabin.de.
For the Finnish Ylioppilastutkinto, for example, you need to have done the following exams in your A-levels: Finnish/Swedish (native language), a foreign language, mathematics and a natural science. With these you get Direkter Zugang (für alle Fächer) zu allen Hochschulen, which means you can apply for all Universities and careers.
If you’ve done your A-levels / matriculation exams in a non-German-speaking country, you have to prove your German skills. That goes also for German citizens that have went to high school in a non-German-speaking country.
I made TestDaF, that can be done every 2 months in Germany. There are different types of German exams, but with the TestDaf (you show you have the skills of C1-level German) you don’t have to do any other German exams and it’s not so hard. Being outside of Germany one should check Goethe-Institut, that offers official German exams normally 1-2 times a year. German skill certificates have to be given in the matriculation/sign up, not with the application.
As Germany is formed from different Bundesländer and they have partly very different Educational Laws. For example, some require you to prove your graduation certificate and its translation real at the Educational Ministery of that Bundesland. Me myself didn’t have to do anything else than translate my graduation certificates (A-levels and High School degree certificate). That has to be done almost always if the certificates aren’t already in German or English.
Almost all the documents have to be Amtlich Beglaubigt, which means official copies with stamps. This you can do in your home country or in Germany in, for example at the Bürgeramt or Ortsgericht. I had to do this with the original graduation certificates and the translations of them.
The easiest way is to go to the page of the University you want to apply in and check the requirements there. It’s a lot of work to do, I know, because there is a lot of information there, but do it, because you might, for example, have some working experience that might be accepted as Practicum-experience and you might get some points about the experience. Some extra tests, skill proves or motivation-lettering can be also required.
In different Bundesländer they also apply different Studiengebühren, Studying Fees.
Some Universities require you apply directly to the University, in a case of a foreigner to the International Office. You can find the documents at the home pages. Partly you have to do a Web-application, print it and then send the signed application to the University.
Other universities use the services of uni-assist.de for the selection of applicants, which means you would have to apply there. You can find the list of the partner-colleges here. For the application at uni-assist you need to pay a fee as well.
If you want to study Medicine or other popular careers you might have to apply through ZVS.de (Zentralstelle für die Vergabe von Studienplätzen). A very good guideline „ZVS Info“ is also to be found on the page.
You can find the different requirements for the ZVS-careers for the Winter Semester 2009/10 here. You can find the same PDF-document at the page of ZVS.
Apply terms: Normally you have to send your full application till the middle of July for the Winter Semester, that normally begins in October, or the middle of January for the Summer Semester, that normally begins in April. Be careful here, because this also depends on the different colleges and e.g. if you are an Alt-Abiturient (which means you have done your A-levels before, not the year you are applying), you might have to apply to an earlier point. In ZVS, for example, this is very crucial!
P.S. I don’t take any responsibility for any changes in the policies or mistakes I’ve made. This is only my experience and can be used as a guideline. Though if you notice any changes or mistakes, let me know and I’ll edit the text.
-------------------------------------------------------
1st Edit, Questions to be answered:
My parents worry about the studying fees, are they, for example, high in the Medical Schools? Studying fees vary between 300-500 € / Semester, depending on the type of Colleges you visit. It all depends in which Bundesland the college is, some don't have any fees. Again check this page.
Työvoimatoimistosta löytyy hyviä oppaita Saksaan opiskelemaan tahtoville.
Medical School minimum grade point average: All universities decide themselves which averages they require, but usually it's in German scale about 2,5 to even apply (German grades go from 6 that is the worse, to 1 that is the best). The reality though is that if you've got a 2 (which is better than a 2,5) you are probably not gonna get in. For the most universities a 1,5 is more realistic grade point average. Which that one you probably have a chance.
Sinulle tiedoksi Anonymous, että ZVS arveli Suomen keskiarvoni 8,8 Saksan keskiarvon 1,8 arvoiseksi. En päässyt minnekkään kuudesta (maksimi Lääkis-hakukohteiden määrä) valitsemastani kohteesta. Se ei ole mahdotonta, mutta tuohon tarvitaan jo onnea, hyvä suunnitelma (ei suosituimpiin yliopistoihin haku) ja ehkä harjoittelu (parin-kolmen kuukauden pituinen tai muu erityisvaatimus, joka riippuu aina yliopistosta. Ammattikoulutus esim. lähihoitajaksi, saattaa antaa lisäpisteitä.
Lisäksi sinulla on mahdollisuus, että sinut hyväksytään opiskelemaan Suomeen ja haet siirtoa Saksaan, tai ilmotat hakupapereissa, että sinut on jo kerran hyväksytty Suomeen Lääkikseen. Mutta saattaapi olla vaikea tie, enkä siinä osaa neuvoa yhtään.
If I get in, am I going to graduate for sure or is there a possibility to get removed later for not being qualified? Yes, specially in hard careers like Medical School. In German Universities you have to make special exams in the end of the first two years. If you don't pass those, you loose your right to study that career. But everything is doable!
Are there any scholarships you get from German Goverment for the studies? The student scholarship of Germany is called BAföG, also foreigners can get it. Some of it you get for free and other you have to pay back. There are various other things you can do to finance your studies. One is doing a "minijob" earning a maximum of 400€/month. This is all I can tell about this matter, 'cause I haven't found out more about myself either.
Suomalaiset saavat Kelan tukea myös kokonaan ulkomailla suoritettavista tutkinnoista. Katso Kelan sivut.
This goes for the foreign applicants. I’m a EU-citizen, so be careful, the conditions for non-EU-citizens are partly different.
Important is to know that it is wise to start with the process 1 year before the begin of the studies. If you could imagine reading this text all in German and understanding it, you can be sure you won’t have problems, ´cause some of the important Web-pages just offer information in German. If you are still in school, don’t hesitate to ask your German teacher to help you out with the documents and Web-pages. Germans like to use difficult language to explain stuff :D
The most important thing of course is that you have finished your High School and passed your A-levels (in some cases other educational forms are also accepted). Different graduation certificates from different countries are differently accepted. You can find out about the acceptance of your certificates (also college degrees) at www.anabin.de.
For the Finnish Ylioppilastutkinto, for example, you need to have done the following exams in your A-levels: Finnish/Swedish (native language), a foreign language, mathematics and a natural science. With these you get Direkter Zugang (für alle Fächer) zu allen Hochschulen, which means you can apply for all Universities and careers.
If you’ve done your A-levels / matriculation exams in a non-German-speaking country, you have to prove your German skills. That goes also for German citizens that have went to high school in a non-German-speaking country.
I made TestDaF, that can be done every 2 months in Germany. There are different types of German exams, but with the TestDaf (you show you have the skills of C1-level German) you don’t have to do any other German exams and it’s not so hard. Being outside of Germany one should check Goethe-Institut, that offers official German exams normally 1-2 times a year. German skill certificates have to be given in the matriculation/sign up, not with the application.
As Germany is formed from different Bundesländer and they have partly very different Educational Laws. For example, some require you to prove your graduation certificate and its translation real at the Educational Ministery of that Bundesland. Me myself didn’t have to do anything else than translate my graduation certificates (A-levels and High School degree certificate). That has to be done almost always if the certificates aren’t already in German or English.
Almost all the documents have to be Amtlich Beglaubigt, which means official copies with stamps. This you can do in your home country or in Germany in, for example at the Bürgeramt or Ortsgericht. I had to do this with the original graduation certificates and the translations of them.
The easiest way is to go to the page of the University you want to apply in and check the requirements there. It’s a lot of work to do, I know, because there is a lot of information there, but do it, because you might, for example, have some working experience that might be accepted as Practicum-experience and you might get some points about the experience. Some extra tests, skill proves or motivation-lettering can be also required.
In different Bundesländer they also apply different Studiengebühren, Studying Fees.
Some Universities require you apply directly to the University, in a case of a foreigner to the International Office. You can find the documents at the home pages. Partly you have to do a Web-application, print it and then send the signed application to the University.
Other universities use the services of uni-assist.de for the selection of applicants, which means you would have to apply there. You can find the list of the partner-colleges here. For the application at uni-assist you need to pay a fee as well.
If you want to study Medicine or other popular careers you might have to apply through ZVS.de (Zentralstelle für die Vergabe von Studienplätzen). A very good guideline „ZVS Info“ is also to be found on the page.
You can find the different requirements for the ZVS-careers for the Winter Semester 2009/10 here. You can find the same PDF-document at the page of ZVS.
Apply terms: Normally you have to send your full application till the middle of July for the Winter Semester, that normally begins in October, or the middle of January for the Summer Semester, that normally begins in April. Be careful here, because this also depends on the different colleges and e.g. if you are an Alt-Abiturient (which means you have done your A-levels before, not the year you are applying), you might have to apply to an earlier point. In ZVS, for example, this is very crucial!
P.S. I don’t take any responsibility for any changes in the policies or mistakes I’ve made. This is only my experience and can be used as a guideline. Though if you notice any changes or mistakes, let me know and I’ll edit the text.
-------------------------------------------------------
1st Edit, Questions to be answered:
My parents worry about the studying fees, are they, for example, high in the Medical Schools? Studying fees vary between 300-500 € / Semester, depending on the type of Colleges you visit. It all depends in which Bundesland the college is, some don't have any fees. Again check this page.
Työvoimatoimistosta löytyy hyviä oppaita Saksaan opiskelemaan tahtoville.
Medical School minimum grade point average: All universities decide themselves which averages they require, but usually it's in German scale about 2,5 to even apply (German grades go from 6 that is the worse, to 1 that is the best). The reality though is that if you've got a 2 (which is better than a 2,5) you are probably not gonna get in. For the most universities a 1,5 is more realistic grade point average. Which that one you probably have a chance.
Sinulle tiedoksi Anonymous, että ZVS arveli Suomen keskiarvoni 8,8 Saksan keskiarvon 1,8 arvoiseksi. En päässyt minnekkään kuudesta (maksimi Lääkis-hakukohteiden määrä) valitsemastani kohteesta. Se ei ole mahdotonta, mutta tuohon tarvitaan jo onnea, hyvä suunnitelma (ei suosituimpiin yliopistoihin haku) ja ehkä harjoittelu (parin-kolmen kuukauden pituinen tai muu erityisvaatimus, joka riippuu aina yliopistosta. Ammattikoulutus esim. lähihoitajaksi, saattaa antaa lisäpisteitä.
Lisäksi sinulla on mahdollisuus, että sinut hyväksytään opiskelemaan Suomeen ja haet siirtoa Saksaan, tai ilmotat hakupapereissa, että sinut on jo kerran hyväksytty Suomeen Lääkikseen. Mutta saattaapi olla vaikea tie, enkä siinä osaa neuvoa yhtään.
If I get in, am I going to graduate for sure or is there a possibility to get removed later for not being qualified? Yes, specially in hard careers like Medical School. In German Universities you have to make special exams in the end of the first two years. If you don't pass those, you loose your right to study that career. But everything is doable!
Are there any scholarships you get from German Goverment for the studies? The student scholarship of Germany is called BAföG, also foreigners can get it. Some of it you get for free and other you have to pay back. There are various other things you can do to finance your studies. One is doing a "minijob" earning a maximum of 400€/month. This is all I can tell about this matter, 'cause I haven't found out more about myself either.
Suomalaiset saavat Kelan tukea myös kokonaan ulkomailla suoritettavista tutkinnoista. Katso Kelan sivut.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
The Last Unicorn
This is something very precious. Me and my sisters have seen this movie countless times when we were kids. It's a very sad movie, only the death of Mufasa in Lion King could be as sad as this movie. She, the last unicorn, is so alone and doomed that it is heart breaking. I was afraid of this movie, but it was very intriguing at the same time.
And the song, sang by America, is just very very precious.
P.S. Some of the views of the nature in this movie remind me of a stormy day in Galicia. Watch it!
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