Summer trip to Farup

Dear UCN'ers!

Nice to see you back:)

How did you enjoy your summer holidays? I guess you have great memories.. especially now, during this fall season! I want to share with you a part of my holidays, which  may be an inspiration for you all to prepare properely for the next ones?:)

In the end of september, me and my boyfriend decided to do something fun.. but well.. what to do here?! Well, he found two option - Billund Lego or Fårup Sommerland:) After counting the costs of transportation, tickets, dinner and excitment rate - we decided to go to Fårup.

As they describe themselves - it's the story about a dream and it's first Scandinavian Summerland, which was founded in 1975:) They have everything that you as a kid dreamed of - a huge Aqua Park and a land full of amazing and exciting rides. The place is so huge that eventhough the weather was perfect that day, we decided to split the events and spend one day just on the rides and another we come and be in aqua park (of course the weather didn't allow us to do so later on, unfortuanately.. ) But being all day on the rides was enough. We came back soooo tired after our adrenaline went up like crazy every time we were upsite down on the rollercoaster..

The ticket for the aqua park and all the rollercoasters (and  trust me you have so many to choose from) is 255kr and the ticket to Farup from Aalborg (bus terminal or Vesterbro) is around 120kr two ways. In the summer they have special buses going directely to Farup Sommerland every 15 min I think :) The only problem there is that the lines are HUGE!! So for every 'dangerous' and most 'excciting' rollercoaster you need to wait around 40min minimum. There are also other great attractions, but I would call it for the more relaxing experience.. ;)

So if you are a fan of a great adrenaline, as I am - you need to really go there and try this experience.. Here I prepared a  short video from this day, just capturing the park , without an 'aqua land' but, I am sure you can find some pictures on their website !:)

Make your plans already for the next summer, its gonna be amazing!:) And if you know any places I would enjoy, please let me know in the comments down below!:)

Aleks :)

Summer holidays 2013

Dear UCN'ers 

It's july and we have holidays! Yaaay :) I am really happy about taking some time off to relax, doing nothing and simply enjoying the life, since in september I start a new chapter in my life. And let's be honest - we all need some excitment and journey in the summer break, don't we? :)

One of the aspects I love about studying in Denmark is the fact that you get to know people from all over the world and you make significant friendship that may last through whole your life. I may proudly say that because of UCN I bounded with two amazing girls that I can simply call my best friends. 

Unfortuanately as you all know, we all have different paths and goals in our lifes and we choose different destinations. Lady L. is  from 1 year living happily in Copenhagen, studying master's degree and working as a sales assistant, and Lady D. left Denmark nearly 2 years ago and is having a crazy life working as a restaurant manager in one of the best restaurants in London.  (Ps. the girls finished AP degree in Service, hospitality and tourism management in UCN)

However if something is strong, it never gets apart and that is why we were planning from over a year to finally meet as all 3 Charlie's Angels.

Surprisingly enough, the tickets are not that expensive at all to Copenhagen or London, but since it was hard for Lady D. to take vacation we took off to her. I managed to book the two-way tickets for 800 kr to Gatwick airport (from there you may take the bus that is taking you to the center of London for 220kr two ways and they are driving every 20min to the airport) I found this offer on norwegian, hunt and you'll find a good holidays! The planes are flying from Aalborg airport almost everywhere:) Since I've been already in London sightseeing, this time was spent just for relax with my girls and of course shopping, BUT you can only take 10kg handbag with you, but on the way back you can buy a suitcase (that is very cheap in e.g. primark) and buy a ticket for it in norwegian for 80kr. Of course if you have friends all over the world, that's even better - you dont need to pay for a hostel or a hotel. So once again guys - integrate and use your connections all over the world - you have the perfect opportunity for it here:) 

Lunch in the park

Like always- having fun

Having fun.. again!

We've done some damage to our wallets.. shopping!

Ladies <3

My holidays with the girls were amazing! I just wish to see them soon again, either in Aalborg, either in Copenhagen, either in New York one day!:) I am leaving you with some pictures and let me know where you are going for these holidays and what destinations can you recommend to fly out from Aalborg?:)

Aleks:)

Sommer Bio Aalborg

Sommer Bio Aalborg - Summer Cinema Aalborg:)

Hello! Today another post about activities in Aalborg:) 

I found out about this event on facebook - got the invitation from a friend, but I did not expect so many people there! The event was really amazing - I am talking here about Summer Cinema on the grass:) You can read more about that HERE . TV2 is organising this for young people in 6 big cities in Denmark. You can see how it all lokks like in the video, because pesronally I was really surprised - of course positevely.

The place was just in the middle of the small forest , what gace the feeling of the unkown but also safety - because the place was brightened up by a big ballon-lamp with "Sommer Bio" title:)

Yesterday we were all watching the movie called 50/50 which was about young man who had cancer. All the people got very emotional and, at the end of the movie, we were all giving a loud applause.

Today there is going to be played "Mission Impossible 3", so if you do not plan to do anything for tonight, go and see, because it is really worth it!! :)

Before the movie, ladies in yellow clothes were giving snacks for free, and you could go and get Mokai as well, without any payment. For popcorn and beers you need to pay yourself, but it is not a problem if you will bring your own.

As you can see - even the weather is not so summer'y, but you can always find in Aalborg some activities to please yourself :) Notice in the video that when I was going with the bicykle to the park - it was 21:50 and it was still so bright! :) This post gives me a reflection of a hygge feeling - the phenomenon I was writing in THIS post. The scene was so big, and we were all seperately but you could enjoy this common and hyggeligt feeling:) Hope I will see you there tonight!!:)

Danish Hygge

Hi! 

I hope you had a really nice weekend! 
I do not know how it is in your countries right now, but in Denmark the weather can be very depressing these days.. Today, the sun was shining very nicely, so I decided to go to the city center, suddenly a BIG (I am telling you, BIG!) rain cought me and my new, summer dress became all wet, and the funniest part - when I got home, the sun was up again,without any rain.

Today, I would like to write about something that is strongly underlying in a danish culture. When I came to Denmark I had no idea it is such an important phenomenon and you can hear it endlessly, applied to many environments. Here I mean "Hygge", (pronounced as hewge) the word is very hard to describe and translete in any other languages, but can be easily illustrated in examples from a real life.

I thought it could be essential for you to know, when you are new in Denmark and plan to make new friends, Hygge may be helpful, since it is a fundation to the happy life of every Dane. 
It is told, that Hygge appeared during the grey and cold days, when  Scandinavians gathered around the fire place, drinking warm wine - nowadays it happens also in the winter time, especially during Christmas. But! Remember the film that I made about summer in Denmark?  It can also emerge as a Summer hygge :)

Yesterday I felt it very strongly, when one danish friend, visited me and my boyfriend. Hygge feeling, happens when you spend a good time with people that you care about the most. You appreciate every single moment and you forget about everything that could bother you. The atmosphere is very relaxing, without any false feelings. If I would have to find synonims to Hygge it would be - love, true friendship, coziness, warmth, although everyone can feel it differentely. 

For me it is the time when me and my bofriend are home, I light many candles, open a good, portugeese wine, cook a delicious dinner and after that, read a good book. Also it is the time like yesterday, spontanous visit by a friend and a long conversation just with a glass of water and small box of chocolate.

Here is a video for you what a true Danes think of hygge!:) Hope you enjoy!

Of course you can say, that it happens everywhere in the world, gathering the family together, to enjoy a good dinner for example, but I must tell you - it does not happen everywhere that it is so much appreciated. Danes get it very seriously and directely into their hearts, so try to do everything to make yourself comfortable here and get the Hygge feeling, every time when you are with the closest ones. :) 

I am attaching the article about hygge on Visit Denmark  and as alawys - let me know what you think of this phenomenon. :)

Aleks

UCN comes to Malta - My internship

Hi everyone, hope you are well.

 Yesterday I handed in my strategy project and I can officially start holidays!! 

Today I am going to write about my life time experience, when studying at UCN.

Every programme that you are going to study in UCN has an obligatory internship requirement. But what is that actually? I need to admit, that when I came for my studies here, every teacher was saying from the first day something about internships. I was just listening and did not know what do they mean :)

Internship is a study programme but in practice. You are learning theory in school, but UCN takes care of the fact that theory is not that important. In order to know the industry that you are going to work for, you need to have some practice. That is why you can choose the place all over the world, go there and test your theory in a real world.

Hotel I had my internship in

As you propably know, I am studying International Hospitality Management, and the internships for different programmes, start in a different periods of time, but mine was just after the second semester. 

Being a cashier, learning a financial management :D

I remember writing hundreds of emails, making hundreds of phone calls, and nothing! I was really desperate, because I started in december and I didn't see any results until april! 

And finally, I got 3 emails back and one phone call from a 5 star hotel chain in Malta. I was really excited and happy for that. I had my interview through the phone call and I was really stressed, but then I got an email that they accepted me and they are looking forward to meet me in St. George's Bay in july.

Wedding assistance (wedding in Malta are for over  500 guests!:)

As a fisrt internship it is imporant that you find something, connected to your industry. In my case it was hotels, but many of my collegues had it also in tourism agencies or event companies. I got my first internship in  food and beverage department, I was working as a waitress, barteneder, cashier and learned a bit about events management. Eventhough it was really hard work, daily and in the night shifts, I believe that I gained lots of knoweledge from it. I learned a lot about different culture and different negotiation techniques between malteese companies. Studying management of the hotels, allowed me to see many, many and once again many disadvantages and mistakes, even of the 5 star hotel.

Dinner time with collegues from work

Obviously, it was not just a working time. I learned to live in a small district between all malteese people, needed to learn basics of a language, needed to shop and cook myself. You can say - 'the same as you were doing in Denmark', but no - it's totally different. Every day is over 40 degrees, people have different mentality and routines and you need to experience it in order to learn something. I was going to work every day at 7 in the morning and during 20 minutes walk I was already sun burned.

Besides that, I was working 4 months, every week over 42 hours, I found the time for a parties, sightseeing, sunbathing and enjoying this beautiful island. Livng in Malta gave me another insgiht to a different culture, than Poland and Denmark and is a rich advantage in my CV. I am going to remember that experience for all my life.

Did I mention that in Malta is a similar street like Jomfru Ane Gade?

Most of the times internships are not paid. Bearing in mind hotels, they want as many interns as possible to get an assistance, so it is really imoportant for you to know that, do not expect millions out of 3 months internship. Sometimes companies offer acommodation, food and transport - many of my friends went to Greece in those conditions. You can get around 400euros a month but you don't even have time to spend it, because you have to work all the time. My conditions were totally different. I came to Malta for my own money, and I had to register myself in Valletta - capital of Malta for a work and residental permition. (I have a malteese ID til now, so I can come back and work til 2014) I was employeed as a usual worker, but from abroad, so I needed to find acommodation myself, and I got minimum malteese salary that I could pay for my rent, food, parties and sightseeing.

My mum came to visit me! Well, its perfect holidays!

Do not give up! You have to believe that you are going to find your dream work placement and you will find it. I wish you good luck and go for a best memories in your life!

Guys, write me how is in your countries? Do you have obligatory internships during your studies? When you will come to Denmark, are you excited to put your theory in practice and try yourself in a different country? And for all second semester students - how is your internship searching going? Let me know!!

Aleksandra

Hvordan er vejret i dag?

Welcome back!

Today I have prepared for you something unexpected and silly but actually highly requested.

When I was in Poland to promote UCN, many people asked me question "why they should come to Denmark? Isn't too cold there?"

Before I came to Denmark I also imagined people as vikings still in here, who are living in warmer ice age. Anyway, I have to say - I love the danish weather. You can experience 4 different seasons in one day!

Some say that danish weather is so unpredictable as women - you never know what is coming next.

What really surprised me when I came to Aalborg in September 2009 was - beautiful sun and looooong days. After I moved in to UC house, around October, I remember days were getting shorter, very windy and rainy. It was shocking for me that the sunrise came at 8 or 9 in the morning and when I was going out from school - around 15:30 it was already dark. Bearing in mind that I am living in Scandinavian country - it was beautiful for me to observe the changing days.

Winter

I also remember when teachers were saying that there was no really winter snow from 30 years. It is all the time raining and lots of mud on the streets. Well, what is that picture saying then?

November 2009

I remember when I woke up in UC House and I took this picture behind my room window. I also remember the days I was going to school that time. I even told my mother to send me in a package my snowboarding jacket! It was freezing so much.. As you can tell, it was unexpected for Danes as well:)

From that time we can see this every year right now. The climate is really changing.

But committing myself to vikings again - maybe they really are the ones. Even in that kind of weather you can see many of them walking on the street without jackets, sometimes in shorts.

Autumn

When I am writing about that - I just remembered when UCN took us for integration day together with danish students. It was our first year here. They separated us into small groups and we needed to follow some steps and make small exercises in order to finish the day with sandwiches and hot tea. I think it was end of September, beginning of October. It was getting really cold when you had to spend all day outside and   the most important - it was raining. The last exercise with the most rain on it, was to jump into water and swim to pick up some balls. Okay guys - even though I wanted to help very much and get some points for my group to win - I just could not take my clothes off, in such a weather and swim in that cold water! Guess what? All the international student did not do that! Just the Danes! I really admire them for that. Don't believe me? I think I should have some pictures from that time.. :)

Getting some points for the team:)

Spring

Me in Aalborg Park :)

When coming to spring time - I must say - the weather is really beautiful, although you can still feel some freezing wind. I remember the time of picnics in the park, boys playing football or basketball, girls volleyball. Danish  people love sport very much, so it is quite normal to see more and more people jogging after winter and going outside to play some sports or music. It is really nice to go to the river side and meet all the people walking with a dog or kids dancing on the streets.

Summer

I guess summer is the most beautiful time for all of us. I stayed in Denmark for the first time in the summer previous year. It wasn't too hot and it wasn't too cold. I even sunbathed in the parks ;) It was really good! Music is bombing the city, all the birds are singing and people are more happy. What else do you need? Wait! I know - days are so long that the sunrise is around 5-6 in the morning and the sunset around 23:00!

In summer time, there is a lot going on in Aalborg. You always need to check websites with different events (for example this ONE) to find something for yourself. When it is really warm outside I like to go out for a long walks and enjoy the weather of course. I am always buying ice creams and just go around the city to make some nice pictures. Going out with friends for a picnic, sunbathe and playing volleyball is my thing  as well. I also like to sit on the bench with a good coffee and just stare at the people. (It is not weird, right?)  I am leaving you with some pictures.

Twin sisters at the same bike, in the same clothes. Lovely

Guys! Let me know if came or stayed in Denmark during the summer and what did you like the most here?

 I would be really glad to hear your thoughts :)

PS. I created a facebook page, that you can like and be informed when is the next post ready!
YOU CAN LIKE IT HERE!