Danish Study Trips

Hej everyone!

As you already know (if not here is the link) I am enrolled at Aalborg University. However that does not change the fact that these trips are organised only there. It's somewhat a danish way of studying here:)  Study trip, in simple words - you, your classmates and the teacher are going to different countries or cities to visit various companies that are relevant to your study programme:) What's so special about it? Well, possibility to visit a company and analyse how is it working on a daily basis,  meeting high level representatives, and the frequently asked questions - how does it look like with internships in there:)

I remember on my internship in UCN we organised study trip to Copenhagen, where 1st year students visited companies such as DFDS, Hilton Hotels or Kilroy Travel among many others. At the same time, other programmes at UCN were going to London, Dubai or Miami! (I actually really regret I didn't go to the trip to Dubai last year, my classmates said it was amazing!)

This year though, I joined the stream that I am following to go to the study trip to Copenhagen. Ohh, if you ask me - it was amazing! All the visits at the companies are free of charge, however we needed to pay for our own transportation, accommodation and food. I, of course looked for the cheapest and fastest way, so 2 weeks before the trip I booked two-way flight tickets for 400 kr (about 50euro) and the trip took me only 45 min one way :) My other friends went with the train and one of them paid only 180kr two ways, however the trip was 5h one way... As you can see - it's always easy to find cheap solutions, when you are looking for them:)

As always - a bit long blog post, but now I am just going to leave you with a video from that trip and list of some places my specialisation visited:) Enjoy watching and let me know if it is also popular in your countries to go to study trips ? :)

Some of the places we visited and I liked the most: The Danish Institute for Human Rights, Equality and monitoring department, The Danish Centre against Human Trafficking :)

My career path

Hej Guys!

Long time no see. Sorry about that. Had so much on my head lately. 

I have some news for you all! As you all know I finished my experience with UCN in february 2013. From that time,until september I was working a bit, travelling a lot, and enjoying free time. However it all finished, and now I am super busy. 

I started my Master's degree in Aalborg University. I am studying Culture, Communication and Globalisation (Every time I say it, need to take a deep breath).

What can I say after one month there? Well, I am loving it! It is a lot different that in UCN I must say. So if you are planning on going there after UCN,  don't hestitate to ask me questions! :)

During the break - the view from the top. Usually I sit closer though..

After every month I have read so much that my head is just feeling bombared with all the information.. We have plenty of books, articles and research papers to read. And well, its not just reading.. you need to understand them.. And on master's level.. hmm it may be difficult sometimes. But - I manage it pretty well. (I hope so at least)

I must say, I am really happy that I took this one step higher and decided to take master's degree. And the saying "the more you know, "the more you know, the more you know you don't know" its very accurate here. 

Studying at home. Of course with sweets and a beer :) Don't judge!

And I know many people find practical experience more important than the theoretical one, hovewer nowadays, everyone has an AP or bachelor degree just like that, without really putting too much effort into it. (observing some of the people.. ) And more and more organisations are looking for the most skilled and qulified employees in the market. Having a master's degree is just this one step closer to gurantee yourself a bright future, especially for international students in Denmark. Therefore I really encourage you all to think more about that, because I know many students who have finished their education after 2 or 3 years here, and now are doing really nothing, and trust me - companies see that and if you have 1-2 years gap in your CV that may really affect the decision process of your employer..

Try to find your way to success, and maybe Master's degree will be very needed here, anyways what can I say is that I really recommend it! I hope you'll do that and you will all succeed in today's world market.

Well, thats just my opinion - if you have another one, please share it with us in the comments below :) 

Good luck with finding your way to success! :)

Aleksandra

Video Interview part I - UCN Student Job - Adrian

Dear UCN'ers!

Today, I have for you a little surprise. 

UCN Marketing Ambassadors came up with an idea to interview UCN Students regarding their student jobs, so you know how does it look more or less to find work here, even before you come to Denmark! 

Of course, please note that there are different people and different opinions about this subject, so that is why we will have interviews with many people, not just one. 

However on this episode, I would like you to meet Adrian, UCN Student who comes from Romania, has been working in London for one year and decided to come to UCN, Aalborg! Watching the video you will get to know, what tips does Adrian have for you to find job and what does he think about working with Danes. Adrian is a bartender in a bar called "The Wharf" which is situated on Borgergade 16, just in the city center of Aalborg:)

We had lots of stress, but also fun with Adrian filming the video, hope you will like it anyways! Please give us some credit for it, that was our first time in front of the camera! Also excuse the lighting, that's just the proof I was studying International Hospitality Management. :)

Let us know in the comments below,  what difficulties are you facing with finding work here and what do you think of Aalborg as a place for a student job? Maybe you can help in that way the new, potential UCN students.

Enjoy the video then and stay til the end for a small bonus!

Aleksandra

Food Hygiene Course in UCN

Hi UCN'ers!

How do you like my new greeting? I thought it is kind of cool to name all of us UCN-ers, haha:) If you have any other suggestion, please leave it down below. You are the one who is reading that, my beloved Me-You-UCN readers:)

On one of the ambassadors meetings, Dorit, International Internship Consultant, informed me that there is going to be a food hygiene course in our school. I was really excited when I found out about that, and of course wanted to try it out. I am the kind of person that loves to try everything new. 

What is the Food Hygiene Certificate then? Saying shortly - it is the full 3 day course (from 8:00 - 15:00) provided by AMU Nordjylland (they run the education for development of people to follow the market needs) and it is followed by an exam on the last day. If you pass the exam - you are going to get the certificate that is going to help you with finding work in any kind of restaurant, hotel, cafe or even cleaning company. the course is approved by the Danish Ministry of Children and Education in Denmark and every employee in the mentioned businesses is obligated to have this course. But personally, after spending 3 days on this 'food hygiene training' I think that every person schould have this certificate because we learned so many usefull information that we can implement them right now to make our life healthier.

the book provided in the course

Now I am going to embarrass myself - just before the course, I made a delicious tiramisu, adding 2 normal eggs. However on the day of the course I found out, the eggs should be pasteurized, because tiramisu is the cold cake. Of course if I would do that working in a cafe or restaurant and the eggs would contain salmonella, I would be guilty of the sickness of my guests. Thanks God I was the only one eating my tiramisu.. ;)

That is just one small example, but we had so many of them.. and besides the course itself you have possibility to meet new people and spend some good time. The classes are run by a lady, who worked as a chef in a restaurant in London, her name is Helle and she is really great! We had so many jokes and she run the classes in such a positive way that every information stays in your head - therefore you do not have any problem with passing the exam.

However, I am sure all of you are wondering, how much this 3 day course must cost. Well, UCN made a great cooperation with AMU and we, as students are obligated to pay only 180 DKK (which is around 20euro) and the school is paying the rest. The course itself is worth around 680 DKK. I think it is a great opportunity, if you are willing to find work here, especially for Service, hospitality and Tourism Management students. Hey, we need to start from a scratch, right?!

October's participants :)

The next course is on November 19th, but it is already fully booked, but you can still sign up for the one in march 2013 which will be from 3rd til 6th:) Contact Dorit Kjærulff Torp on this email address You should definetely try that, because remember that you never know when you are going to need that.. :)

- Aleksandra

Black Lights Party!

Hello!

 Are you enjoying thurstday's morning? 

-Today we don't have any classes, so I woke up at 11 and decided that first I am going to write you short review from Black Lights Party (as I promised), edit video with pictures for you and in the end I am going to study and then party!! hahha:)

At Black Light Party, I wasn't long time, but I managed to take some video shots and notice how people were having fun! It was really great to look at all happy faces painted with rainbow colours and dancing to the rythm of music. The party was organised by friends of mine from the same specialisation as me - congratulations Andrei and Viktor!! They found also many volounteers  who were serving drinks, painted bodies, took pictures, stood in wardrobe place and at the end, helped with cleaning. Big thanks to them as well! You could see that the party was from students - for students. 

I asked Viktor to write some words for you. Here you are :)

Parties FOR students BY students

"The whole idea behind the Traffic Lights and Black Lights Parties is to mingle UCN` international and Danish students by providing them with great atmosphere and extremely cheap drinks. I and my colleague have done the impossible in order to sell drinks at prices that even the students who do not have a job can afford.

The theme of each party is based on Experienced Economy concept, meaning that we have implemented successfully some of the theories taught by UCN`s teachers during our studies in Denmark. We are trying to differ from any ordinary student party by investing a lot of efforts and money into our parties. We could manage to do that because UCN kindly offered sponsorship for both of the parties and Aalborg University`s non-profit organization - I-Life, helped by promoting our events. It was not easy task but the result was that at the Traffic lights party we have got nearly 650 students and during the Black Lights party around 530. Therefore we have organized some of the largest parties for international students for the past 5 years in Aalborg` region.

Both of the parties were so successful because of our different approach. We are providing the students with everything they need, meaning that they don’t have to invest into special costumes, paint or accessories. Pictures and videos from both parties are available at our Facebook page:  HERE"

I made a video as well, you can check it out and write me what do you think!

Hugs, Aleks

PS. If you have any questions,just write me !! :)

Acommodation Part 1

I hope you have had a nice week. 

Many of you is preparing to come to Aalborg in September this year, and you are sending me questions about the accommodation and my experience with that. I decided to create blog post, clearing that up, so it is available for everyone.  Hopefully you get a nice weekend reading that.

When I first came to Aalborg (remember that very well – it was 24.08.2009) I was also concerned about the accommodation.  I did not look for anything while being in Poland (that was my mistake) and I arrived here without any flat, just with three suitcases of clothes, toiletries and food (yes, food :) ).  That time UCN had many students coming up, so it was impossible to find apartments or place in dormitories for all of them. They informed me that I will stay in Danhostel ( the same place as we developed concept for them (read post below), but it was not a room in a hostel. It was in a camp house with 5 other people inside (see pictures below).First I thought to myself – Oh My God. Where I am? Why I came to Denmark? What I am supposed to do in a middle of nowhere without any privacy? Do I really not have any fridge to keep my ham and cheeses from Poland?

Camp House I was living in

After my one-day breakdown I met other 50 students who were dealing with the same problem. We decided that it is just waste of time to complain and we started to get to know each other, organize some parties and feel like there were holidays with great friends. These holidays lasted almost 2 months! School of course helped us with payments – we paid half of the price for staying there. 

Bathroom in my room

Meanwhile when we were living in Danhostel, there was one dormitory which was finishing constructions to host us. Some of the students came back to their home countries - it was too much for them I guess, some of them found apartments and I moved in to UC House. The dormitory was fresh, and very luxury I would say. I just know dormitories in Poland which are dirty and just used for parties. Most rooms have the size of 20 m² and have private toilets. Prices range from DKK 1850 to DKK 2450 for a single room and DKK 1325 to DKK 1525 per person for two people in a shared room. There is installed a fridge in all rooms. We had also very big living room with a large and flat TV screen and sofas. There was also nice terrace where you can go out and sunbathe in the summer on a really nice grass. All rooms have beds, desk (1 for one person), chairs and internet connection. 

Came back do dormitory after Christmas break- lots of food!

Room - table and red shelfs bought in IKEA

I really liked it in the beginning but one thing, which was the biggest issue for me was common kitchen for around 5-10 rooms. As you can imagine not everyone keep it tidy. Owner of the dormitory hired some students to help with cleaning or some reparations once ot twice in a week, which was really helpful move. 

Since I love to cook and I love to spend my free time preparing something delicious, that was my motivation to move out before summer and have my own kitchen. When I came back, I decided to look for an apartment.

Subscribe (you can do it in the left, adding your email address) and follow my blog – so you know when is the next post about the flat in Aalborg, payments, deposit and my biggest surprise when looking for a place to stay!

Aleksandra

PS. Cirque de Glace - Coming this week to Aalborg! International Russian stars with the great ice-circus, in a thrilling and breathtaking show! Prices starts from 260 DKK but as a student in Denmark you can get the tickets for 120 DKK on the day of the show! Just hurry up - these discounts are limited!