Daniel Martínez, a student of industrial design from Spain, found a completely different world when he arrived to Finland. Coming from the city of Castellón de la Plana, he experienced a big change of climate, literally and metaphorically.
“I’ve learned to study and live in Finland but I’ve also met people from all possible corners of the world,” Daniel says.
He has also enjoyed the advantages of studying at a slightly smaller university. “At the University of Vaasa, help is always available. For the first two weeks, my international tutor contacted me every single day. That way I learned to find my way around really quickly and didn’t have to waste valuable time in running from one place to another.”
Daniel has also used the opportunity to travel around Finland and in the neighbouring countries. During his time in Vaasa, he has taken trips to Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia. Some of the trips have been organised by the University of Vaasa or the Student Union, but Daniel has found it rather easy to make the arrangements himself as well. When travelling in Finland, he always keeps an eye for one thing.
“As a student of design, I’m really interested in Alvar Aalto’s architecture. That was actually one of the things that made me consider Finland for my exchange.”
Daniel also enjoys his temporary home city of Vaasa. Student flats are within walking distance of the university and the city centre, and free internet connection makes it possible to contact friends and family back home. And there is one particular means of transport that he is able to use a lot in Vaasa but never in Castellón.
“Back home I couldn’t imagine riding a bike to the university every day because of the way traffic is organised there. But in Vaasa you even have routes that are meant only for bikes.”
And Daniel doesn’t let the icy winter stop him from his new, environmentally friendly hobby. “I’ve fallen a couple of times but I’m learning all the time,” he says with some amusement. “Anyway, I have to enjoy it as long as I’m here.”
