2008/2009 - Medicinska fakulteta - Univerza v Ljubljani

they can be harder, but never impossible, and I appeal to all of those people who don’t feel
confident in applying for Erasmus just because of the difficulties in learning the host country
language, don’t give up, or if you think about it, leave it because you are not compatible with
the Erasmus profile. I found myself one day speaking Italian that is similar to Spanish with a
Slovenian patient and I could perfectly understand her. In a manner of conclusion I would like
to say that my Erasmus in the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ljubljana was an
enriching experience that will remain in my mind forever, it is something that just the people
who go to Erasmus can explain and when they come back to their homes they are able to
see things in a different view and I’m sure they will be different doctors, more sensible to
many different backgrounds of many families that explain many behaviors and ways to see
and live with the diseases and deal with their health.
Before finishing I can’t forget to thank sincerely to my Erasmus Coordinator in
Ljubljana, Prof. Dr. Tomaz Mars that with it’s indispensable presence and help presented me
to the chairmen of each department I would work in and during the whole year was a very
dedicated person.
3. MINNA POROLA, University of Oulo, FINLAND
”How on earth did you choose to come here?”, I was asked numerous times. “Why not!”, I always
answered. I wanted to experience something completely new, to see something not everyone had seen.
Approximately one year before the first conversation like this I was sitting in a school cafeteria in
Oulu, bored and longing for an adventure. I was listening my schoolmates‘ spectacular exchange plans
and experiences when I realized that that was exactly what I also wanted to do. The paperwork went
smoothly and in the summer of 2008 I got the confirmation that I had been accepted to study dentistry
in the University of Ljubljana. Finding accommodation required a bit of imagination and luck, but
once that was settled, I was ready to take on the challenge.
And so I came to Slovenia. What a paradise to step into Slovene summer from the rain and coldness of
Finland. The first weeks flew by with dealing with another set of paperwork and bureaucracy as well
as learning the language and getting to know the city and its people. When school started in October I
was already settled in. It was a small shock to hear for the first time that I was the very first and only
Erasmus exchange student in the Department of Dentistry. Thankfully I had been given several tutors
to help me figure my way out of the puzzle of the school. And in addition to these tutors I had a whole
classroom full of classmates ready to answer my questions and helping me with communication.
I started the semester with big ambitions. I had an image in my head where I would attend all the same
classes as the other 4 th year students did. It took me a while to realize the craziness of this and that I
had miscalculated my energy and resources. That’s why for the second semester I decided to
concentrate on the clinical work and some exams. That worked out fine and I enjoyed working in the
clinic and treating the patients. I appreciate the valuable experiences I got from working in a different
environment and with different professionals. It really does broaden the perspective of the subject and
opens new views on how things can be done.
As the spring started to turn into summer my time in Ljubljana and Slovenia came to an end. And what
a year it had been! I had not only gained valuable experience academically but also for life. The people
and the memories will live with me for the rest of my life and stay in my heart in a very warm place. I
want to thank every and single one of those who I had the pleasure to get to know , who I talked with,
who helped me with most various problems and even those who just smiled at me as we passed by.
You have no idea how sometimes you made my day and it was a pleasure to share this great time with
you. I wish that someday I will have to chance to see you again, maybe in Finland!
Minna
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