Eesti
EBS Student Council has five main fields altogether, of which we have met with three so far. Every team has had their own distinct function in making EBS a slightly more interesting and student friendly place. Speaking of making EBS more interesting and inviting – today is the day to meet the people who are the support system for our incoming international students.
What is the International Club all about?
International Club is a link between exchange students and our school. We, as the International club, help Erasmus students settle in, here in Estonia. We introduce them to Estonia and Estonians. We are the ones to explain that it’s okay if someone doesn’t smile or say “Hi!” to them in stores and elsewhere. Estonians are actually really nice, it’s just that they need a little more time before they start to trust someone. Of course there are always some exceptions.
We also organize various events for our exchange students, through which they have an opportunity to meet each other and spend fun time together, and also to get to know Estonia a little bit better during those events.
Who are the members of your team this year?
Hanne-Lore – This is my first time as the International Club field manager. I’m a very adventurous and open-minded person and I love talking to other people. I want things to happen immediately, which is why I need to work on my patience a lot. The thing I love the most about being a member of the International Club is the opportunity to meet so many people from very different backgrounds and cultures.
Alexandra – I am someone who is very active, friendly and who loves travelling, for instance I have travelled through half of the Asian countries. When I decided to join the EBS Student Council, International Club was the most appealing to me. I love being abroad and to explore new cultures. Thanks to the International Club I can also experience other cultures, in a different way, while communicating with different Erasmus students. As a member of Int. Club, I’d love to make exchange students’ experience here exciting, and show them our amazing home country.
Helena – As a first year student, during this short time that I have been here, I have experienced so much of university life already – all thanks to the Student Council. Joining the International Club seemed like the perfect opportunity to meet new people, and help them make a small country, like Estonia, their new home. I absolutely adore socializing with others and I’m not scared of challenges. I always try my best to be as productive as possible, stay positive and to live one day at a time. It seems right now, that this mindset has got me very far in life, and has introduced me to some amazing, great people, and teammates.
Karmen – Hey! I’m an active, positive and ambitious person. This is my third year at the Student Council, and after my exchange semester in Paris, I decided that I wanted to spend more of my time with exchange students. Int. Club is a very good chance to meet people all over the world and make lifelong friends.
Why is your field the best, in your opinion? Why would you recommend joining it next year?
We recommend you to join International Club if you are easy to talk to, and if meeting new people is like a jackpot for you! As a member of the International Club you constantly meet new and very different people, and you can spend fun time with them. Also, socializing with people from different cultures will broaden your horizon and change your attitude towards things. In addition, as a member of the Int. club you may discover new countries where to go as an exchange student yourself.
How to find out what county would you like to go to Erasmus the most?
You should trust your gut when choosing a country to go to. When a country is appealing to you, it might be your “secret calling”. You should make a list of things that you expect from that experience. Would you like to go to a bigger country than our convenient Estonia? Or to an even smaller location, which might be a good opportunity to learn a new language.
A good starting point is to go to our EBS homepage and find the list of countries and schools you can go to, choose your favorites from there, and then learn a bit more about them. In the past, people have chosen schools for very different, and sometimes funny reasons. For instance, people have chosen a school because it’s in a warm country, or it’s next to the Eiffel Tower, or because that school is in Top Three Universities in Europe. Erasmus is a good opportunity to find yourself a short-term home in a totally different and new environment.
You have the International Dinner coming up. Can you tell us what is going to happen there and who can participate?
International Dinner is an event which is meant for all EBS students who want to share food that is descriptive of their home country cuisine. Also it’s a perfect opportunity to introduce others not only to your country’s cuisine but to introduce your home country overall. International dinner combines delicious food within a comfy atmosphere and good friends! All the participants can experience various cuisines from different parts of the world. At the same time the event is not missing an exciting program and the best participants will be rewarded!
Through your field, it’s also possible to become a Buddy, what does that mean and can anyone apply there or only members of the student council?
Yes, you can become a buddy through us! A buddy is the first Estonian friend that an Erasmus’ student gets. As a buddy, we go to the airport to meet our Erasmus students and support them always when they need any help with settling in. We help them with our advice and abilities and also help them find new friends in Estonia. Any EBS student can apply to become a buddy if they feel like they want to contribute to making someone else’s exchange semester experience unforgettable by being their amazing first friend during the exchange.
