"They look at us, sober, and ask us: Is Belarus really the most drinkable country in the world?" Katya talks about studying in Greece

Katya came to Minsk, coming from Gorodei with a gold school medal. The girl has had time to visit nowhere – not in Moscow, Vilnius or Lviv, who loves young people so much.

– There was no way, – Katya modestly talks about finances.

about the trip. With her, a third-year student from the Faculty of Printing Technologies and Media Communications (future copywriter-technologist) found information about the Erasmus program on the university website.

– I remember that the program offered Romania or Greece. The second option seemed more interesting. Filled a questionnaire, collected a package of documents. Run hard, of course. I think it is precisely the documents and the time that are frightened by many. Because the program as a whole is open, you only need knowledge in English. Other selection criteria – I do not know anything about them. My decision for the family was shocking at first – leaving for the first time overseas and immediately for six months. My mother was worried. And then we got together and decided that everything would be fine.

A few weeks later came the response of the University of Aristotle – accepted, pending.

– Then I needed a Greek national visa. In Minsk, there is no consulate – you have to go to Moscow. I thought about going alone, but it turned out that there was a girl from Grodno. We went together. I remember that it was very cold and very uncomfortable in time. We arrived at 6 o'clock in the morning, the consulate was at 3 pm, then the bus back. Because of the cold, it was impossible to walk, they were sitting in a cafe and waiting. In Moscow, nothing frightened. Only the subway was amazing – something unbelievable. But we quickly got used to it.

To obtain a visa, it was also necessary to provide housing guarantees: the university does not provide an inn. It is easier and cheaper to search in the FB group, but we used Airbnb because there is at least one check to attach to the visa application. On February 8, he flew to Soloniki. The first flight C & # 39; was interesting. Top view cool.

Study? Or meetings? Or at a party?

– Do you need school holidays for Greek studies?

– There could be a problem. Before me, the girl took an academic leave, then came back, took the documents and went to Germany to act . And I did not want to take a break so as not to lose a year. Therefore, I have stiffened and I have pbaded some exams in advance, something – remote from Greece, I will give something now when I come back. The Dean's Office, thank you, went to meet

Katie's program in Greece has nothing in common with the Belarussian specialty – she chose the closest possible.

– Here I have journalism and the media. On the contrary, it is a long practice. To be honest, a lot of guys go here just to have fun. There is no control over the study, so everyone loses time and money as they want. Life on Erasmus is gone and gone.

– I have studied more and done a little tusila. It's a shame, too, if all the entertainment like a trip to the waterfalls pbad. But the evenings are so monotonous that it was enough to go there. It's more interesting to get to know each other. Very cool when different countries sit at the table, speak their own language. Or abruptly English speech is replaced by Italian, Spanish, Greek. Everyone asked if Belarus is really the most drinkable country in the world. We are so sober people – yes, like no. And they we in the poke wiki statistics. And we did not know it.

The university, it seems, does not practice too much. I have pbaded exams in May, for example, I still can not get an evaluation

Is this the Greek national trait?

– Yes. The Greeks are late all the time. For me it was always acceptable, but the Germans were nervous about it regularly. The documents here are also relaxed. You will open a bank account for a long time

Food is free

– What resources existed?

– 800 euros a month – purse. It is paid as follows: 70% of the amount for all the months of study is paid immediately, 30% – one month before departure. Why this? I do not know We may not be fleeing with this money. They also gave 275 euros for airline tickets. Not enough, of course, but at least something.

As for the budget of life, it was enough for me. Perhaps the reason is in the modest needs. I have not spent much on food – there is a free dining room for students three times a day. They are fed three times a day and not bad. I do not drink, I do not smoke, so I only spend coffee.

– Food – Greek. This seems clear to us, but we were still in the queue (each turn – its own set of dishes) at random. All the same, the names do not understand anything.

There were standard dishes like chicken with rice or a salad of cucumbers and tomatoes, which they somehow call Russian salat. There were unusual things like boiled barley or seafood. Macaroni is very eaten

– The main item of expense is a room in an apartment. First of all, we paid 500 euros for two. Then they threatened to leave, and they threw us up to 300 euros. The money was spent for the trip. We had an Easter holiday for 2 weeks. In order not to sit still and not suffer from idleness, we flew to Germany and Italy. Loukostami, of course, the tickets were in euros for 30-70. Since we arrived, we had to spend money on tickets for different places: it 'sa pity to fly from far and go only for free to tourist attractions. Although the Coliseum did not hit, it is expensive.

At first we were still together with a girl from Grodno. But later, somehow found new international companies. This is good, because less Russian communication and more language practice.

It turns out that I will even bring part of the purse home. In the end, they paid 1200 euros (30%), I do not physically have the time to spend them.

– The University of Aristotle is not the main one, but one of the two in Thessaloniki. There are many children from the local province who study here.

– Are they different from you?

– Many. Everything is positive. There is no difference between urban and rural students. Very sociable and pleasant, always ready to help and socialize. It was harder for me in Minsk after the city. Of course, we have more complexes.

If we choose a profession ourselves, it makes sense to give the opportunity to choose subjects

– The density of studies depends on the number of courses you take. I took 5 courses, one of which was without steam. The pair lasts 2.5 hours. Generally started at 11:30. An average couple a day. The rest is self-employment

– How do you like this principle of organizing studies?

– Very unusual. In Belarus, the calendar is ready for you – it remains only to understand it and accept it. Here you choose subjects and even teachers. If the teacher does not like it, you rebel, the university listens. Exams can be taken at any time later.

– Do you think that the student can solve such things by himself?

– It seems to me that if at age 16 a young man was faced with a choice of profession and university, you can go to the end and give him the right to decide how to do it and why. Yes, I changed, I became more free, more responsible.

– Perhaps you will have more trouble in your home department.

– But now I know how it is possible. And the possibilities can always be found

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