The first big steps…

The 3rd of January is coming closer every day and we already making some nice advances!
We are getting everything ready from motivation-letter (see below) and Learning agreement to insurance and flights. We will be starting our Erasmus with a good adventure because we will have to make three transfer-flights to get in Oulu!

ERASMUS: Letter of motivation – Oulu, Finland

With this letter I hope to have the chance to go on Erasmus to Oulu (Finland) in 2015. It was always a dream for me to study in a completely different country with another culture and feel how it is like to go to school and study with new people with a different language, habits and lifestyle.

In secondary school, I always took the chance to go on a European project like Comenius. With this project I already went to Spain, Germany and Italy for several weeks. I have met a lot of friends there with whom I still have contact with. I never had any regrets for the weeks I spend on Comenius.

Of course the Erasmus-project is a little bit bigger than the Comenius-projects but it is a challenge I really would like to take! Not only to proof to myself that I can take care of myself, but also for the adventure, the people, the amazing nature, my English, the studies and most of all: the experience.

When you leave your life-style behind for 6 months there are always some sacrifices you will have to make. For example; I am the head of the organization of the annually SanLuce Summer-Festival, I am leader at the boy scout; where I also did some European camps to Slovakia, Serbia, Montenegro,… etc. and of course family, friends and home. But I am really convinced that it is worth it!

Tuur Zegels, a good friend of mine, was one of the first students of Artesis (Plantijn) to go on Erasmus to Finland. He showed me many pictures, video’s and told me a lot about the country and studies. He strongly recommended me to just step on the plane and go to Finland for 6 months.

For me it just feels like an amazing and very instructive experience! It is a once in a life time opportunity where I really would like to be part of.
I hope this letter gives me the chance to do this!

Kind regards,
Tom Mampaey
May 8 2014