Valborg; the coming of spring

After a long and dark winter in Lund (actually, we were anticipating worse), our days are getting longer and the temperatures are steadily rising. Flowers are blooming on literally every street corner and everything is so much more colourful that what any of us could have expected a few short months ago.

Today we, along with thousands of other students and residents, celebrated Valborg; the Swedish variation of Walpurgis Night. Traditionally Valborg marks the arrival of spring where the whole neighbourhood comes together to put winter behind them and celebrate the changing seasons with singing and bonfires. However, for students Valborg indicates freedom. The most demanding part of the semester is over and we are taking full advantage of the lengthening days to fully appreciate our time here.

50 reasons to join IMFSE immediately

This blog post is dedicated to new students that are coming to an upcoming academic year, students who are trying to decide to join the program or not, and applicants who are planning to apply for the next year’s intake.

50 reasons to join IMFSE immediately (from the perspective of first-year students):

1. Each semester in different universities
2. Considerate and friendly Management Board
3. Lies – the sweetest and most helpful administrator
4. FSE day every autumn where whole IMFSE family gets together ❤ 
5. Exposure to different cultures and soaking up the history of hosting cities
6. Possibility to learn new languages (If you think English is enough, think again)
7. Helpful professors and teaching assistants (100% committed and helpful teaching staff)
8. Supportive second-year students (for some of you, we will be supportive second-year students)
9. Get familiar with building codes and regulations of different countries
10. Internship opportunities in summer (start the process early because time passes by very fast)
11. Guest lecturers from industry representatives
12. Field trips to fire-related companies
13. Possibility to improve fire safety in your country (Fire safety is a culture, not just a field of study. You can spread this culture at your home country)
14. Choosing the thesis topic that you like (but you also need to compromise because there are some rules that come with choosing the topic )
15. Group exam preparations
16. Amazing chemistry between students (You will find a long-lasting friendship)                                
17. Endless talks with classmates at night in the computer lab instead of finishing the assignment
18. Ryanair flight discounts and Flixbus discounts for being Erasmus+ students 😎
19. Travel while you study (during weekends, of course, do not miss the lectures 😀 ) 
20. For students from the south: a chance to experience snow for the first time

21. Become a fire fighter for a day during the fire station visit with Fire Fighting class                                
22. Small class experiments in Explosions class
23. “Student kick” welcome week in Ghent
24. Beautiful views from the dorm – Home Vermeylen (observe beautiful Ghent sunsets or stargaze without getting out of your bed)
25. Cozy evening gatherings in dorms   
26. Belgian chocolate and craft beer (Some of us, chocolate lovers, will be going to Ghent for the third semester, we are very excited about this)
27. Group study at terrace of Home Fabiola
28. Halloween party in the dorms 
29. Belgian fries (From Ewana’s words, who traveled to 22 countries in Europe, Belgian fries are the best)

30. Group lunch/dinners with Grunde

31. Fire-related songs at breaks in Ricky’s class
32. Welcome Week full of events
33. 24/7 library on the main campus (there is also hot water available on the first floor, perfect for tea lovers like me)
34. Excellent gym facilities for an affordable price for students (try it out during Welcome Week for free. It is also free during Health Awareness Week in the middle of the semester)
35. Themed pubs at Teviot House 
36. Monday Pub Quiz at Pleasance Bar (you do not have to drink to socialize and participate in the quiz for a chance to win a prize)
37. Scottish Highlands
38. Extremely cheap and delicious cookies “Bourbon” (£0.22). We always used to have them during group studies   

39. Picturesque spring of Lund (experience long daytime during spring and summer)
40. Learn not only the technical side but also human behavior in fire and behavioral influence (If you think that fire is unpredictable, try predicting human behavior in fire)
41. Learn how to use evacuation programs (Simulex, Pathfinder and etc.)
42. Fire labs to burn stuff (It’s always amazing to see stuff burn in lab experiments)                                                                                       
43. 15-minute per hour class breaks (Don’t expect it anywhere else)
44. “Sittnings” at Nations in Lund (join the Nations at the university to get involved in the student activities)
45. Bike trip to Malmo (Continue IMFSE tradition of bike trips to Malmo) 
46. A football match with local students in Lund
47. Dancing in the Dark (If you are shy to dance in front of others, try this free event held every week. Nobody will see how you are dancing. This was an entirely new experience for us)
48. “TDC” parties in Lund accommodations (party and get to know people who live in the same accommodation as you)
49. Kiruna in January/February to observe Northern Lights (but be ready for -26C 😳 ).

50. Become a blogger for IMFSE blog (Why read about people’s adventures when you can live yours and write about them)

 

PS: Tune in next academic year for the expansion of this list from the perceptive of second-year students.