First thoughts on Belfast

I have now stayed in Belfast for a little over a month and I can only say I have already experienced more than I ever expected. During the first days here I made new friends of the people who are living in the same student accommodation as well as other exchange students and the friendliness of the people in this city has been more than I could ask for. The city itself feels homelike and warm. I am of course speaking of the atmosphere here - the weather is if not always, almost always rainy.

I was fortunate enough to arrive here with my best friend with whom we had a good chance to take a good scroll around the city center. We learnt the basics I need to live here: checked where the nearest restaurants and supermarkets are and figured out where I would have to take the bus to get to my school campus. As a city Belfast is I'd say a good size for a person like me who comes from a city of roughly 60,000 people. It is not too small and not too vast. Even though Belfast's population is over three times higher than the city I come from I learnt pretty quickly how to get from one place to another. The city center is small but not quite as small as in Rovaniemi so I still feel safe wondering aroung new streets and don't get too scared of getting lost (there's still a good chance though).

   Studying here is going okay so far. My field of study is business and accounting and my school mates are friendly just like I mentioned about the people in this town. Everyone is always ready to lend a helping hand no matter the situation. Living here feels like I am on a vacation which is obviously a big bonus. I have short school days and no work and that means I have more than enough time to explore this city and experience the life here.

All and all my first weeks here have been great. I still continue to learn about this city and its people everyday. There is so many new things to experience everyday that I can say I have not felt homesick yet. A big thank you for that goes to the friends I have gotten here and my friends and family in Finland who are constantly calling me to make sure I am doing alright.