Manon Landachoco, International Trade Master's student on a university exchange in Norway

Manon Landachoco, a Master's student in International Trade at IAE Pau-Bayonne, has just completed a 5-month exchange at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. She tells us about her adventure:

Can you introduce yourself in a few words? What course are you on?

My name is Manon, I'm 22 years old and I'm doing a Masters in Management and International Commerce, International Trade. I'm currently doing an Erasmus in Norway. Before that, I did a DUT (technical diploma) in Marketing Techniques in Bayonne before joining the L3 in Economics and Management with a specialism in International Management. I did my whole L3 as an Erasmus student in Ireland.

How did your mobility abroad go? What difficulties did you encounter?

The biggest difficulty I encountered was finding accommodation. I was on the waiting list for several university halls of residence and I was searching at the same time on several websites offering accommodation for rent from private individuals. I finally found my accommodation 3 days before the big departure. The university residences never gave me a positive answer.

As far as funding for the semester is concerned, I'm using my own resources. I also got an Erasmus grant. I chose not to work in Norway because the administrative procedures are complicated, but also to make the most of my Erasmus. It also takes a little time to get used to the currency, which is not the same as in France.

So what's life like in Norway?

Cold and expensive! Life here is pretty expensive compared with France, but that's to be expected. It's cold but bearable, you just need to put on 2-3 layers of clothing.

The country is magnificent! Nature is magnificent and people respect it. I've made a few trips, particularly to the Lofoten Islands in the north of the country. It's breathtaking.

The city of Trondheim is clean, quiet and safe. I've never felt unsafe since I've been in Norway. Norwegians are reserved but if you ask them for help they'll gladly help you. Gastronomy is something special here, let's just say that they're not known for their great cuisine and I can understand why. Of all the erasmus I've met, not one of them likes Norwegian food. Norwegians eat a lot of pizzas and tacos and do a lot of sport. In autumn/winter there isn't much sun. The sun rises at around 10am and sets at 2pm, which can sometimes affect morale. To avoid this, you can take vitamins. The Norwegians let their babies nap outside even at -5 degrees. Apparently it's good for their immune systems and resistance to the cold.

What would you say to students who are reluctant to go abroad during their studies?

I'd say that a stay abroad as part of an internship or study programme is nothing but positive. It's as enriching personally as it is professionally. You develop your intercultural knowledge, your language skills, your open-mindedness, your maturity... My experience abroad has always been seen as a plus on my CV. It's reassuring for an employer to see that you're capable of adapting to a new environment.

Going on an erasmus course also helps to keep costs down, thanks to grants. Erasmus is a golden opportunity for students who want to go abroad! If I had to do it all over again, I'd definitely do it!