Do you want
to know what I think about Aalborg so far ?
Many
students, that I've met, come from Eastern Europe and Portugal ( states with
negative natural increases). They see Denmark as a prosperous country (because
of its salaries). So in Denmark you can reach very good incomes.
First
instance, I met people who are studying management and economy in UCN (aalborg)
as well. And they chose this destination because they actually think that they
will be allowed to set up their business in Denmark much more easily.
One of those student told me that
for his final year (the fifth one), the university helps them to star up their
own company. They show them : how to mitigate the Danish taxes ; the
project management steps specified to Denmark because of the administrative
requirements ; and so on...
But, in return, the university ask
them to get a percentage of their companies' income for few year. Someone told
me that this income in like 10 percent of the benefit.
I have no idea if it is true or not and tried my hard to find if it was. I
asked my teachers and it seemed to be a
point that has to be deeply hidden. Then, there as no way to discover the
reality...
Moreover,
my surprise isn't limited to this system that would be implemented in business
(if it was true). I have been much more surprised when I asked to this person
if he was prospecting to settle in Denmark. There was no doubt at all when he
asserted. I asked him why. He said it was because of the incomes. I asked him :
“Yes... But I mean... do you like this country
? Are you feeling good in here ? Wont you miss you home country ? Do you think
the life in here is much more pleasant than in you home town ?”.
What he answered blowed me away.
Actually, I was facing many existing question at this particular moment and
days after as well. Because he said that he doesn't like this country at all.
Moreover, he thinks that there're no activities to do because everything is way
too expensive. And even if you have enough money to hang out or to subscribe to a club, there're not so much
interesting things to do. He added that after being few times to the
“Gingantium” (the well-known place where you can find the spa, the swimming
pool, and many sport devices and amenities), you get bored about it.
Furthermore,
foreign students agreed to assert that after few times in Aalborg the student
life is becoming boring. And trust me, they don't have any issues with money.
They can get everything they want because their parents have really good
incomes. Then tey're supposed to be quite satisfied about their life in this
city where “everything is expensive” (as we – foreign students – daily say).
They
todays, don't want to party anymore because they got bored about the famous
“bar street” (Jomfru Ane Gade).
They said
it is the only thing to do in the week end, and going to the restaurant or
walking around. In addition, we meet every time the same people. Seems like if
me are joining again our family when we go in this street. From my point of
view, it is a good thing because it is a very peaceful and friendly vibe. Like,
you don't have to care too much about you stuff when you leave them if you're
going to dance.
You don't
care as well about hanging out alone because you can be pretty sure that you'll
find at least someone to share times with. But, yes, I agree to say that it is
a kind of microcosm and it could be stifling after few times.
So after all of those testimonies that I gathered, I
still having this question : Would it be wiser to settle in Denmark, only
because of the good incomes ? Or staying in France in the south (with its sun
and diversified and rich landscapes that I really strongly sincerely miss),
with a lower incomes and an uncertainty to don't find placement for jobs that
I'm expected to get ?
Lorianne.
