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Making Europe Real: Brussels Experience - Oscar from Finland
Our podcast journey through Europe continues in Finland, where Oscar a student training to be a car mechanic at Ammattiopisto Luovi, shares his personal European experience.
As part of the Finnish delegation, Oscar and his classmates spent weeks preparing for a trip of "firsts"—most notably, their first time ever boarding an airplane. Once on the ground in Brussels, the learning transitioned from technical to cultural. Oscar highlights the "Mural Walk" as a turning point. By walking through the city’s famous street art, students had to step out of their comfort zones. "It wasn't just about looking at paintings," Oscar explains. "It was about sparking conversations with people from different backgrounds."
The pedagogical heart of the trip was a video project conducted within the European Parliament buildings. For a vocational student like Oscar, seeing the rooms where political decisions are made brought the "abstract" concept of the EU to life. "My English pronunciation improved significantly after just one week," Oscar notes, proving that immersion is the best teacher.
Beyond the politics, Oscar noticed the cultural friction of a metropolis. Coming from the quiet, orderly roads of northern Finland, the "aggressive" Brussels traffic—including drivers parking mid-street for a quick shop—was a shock to the system.
His advice for future students? "Go with an open mind. Let the trip show you what it has to offer."
Listen now to the full episode to discover more!
