Interview
Meet Fernanda from Brazil
Name: Fernanda Helena Bosco de Miranda
Home Country and City: Brazil, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte
Programme of Study: Master’s programme in Ecology
Personal Interests: Swedish heavy metal, fantasy books, strategy games, drawing, insects, nature, swimming, travelling
Favourite thing about Umeå University: the environment, amazing library, education and student life
Favourite Swedish word or custom: Tjena and kvitto!!!
Three words to summarise your time in Umeå: Amazing, creative, nature
What is your educational and professional background?
I have a bachelor\'s in biology at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte) with emphasis in aquatic systems.
Why did you choose to enrol in your degree programme at Umeå University?
The course of ecology at Umeå University is of high educational level with very good professors and organization. As I am working with aquatic systems, Umeå is a good university to enrol that. The courses are complete: with field, laboratory, and computer classes, that are very important for my curriculum. Another point is that I have never been lived out from Brazil, and I really wanted to experience the life in the very north, in which you have a complete different culture, a very organized and developed society, and a completely different nature.
What do you like most about your programme?
I like the flexibility to choose my supervisor and the subject of my thesis after the courses. The subject was very good for me because it helped me to decide about what field I would like to continue afterwards for my PhD study.
What is the most interesting thing you learned in your programme or courses so far?
I liked the organization of the courses. They last for two months and they are in very high level with a full range of themes. You also have to be very independent because they require a lot of reading and exercises. I really liked the projects performed in all courses, they made us to think by ourselves and really live as scientist.
What do you do when you are not studying?
In my free time I usually go out with my friends for concerts or pubs. I love the libraries in Umeå, specially the central library in downtown where you can find everything from everywhere! I go once per week to rent books, movies, and CDs to try new songs from different countries. I also meet my friends to play board games or play beach volleyball in IKSU. Whenever I have the proper time I like to travel for other cities in Sweden or try different countries.
What is your impression of Umeå and the surrounding areas?
For me Umeå is one of the most peaceful places I have ever been. You feel the security and freedom in everywhere. The weather and nature during spring and summer is awesome for biking and running outside.
What do you find as the biggest cultural difference, both socially and educationally, from your country with Sweden?
We have the wrong perception that people here are very cold. Actually, they assume that everything is fine with you, not needing to be by your side every day and everywhere, but once you have a problem and let them know they will try to help you. Swedes are more individualists. In my country friends want to be by your side everyday and everywhere, they want to participate in everything in your life. That’s good, but not always, because everybody needs individuality. Educationally, I would say that here the courses are in blocks and last the whole day, and you are not associated for some laboratory since the beginning of your studies. But you can work in laboratories as a biologist assistant, which means that you will have a salary even if you are student, making our work grateful. And in this way you discover if you are in the right way. In my country the courses are in blocks and usually full time, but they last 15 days. There we can be associated in a laboratory since the beginning of our studies.
What you would say or what advice would you give to another international student thinking of attending Umeå University?
I would advise the students to come. The study is of very high quality and professional. And it is a very good experience to live in a place well developed.
What are your career aspirations?
After finish my master’s thesis I would like to start a PhD in the same field as now.
