University Krakow, Poland

... to Riga, Latvia. A city, a country and a whole region about which I actually knew barely anything. But that was precisely what made it so exciting for me and was the crucial aspect in my choice of country. However, when preparing for my semester abroad, I quickly realised that I was the only one who decided to go to the Baltic States - apart from my fellow student and good friend who made the same choice. Most people probably wrote light summer clothes on their packing list to enjoy the late summer in southern Europe, while my list included thick woollen socks, a winter jacket and gloves.

22 August 2023: It's another week or so until it's no longer "Hallo, Tschüss und Danke" for me, but "Sveiki, Čau and Paldies". In the many travel guides that I received as gifts from my family and friends (who were all at least as excited about the upcoming adventure as I was), I was always told that Latvians have a good level of English. I hope so, because the Latvian language is quite challenging!

But back to the essentials: the flights had been booked a long time ago, my suitcases were almost packed but there were still a few question marks in my mind regarding accommodation Although I had found accommodation via AirBnB for the first week so as not to be completely without a roof over my head, I still needed a long-term solution. The host university had several offers for student dormitories, but that wasn't quite what I wanted. After a million Google searches and lots of shady flat offers in Facebook groups, my fellow student and I came across "lettische Kleinanzeigen" (ss.com). There we found a cosy, very central, well-equipped and above all affordable flat from a very nice German-Latvian landlady. Thank God! That was a great load off our minds and we could now really get started.

As I am studying Media Management at THWS and am therefore part of the Faculty of Economics, I was automatically enrolled on the business programme at the host university RISEBA. However, on request, I was able to switch to the Audiovisual Media Arts programme and thus broaden the creative part of my studies. In general, RISEBA was very helpful and the arrangements made in advance were very relaxed, so I didn't have to worry about anything.

A group of exchange students from all over the world who were going to study in Riga in the winter semester had already come together in advance via ESN (Erasmus Student Network). What started with a few people in the group picked up speed just as quickly and by the day I left there were already over 200 Erasmus students. When I met another Erasmus student on the plane to Riga and then another Erasmus student on the doorstep of my first accommodation, I realised that I would certainly not be alone here! But when the first ESN Speed-Friending event took place the same evening, which I attended rather reluctantly due to a turbulent and exhausting flight and then stumbled back to bed with hundreds of new faces I met, 20 new mobile phone numbers and several Latvian beers in me, I realised that I had made the right choice with Riga!

Name: Hannah Fiederer

Age: 24

Studies: Bachelor Media Management (9th semester)

Semester abroad: Winter semester 2023/2024 at the RISEBA University of Economics, Arts and Technology in Riga