Greetings from Mainhattan!

Eurotower at the Bankenviertel

I have spent the past four months studying in Frankfurt am Main, the largest financial centre in continental Europe. The city is known for it’s skyline (hence the nickname “Mainhattan”), apple wine and trade fairs. Frankfurt is a very international city, as 40 percent of the residents come from an immigrant background. It is the most expensive city in Germany and the prices seem to be on the same level as in Finland – not counting the cost of groceries. My grocery bill has actually gotten smaller since moving here.

A view from the Main Tower

Studying international business at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (previously known as the Fachhochschule Frankfurt am Main) has not differed much from studying in TAMK. Fast I became accustomed to the lack of printers, the great variety of menu options, knocking on desks and short lectures (1,5 hours). Living in the middle of European Union and having school only for four days a week have enabled me to travel much more than before. And there are options as the school’s international office and the Erasmus Student Network both organize a variety of group trips to another cities and abroad.

Maps and brochures from some of the places I visited

My German roommate approves

Some things I have learned as a Frankfurter:

• to eat Brezels
• never ending toasting (“Prost!”)
• to enjoy Christmas Markets
• to sit in the aisle seat in buses and trains even though the window seat is empty
• and to use my Sundays enjoying the banks of the River Nidda and Main. Mostly because in Germany on Sundays all stores are closed and hoovering and doing laundry would result a complaint from the neighbours.

A Christmas Market stall

Time has run faster than I would have preferred and like my fellow students I will spend the next weeks preparing to the exams. I have really enjoyed my time here as I have met such lovely people and seen many new places. If you would like to ask something about student exchange, Frankfurt am Main or Germany, don’t hesitate leaving a comment down below.