UU Erasmus student who just joined the Ulster family is already in love with the city, uni, people and her new home.
Yerkezhan, originally from Kazakhstan, is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Italy, and is here on Erasmus exchange!
@yerke_jan shares her experiences and some things that have taken her by surprise in Northern Ireland!
Driving
People drive on the other side of the road. When I was a kid, I have been taught: first, to look left, then right, before crossing the road. Here it’s different and I still look to the left first I guess my brain needs more training.
![Yerke in a green field surrounded by fields!](https://www.ulster.ac.uk/__data/assets/image/0004/1041547/varieties/width-2000.jpg)
Accent
The locals speak fast and have a strong accent.
There are Northern Irish students in my class, sometimes I don’t understand them.
Another thing is that students call professors by their names, never Mr, or Prof. or Doctor.
And I think it’s kinda cool, no barriers between students and professors.
![Yerke sitting on a wooden crafted chair in a forest](https://www.ulster.ac.uk/__data/assets/image/0005/1041548/varieties/width-2000.jpg)
Chips
They call French fries “chips”, and chips - “crisps”.
![Yerke looking over the Atlantic Ocean on a viewing point,](https://www.ulster.ac.uk/__data/assets/image/0006/1041549/varieties/width-2000.jpg)
Food
There is a ginormous variety of FROZEN food here.
Personally, I cook at home.
Putting frozen food for 5 min into microwave is not proper cooking for me
![Yerke at a Waterfall](https://www.ulster.ac.uk/__data/assets/image/0016/1041550/varieties/width-2000.jpg)
Notebooks
There are NO squared paper notebooks in the stores all of them are lined paper. What’s up with that?
![Notebooks in a store.](https://www.ulster.ac.uk/__data/assets/image/0017/1041551/varieties/width-2000.png)