The transfer process starts of course with the application form. You go to the headmaster’s office to get it. He counsels on Tuesday mornings only, for two hours; but of course you have to see him personally so he can ask a lot of questions about where, what, when and why.  After his risks-and-dangers lecture, the form, should you still want it, has to be signed by three people: sent to Finland for signing, and brought to two professors at home to sign – after listening to ten other academics’ explanations why you shouldn’t go and they certainly won’t support you.  At this point, with all three signatures on a by-now pretty wrinkled paper, you are deliriously happy.  Ah, foolish youth. This is only the beginning.

While walking forms from person to person today to find out what is still needed and what I have to write, fill out, print, send or deliver, I wonder why again. Why did I sign up for this? Of course behind all these slips of paper is the one prime piece of paper, the CV, which we are told is almost as important as a passport – presuming we’re planning on not living a second-hand and borrowed-together life, all our lives.  

At twenty-something I think I’ve fought my way through all the bureaucracy there is in Germany and Oulu.

In two weeks I finally get to start working my bottom off in Finland running around to find people to send, print, deliver, write, or do whatever it takes so I can work 24/7.  That doesn’t sound as appealing as it did in the beginning, I confess.  So, in case you are German and planning to do your thesis in Oulu, here’s a list of the papers and items you need for a permission to work your bottom off so that someone else can get paid.

1. See German headmaster to get form a) application for permission to write thesis in English, form b) application for an external thesis
2. Write exposé about what you are going to do (avoid terms like "working my ass off")
3. Find two supervisors from your university, one for the major part who will give you your grade in the end (be sure to smile at whatever (s)he says) and one who is only there to control the first one (so make sure you smile at whatever (s)he says too)
4. Get their signature on form b)
5. Send form b) to your professor in Finland and get his signature and title idea on it
6. Hand in form a) and b) at the headmaster’s office
7.  Receive a permission for form a) (don’t be too happy, permission for b) hasn’t arrived yet)
8. Receive a permission for form b) (be happy, but don’t loose sight of the further things to organise)
9. Send all forms with a detailed table of deadlines to your supervisor in Finland
10. Get form c) to be able write the final application for your thesis
11. Talk to your first German supervisor that he sends in form c) when it is time to do that
12. Send an application to the Finnish university to become a student
13. Make sure they get in contact with your supervisor in Finland and wait for the admission
14. Receive letter of admission from Finnish university
15. Find apartment in Oulu, find furniture, book a flight
16. Terminate your agreement of tenancy in Germany
17. Make sure you pack all your stuff and move out
18. Go to Finland and talk to everyone at least a week before you start so that they remember you exist, telling them several times that you are working for free and cannot wait to start, just to make sure they know they will benifit from you...
19. Ask for help with all those forms that still need to be written, filled out, printed and sent.

The next time you see an exchange student clutching a pile of paper, smile or you might regret it. She’s likely to be working off her very last brain cells.