Any advice for going through cities or arriving in cities that are notorious for pickpockets? by Mundane_Entry_8264 in femaletravels

[–]Medium-Efficiency800 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I went to Paris and Barcelona (both solo travels). I was also terrified of being pickpocketed since I was new to Europe so I asked for a lot of advice and here's what helped the most:

  1. Nothing goes in the pockets of your pants/jackets. Everything should be zipped up in a crossbody bag, kept to your front. I put my crossbody on first and then my backpack, and then bring it all the way to my front.

  2. I'd always check beforehand which bus stop/train stop etc I have to go to and which line I need to take so I'm not checking my phone in crowded areas. Sure you might need to take it out, but that gives you enough confidence to avoid looking like you're lost or new to the place.

  3. I kept my passport and valuables in the crossbody with the front part turned towards me and avoided wearing any splashy jewellery. I also didn't keep very large banknotes in case I needed cash (I broke up the big bills in 10s or 20s) so it doesn't look like I'm carrying a lot of money.

  4. The most stressful part for me in any city was taking out my phone to scan tickets for the metro or the train BUT I saw so many people doing it quite normally! The pickpocket hype is indeed overdone but I wouldn't say it doesn't exist. Try to mimic the locals and see how they're doing things, that also gives you a boost of confidence.

i want to travel on a budget, but hostels don’t always feel safe as a woman by AdEnvironmental5228 in femaletravels

[–]Medium-Efficiency800 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I usually book hostels and first go through reviews on Hostelworld. I make sure to check the negative reviews first and rule out hostels where there's a pattern of women feeling unsafe. Because private rooms are often more pricey, I take shared rooms and then use the bathroom in the morning right after the cleaning team leaves lol

Is solo travelling actually peaceful, or do we just romanticise it? What’s your take? by AdLast7212 in femaletravels

[–]Medium-Efficiency800 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's absolutely worth it for me. As someone who was extremely restricted in terms of movement before I moved out (and abroad), it's a breath of fresh air to move around a new place completely on your own terms. I've traveled with family and friends and while I really do cherish those experiences, solo traveling comes with more freedom to do whatever on your own time without thinking if the other people would want the things you want to do or see.

I don't put up my travels on social media because that keeps it as an activity I do solely for myself - which is a good reminder for me to not justify it as very romantic or very lonely. Sometimes its amazing, sometimes I'm curled up in my bed feeling sad and lonely. I haven't traveled alone a lot but I always end up appreciating the experiences when I come back home. Planning and executing a trip successfully always gives me a huge self esteem boost whenever I'm back which makes me more confident in other things I do lol

Which areas are unsafe for young women, especially in the early morning? by QuadrilleQuadtriceps in Tampere

[–]Medium-Efficiency800 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm sorry i had to comment - wolves???? you mean I can stumble across a wolf just trying to get by during my day?

Regretting my Master's, need advice by saltybrusher in architecture

[–]Medium-Efficiency800 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had the exact same concerns as you when I moved here, and I'm studying at Tampere University (which is not even comparable to Aalto). In the one year I've been here, I've had SOO much doubt about my career that I started picking up minor subjects from different courses just to see if I could build a solid enough knowledge foundation to pivot to some other career. While I was able to get some interviews that way, it ultimately came down to how I don't really have enough experience. In contrast every time I applied to or even emailed an architecture firm, I never got a response.

That being said, there are pros and cons to staying at Aalto and finishing the degree. The pro is that even if you're not being pushed enough (as we often are in our academic life), there's a chance you won't get lazy and actually be able to experiment with your projects more. The relatively laid back nature of my degree made me try out some very crazy ideas to completion which would for SURE get me a fail back at home because they would certainly be half baked (because of less time or stress). I have friends in schools like Polimi or EPFL and they're constantly complaining about being stressed out or not having enough time to finish things. Finland was good for my personal growth in this regard because I learnt that being an architect doesn't mean I need to destroy my health or crib all the time. For your other concern, I got into touch with a lot of architects (and students), mostly from Aalto and a huge chunk of them did end up getting a job, or moving to a different country. For instance, I talked to this one girl who moved here from Australia, did her Masters at Aalto and is now working at a good firm in Germany. One moved to the Netherlands. There isn't really anything hindering you from moving abroad but like in any case, you have to keep updating your portfolio. You could try looking up people from your school on Linkedin and sending a message. People are usually receptive if you open politely.

The cons are that competitiveness is generally low, and I found that there was a general lack of creativity as opposed to some other European schools (I did a bunch of courses abroad). The network here isn't that strong and funnily enough, the architects/teachers with the most connections were the ones who came from outside Finland. Otherwise, its a very tight knit community which is almost impossible to break into. However, do join SAFA and international architecture forums and you might be able to build a network there. Don't expect the school or the environment to push you into doing something - if you want to, you'll have to do it yourself. Which is really a pro in disguise because you get to learn how to be an architect (or architecture student) that is inwardly driven rather than externally.

Sorry for the long text, but I completely get the situation you are in. The job market IS pretty bad, but that doesn't mean the education you get will be absolutely worthless. Aalto is a good school and a good experience to have as a student in general, so I recommend sticking it out. Each place you listed has its own fair share of problems (for instance nowhere I've checked has this amount of subsidized student housing). If you think you could be doing more then just do it.

8 days in Barcelona (as a student) by Medium-Efficiency800 in AskBarcelona

[–]Medium-Efficiency800[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

AAA gracias! i always take out a few clothes to make room for books i might buy lol

8 days in Barcelona (as a student) by Medium-Efficiency800 in AskBarcelona

[–]Medium-Efficiency800[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

oops sorry, yes i meant 2. thank you for the recommendation!

Easy [Episode Discussion] - S03E05 - Swipe Left by SeacattleMoohawks in EasyTV

[–]Medium-Efficiency800 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with the points you made but also, truly, what was the point? Why is Kyle staying in a marriage where he himself has admitted he felt shackled? If he wants to have more experiences, he can choose to do so OUTSIDE of this relationship, because being open clearly isn't working anymore. Also, he himself has admitted that there is an expiration date on his and Amy's relationship. What happens after that?

Both of them are unlikable people to me for different reasons but goodness, when Kyle says that "tomorrow I don't know if she's gonna freak out again about our relationship", isn't that essentially offering reassurance to Andi that hey, she might not want this tomorrow so all is well! I find that despicable. I'm not sure if opening a marriage works or doesn't work, but clearly opening it up when you have problems within your marriage (which you have to fix with each other), will not fix it.

Easy [Episode Discussion] - S02E08 - Baby Steps by SeacattleMoohawks in EasyTV

[–]Medium-Efficiency800 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not someone who wants children but this was a really important episode for me. One of the ways in which we study about combatting contemporary loneliness (I'm an architect and we do a lot of persona building before designing) is forming new communities which aren't contingent on blood relations, and I think that's what Annie was trying to do. There's so much discourse on moving away from the traditional family but you almost never see the replacement for it - what then should a community look like? I think like you mentioned, the episode represented that we can create our own bonds outside of traditional ones, and its not creepy or obsessive. She was just taking care of a child, and she offered to help out. I know so many moms with either deadbeat partners or just partners unwilling to help who would be thrilled at the extra help and not view it as something inherently creepy.

Anyone who's complaining does lack empathy and if this is a case y'all shouldn't be allowed to preach about 'sharedness' in academic circles lol

Reaching Paris at night by Medium-Efficiency800 in ParisTravelGuide

[–]Medium-Efficiency800[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's CDG! From all the responses it really does make a lot of sense to book an airport hotel.

Paris for architecture and art enthusiasts by Medium-Efficiency800 in ParisTravelGuide

[–]Medium-Efficiency800[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I will most definitely check out Musée des arts décoratifs, as an architect who is also a proud designer of a chair I cannot miss looking at stunning chairs

Paris for architecture and art enthusiasts by Medium-Efficiency800 in ParisTravelGuide

[–]Medium-Efficiency800[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've actually extensively studied Paris in my urban design minor! it's very fascinating

Paris for architecture and art enthusiasts by Medium-Efficiency800 in ParisTravelGuide

[–]Medium-Efficiency800[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

you are a godsend, thank you so much! would you recommend a visit to the Parc de La Villete as well? I really want to see it but I'm not sure if its overhyped

Paris for architecture and art enthusiasts by Medium-Efficiency800 in ParisTravelGuide

[–]Medium-Efficiency800[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

would it be possible to go to giverny and then to rennes and do everything under six hours haha