Jeremiah – or simply Jerry as everyone calls him – came to study in Aleksandras Stulginskis University five months ago. In four years, he is hoping to qualify for a degree in public administration.
“Parents wanted that I and my younger brother go study abroad, to acquire knowledge there and then use it in our own country,” explains Jerry, whose brother is now pursuing his degree in the US. “Before coming to Lithuania, I did a degree in Cyprus. While still in Cyprus, I heard from a friend about Lithuania. I looked it up on the internet and decided to apply for Aleksandras Stulginskis University.”
He says he was charmed by how helpful and friendly people were from the very moment he came. Locals helped the African find a hall of residence, when he got lost upon his arrival in the middle of the night, and move his things. “In Cyprus, no one would have done it,” Ajisope compares.
He himself worked his charm, too. Having met Greta, a medical student, several months ago, the two are now dating.
Affordable living
“It's great studying and being here. I'm surrounded by great, beautiful, well-disposed, and friendly people. Lithuanians are the greatest people I've met.
“The quality of studies is good. Teachers, too, are great. It's very easy talking to them – you can readily go to them if you've got any questions. I believe that exchange students, who come here for a term on Erasmus, do not want to leave so soon,” says Jerry, who comes from Nigeria's biggest city Laos.
He admits, however, that an important factor in his choice to come to Kaunas was relatively cheap education and affordable living.
So far, he has little idea of what he will do after he graduates. He would like to do a postgraduate degree in the UK or the US – or he might go on studying in Lithuania.
Cold
Having listened to a torrent of praise for our country, I ask Jeremiah if there is something he does not like in Lithuania.
“What do you think of the Lithuanian cuisine that many foreigners find too heavy?” I suggest. “Cepelinai! Yes, I've tried Lithuanian food. We went to a restaurant serving traditional foods. I liked it, I'm simply forced to love Lithuanian food,” he laughs.
“Have you sensed any negative attention because of your skin colour?” I go on interrogating Jerry. He replies that over the five months he has spent in Kaunas, he hasn't experienced any racism. People in streets seem free and happy. “There are no constraints here, just normal life. If you want to grab a drink in a bar, it doesn't take long to find one,” he says.
He was also pleasantly surprised by how well young Lithuanians speak English. Jerry says he can freely communicate with almost everyone in English – unlike what he experienced in Spain, Turkey, Egypt, Cyprus, or Greece.
“All Africans have a dream of seeing and touching snow, since there isn't any at home, at least not in Nigeria. I also like snow, but the constant cold – not so much. Because everyone stays indoors and not outside,” he finally finds a thing he does not like in Lithuania.
Lithuanian choir
Even before Jeremiah set his eyes on Aleksandras Stulginskis University, he discovered that Lithuanian singer Violeta Urmanavičiūtė-Urmana was one of the big modern opera stars of the world. He was very intrigued – the 20-year-old comes from a musical family and likes singing himself.
In one of the parties for foreign students, Jerry heard someone say that the university had a choir. “They warned me, though, that it was only singing in Lithuanian, but I said it wasn't a problem, I can hear the melody. Besides, it's interesting to learn to sing in a different language.” After an audition, Jerry became the choir's tenor.
Learning lyrics in Lithuanian was a challenge, he says, but he does not find the language at all difficult: “I've a feeling I will learn it.” So far, he does not understand a word in Lithuanian, but says he could recognize it in any part of the world.
Love in Kaunas
The Nigerian's weeks resemble one another. On workday mornings, he dutifully heads for classes. On Thursdays, he goes to church – Jeremiah is a practising Christian and starts off each day with a prayer and some Bible reading. Friday nights are for going out with friends and clubbing. On Saturdays, Jerry stays at home and studies, while Sundays usually go by reflecting on what happened over the week and doing some shopping.
Jerry laughs that other international students at Aleksandras Stulginskis University sometimes reproach him for not spending enough time with them. One of the reason why the Nigerian mostly hangs out with Lithuanians is his girlfriend, Greta.
“We met at a party where there were many Erasmus students. We danced together, became friends. Then something happened and we became even closer. I do not know what will happen in the future. Simply we are more than friends right now, we are happy spending time together,” Jerry volunteers, grinning.
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| Eriko Ovčarenko/15min.lt nuotr./Jeremiah with his Lithuanian girlfriend Greta |
