Category: In English

Hi, 5 ways to improve your Finnish

Let's be honest: learning Finnish is hard. And as Finns themselves will tell you: Finnish is not even that useful worldwide. However, as students and expats living in Finland, we want to integrate and be able to share the language and experiences as a Finn would. Granted, there are prodigies which were blessed by the Kalevalan magical artifact Sampo that can speak fluent Finnish within a year. For the rest of us mortals, the path to go beyond Terve and Kiitos is a long, arduous one. The following 5 ways to improve your Finnish will hopefully help you on this language adventure as they have helped yours truly.

In English

TEKSTI Marcelo Goldmann

Get in the proper mindset

Learning Finnish will not be automatic (unless you’re one of the prodigies mentioned above). You have to first understand that learning a language requires effort, practice, and curiosity. Yes, it’s extra work, but if you like the Finnish language, it will be work that will bring you great pleasure. Because Finnish is not your mother tongue, the path to fluency will be challenging, but you’re not the first person to learn it nor will you be the last. You’re not alone.

 

An apple a day

They say “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. This might not be strictly true, but what is true is that with everything, practice makes perfect. If you don’t have a chance to practice Finnish very often, at least try learning a new word every day and using it in a sentence. Another option is to watch Finnish programs on TV. It’s very challenging at first, but as the days add up, you will start understanding more and more.

 

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes

Most people will be flattered that you want to speak their language. Even if you make mistakes when speaking or writing, do your best to be understood. In the end, the most basic purpose of language is moving information from your head to the other person’s head. If you succeed at this, even with less-than-perfect grammar, you will be one step closer to mastering the language.

 

Be proud of your progress

No one will be as harsh on you than yourself. Be proud of all the little progress you make in your Finnish. It’s not only important to work hard and practice; you should also pat yourself in the back  every time you have a successful conversation or manage to solve a situation which requires the Finnish language.

 

Don’t give up

In Finland, it is very easy to be “lazy” and default to the lingua franca English. Most Finns have at least a rudimentary understanding of English and you will be able to survive in most scenarios with just that. Especially after you have learned the basics of Finnish, the difficulty curve will rise exponentially and you will be tempted to give up because “it’s just too hard” or you “just don’t have time”. Everything that’s worth it requires work and effort. If you want to learn Finnish, just keep practicing and don’t stop; you will find yourself, without even noticing it, speaking more and more Finnish without having to interject with English or “Finnglish”.

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Marcelo Goldmann

A Doctor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Oulu. "Life is like a rubber duckie, you gotta keep it afloat to see its splendor." Instagram: @marcelogman

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Marcelo Goldmann

The moving tradition continues: This year Vulcanalia evening festival will be held at Club Teatria

The Student Union of the University of Oulu’s annual start of the academic year party Vulcanalia is getting a new location, yet again. This coming Vulcanalia might be the last of its kind.

In English

TEKSTI Iida Putkonen

KUVAT Antti Törmä

In Finnish.

Oulu university students’ academic year opens in Limingantulli this year.

The evening party known as Vulcanalia Festival, which opens the academic year of Oulu University students will be held on Wednesday September 11th at Club Teatria, says Oulu Student Union’s event producer and community specialist Asta Salomaa.

The board of the Student Union decided on the new location in their meeting on the 21st of February.

Last year the evening party was moved to an indoors location to Areena Oulu. The reason behind the move was the Student Council’s decision to move the event indoors. This time the location is changing once again, but for a different reason.

The organizers thought Vulcanalia worked out well at Areena Oulu. The reason for the move was not that they were not satisfied, but the desire to organize an even bigger event.

“Teatria can fit twice the amount of people. Since it is the opening event of the year, we want as many people as possible to be able to experience it”, Salomaa says.

Last year the tickets to the evening party were sold out before the event, so there is demand for additional tickets.

There are a few added reasons to choosing Club Teatria beyond additional tickets and an indoors location. Teatria has good light and sound technology and its own coat and bar services that help organize the event, Salomaa says.

Teatria is a familiar place to friends of concerts. It closed its doors for five years, but the renewed Club Teatria held its opening event in November last year.

The annual Vulcanalia student fair will be held at the Linnanmaa campus as usual.

The last Vulcanalia?

Vulcanalia is being organized for the 25th time this year, and as the Oulu University of Applied Sciences move is edging closer, there are rumours of this being the last year the party will be held.

Is this the last Vulcanalia of its kind?

“To that I have to say: maybe! It likely is the last Vulcanalia because we will hold an opening party with Osako (the student union of the Oulu University of Applied Sciences) in the future. There are no papers signed on that yet, though”, Salomaa answers.

According to Asta Salomaa the anniversary of Vulcanalia means an even bigger event: “This year we will have the biggest artists we have ever had, I can say that much!”

Last year the performers at the evening event were Teekkaritorvet, Satellite Stories and Stig.

This year’s performers will be revealed in August. Salomaa is preparing the choices for artists and the board of the Student Union will make the executive decisions on performers.

Salomaa is not able to predict the cost of tickets quite yet, but she promises that they are aiming to keep the prices “as student-friendly as the previous years”.

Honor to traditions

Vulcanalia moving has nearly become its own tradition, as the event has moved every year since 2014. Since then the party has been seen in front of Ouluhalli, inside Ouluhalli, on the 2T parking lot of Linnanmaa, and lastly in Areena Oulu.

It is only fitting that the event ends in yet another location change.

“The fact that the possibly last Vulcanalia moves yet another time is the only logical solution. For others it’s tradition to always stay in the same spot, but for us it appears the tradition is to change places every year”, Salomaa laughs.

The first Vulcanalia was arranged in front of restaurant Rauhala in 1995. The event was organized in front of Rauhala until the year 2003, when it was moved to Kuusisaari. In 2012 the event moved from Kuusisaari to Möljä in Toppila.

In previous years Vulcanalia has seen performers such as Anssi Kela, Felix Zenger, Tuomas Kauhanen, Moses Hazy, Redrama, Kauko Röyhkä ja Musta Barbaari.

 

While you wait for more news regarding Vulcanalia, you can reminisce last year’s party by browsing through Antti Törmä’s photo gallery from the event.

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Iida Putkonen

Oulun ylioppilaslehden entinen päätoimittaja. Tiedeviestinnän maisteri ja glögin ympärivuotinen kuluttaja. Etsii revontulia, riippumattoja ja juuri oikeita sanoja.

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Iida Putkonen

The ABCs of employment: how Löyly aims to help international students find jobs

Löyly is bringing students and companies together for the second year in a row. The event organizers Katariina Sarja and Asta Salomaa tell us which questions the two-day employment event aims to answer.

In English

TEKSTI Iida Putkonen

KUVAT Antti Törmä

International students want to know about practical things regarding finding a job, says Katariina Sarja. She’s the project coordinator of Löyly, a two-day employment event meant for both international and non-international students in Oulu.

In order to answer the questions the Löyly team conducted a survey. Team members were surprised to find most of the students’ questions were quite basic.

“Last year we didn’t realize to focus on such concrete things. This year we have a workshop for how to find job listings to begin with”, says Asta Salomaa, the event producer and community specialist for Student Union of University of Oulu (OYY).

“Based on the feedback we received, basic information and job listings are not easily accessible”, Sarja says.

One of the biggest questions international students asked was about the language barrier. They want to know how well you really need to know Finnish in order to get a job in Finland.

Cultural differences are also on many students’ minds, although Sarja says Löyly’s keynote speakers think in reality cultural differences are often not such a big deal at the workplace.

Based on feedback from last year, Löyly has adjusted and aims to answer more concrete questions international students might have.

“For example, this year we have a person from the public employment services coming to talk about everything, starting with taxes. The workshop is an ABC in how to start looking for a job”, Sarja says.

Other, more abstract questions like cultural differences will be addressed in the keynotes. Topics vary from integrating to the workplace to how Finnish people seem to foreigners on the outside.

More job openings, more internships

Löyly is being organized for the second time this year. Salomaa, who organized the event also last year, says the first Löyly was a success.

“The feedback from both participants and companies after the first event was positive. They felt this event was truly needed”, Salomaa says.

Bringing employment opportunities to international students isn’t only Löyly’s goal. The Ministry of Education and Culture published a vision for Finnish higher education and research in 2030 in October 2017.  The Roadmap for Implementing Vision 2030 also outlines international students’ integration as one of its future education goals.

The Ministry’s aim is to add more support and opportunities for internships, goals that Löyly shares.

“We want to awaken employers to see if they could post more job openings in English and offer more opportunities for internships”, Salomaa says.

Joining forces with OSAKO

Löyly 2019 is a two-day event, held in two campuses: the first day takes place at the University of Oulu on 18th March, the second at the Oulu University of Applied Sciences on 19th March. 

This year’s event also has a new added factor: OSAKO, the Student Union of Oulu University of Applied Sciences.

Salomaa explains that the original concept for the event was a collaboration between OYY and OSAKO, but due to personnel changes OSAKO could not participate the first time around.

“Last year we got together with OSAKO and discussed what challenges international students face. We came to the conclusion that it doesn’t matter which school you attend, the challenges are the same”, Salomaa says.

To prove this point, the program for both days of Löyly are nearly identical, the only difference being in the key speakers. At both campuses the speakers are graduates of the schools respectively.

“We wanted to bring alumni to speak about how your career path can progress from the studies of the school”, Sarja explains.

The Löyly team also added more workshops to the event due to their high demand last year.

What’s next for Löyly?

Regarding Löyly’s future, Salomaa has a dream.

“I want to prove that the concept works in two different schools, so why not bring it to others as well? My goal is to make Löyly into an event concept package that you could bring into any university, because each one faces the same challenges.”

In a matter of weeks Salomaa is going to pitch the Löyly event concept to other student unions. She hopes that other universities will also want to invest in the employment of international students.

 

Löyly 2019 employment event is organized by the Student Union of the University of Oulu (OYY) and Student Union of Oulu University of Applied Sciences (OSAKO) together with Business Oulu and Talent Attraction, Business Kitchen, University of Oulu and Oulu Entrepreneurship Society. The event takes place at the University of Oulu on 18th March and at the Oulu University of Applied Sciences on 19th March. The event consists of workshops, keynotes and panel discussions, which will take place in Linnanmaa campus’ Tellus Innovation Arena and at the Kotkantie campus’ main lobby and its surroundings respectively. Check out the whole schedule on Löyly’s website.

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Iida Putkonen

Oulun ylioppilaslehden entinen päätoimittaja. Tiedeviestinnän maisteri ja glögin ympärivuotinen kuluttaja. Etsii revontulia, riippumattoja ja juuri oikeita sanoja.

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Iida Putkonen

Hi, 5 Failed Future Predictions

It was printed in Popular Mechanics 1949 that future computers would weigh less than 1.5 tons. Well, computers nowadays can be smaller than a coin. Other predictions have not come true, such as the following five.

In English

TEKSTI Marcelo Goldmann

Hoverboards

Popularized in the 1989 film Back to the Future II, the iconic hoverboard has eluded us for almost 20 years. There have been prototypes such as the Hendo hoverboard, but sadly, they are not feasible for transportation. It is unlikely that we will ever get to see the kind of hoverboard that allows us to travel on any surface.

Flying cars

While we indeed have air transportation (see: planes), we might never get to have our own flying cars. The reason is not impossibility but logistics. We can barely manage with ground traffic, noise, accidents, and regulations. It would be highly dangerous to have two-ton machines of death flying above our heads.

Time Travel

Time travel was popularized by the 1895 novel The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. Since then, we have dreamed of traveling to the past to correct mistakes or to obtain information. Sadly, although theoretically time travel to the future is possible (traveling at the speed of light), traveling to the past is not even theoretically possible. Even if traveling to the past were possible, we don’t have a frame of reference of how the universe moves, so even jumping one-second to the past could leave you floating somewhere in the orbit of Jupiter.

Human interstellar travel

This point is more about our mortality than our technology. We do have the technology to launch things to space and even have them move for a very long time. We have sent probes to Mars, and we may one day send humans as well.

However, the distances become astronomical very quickly. The center of our own galaxy Milky Way is about 26 thousand light-years away, to which we would have to travel at the speed of light for 26 thousand years to reach.

The end of the world

Every time someone has said the world would end, it didn’t. Make no mistake, the world will one day end. It’s just a matter of when and how. But don’t be discouraged, the Earth will most likely still be standing long after humanity has gone extinct.

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Marcelo Goldmann

A Doctor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Oulu. "Life is like a rubber duckie, you gotta keep it afloat to see its splendor." Instagram: @marcelogman

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Marcelo Goldmann

When everything is possible, life becomes unbearably gruelling

"Even though I relate critically to the gospel of efficiency, I have nevertheless digested its demands", writes the Editor-in-chief.

In English Pääkirjoitus

TEKSTI Anni Hyypiö

In Finnish.

 

I have always been envious of superhumans: those that manage ten-hour working days, run half marathons, do voluntary work and are active in politics, have multiple hobbies and read. I am not envious of them only because their life seems so interesting but also because it feels that the present world is made just for their kind: the achieving superhumans.

We live in a society that glamorizes efficiency, and with nearly every action being measurable, there is always room for improvement. You can always do things more efficiently, faster, better. Briefly put: if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

The requirements for efficiency are also evident in the academic community. In our result-driven world, the researchers and the research units must prove themselves with their results: the number of publications and degrees must be met or else the funding will soon run dry.

The Ministry of Education and Culture is the one in control, as it regulates the funding model for higher education institutes in Finland. Now this model is changing again with emphasis even more towards finished degrees. In December, student organisations SYL and SAMOK (the National Union of University Students in Finland, and the Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences, respectively) criticised the model that creativity, individual learning paths, and the quality of education are being crushed under the aim of manufacturing the most degrees.

One of the tools that enhances efficiency is modern technology that allows working wherever you are. With technology you are basically always available, so why not use your time to the fullest? You can read your email from your phone at any place, and you can make that one phone call from your holiday trip.

And those lovely tablets and laptops are so lightweight that it is very handy to pack one along for any occasion or trip!

 

Even though I relate critically to the gospel of efficiency, I have nevertheless digested its demands. I have noticed that every table can potentially be used for studying or working, and every idle moment my thoughts drift towards unfinished work issues.

I present the question: are efficiency and results the only way to measure success? And how long can the current model continue?

Nothing would ever improve if we lacked the courage to make changes, so I am not claiming that change is always a bad thing.

However, I do claim that by doing things more efficiently, with the same resources but just slightly faster and better, people will get tired. And what are we going to do with a world that is turned up to eleven, but it is inhabited by people that are totally fed up with living in it?

I am worried how the younger generation manages. According to recent research, students are more depressed and anxious than before. The Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare states that mental health problems and substance abuse are the major causes for students’ health issues, and they are also a risk factor in social exclusion and long-term disablements. These facts are quite incompatible with the requirement that students must be as efficient as possible. Credits must roll in at a certain rate or the student allowance will be cut short.

The exhaustion of the younger generation is something to be taken seriously. In the future we need those who are capable and have enough strength to fight the pivotal global challenges.

 

Translation: Kalle Parviainen.

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Anni Hyypiö

Oulun ylioppilaslehden entinen päätoimittaja. Twitter: @AnniHyypio

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In English Pääkirjoitus

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Defining Academic Excellence: Six Different Exchange Perspectives

The University of Oulu has hundreds of exchange students, but have you ever stopped to think about how all of our education systems compare? Lindsay Jamerson got the idea for this story after playing a round of card games with a group of exchange student friends. "We were all talking about our exchange and the ways it was different than we expected. First it started with the weather, the brave ones wishing it was colder and the romantics hoping for snow, but slowly, our conversation shifted gears and we drifted to the land of academia", she describes. In this article, six students with different studies, backgrounds, and home countries answer a couple of questions about academics and how education in Finland stacks up against their own experiences and expectations.

Ihmiset In English Opiskelu

TEKSTI Lindsay Jamerson

KUVAT Anni Hyypiö

Juan Judel Palazón, 22, Spain
Home University: Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Major: History

What does academic excellence mean to you?

That probably means getting the highest grades in a career, but I think that’s without taking in account whether you enjoy your studies or not, so it’s a superficial view focused on competition only. A University student shouldn’t only focus on getting the best grades but also getting competences and enjoying what he/she is doing.

What are some of the differences between your home institution and the University of Oulu?

There are differences. Here I have less assignments compared to my home University. In Spain we have more hours of lectures and practically I almost have no exams. This means for me a huge contrast between my life as a student here in Oulu and in Madrid. Also, I have noticed this University is more focused in sciences which is good, but maybe there could be more humanities related events or seminars. Another very positive aspect of the University of Oulu is the easy access to those who want to practice some sports. The infrastructure of this University is really good (like buildings, libraries), and of course the restaurants of the University with its special prices for students.

What about the University of Oulu was the most appealing to you?

In this case I would say the place, also some of the international history related subjects were interesting for me as in my home University we really focus only in Europe. But in this case a great part of my interest was in the country and the environment themselves. I have always been curious about the northern countries and I wanted to see what living here is like.

 

 

Cedric Freisenhausen, 24, Germany
Home University: Ulm University
Major: Molecular Medicine Double Degree (Ulm/Oulu)

 

Why did you choose to study abroad at the University of Oulu?

I was offered two Double Degree programs in cooperation with Padua (a university in Italy) and Oulu Universities. I wanted to be among the first students going to Oulu University, as Northern Finland seemed more interesting to me. I was excited about a real winter, scandinavian forests and northern lights. Also the first students going to Padua a year before me weren’t too happy about the teaching there.

What are some of the differences between your home institution and the University of Oulu? Specifically the classroom environment.

I have chosen a six week and a three week course and practical work. The six week course was really different from the teaching from my home university, as the teacher was adjusting the course’s contents according to our previous knowledge. Both courses were quite interactive and students were encouraged to ask questions and to discuss the content.

In my home university, I cannot do practical work for credits. I am really glad that I can do it here.

Another difference is the approachability of teachers. Here, they wanted to be called by their first names and you could see them in their office when the door is open. In Germany, you call the teachers Prof. and by their second name and seeing them can be quite difficult.

If you could change one thing about your academic experience here, what would it be?

I wouldn’t change a lot in my experience here. There was a practical part of one course in which the instructions were rather bad, but apart from that, the experience here is wonderful.

 

 

Morgan Neering, 19, United States of America
Home University: University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Major: Elementary Education

 

Did Finland’s reputation in education influence your decision to study here? If not, has that changed after a quarter?

Yes, Finland’s reputation in education was the number one reason that I chose to study at the University of Oulu. As an education major in the U.S., I have constantly heard about the Finnish education system, and how they consistently score high in international tests, such as PISA. Many of my professors in America have talked about Finland as being a model of education, and have shown us documentaries about Finnish teachers and classrooms. Coming here has been an amazing opportunity to expand my knowledge as a future teacher, and learn from the Finnish school system.

How different is Linnanmaa campus from your home University?

The Linnanmaa campus is very different from my home University. For one, everything is connected, which is so great. I’m not really a fan of the cold, so I really appreciate the layout of the Linnanmaa campus. At my home University, all of the buildings are separated. This is ok, since North Carolina doesn’t really get that cold, and the farthest you would have to walk is 10 minutes if you live on campus, so that’s not too bad.

Here in Oulu, there are a lot of cafes, and places for students to gather together on campus. This is something I really wish my home University had more of. I feel like it’s a great way to connect with people in your classes, as you can quickly grab a coffee or pastry with them after class. I also really enjoy the inexpensive coffee, that’s definitely a plus. At my home University we have a Starbucks on campus, where you’d pay anywhere from 2 to 5 euros for a coffee. So, the 30 cent coffee is great.

Another big difference between the two universities is the fact that there are no dorm buildings or student housing options on campus here in Oulu. There are also no athletic fields on campus.

Overall, many of the differences between the two campuses are purely aesthetic. Students in both countries spend a lot of time drinking coffee, studying in the library, and spending time in class. So, while there are differences, I’d say there are more similarities.

What modes of education from the University of Oulu would you like to see your university at home adopt?

One of my favorite things about the University of Oulu is the laid-back teaching style of the professors. You often call them by their first name, and have the chance to have meaningful conversations with them inside and outside of class. I have had amazing professors back home as well, but I think that the laissez-faire style of teaching is so great, and something I would like to take back home. I also wouldn’t mind if our classes started 15 minutes past the hour, that’s something I could get used to.

 

 

 

Clara Ducatillon, 21, France
Home University: Ecole de Commerce à Paris et Lille
Major: Business with a focus on Finance and Purchasing

 

What are some of the differences between your home institution and the University of Oulu? For example, are there any differences regarding the professors?

There is no particular differences regarding professors: they provide good feedback and are very available to support our personal learning. More based on personal and individual learning than face-to-face courses.

One thing that is different for me is that here, professors are really, really demanding regarding articles, reading and theoretical aspects of the learning. Here, there is no written exam, evaluation consists on learning diaries and group works only. The semester is split in two periods and we have different courses in which one. Courses planning is provided at the beginning if the year

How does your home curriculum differ from what you are studying in Oulu?

Well, I am interested in purchasing and finance. I chose my courses before coming so that it fit with my personal curriculum as well as the global goals I have. However, some courses here overlap with what I have already learned in my home university, which is fine, but it can be quite boring to review so much. Also, the University of Oulu’s business school doesn’t offer a lot of purchasing and negotiation courses and they are less abstract and more and analytical, mainly oriented on theory and highly demanding regarding theory. There are lots of articles to read.

What’s your opinion on the campus facilities?

There are a lot of positives about the Uni’s facilities. The campus is really nice and there are lots of restaurants with various cheap food options. ESN is one of the best aspects of campus life as they have affordable trips and events for exchange students. It has been really great to have a kummi student because she introduced me to all the hot spots on campus, the library facilities, and the city.

One thing that I haven’t enjoyed about campus is the sports center, I live in Tirolintie and if I want to do sports, I have to come to campus by walking or bike. Besides, I feel facilities offered there are not great and the courses of fitness are taught in and geared towards Finns, which is not really efficient for me, as an exchange student. I had to sign up at another gym.

 

 

Luiz “Dudu” Veriato da Silva Junior, 21, Brazil
Home University: Pontifical Catholic University from São Paulo
Major: International Relations

 

What does academic excellence mean to you?

For me, academic excellence means getting prepared enough to participate in the market. It doesn’t necessarily mean that I know a lot about my area but that I’m going to know enough to work well and to be a good professional. Additionally, the name of the institution that I choose will open some doors for me just for the fact that I studied at a prestigious university.

How has study abroad changed the way your interpret academic excellence, if at all?

It makes me realize that the university is not all about learning properly. It is more related to learning how to work. I was expecting that my study abroad courses would challenge me to think and that I would learn things and not just reproduce knowledge in tests, but I realize that all around the world, the exact meaning of academic excellence is about preparing us to participate in the market. They teach you the basics so you can just work and learn more when you are working.

What are some of the differences between your home institution and the University of Oulu? Specifically regarding the testing or finals.

There is few differences. For me, the learning methods (classes and texts) are the same. The length of the classes is different which is good. In Brazil we have 4 hours of class every day and tons of texts. Here is a little bit easier, which is really good to have more time to do other stuff.

The testing is more chill here and you write essays more than do tests, which is awesome. In Brazil we have tests as our finals in almost all the subjects. The structure of the university is great, which is the most impressing thing, and i loved the fact that the field trips are free. Besides that, everything is mostly the same.

 

Maithé Lievens, 20, Belgium
Home University: University of Ghent
Major: Linguistics & Literature: English-Swedish

 

What was the thing that shocked you most about the school system here?

The exams in the middle of the semester shocked me: it is so fundamentally different from what I am used to. We are used to having a designated time period in which we have nothing but exams, with a period of 2 weeks to a month between our courses and the exams. These big exams are also usually the only factor that makes up your final grade. This results in these exams being really hyped up and big, while in Finland, the opposite seems to be true. They are rather normal things that just happen in the middle of the week, on any time of the day. Most of them are only one small part of your final grade. It suffices to say that this really shocked me in the beginning: suddenly I had to focus more on tasks and assignments instead of the exams. It is such a completely different system that I really had to get used to.

What are some things you like or don’t like about your studies at Oulu?

I generally really like the school system here, since it divides up work/exam time very well. The tasks are great substitutes for exams, and I feel that they evaluate better than an actual exam. That said, I personally don’t like the how the semester fluctuates in how many courses you have and how every week’s schedule is so different. Maybe I just like a fixed schedule, but it makes for situations where one week you have nothing to do and another week you are drowning in work.

If you could change one thing about your academic experience here, what would it be?

I wish I had known something that many Finnish students have now told me about: the workload in the month of November (or just the middle of the semester in general). Since I am used to only having to study and meet deadlines at the very end of the semester, the amount of presentations and group works caught me off guard. I wish I had anticipated this, so I could balance it out better.

 

Read more: University in the USA vs University in Finland: An Honest Comparison, Student Culture, Four Seasons, Fantastic Finnish People, & Sauna: Life in Oulu as an International Student.

 

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Lindsay Jamerson

A 20-year-old exchange student studying Peace and Conflict Studies and History. She can be found blessing her friends with fun facts and random knowledge, and spreading the love with no-bake cookies. Live your best life, her common catch phrase and the panacea of all impossible questions, includes activities like baking, hugs, psychology, and Netflix.

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Ihmiset In English Opiskelu

Lindsay Jamerson