The Life in Finland

Time:2014-09-09 15:10:51 Clicks:

By Hui CHEN from International Accounting (1)

It is my honor to go to the Oulu university for studying as an exchange student and I will always remember the days I stayed there. To me, the one-year exchange life is  treasure of my whole life and it is the first time that I start to see the real world on my own.

Study is your own business

The learning ways that I have seen in Oulu University is really different from we usually use in China. However, the fact is, everything is up to yourself even you are a freshman of the university. Take responsibility for yourself is one thing that the university or even the whole Finland expresses and emphasizes on. For example, when school days begin, the colleges will give a guide to help student know how  the school and lectures would be like and how to use the equipments and other tools; most of the lectures are selected by yourself. it is up to you when and how to do, which is a free way to decide according to your time schedule. I believe this is the part that I love most because in this way, I can easily manage my school time, traveling time and other plans more reasonable. After deciding your lecture for this period (every term is divided into two period, thus one school year has A, B, C and D period), the next step is to download the materials of the lecture and read them before classes. All the materials are given in advance and would not be checked which means you should do it consciously. If not, it might influence your study later. Besides the classes study, we also got many chances to do team work with 2 to 20 students together. In that case, every member should do their own job and try to keep good communication with others. Free rider is a shame and no one would like to act like that. Teachers and workers are those who you can ask for help when you are in trouble; helping you is their jobs and responsibilities, but you should go to their office. Contrary to the fact that you can get help from a teacher in charge of a class in China, you have to take good care of you. One interesting thing that I want to mention is there is no class concept as we have in Chinese school; you could be anybody’s classmate if you have selected the same class. I think the university is a real school that works for student for our convenience, because you can always get what you want easily like school free Wifi, computers, printers, duplicators and so on.

Live in Finland

Living in this country is an interesting thing, you always get many chances to go out with other exchange students to have fun. You can experience polar days and nights which means almost 24 hour sunshine or dark night a day. I have to say it influence my sleep and motion quite well in the begin, but after a few month, I start to get used to it and learn how to enjoy it. I have met many friendly people during the year, from different countries, speaking different language. We got a kummi student and a kummi family who are local to help us see Finland and understand its culture. Be nice and out going, you will meet the most beautiful part in the unfamiliar country--- new friends. The building that I lived is a party building, so there are many parties during the night. I have to say these foreigners really like parties. They enjoy music, beer, talking until 4 o’clock in the morning. Participating in parties in a good way to meet strangers, but you still should make your own mind about how often other than join every one of them.

In the spare time, I would like to walk around lakes near my dormitory or go to the gym playing badminton with my friends. The environment is really good and because of the polar day, you may enjoy the sunset even in 11 p.m. During the winter time, I also go to the lakes waiting for the amazing polar light. I think the environment would be an focus when comparing China and European countries, because I will never see a squirrel climbing a tree in a city. How to protect our living environment is a problem that every one of us should take action from this moment. Enjoying the sunshine and dark nights when they come is what I have learned in Finland. Whatever the life is like, the only thing you can do is do your best and live each day seriously.

Always Travel

Traveling could be said to be the one I look forward to the most before I went abroad. During the year, I went Finland, German, Netherlands, Sweden, Spain and France, which left an deep expression on me. I am not going to describe every single one but mention some opinion when I am in these wonderful places. Traveling does not only mean moving from one place to another but seeing and feeling the world in different sides by heart. I saw the carefree optimism of Spanish, the romantic and along with the gender of French, the quiet and peaceful of Finnish,the rigorous of Germany and their beautiful history and cultures. All these places make me feel that this is a wonderful world and language is not the barrier between us because smile is the common language that everyone can understand. Although some citizens cannot understand English, they are always willing to give a helping hand when you need.

Despite the good side of these countries, there also exists something that make my mind changed a lot. For example, foreigners do not obey rules as we thought. I have seen many people run the red light or throw litter about. I am not saying it is normal and need not be cared about, but want to point out that unless when you see it with your own eyes, do not make conclusion otherwise.

Our mother land might not be as good as others in some field, but I believe we could be the best one day if everyone of us has confidence and take actions from now on.