Finland Part 5-Helsinki!

For our Printing Technology Class, we went to on an excursion to  a printing fair.  We were able to see different printing methods and watch them be applied right before our eyes.  Here is a picture of an "overhead view" of the fair:

Our teacher was very nice and we were given an open train ticket back to Tampere. So we spent the rest of the day in Helsinki.  The most interesting was the Buddy Bear Exhibit.  Every country had their own decorated bear.  It was so much fun!

Finland Part 4-Seitseminen National Park

Our next excursion was to Seitseminen National Park.  We went with a group of Tourism student that organized it for exchange students.

We were able to see the beautiful outdoor scene that and wildlife that Finland had to offer.  We are some pictures of  the poisonous mushrooms, the beautiful scenery, the lake, and the "boardwalk."  Because some of the trial that we walked was very swampy, we had to walk on the planks of wood so that we would not be trapped in a the swamp (sort of like quick sand). 

(This is an ant hill.  There are millions that live in this ant hill. So do not dare try to run over this!)

 

 

We were even able to play Finnish games:

Finland Part 3-Cruise to Stockholm

Hi Everyone!  I am having a ball this semester!  The next part of my Finnish Experience is my cruise to Stockholm!  We went on a cruise with the student union to Stockholm, Sweden.  The cruise was 14 hours and it was so much fun!

The boat had Karaoke, a "night club" and we just had a ball:

I would definitely say there was never a dull moment!:

We finally arrived in Stockholm and we were there for only 6 hours, but on behalf of the heavy rain...that was plenty of time and we were able to see alot in the old town!

Not to mention some unexpected places as well:

Can you believe it? A 7-11 and a Ben and Jerry's in an old town in Sweden! 


In Sweden, we were able to see the changing of the guards which was both cool and comical.  We also had "American Style" pizza for lunch that was very delicious (it was better than any "American" pizza I have had).  Then we took the ship back home and the karaoke, night club scene fun started all over again!

We were then blessed to enjoy the beautiful rainbow and sunset on the way back to our home away from home. 

                                                         (I know....we look like Angels!)

Finland Part 2

Finland Part 2.......

The next fun/crazy/exciting Finnish event was the Student Initiation Day.  Can you believe we were even excused from most of our classes for this day?

The student initiation day is mainly to "induct" the new first year students to the school.  Every major has their own initiation day rituals. 

So in Finland the students all wear these jumpsuits to school on special events or parties.  Every major has a different color.  They also have these patches that they put on their jumpsuit for certain parties or events that they attend.

For the paper technology students the jumpsuit color is white.  So the first year students that did not have a jumpsuit had to where a white plastic trashbag over their clothes.  They then had to shout this chant (of course in Finnish).  From my understanding, the chant basically explained that Paper technology was better than all the other engineering programs (of course).

We then gathered with all the other TAMK student outside the school and we all received balloons and everyone showed off their cool costumes.

Then, about all 300 of us from TAMK paraded to the city center.  And then at the city center, there was more showing off of costumes.  This was my favorite group:

We then went to a near by park and it was like a Field day!  There was music and relay games and crazy costumes (yes more crazy costumes).

The Paper technology students then hosted a sauna party later that night.  It was a full fun day and I can assure you that I slept well that night!