Week 6 07/02/11-13/02/11

As I spend more time in Finland I notice that I become more decisive.  I have realised that if I want to do something, for example to play ice hockey, then I must decide to go or miss out on the activity.  This has lead to me becoming more organised when preparing for my studies.  As every week classes change place, time and day I know I need to be on top of that or else I will miss a class and need to catch up.  When preparing for my teaching placement this has shown to be beneficial as I need to get in contact with the teachers or my subject and arrange a meeting to discuss observations.  Unlike School Based Work at Stranmillis there are a number of teacher training schools and so it is very difficult arrange a time when an other student isn’t teaching or I have no class, or even when the teacher is not giving feedback or meeting other students, for me to meet and observe a teacher.  This has helped develop my own independence.  As a home student back in Northern Ireland there where many tasks which were done for me.  However I now need to do them or they won’t get done.  Being an Erasmus student is defiantly a leap out side of my comfort zone, not only the foreign language and country but living on my own for such a long time.  However after the first couple of weeks I got into a routine and met people who live in my apartment complex and settled in. 

The students in Finland, both exchange and regular students, have a strong group spirit.  Students in Finland, instead of having a t-shirt or jumper with their University on it, have as set of overalls.  Each faculty or subject area have a different colour, black for medicine, white for teacher education and a blue for exchange students.  This creates a comradeship between you and your fellow students.  When worn the overalls are typed round the waste exposing the faculty on the back.  The overalls get decorated with a number of patches showing what parties or events the students have attended.  Every student owns a pair of overalls and you almost fell left out for not having a set.

Picture: Exchange students and me at Moominworld.