Week 12, 02.04.11 – 08.04.11 (Cultural Blog) – Mandy Brown

I travelled this week and experienced more of the Finnish and other cultures.  Firstly, my sister and her boyfriend arrived in Helsinki at the weekend where I met them to explore the city.  They had flown to Tallinn and ferried it over to Helsinki, informing me that the Baltic Sea was frozen with ice during the entire journey.  I was not overly surprised by this as I have adapted to this as a normal sight because I live in Finland, therefore it was not as exciting for me!

We visited the Suomenlinna Island (a fifteen minute ferry journey from Helsinki).  Again, the sea was covered in ice and the boat was breaking through it with ease.  The Suomenlinna Island appeared to be a quaint village with 850 residents on the Island.  As we walked around the Fortress I saw that it was a beautiful place, however could not believe that people lived there as it seems a remote environment. 

In addition to this I attended an organised event through University to cook and eat some traditional Finnish food.  Although I have tasted some Finnish food in my placement, this was a good opportunity to experience and learn new recipes.  Finnish trainee chef students demonstrated the recipes and I made Pulla – a Finnish Sweet Bun, Blueberry Pie, Karelian Pastry and Cinnamon Cookies; the food was delicious.  The majority of the Finnish students were fluent in English; however some were not so good and tended to shy away from talking.  This is different to back in Northern Ireland as people tend to be more outgoing and enjoy talking, although I can understand that it may be difficult to have the confidence to speak a second language without fluency. 

I also attended an event organised by exchange students in my housing complex – an International Dinner.  Everyone brought some home-made food of their home country for others to try and there was a nice atmosphere to enjoy discussions about the foods on offer.  I tried German and Spanish food and both were very nice.

Finally – the weather in Finland is gradually changing, and for me it is a slow yet welcoming transition to the spring season.  Finn’s have informed me that spring usually arrives earlier than April, however due to an extremely cold winter it has taken longer to change.  I am looking forward to the change in weather as I would like to pack away my winter clothes and enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather!

Picture 1: Suomenlinna Island with my sister.

Picture 2: Finnish Food Event with other Exchange students.

Week 11, 26.03.11 – 01.04.11 (Professional Blog) – Mandy Brown

March and April are becoming the demanding months in relation to placement and University work submissions.  Managing my time was important in the beginning however has become more crucial at this stage of the semester.  I completed two examinations this week; one for the Service System module and one for the Finnish Language class.  I passed the Finnish examination with some additional assignments to complete before the end of the semester. 

Furthermore, I completed three days in placement this week and I continue to learn new things as time goes on.  This week there were less staff and children due to sickness; therefore I was allocated to care for the 4 year-old children rather than pre-schoolers on one of the days.  This was different as I had forgotten how much more dependent children can be at this age.  My University tutor recommended I work with this age to observe the differences and this was a good opportunity.  The teacher allowed me to introduce new songs to the children and read story-books, and the children concentrated well.

Over time I have noticed that the behaviour management of the children seems more relaxed than of Northern Ireland.  I am curious whether this is because the children are in smaller groups or if their behaviour is acceptable that would otherwise be inappropriate back home.  Perhaps it is because there is a more relaxed atmosphere between teacher and child; therefore children do not have the same respect for the teacher.  I find this a challenge as I am trying to follow the teachers lead and be consistent, however in Northern Ireland I would not tolerate some of the behaviour.  It is a difficult position to be in, as I had the authority to discipline in previous employments as would seem appropriate and here I have to hold back.

On the other hand I am impressed with the method of how children’s work is recorded.  Each child has a folder where their work is filed and it is accessible to the child should they wish to look at their work.  I find this a personal way for the children to enjoy their progress and have observed children doing this.  In Northern Ireland work is separated by subject exercise books and children do not necessarily get to see their work at a leisurely pace.  In raising this point, time seems precious and perhaps it is not manageable to allow thirty children to access their work during teaching time compared to a pre-school of nine children.

I look forward to returning to Northern Ireland and experiencing my old routine and being able to bring new ideas and opinions that I have learned in this setting in Finland.

Week 10, 19.03.11 – 25.03.11 (Professional Blog) – Mandy Brown

Placement and University classes continued again this week with a short trip to Norway!

During my time in placement the teacher is encouraging me to teach more pre-school lessons with the children.  I think this is because she is pleased to have a native English speaker in the setting and I am very happy to do so as it is all good professional experience.  There does not appear to be as big an emphasis on lesson planning here as there is in Northern Ireland, and I hope to discover if this is a true reflection of other pre-school’s (or schools for that matter) in the city. 

Therefore I taught an unplanned lesson about clocks and time this week.  This activity included group activity sequencing numbers on the clock (the teacher provided me with a wooden clock where the numbers could be slotted in).  I moved on to encouraging the children to create a group comic strip on the blackboard where they created a story, thinking about the times that things happen during the day.  The children were engaged and listened well and we ended the lesson with an independent worksheet on time. 

In addition to this, as Turku is the ‘European Capital of Culture 2011’, pre-school children in the city had been invited to see an orchestral play in the concert hall (free of charge).  I attended the trip helping to supervise the children and enjoyed my first experience of a Finnish play.  Although performed in Finnish, I was able to understand the plot.  The concert hall was full with pre-school children and teachers and I think this was a lovely experience for the children.

With regard to University my Service System in Finland course has ended and I have some final online submissions to complete.  I have enjoyed this learning experience as it has developed my knowledge of the systems in Finland in which I can compare to Northern Ireland.  There seems to be a more relaxed relationship between students and tutors in all classes that I have attended compared to Stranmillis.  For example, a one-week extension for some work was given for what seemed no reason, whereas back home there is a protocol for students to request this.  The method of submitting work here is all through returning it online which I find strange but have adapted well to.  On return to Stranmillis I think it may be a challenge for me to re-adapt to submitting hard-copy assignments and adjusting to the old routine, however I look forward to this!

·         In addition to the above I briefly visited Norway with four other exchange students this week, and discovered that it is an expensive country yet very beautiful.  Not only was I impressed with the surrounding scenery and lovely city of Oslo, but the Norwegian’s appeared to be more openly welcoming, helpful and friendly – seemingly different to that of the Finn’s.  I was somewhat surprised by this as they are close neighbours.  The people were also more inclined to speak and share a joke than the Finnish.  Visiting this country was an expensive however excellent experience!

Picture: Me in the stunning Norwegian Fjords.

Week 9, 12.03.11 – 18.03.11 (Personal Blog) - Mandy Brown

It seems appropriate to compose a personal blog this week, to reflect on my experiences in Finland as a whole.  As time has passed I have come to realise that I have been living in Turku for a little more than two months now (half-way through my time here).  My ‘normal life’ back in Northern Ireland seems so far gone it almost seems unreal, although regular contact over the Internet with family and friends has kept things in perspective.  Therefore, I am happy being away from my comfort zone. 

My lifestyle has changed somewhat in comparison to being a part-time student in Stranmillis, to a full-time Erasmus student.  For example, I am much more conscious of cutting back on purchasing luxury items, firstly because things are more expensive here and secondly because I am relying on my own personal savings to accommodate my time in Finland.  Therefore I do not eat out often (in placement I try Finnish food - for free) and search for the cheapest items in the shops! 

Furthermore, it has been a long time since I have worked as a student in placement in a daycare/school; I have had to adjust and accept that it is not an employment with a salary and that I do not have the same level of responsibilities as I would normally. 

In addition to this, the student lifestyle appears to include attending many parties and events (more so than I am accustomed to when living back home).  However I understand that it is important to attend these so that I can continue to make new friends and find out about other cultures.

I am continuing to attend Finnish language classes at University and still find it a difficult language to learn.  On the other hand it seems that language has not become a barrier in everyday life.  I find that constant reading of signs and hearing people speak Finnish helps me recognise the language and is all part of my learning process.

My experiences in Finland up until now have encouraged me to reflect on my own culture and personal views.  As a person I have developed more confidence to embrace new experiences and become more open to meeting new people from other cultures.  So far the Erasmus experience has been great and I look forward to the remaining time here.  I hope to bring home with me my enhanced knowledge and understanding that there is more to experience outside of Northern Ireland.

Week 8, 05.03.11 – 11.03.11 (Professional Blog) - Mandy Brown

This has been an active week in relation to my placement experiences.  The number of placement hours I have to fulfil during my time here is becoming more demanding than I first thought.  However, I am confident that I will complete this with continued determination as I am nevertheless enjoying placement. 

Tuesday 8^th March was ‘Shrove Tuesday’ - the Finnish equivalent being ‘Laskiaistiistai’.  According to some Finn’s this is a popular event where sledging is performed, with a competition for the best.  Unfortunately I did not attend the event in the city, although there was a celebration in my placement.  The children enjoyed sledging outside, with a hot chocolate drink and a cookie.  During afternoon snack they had a traditional Shrove Bun ‘Laskiaispullat’ which was filled with whipped cream and jam; I tried one and it was very nice.  In addition to this, I visited a skating rink with the children.  The children are very well-equipped with ice skates and appear to have few problems skating, I think this may be because the children are raised to play such activities and they can complete them with little effort. 

I had been asked to plan and complete an activity with the children in Pre-school.  I planned to teach the letter ‘R’ to maintain the children’s current learning of the English Alphabet.  The lesson included a group discussion on the carpet about the alphabet and then creating a mind-map together of objects that begin with the letter ‘R’.  Although all of the children speak English the teacher was needed for some translations and misunderstandings, for example, ‘R’ in the Finnish alphabet sounds different to that of the English one; some children were confused and thinking of Finnish words. 

The mind-map led onto an individual task of drawing, labelling and colouring their own object.  I was available to assist the children although most of them worked independently throughout.  To complete this lesson I also provided a simple handwriting sheet to assess the children’s forming of the letter and ability to write.  I had allocated thirty minutes for the whole activity, however in practice it took longer.  The teacher thought this was fine and there tended to be a more relaxed atmosphere than of back in Northern Ireland.  I like this as more time can be spent with the children individually ensuring they have gained an understanding of the topic.    The learning purposes were to identify and recall letters, with sequencing and group discussions to prompt thinking skills.  On reflection, an area for improvement is my judgement of allocated times, although the lesson went well as the children were attentive, respectful and engaged in the activities.

Pictures: Examples of children's independent work as part of my planned lesson.

Week 7, 26.02.11 – 04.03.11 (Cultural Blog) - Mandy Brown

This week life in Turku was back to some sort of normality for me.  My visitors had gone and it was time to attend University classes and placement again.  As part of my ‘Get Finternational’ course I attended an ‘Equality in Finland’ workshop which was informative and interesting.  Numerous statements relating to equality in Finland were made to encourage some constructive debates.  It was challenging to agree/disagree with the statements because once I had made my choice, we were asked to explain why and from listening to others’ views arguing valid cases; I began to re-think my decisions.  For example, a statement for debate was that ‘individuals earning a higher salary and in better jobs should pay more tax (40% of their earnings)’.  This was argued that individuals in better jobs had studied a long time and deserved to keep all of their earnings versus everyone gets a free education in Finland, therefore everyone should pay taxes, especially those who have studied for many years and not paid any taxes over this period.  This left me unable to strongly agree or disagree as I thought they were both excellent points, resulting in a reflection of the issues discussed.

Monday 28^th February was Kalevala's Day - Finnish Culture Day, where the Finn’s celebrate the epic folk poetry written by Elias Lönnrot (1802-1884).  I have learnt that the Kalevala was part of a patriotic movement recognising the heroic past of the people and the move of Karelianism.  It seems that traditional Finnish food can be eaten on this day and in general it seems that Pea Soup (Hernekeitto) and Gingerbread biscuits (Piparkakut) are some typical foods eaten regularly.

In addition to this, I attended a museum exhibition named ‘Fire! Fire!’.  This was an interactive exhibition based on the history of the Great Fire of Turku in 1827, where three-quarters of the city had been destroyed.  Furthermore, to extend my cultural experiences I went to an Ice Hockey match to watch Turku’s local team (TPS) play.  This was my first experience of watching an Ice Hockey match live (even though there is the Belfast Giants back home!).  There was a good atmosphere in the arena and I soon saw that ice-hockey is a very physical and what seems an aggressive sport.  However, it was a great experience and I was amazed at the players ice-skating skills.  As my time in Finland continues I realise that there are more things to experience here.  I look forward to further experiences to come and intend to grasp these opportunities with both hands!

Picture 1: The local ice-hockey team (TPS) playing a match.

Week 6, 19.02.11 – 25.02.11 (Cultural Blog) - Mandy Brown

There were no University classes as it was ‘Winter Week’.  This provided opportunities for me to explore Finland more so than usual.  My cousin, friend and boyfriend visited this week which also encouraged me to sight-see, rather than continue with my normal daily life in Finland.

I visited the capital city, Helsinki, to meet my visitors and spent the day there observing the beautiful architecture and surroundings.  I walked round the shopping areas, thinking I had seen most of the city; however when I checked the map in the evening it seemed I had only seen the south-east area!  Helsinki appeared to be considerably larger than Turku, so I decided to re-visit the city when my boyfriend was returning to the airport.  On return I visited Helsinki’s Zoological Institution Museum where the building itself was impressive along with the excellent display exhibits.

In addition to this I visited the town of Naantali, the home of MoominWorld.  It was recommended to me by my University tutor, and on reflection I was pleased I had taken her advice.  I am told that MoominWorld opens during Winter Week each year.  I got to meet the Moomin’s in person and enjoyed looking around the Moomin House!  There were opportunities to ice-skate and to use the snow-slide (which I did!). 

Including all of the above, I investigated Turku; I visited the Cathedral and Turku Castle.  The Cathedral was nice; however the Castle was more interesting, full of history and many objects to illustrate this.  I decided to walk by the Harbour near the Castle to take in the view.  It was amazing to see the frozen Baltic Sea with various ships anchored to the Harbour and appeared to have been there for some time.  As I observed the peaceful scenery, I noticed a random skier skiing along the frozen water around the ships.  This strikes me as a dangerous activity, however it seems that it is perfectly normal for the Finn’s and I admire their skill and courage.  Finally, while in Turku I took my visitors to the Finnish Scouting Museum as they have a keen interest in Girl Guiding and Boy Scouts.  This was a nice activity enjoyed by all; the scout expert was very friendly, enthusiastic and interested in mine and my family’s background. 

Overall, this week has been beneficial for my increased knowledge and understanding of Finland and I look forward to exploring more as the semester continues!

 Picture 1: The Zoological Museum.

Picture 2: Exhibit outside the Zoological Museum.













Picture 3: Me inside the Moomin House!