My first academic year at Lappeenranta

Let’s have a look back at how I managed this first academic year in Finland.

Time flies. Much faster every year.

Or at least that’s how I saw it passing by.

When I told this, someone regarded it as a good sign; it means I have been living an exciting life, thus I didn’t pay attention to the time span. Kinda correct, I think.

Now, sitting in my room full of summer sunshine, the memories started to stream back. Memories of my freshmen year – ended just some weeks ago – and how did I reflect myself.

Get to know the learning system

Well, the main point of this topic was to highlight what I found to be special, so you viewers can look for details on the school’s website 😉 Here are some of those special things:

1. Students are expected to carry everything, from enrolling to courses, arrange their own timetables, work in group, self-study…but all will be clearly oriented beforehand, and supported when needed. Most of the time I never fall into the “confusing” feeling, for example not knowing if the teacher will be absent or not, or where the class will be..
2. Some small but important techniques, such as how to look for documents in library, how to make a professional report with qualified citations…all were being taught right after I went to school, and with a serious manner – exams on how good you understand about citing for example.
3. The student service is bureaucracy-free. You send them an email and will receive it within an hour – or at least that was my personal experience. All procedures are fast, logical, and understandable.
4. Exams don’t always have to be difficult; it matters more if you understand everything during your study time. And you can re-exam three times.
5. Don’t actually try to make a distance between you and your teachers; they are also human, and in Finland, they can even be your friends. I talk to most of my teachers, and find out that they are friendly, eager to talk to students, and I always learn something from them, both in and outside of classrooms.

Meet my Finnish family

One of the best decisions I have ever made until now, is to enroll in this program, two hours before its deadline – I almost forgot to.

And until now, I still be grateful that I didn’t forget to.

For many reasons, we get on really well together.

A very traditional, typical Finnish family, who are highly-educated historians, politicians, teachers, administrators, and more. There’s never enough word to describe how much I have learnt when being with them – my Finnish family: from the way I should put the veitsi and haarukka (knife and fork) European style, to the Finnish traditions. And much, much more.

Student Evening

 

A short clip from our last Christmas event

I still remembered that Thursday evening in September, when Thinh – my just-met friend, asked me if I wanted to go to this “student evening” event. And that moment opened up a new chapter in my life here in Finland – a chapter full with grace, with love, and with amazing friends that I could have ever asked for.

For me, this small, cozy group is not standing for anything else but love.

Here, Jesus, Allah, and Buddha sit together and play board games.

Here, people greet each other with hugs, home-made food, and sauna.

Here, take and give love – the unlimited treasure we all want to share.

To sum up, I won’t gonna mention any name, ’cause I don’t wanna miss any. Thank you all for accepting me as a part of your amazing house, for all the love and care that you’ve ever given, and for the best coming years ahead of us.

The beaches

No matter where you are, it is always worthy gathering your beaches – Khanh Tr.

Well, if you have noticed in my previous blogs,  “beaches” are nicknames for my closed friends here in Finland, the ones I meet regularly – almost everyday, and are closer than normal friends. Well, we do stuffs like all the other besties would do – support one another with our study, be in groups, and create trusts among us. Once you’ve done those things, than you’d be very likely have your own beach. For me, there is:

A silent-but-talkative af Russian.

A shy Vietnamese girl. Only before she drinks :O

A Finnish bird.

A Finnish Queen.

Two princesses from St.P.

A Chicken-curry Bangladeshi.

A son-of-the-world.

Until now, we are still get along well. Nobody knows what the future holds. But I look forward to seeing the best of it. With these beaches.

Erasmus+, exchange, and friendships beyond borders

“Hannaseyo, na neun Khanh-ipnhita” – “Hello, I am Khanh”

“Yogio, banchan thor juse-yo!” – “Excuse me, more side-dish please!”

That was the prove that I’ve spoken fluent Korean.

…

No. Not at all. This language, for me, is still a big vague world. But I’ve learnt something more than that.

Something like, friends.

If you’re studying in an international universities, than every semester there will be exchange students from other colleges around the world. One day you will go somewhere as well.

But for now, you are the host. And as “a host”, I’ve met friends that are so different in backgrounds, but yet so similar: we are young, and international.

The good things when studying in Finland is that every semester, you’ll have more new, amazing friends, from whom you can always learn new things, and thus generating a non-discriminating atmosphere, which no textbooks can teach you.

But well, you know, every party comes to an end eventually. It is good greeting new friends every now and then, but it also sad saying goodbye when time comes.

At the end of the day, the truth is clear: memory can stay, but not people. We are just one in eight billion; we met for a reason: for memories. But we don’t stay forever. I guess that makes us cherish our time together even more, knowing it is limited.

So, thank you, for coming here in Lappeenranta this winter and share it with me, guys. I’ll miss you all when you’ve gone.

Organize my first event

Check it out here if you haven’t seen my blog about it 😉

Achievement in sports

Check this one out here as well 😉

Very Finnish things

Well,  million and million things actually. But here are those that impressed me throughout this academic year:

4. No niin – a million-dollar expression, so common but also too Finnish, which makes me unable to explain what it means. Speak the language for a while and you’ll eventually get used to it :))

5. Winter War (1939-1940) is the biggest scar in the Finnish heart, like the Vietnam war (1954-1975). Until now, history, media, and the old generations of Finland still discuss upon this topic.

6. Vappu – a special event to celebrate the end of Winter, is considered to be one of the very-Finnish things.

7. Mythology? – Kalevala

Chocolate? – Fazer

Dairy products? – Valio

Broadcast? – Yle

Elevator? – Kone

Textiles? – Marimekko

Cinema? – Finnkino

Classic music? – Sibelius

Sport? – Jääkiekko (Ice hockey)

And many more. They have their hands on everything actually.

Life lessons for myself

1. Talk less means more: no more blaming, no more craving on your sadness. Shake ’em off and stand up. Do yourself better.
2. Break your wall: People, regardless of how cool they might look, are just as normal as you do. Want some friends? Clear off whatever fear you’ve got there, and go talk to them. Initiation matters 😉
3. Open your mind to adapt new things: Imagine yourself as an unlimited superhero. There shall be no “I can’t do this” in mind; unless it interferes with your moral values, don’t be afraid. People have their amazing worlds, and it is amazingly beneficial to you to learn from them, by trying; don’t ask why, ask why not?
4. Listen: People nowadays have real issues with their listening skills. When someone talks, shut up, open your eyes and ears, and pay attention to their stories.
5. Expect as little as possible from the others: People, no matter how close you can get, are still individuals. Don’t expect them to fulfill your burdens just because you see each others as “best friends”, “comrades” or whatever. Let relationships and people around you be free. But if you really need help, just ask, and help the others with the best you can. I’m writing this not trying to stop myself from asking and helping, but from the negative attitude of “I expect that if you are my abc, you should have done xyz for me!”.
6. If you don’t like drinking, partying…then just stay away from it; don’t try to act cool where you are not able to, or not really into.
7. If you have opinions, those will neither be beneficial to anyone, then keep them for yourself; verbal trash comes from these unsubtle word-of-mouth.

Goals for the next academic semester

Well, as the previous goals were all accomplished, this is the time to set up new goals for my next period:

1. Preparing for another hardcore semester: This is crucial, as I’m planning to come back home next Spring. Thus, gathering a significant amount during the next semester is the priority to save up credits.
2. Travel: After summer is time for travel, as I’ve got my own budget. The Nordic  countries are my first targets. Then down South 😉
3. Deepen a language, maintain a language, and learn a new language 😉
4. Next autumn marathon in Tartu, Estonia. Why not?
5. Learn a new field that I’ve always wanted to learn: music.
6. Be a helpful tutor for IB19, and be a bridge between Erasmus, exchange, and full-time students in LUT and Saimia 😉

Well, that’s all for this academic year. I’ve gone a long way since beginning, and it’s not yet the end. Look forward to seeing it happens.

Khanh Tr.