Staying in Finland_

Prelude_

New Found Friends

Language and Cultural Diversity

Finland, a Second Home_

Academic & Career Pursuits

Friendship Pursuits

Personal Pursuits

¨ Where the Finish Becomes a Beginning_

 Staying in Finland

 

Prelude

Staying in Finland was one of the greatest experiences that provided a sense of internal openness and diversity, and as once told it is true that as an exchange student, there is a sense of excitement that comes from the attempt of survival in a new environment. This in essence brought out the extrovert within. However many of these experiences are not documented here, but rather in http://www.finspiration.com, which includes actual destinations and photographs that cannot fit in this essay. In short, this section is a brief overview of the new found leanings.

 

New Found Friends

In many aspects, the realization of staying in Finland was an extension of Calgary, minus the friendly faces I knew, to be expanded to the strangers I would soon call my friends. As time progressed, it wasn’t so much that unfamiliarity of the environment was the struggle, but understanding thy self that became the challenge. The interactions with people, particularly with room mates who were from Switzerland and France really allowed me to think beyond the boundaries of myself, the small discussions over supper, the events we attended outside EVTEK, helped me understand who I was and how I could apply socially acceptable behaviors to quickly change a relationship from stranger to friend. An overall understanding of global affairs can also work in your favor, as we have found that people in Finland are in tune with Miikka Kiprusoff, the Finnish goal tender for the Calgary Flames hockey team.

 

Language and Cultural Diversity

To understand the language and cultural diversity, tolerance, and acceptance stemmed from the self confidence of having to apply problem solving, critical thinking, and most importantly networking in many situations. Many of the events and places we discovered were in fact through word of mouth, a contact, a friend; knowing when to toggle between an extrovert and an introvert became a key ingredient, an element from within rediscovered when everything in Calgary is familiar.

 

Just bear in mind, quick thinking and problem solving will come in handy, particularly when attending a public Sauna where the major cultural difference is that wearing bathing suits is socially unacceptable.

 

Finland, a Second Home

In many instances, the ability to adapt in a multicultural environment relies on a bidirectional openness and listening, as well as taking the initiative to lead many group functions not only in projects dealing with EVTEK, but outside activities outside EVTEK, which lead me to new people also from the University of Helsinki. Taking initiative involved communicating in a language that was unfamiliar, and where the misconception of leadership is that stereotyped as loud, boastful, energetic, and at times unbearable. Rather it was listening, patience, empathy, sensitivity, and understanding that brought me closer, to call Finland my second home.

 

Likewise, the lifestyle is comparatively relaxed than Calgary, so long as you are a student traveler. In general, this relaxed lifestyle has a special result: People are inclined to be friendly, willing to help if you ask, and in many cases, the rules of conduct particularly drinking and eating are equally relaxed.

 

Academic & Career Pursuits

In many ways, being placed in EVTEK with students who also lived in the same residential area brought great diversity: Spain, Switzerland, France, Italy, Germany, Africa, China, and Taiwan. English as the universally accepted language was the means that brought us together, which professors also used as a means to teach, really was the point that made Finland a second home, bearing in mind being motivated to use the Finnish language at your fingertips can also bring a smile to a stranger.

Honestly, I miss Finland, for it not were the challenges and burdens of my native home, the temptation to stay another four months became a realization with the possibility of working for Nokia and to study and explore my favorite field: Mobile communications and its technological application in modern society. Simply, I would love to continue exploring new technologies and applying them to everyday life as a field of work. More importantly, being in the field of information technology, mobile devices, text messaging, instant messaging, and networking of that sort helped me maintain a relationship with those in Finland.

 

Friendship Pursuits

However, perhaps I miss Finland, not so much the place, but the strangers I can call a friend. As well, it wasn’t so much of missing the place, but missing the challenges that together with a friend from Calgary that furthered our existing relationship. Through the unknown challenges of Finland, I rediscovered myself, to take upon these new found capabilities and as I speak, to extend and challenge the existing relationship in Canada.

 

Personal Pursuits

Indeed, through this experience, a new feeling emerged, one that is difficult to describe: A sense of gratitude and appreciation, universal maturity emerging from overcoming the challenges of traveling to the unknown, and a deep desire to continue traveling to the unknown to further mature into a seasoned explorer; Simply, I want to travel again.

One can only imagine what it was like when Christopher Columbus set sail to the unknown, to discover the new land, only having a desire to keep going.

 

¨ Where the Finish Becomes a Beginning

Finally, if the sections above were not enough to assist, describe and convince you the great personal and academic benefits from having to travel to the unknown, perhaps our website, http://www.finspiration.com will inspire you. And if that wasn’t enough, for detailed assistance for your trip to Finland:

 

Real Time Chat via MSN	numbers_2000@hotmail.com
Mail via Mount Royal College	rlau990@mymrc.ca

 

Where this document ends, I sincerely hope it becomes the start of your journey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The beginning awaits you,

 

Ronald Lau