Placement in Finland?

Paul2k12

Paul2k12

Paul2k12

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As part of my Uni course there is a opportunity for students to participate in an International Placement for 12 weeks.

One of the destinations is Finland - Going around January for 12 weeks, 8 weeks clinical placement then 4 weeks 'Cultural Experiences' ie holiday. Other destinations are Spain, Portugal, Greece or Kenya. Having been to some of these I fancy somewhere a bit different!

Has anyone done a similar thing or visited on holiday, any recommendations on things to do/not do?

Thanks!
 
I've been on holiday a few times. Generally it comes down to walking in the snow, getting drunk, and going in the sauna.

Tampere University's Kyykka tournament (Finnish skittles) is worth going to just for a laugh, and Helsinki has enough to keep you occupied for a couple of days of sightseeing. Suomenlinna (island off Helsinki) is pretty cool to take the ferry over to.
 
I think i will get offered the chance of 3 different places, Joensuu, Kuopio and Tampere. Weather will be interesting to live in.
 
I have been to Finland, however it was in the Winter in the skiing season, and it was the most northerly part of Finland, Yllas in Lapland.
 
My gf is Finnish. Been there a few times, spent 5 months there from August to January last year. Spent half in Ylivieska near Oulu and the rest near Lahti.

Do you actually speak Finnish btw? Or are you intending to get by with English only?
 
Evilsod said:
My gf is Finnish. Been there a few times, spent 5 months there from August to January last year. Spent half in Ylivieska near Oulu and the rest near Lahti.

Do you actually speak Finnish btw? Or are you intending to get by with English only?
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He'll have little bother getting by with English only. Finns learn English from... age 7, when they start school, as I recall? He'll be fine in a big city.
 
Just got to hope you're in a mixed sex house...and it has a Sauna. Add some snow and a ton of booze and you're set.
 
vonhelmet said:
He'll have little bother getting by with English only. Finns learn English from... age 7, when they start school, as I recall? He'll be fine in a big city.
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Age 10 apparently. Customer service puts ours to shame, most positions, even in supermarkets, require you to speak English (which is better than we do over here :rolleyes:) and possibly Swedish/Russian. Problem is Finns above about 30yo probably won't know much English as they didn't really teach it then.

That was really a question from my gf anyway. Kuopio her response was 'good luck', because the dialect is a nightmare to understand.

Oh and it'll be -30 again so I'm told >< It was a really cold winter last year and its supposed to be just as bad this year because they're having a really hot summer atm (30+ degrees all last week). I'm going over for a couple of weeks next month so I'll probably melt.
 
Thanks for the replies, Yeah I'm hoping to learn a little before I go and as part of the course we have to attend Finnish lessons at the university.

It will be interesting to see how they contend with the weather.
 
Paul2k12 said:
Thanks for the replies, Yeah I'm hoping to learn a little before I go and as part of the course we have to attend Finnish lessons at the university.

It will be interesting to see how they contend with the weather.
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*sadistic laugh from the gf when she read learning Finnish* :p

Best to avoid Kuopio then as the dialect could make matters worse. Tampere would be the best bet so I'm told. Plus you can always go to the theme park (Särkänniemi) if its open :D

Tbh the weather isn't *that* bad. It tends to snow over night. I was there in April last year and believe me its worse when the temps around -10 to 0 than it is -10 to -30. There will still be loads of snow on the ground even in April but because they have snowploughs and stuff out in force all the time the paths and roads won't have much if any on it, whats left will melt and refreeze and make walking a nightmare in April.

January, just make sure you have a scarf, hat, gloves, maybe a second set of gloves and a thick pair of socks (with another pair on underneath). I was given a pair of knitted woolly socks while I was over there, combined with a big pair of boots and a Wermacht Great Coat and it was actually quite cosy going outside even in -20 :D
 
Moses said:
University of Helsinki.
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Ah ok, I know someone at Tampere University of Technology and someone at Aalto in Helsinki, but no one at the University of Helsinki. The weather there seems a lot better than the rest of the country (less snow).
 
Evilsod said:
*sadistic laugh from the gf when she read learning Finnish* :p
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Indeed, best of luck to anyone learning Finnish. It's marginally easier if you already know Hungarian apparently since they belong to the same family of languages but that just means it goes from hard to still not very easy. That said it's worth making a bit of effort there as apart from anything else the Finns are more likely to feel a little better disposed to you for having shown a bit of willing.

Oh and if you're in a bar ask about the local drink - I'm sure the Finns will be delighted to point you in the direction of salmiakki*. Saunas are great, especially if you can go outside to roll in the snow/take a dip in an Arctic river in between sessions in there.

*The cynical may assume it's because they just want to see the reaction but I think it's because they actually like it.
 
do a bit of rallying while your over there, kimi raikkonen and mika hakkinen lead us to believe everyone over there enjoys a bit of rallying
skip to 6:00 if u dont want to watch the whole vid
 
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semi-pro waster said:
Indeed, best of luck to anyone learning Finnish. It's marginally easier if you already know Hungarian apparently since they belong to the same family of languages but that just means it goes from hard to still not very easy. That said it's worth making a bit of effort there as apart from anything else the Finns are more likely to feel a little better disposed to you for having shown a bit of willing.

Oh and if you're in a bar ask about the local drink - I'm sure the Finns will be delighted to point you in the direction of salmiakki*. Saunas are great, especially if you can go outside to roll in the snow/take a dip in an Arctic river in between sessions in there.

*The cynical may assume it's because they just want to see the reaction but I think it's because they actually like it.
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Indeed, though I always sound like a complete tit when I say "Do you speak English?" in Finnish (Puhutko Englantia?) and they don't understand me ><

I've not had chance to go roll in the snow after sauna :( A cold shower has to suffice, though it is nice.

Not a fan of licorice. Though instead I get my gfs mum basically force feeding me with her baking/cooking ><
On the bright side, Moose is lovely :D

Nightglow said:
Evilsod What is Iceland like first at beginning of July?

Got rid of my kid for a week.
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Iceland? :confused: If you mean Finland then probably ridiculously hot. Like 25-35 degrees hot. If you mean Iceland I don't have a clue :p
 
Evilsod said:
Iceland? :confused: If you mean Finland then probably ridiculously hot. Like 25-35 degrees hot. If you mean Iceland I don't have a clue :p
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It really depends. I've had loads of summer holidays in Finland and I've been there in mid 30s temps and in mid teens. And there's some hellish thunderstorms from time to time.
 
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