Finnish Culture and Living
Finnish Language
Finnish is not more difficult than other languages, it is just different. Finnish language is a member of Finno-Ugrian language family. Almost all other European languages belong to Indo-European family. That's why the grammatical structure and vocabulary in Finnish is different. The closest relatives of Finnish language are Karelian, Vepsian, Ingrian, Estonian, Votian and Livonian. The most spoken Finno-Ugrian language is Hungarian. There are about 25 million speakers of Finno-Ugrian languages in the world.
If you want to learn and practice the Finnish language, we can recommend the following internet page, which provides an introduction into Finnish, basic vocabulary and a lot of exercises (http://www.uuno.tamk.fi/).
Sauna and Sports
Sauna is not just a place to get clean. It's a place to take off your clothes and at the same time shake off your cares. There are saunas of every size and type in Finland, from electric saunas at swimming pools and sports complexes, to little wood-heated saunas right by the water's edge. There's more to the sauna than just the steam. There's this ritual of steam, swimming and relaxing that is practiced by almost all Finns and enjoyed by visitors from around the world. Some people also do it in the winter. The lake is frozen except for a bit of open water at the end of the dock. And then someone walks out of the sauna and takes a dip in a hole in the frozen lake.
Finnish people love sports. That may because Finland seems made for sports of all kinds. You can swim and sail in the lakes and sea, ski on thousands of kilometers of trails. Walking in the forest, it's not only good for your body; it's also good for your soul. Have you ever come across someone walking and briskly swinging ski poles? Nordic Walking was developed in Finland in the 1980s and now it is popular among Finns of all ages. Finnish Sports and Leisure Centers offer many ways to take part in sports of all sorts.
Source: http://www.visitfinland.com/
Safety and Health
Student Health Care Services
As a student of Satakunta University of Applied Sciences you are welcome to use the services of the students' nurse without a charge. Every campus has its own nurse. You get more detailed information about contacting the nurse during your first days in Finland. Satakunta University of Applied Sciences also provides you the possibility to use services of students' psychologist.
Hospitals
If you need acute medical attention, please go to the nearest health centre or hospital emergency unit. If you visit a doctor in the hospital or health care, the fee for the appointment is generally € 13 per visit, € 26 during night, weekends and public holidays. If you have booked an appointment but you don’t use it, you will have to pay € 32. Patients’ information is treated confidentially, only you and your doctor have access to this information. If you have a dental emergency, you can go to the dental clinic of the health centre and make an appointment. There are also several private clinics.
Vaccinations
No special vaccinations are required for entry to Finland, but it is recommended that you are vaccinated against tetanus, polio and diphtheria.
Pharmacies
Medicines are only sold at pharmacies. For certain medicines you need a prescription while some are sold without. A doctor’s prescription is needed for stronger medication, such as antibiotics. There is at least one pharmacy in town, which is open till late. There is a sign on the windows of all the pharmacies indicating: ‘päivystävä apteekki’ which means on call.
Emergency Number
The general emergency number in Finland is 112.
Culture Shock
When you go to another country, you might experience a culture shock. A culture shock can be described as a feeling of disorientation or confusion that occurs when a person leaves a familiar place and moves to another place. It can be either positive or negative and the reaction may be both physical and psychological. Some students will probably ask themselves why they chose to leave their familiar surroundings. Please keep in mind that this is a learning process and that most students will return home with greater self-confidence and the ability to manage in an intercultural environment.
Common symptoms of culture shock are:
- Boredom, loneliness
- Allergies, pain
- Sleeplessness
- Mood changes, depression, powerlessness
- Anger
- Idealization of home culture
- Loss of self confidence
- Development of stereotypes in the new culture
If you experience some of the above symptoms, you should try to:
- Keep an open mind; people may say or do things that people at home would not do or say, but Finns act according to their own set of values, not yours
- Do things that you did at home; listen to your favorite music or eat familiar food
- Stay active; do some sport activities
- Keep in touch with family and friends from home
- Talk to a friend about your feelings and concerns
- Learn from your experience; moving to a new country can be one of the most fascinating and educational experiences of your life
- Talk to somebody from the International Office or to the nurse from your school (on hp)
Public Holidays
Banks, post offices and most shops are closed and there is no tuition during the following public holidays:
Date Holiday
January 1 New Year’s Day
January 6 Epiphany
April 22 Good Friday
April 22-25 Easter
May 1 First of May / Labour Day
June 2 Ascension Day
June 25 Midsummer Day
November 5 All Saints Day
December 6 Independence Day
December 24 and 25 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
December 26 Boxing Day