Vol 21 Issue 13

INSIDER 18.01.2019 I VOL. 21 I ISSUE 13

STUDENT MAGAZINE OF XAMK

NEW STUDENT INTERVIEW

THIS WEEK Student Interview Profile Recipe: Glรถgi Education: Finland VS Germany

Info Board Poetic Corner Movie Review Torille! - The Joy of Mutual Support

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EDITORIAL STAFF

POLINA VISHNYA Kouvola Current Affairs

LEIF HEFLIN Kouvola Current Affairs

MINH-TRANG LE Kouvola Current Affairs

LONG NGUYEN Layout Editor

MARIJA MARASH Kouvola Current Affairs

ANNA RYNDINA Kouvola Current Affairs

LENA GELFERT Kouvola Current Affairs

NIKITA MUNENKO Kouvola Current Affairs

GLORIA TAZZINI Layout Editor

ELIZABETH AKINLABI Kouvola Current Affairs

HUGH CLACK Editor in Chief

INSIDER STUDENT MAGAZINE South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences Paraatikenttä 7 45100 Kouvola Editor in Chief: Hugh Clack INSIDER ISSN 1457-1587

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PHONE +358 44 702 8758 WEBSITE insider.xamk.fi EMAIL insider@xamk.fi

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EDITORIAL

On behalf of Insider Team, I would like to wish you a new year with luck, happiness and prosperity. The year 2019 will be a brand-new page of your life. It is time to embrace yourself to challenges, get to know ‘strangers’, explore different places and learn new knowledge or language.

The anniversary is on the way. We are preparing to celebrate the 20th birthday of Insider with new and old faces. The party will be promised to bring Editorial staff together, enjoy wine and share experiences.

We kindly to welcome three new members: Lena Gelfert, Anna Ryndina and Gloria Tazzini. It is sure that they will have an exciting journey ahead.

About this week: The comparison in education between Finland and Germany is brought to you under

the eyes of an exchange student. Christmas is over, but the vibe still exists in the white snow of Finland and it is easy to buy Glögi but home-making it can be a new experience. Poetic corner from Lidiia might bring you a little surprise. There are several profile interviews carried out with new students.

Check out Movie Review to get more insights of Aquaman but no spoilers. Info board is a new-born section where information about recent and upcoming projects and changes is updated weekly and if you are having some ideas and want to promote them, please send an email to us and we will help to spread them out.

We hope you will have a good experience when holding this magazine and be a part of us on our journeys to create more interesting content by giving us feedback via email, fb or simply knocking on the door and saying hello.

Long Nguyen 3

EDUCATION: Finland VS Germany

Hey Guys, or “Hallo” like I would say in German. I am an Erasmus Exchange Student here at XAMK and my first week of university just finished. All I can say is: WOW! Before I started my trip to Finland, I read a lot about the educational system here and that Finland always achieves one of the best places in the Pisa rankings, so I thought “okay, this is going to be tough, can I really do this?”. I really enjoy studying in Germany, we have big student unions, many events, a wide range of university sport, an outdoor volleyball field, a university cinema and so much more. But now after one week I am really looking forward to my semester here.

I mean come on, there is for example a PlayStation 4, a XAMK Soccer, a university nurse, a psychologist and different overalls for each degree program? This can only be good.

To start with the teacher-student relationship, it is really open and you can call the teachers by their names, in Germany we have to say “Mister or Misses/Doctor/ Professor”, otherwise it is really impolite. It makes it a lot easier and personal to interact with each other if you can just call them by their names, at least for me.

Also, the fear of giving a wrong answer is lower so you participate more, not only because this also makes up some percentage of your grade (haha).

Let me tell you one fun situation I experienced directly in my first class: In Germany we usually knock on the tables when the class finishes to thank the teacher, so you can imagine how everyone was looking at me when I did that after my first lesson.

The next thing that really blew my mind was the student intranet and the Tuudo app. You feel super informed and more attached to the university. The Moodle system makes everything so easy to overlook and you never have the feeling of being lost in the “jungle of lessons or assignments”. We also use the Moodle system in Germany but not as extensive as here.

But what I enjoy the most is the fact that you will get a fresh lunch for only 2,60€, especially after I heard that Finland is a very expensive country. In Germany I pay approximately the same amount excluding the drinks as well as the salad! Oh, I really enjoy the fresh salad and fruits here.

I am really looking forward to exploring XAMK and being a student here!

Text: Lena Gelfert - Photo: Gloria Tazzini

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RECIPE: Glögi The best way to warm up yourself during the cold winter evenings in Scandinavia is definitely Glögi.

This traditional Finnish drink (usually alcoholic) is an integral part of Christmas routine. Even if you are not pro in cooking you can easily make it from everyday home ingredients according your own preferences, because the best part of the recipe – no strict instructions. If you enjoy astringent taste of spices, cinnamon and nutmeg, like I do, – this delicious mulled wine should be your choice!

INGREDIENTS: • half bottle of red/white wine (or other alcohol according the taste) • concentrate drink mix • 1 cinnamon stick (broken in half) • ½ glass of cane sugar • 3 fresh orange slices • almonds & raisins for serving

INSTRUCTIONS: In a mid-size sauce pan heat water/concentrate drink mix and sugar over medium heat until sugar is dissolved for about 1.5 minute.

Add spices. Preferably do not use ground spices, otherwise mulled wine will turn out muddy.

Pour wine and add chopped fruit.

Remove the drink from the heat before boiling.

To serve, drop a few nuts, berries or raisins into each glass and serve hot.

Glögi can be made 24 or 48 hours before serving, just cover and put it in the fridge.

A mug of warm aromatic mulled wine will undoubtedly be a wonderful addition on a cold winter evening with friends. Try not to get burned! Hyvää ruokahalua!

Text and photo: Anna Ryndina

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PROFILE Where are you from?

I come from Italy. I was born in a small town in northern Italy called Udine, where about 100,000 inhabitants live, but I live in a 9,000 village called Tarcento.

What do you study?

In Italy I also study design at ISIA Roma Design in Pordenone. I'm in the third and final year and I hope to be able to give here all the credits needed to graduate in July. At Xamk, I will be studying Graphic and Architecture Design.

How many countries have you been to?

Luckily, I visited a lot of places because my whole family likes to travel. I have been in England, Scotland, Ireland, the Canary Islands, Mexico, Jamaica, Cuba, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Austria. And now I am in Finland!

Beatrice Cautero

Why did you choose Finland for Erasmus?

I chose Finland because since I was a child I've always liked the Nordic countries and after embarking on the design path I started to love Scandinavian design and the clean and minimal lines typical of these places. So when I learned that there would be a chance to spend time here and learn new things, I did not hesitate.

What do you like about Finland?

I love the great organization that exists here, especially in the university.

The landscapes enchant me... magical!

And I also love all the Erasmus students who welcomed me with open arms organizing incredible parties in the apartments.

What are your new year resolution?

No, I have not yet, but I hope this experience clear my mind!

Text and photo: Elizabeth Akinlabi

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POETIC CORNER

FIRST LOVE Позволь любить, Позволь мечтать, Позволь от счастья мне сгорать, Позволь тебя благодарить, Позволь с тобою в мыслях жить, Позволь мне радоваться всем: Улыбке, смеху, красоте. Позволь услышать голос твой, Что для меня такой родной. Позволь запомнить все черты, Что для меня уж так милы! Позволь почувствовать тебя Ты столько значишь для меня. Позволь мне лишнее забыть И лишь тобою дорожить. Тобою жить, творить, дышать И чаще, больше вспоминать. И не позволь тебя забыть, Не дай так просто отпустить.

Let me love, Let me dream, Let me burn in happy gleam, Let me thank you that you are kind, Let me live with you in mind, Let me cheer about all things Beauty, laughter, smiles, sun beams.

Let me hear your voice again, It's like drug that runs my veins.

Let me mark all of your features, They're more precious than gold riches.

Let me feel, please near be, You just mean so much to me.

Needless fragments let's forget, I will care for you till end.

To live, to breathe, to create with you, Recall more often than I do.

And don't allow me you forgetMe-not. Don’t let me regret.

Poem: Lidiia Benkovskaia

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NEW STUDENT INTERVIEW I have recently had an interview with a new student of XAMK. Liubov Tanina came from Republic of Karelia, Russia and she is going to study game design in Kouvola.

Congratulations to Liuba with admission to XAMK University.

Tell me something about yourself. What are your hobbies and interests?

When I was a child, drawing has become an inevitable part of my life. Also, when I grew up, I have lost in the world of computer games. Especially, I prefer open world games. In addition, I spend my free time playing guitar, walking in the forest and taking care of my pot plants and flowers. Because I can’t have a doggy right now.

Why have you chosen game design in XAMK University?

I was looking for different programmes in art which are at least somehow related to game design, but I had no idea that somewhere there is a bachelor degree which exactly focuses on this field. At the same time, my friend was studying at Xamk and she told me that her new roommate is studying Game design there. So, I decided to roll the dice.

So, Liuba, would it be correct to say that your interests in drawing and playing computer games were main motivation to study game design?

Yes, that’s it. When I was playing computer games, I was always wondering how does it work. What knowledge you are supposed to have, what kind of skills… and the only one thing which I knew for sure was that I need to develop my art competencies as much as I could. So, I think this motivation and experience which I had before applying for University programme helped me at the exam.

So, you have been participating in the entrance exam. Could you share with me your impressions?

Well, I think that I cannot tell any details about my exam, but I could share some information. Firstly, before the main exam we were supposed to submit pre-task, which we had to do in three weeks, so we had enough time. I did not feel much pressure, but it was still a little bit uncomfortable because I had no expectation at what level of skills you have to be, and I was confused what examiners were waiting for. And then we had an exam, which took around four hours.

Concerning atmosphere at the exam, it was quite nice and friendly, we had tutors to help us. Of course, exam included creative task, but to my mind the most important thing was ability to express your thoughts in English briefly and clearly. One more thing which is also very important, even though four hours seems to be a plenty of time, but actually you have to divide time for completing different parts of exam, otherwise, you might spend a lot of time for drawing and you won’t probably manage to do motivational questions.

Where have you been studying before? And what?

Before I have been studying in the University in Russia. I have learnt English language there. Then I moved to Finland and started to learn Business and Administration. But if we are talking about some art schools or art lessons then I would probably say that I am a self-learner.

Since you have been studying in Russia before, could you tell me why have you decided to come to Finland for further studies?

Well, let’s say that there are several reasons for it. One of them is that I have always had a need to develop and challenge myself. Living abroad as a foreigner is not the easiest path to take for a young person. So, it makes life more complicated, but at the same time it is more exciting and full of adventures and new things to explore. That’s why my choice is Finland with the most difficult language in the world, with a nice weather and very social people. Just kidding, as it turned out actually Finns are very talkative. But seriously, Finland is just awesome!

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Now, since you have been accepted for the programme, what are your expectations of further studies in XAMK UAS? Well, in game production you cannot manage all the specific steps of game development at the high simultaneously, at least in the beginning of your career.

Probably, you will have a wish to get a deeper knowledge in some area, for example, level game design.

That’s why I hope, these four years at the University will guide me to specialization in which I would like to work in future and to get a deeper knowledge of it but at the same time to understand the full process of

creating a game. Moreover, I hope it will be full of different events and I am also excited about possibilities of going on exchange and I hope to take part it.

As far as I know you have already had orientation week, can you briefly express your emotions about it?

Sure, since we are part time students, we had only two orientation days. However, we got a lot of information about how systems like Moodle and student intranet work. We have met some of our teachers. Also, we have been shown around the campus and I was very impressed by the studying environment, University facilities and how the main building looks like. It has some specific atmosphere, because nowadays most of the Universities in Finland have a modern design.

I especially like canteen, it is a cozy place to eat and talk with your groupmates. And finally, my study group, my team for this battle is full of cool people and I am eager to know them closer because as I have already told we are not going to see each other every day as fulltime students.

Thank you Liubov for such an interesting interview. I wish you good luck with your studies and stay passionate about your life dreams!

Text: Polina Vishnya Illustration and Photo: Liubov Tanina

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TORILLE! - The Joy of Mutual Support

When one considers a degree to pursue, people recommend picking something definite. They say to pick something technical like engineering or helpful like medicine or profitable like law. Rarely will people advise you to take such a general degree as business, but what these people don’t consider is the pursuit of a business degree at XAMK Kouvola in Finland.

Since Finland is a highly socialized Nordic country, most day-to-day worries for the citizens (healthcare, free school, and unemployment benefits) are alleviated by the government. Naturally with such a nurturing government, it makes sense that they are reluctant to give such help to foreigners. Fortunately, they offer extremely cheap education and for those who entered before 2017, it was free. A seemingly vague or even useless degree is extremely useful in Finland, because in this country you are taught how to start your own business.

If you need to brainstorm some ideas, the lecturers Sabine Suorsa and Kirsi Rouhiainen are the place to start. They were the heads of the wonderful program known as Startup Passion which would help you formulate your ideas and give you practice pitching such

ideas in front of investors. After talking to these ladies, the next place to stop is Kouvola Innovation, just a few meters from the campus. Timo Lehmusmetsä is an advisor who helps individuals move from idea, to business plan and financial plan. He can also help you to find a location to rent and get you connected to the right people. Bringing this plan to the bank and Migri offers the possibility of not only a business loan, but also a work residence permit and a monthly entrepreneur stipend.

So, consider staying in Finland. The education system is heralded throughout the world for a reason. XAMK Kouvola in particular is a diamond in the rough. It is hard to believe that such a small city could house such a wealth of potential. The annually revised curriculum makes it extremely adaptable. The lecturers provide support, passion, and knowledge. And most importantly, there is no filler. Coming from the United States where it is required to take a year of courses outside of your major before beginning what you set out to do, I can say that Finland is a breath of fresh, albeit cold, air.

Welcome to Finland. A country whose language has no future tense, because the future exists today.

Text and photo: Leif Heflin

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MOVIE REVIEW Aquaman: help DC not to sink!

STUDIO 123 Kymenlaaksonkatu 1 45700 Kuusankoski 044 375 3686 www.studio123.fi

18.01.2019 - 24.01.2019 STUDIO 1 ONNELI, ANNELI JA NUKUTUSKELLO

(S) | 10€ | 1h18mins Fri - Sun, Wed - Thu 17:00

AILO - PIENEN PORON SUURI SEIKKAILU

DIRECTOR: James Wan WRITERS: David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, Will Beall STARS: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Nicole Kidman, Dolph Lundgren FANTASY, ACTION, ADVENTURE / BUDGET: $160 Million While Marvel has already built a huge cinematic universe with 21 installments up to date and new trailers that break the records that were set by them, DC is desperately trying to catch up. After the idiotic (in the worst meaning of this word) attempt to create “serious” “Batman v Superman”, a little bit less awful but still unwatchable “Justice League”, we got to see quite a good movie about Wonder Woman. It seems like the quota was met, and DC decided to keep producing bad films. Here at least we’ve got a beautiful underwater world!

The movie starts with a lighthouse keeper, Thomas Curry, finding Atlanna (Nicole Kidman) who was thrown ashore from the water. The keeper takes her in, and upon waking up the woman destroys the TV and eats all the fish from the keeper’s aquarium. What does a man do with a lady like Atlanna? That’s right, immediately sleeps with her.

Then we see how much ass Arthur Curry AKA Aquaman can kick, how much he drinks and how often he jokes.

Aquaman, although he lives on the ground, is needed under the water to prevent a war between these two worlds. He constantly does these things while trying to find the Trident of Atlan, an ancient artifact that gives the wielder the power to control the sea and all the creatures there. On the good side, Jason Momoa is brutal and amazing, and he is really good in this role; Amber Heard is an awesome woman and thanks to her, Mera looks incredibly good. This movie is overall about the good looks: sometimes the picture is just perfect, both above and under the water. CGI and visual effects are top-notch.

On the bad side, the plot is almost as stupid as in other DC movies.

Discussing all the plot holes would have taken the whole issue. This is probably the only bad thing about Aquaman but it is huge and it undermines everything good that was done in the movie.

DC is trying to beat Marvel but fails once again. Aquaman is not terribly awful but it is still far from good. The movie probably will have collected $1 billion by the time this issue is printed but this doesn’t mean that DC has created a masterpiece. This film would have been good 10 years ago but not in 2019.

Nikita Munenko

(7) | 11€ | 1h25mins Sat - Sun 15:15, Mon - Tues 17:00

GLASS

(16) | 12€ | 2h10mins Fri, Mon, Thurs 18:45

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (S) | 12€ | 2h15mins Sat, Tues 18:45

AQUAMAN (2D)

(12) | 12€ | 2h24mins Sun, Wed 18:45

STUDIO 2 EXTRATÄHTI: AINO (12) | 7€ | 2h5mins Thurs 24.01 at 13:00

MINÄ, KUSAMA

(S) | 11€ |1h16mins Fri - Sun, Wed 17:20

IHMISEN OSA

(12) | 11€ | 1h48mins Sat - Sun 15.00 Mon - Tues, Thurs 17:15

IRON SKY THE COMING RACE (12) | 12€ | 1h34mins Fri - Sat 19:00 Tues - Wed 19:20

BUMBLEBEE

(12) | 12€ | 1h54mins Sun 19:00 Mon, Thurs 19:20

STUDIO 3 TOIVEUUSINTA: OMA MAA (7) | 10€ | 1h49mins Thurs 24.01 at 13.15

JUICE

(7) | 10€ | 1h49mins Fri - Sun, Wed - Thurs 17:30

TUNTEMATON MESTARI

(S) | 11€ | 1h35mins Sat - Sun 15:30 Mon - Tues 17:30

GREEN BOOK

(12) | 12€ | 2h10mins Fri - Sat, Tues, Thurs 19:30

THE MULE

(12) | 11€ | 1h57mins Sun - Mon, Wed 19:30 Students/armed services, pensioners 1€ discount on all full priced tickets of 10€ or more

INFO BOARD Humanitarian Project: From the world to Nigeria Do you know that there are hundreds of children being left on the street every year in Africa suffering loss, love and lack of education? The situation is getting worse and worse. Therefore, take action now to help these children recover and pursue their goals of life or never. However, the big problem cannot be solved with a single solution, it requires constant efforts from a large number of people step by step, from small to large scales.

With warm hearts and desire to contribute - small but worth-commending, a group of young friends, who are degree and exchange students at XAMK, are voluntarily working on a humanitarian project to support Ablaze Football Academy which is a non-profit organization creating a home for Nigerian homeless boys and giving them a career such as football players. By doing so, less children will be victims of hooliganism and child abuse. The academy was established in 2013 with 8 kids but at the moment, the number is more than 70. And they need funding in order to maintain their work.

Why don’t we all do it together now? If you want to join them in baking and collecting donations.

Please drop them a message via Insider office.

List of participants: • Elizabeth Akinlabi- Nigeria • Long Nguyen - Viet Nam • Beatrice Cautero- Italy • Eva Pacovska - Czech Republic • Gloria Tazzini- Italy • Ioana Cretu- Ireland • Massimiliano Mercanti - Italy • Migyo Choi - South Korea • Timo Rantamaki - Finland • Kweku Eshun - Ghana

On the 4th of February 2019, from 10 AM to 3 PM, there will be a booth in Main Lobby where you can donate everything such as jerseys, football equipment and etc. You will get a free cookie hand- and heartmade and a donation tag in return as a ‘thank-you’ from the team.

“Great things are done by a series of Small things brought together” - Vincent Van Gogh.

Text: Long Nguyen, Photo: provided by Elizabeth Akinlabi

Don't get lost in the changes Finally, the Library moved back to our Campus. To celebrate the grand opening of the renewed spaces on Monday, the 21. of January at 1:00 p.m. you are all more than welcome to have a nice cup of coffee and a delicious cake there. The get together will take place at Paraatikenttä 6. Looking forward to seeing you!

The Research, Investigation and Development Department is moving to the first floor at the moment. You can find them there from now on.

Safe the best for the rest: at the moment there is a new silent room being installed at the first floor. It will open its doors during the next week for all those who seek for a quiet place to nap or just to hang out. Have a great rest!

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Photo and Text: Lena Gelfert