Teksti ja kuvat: Sanna Aaltonen
Exchange experiences from Pori
Exchange student experiences at UCPori: Making it yours
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ach semester, UCPori welcomes approximately 30 exchange students from around Europe. Two German exchange students from the Autumn 2019 semester graciously allowed Pointti to pick their brains about their experience, Finnishness and their top tips on how to make the most out of the pearl* of the West Coast.
a bit of a process to try and get familiar with a Finn at first, but the process is worth it.” Caro does find some differences between the countries however, in a very everyday life situation – breakfast. “Germans use it as a chance to chat and talk, at least in my family, and food is something on the side. Here? Finnish breakfast is just about eating. Save the chatting for later.” Despite Finns and Germans functioning on the same level of politeness, Caro says she has learned something during her time in Pori – that less is more sometimes. “Finns get their message across. Germans often say too much, politely making small talk without saying what they really mean as they don’t want to hurt anybody. When you have an opinion and you know what you want, you need to voice it – and this is what I really like about Finnish people. I also found that the best way to get friendly with Finns is to go slow and steady; you can’t push them. It’s a process.“ A process that is good to start at parties and events, Caro adds. “That’s where you meet the people and that’s what it’s really about.” Newsflash for new arrivals: Pori boasts a good variety of saunas for its size, and UCPori students are not known to turn away from these. “I’ve taken so many saunas here,” Caro laughs. “I’ve become so familiar with many places with pools and saunas in Pori. Sauna truly is a cultural thing and not just a stereotype.” One thing Pori is very proud of is the seaside front, and Caro agrees. “The Kallo lighthouse and the Yyteri beach are places I took my German friends who were visiting me. My friend didn’t quite realise how cold the sea actually is when he ran off to take a dip in Yyteri…” Caro strongly recommends for exchange students to explore Pori on their own, not just on tutor-led days. “Dedicate a day, several days, to exploring Pori. Make sure you do it when the weather is nice! Pori has beautiful places and the best way to find them is to explore them by yourself, and find
*subjective
“Explore – that’s how you make memories” Caro Scheil studies Computational Visualistics in the University of Magdeburg, combining both computer science and medicine as her two majors. “I wanted to study in the Nordic countries as they’re considered the ‘IT capital’, and Finland and Pori just worked out practically in the end,” Caro says. “My parents had also been here for a holiday in 1992, and it was nice to visit some of the same places they’d shown me pictures of – luckily now missing the awful fashion of the time!” Before arriving, Caro didn’t do much advance reading on her new temporary home. “We all make our own experiences, and I think it’s better to see things for yourself rather than have set ideas that might not be true, possibly disappointing you. I wanted to see how Finns and Finland really are, without being prejudiced.” It does seem like a good approach; Caro and her fellow exchange students were surprised how after just a few weeks they all felt at home in Pori. Avoiding prejudice - however some common stereotypes do seem to ring true. “Both Finns and Germans are polite and punctual, though privacy might play a bigger role in Finland. It might be
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