Wykyzine 4/2022 - International Edition

The first step we need

It is time for the last Wykyzine -ma gazine of the year 2022. It feels unbelievable, because I am convin ced that January was just a few mon ths ago when I began my journey as a Media Manager of the Board. This year has indeed been the most ama zing year I have ever had so far. I have met amazing people, and experienced things I might never experience again. Needless to say, I am very grateful for this year and all the people I have learned to know. Now it is time for me to step aside, and give the stage to our new Media Manager, Minna Harjula, and silently smile in the corner while watching how she is taking this ma gazine and entire media division to a whole new level.

Warrantti is in the midst of a change. Our operational environment is going towards an international environme nt, as the amount of internationaland exchange students is growing rapidly in the upcoming years. This is why it is crucial to make right deci

sions now, when we have the time we need to prepare ourselves and make the environment as international stu dent -friendly as possible. The most vital thing is to change our communi cations language to english, or atleast have it as a language alongside with finnish. How could we engage with international students, if they can not even understand our communica tions? Warrantti has made huge leaps in this sector during 2022, and I am sure this trend will continue next year when the Board of 2023 takes control.

This is exactly why you are current ly reading the first ever Wykyzine in english. This is just a pilot stage, thus there is not so much content as in the finnish version. But everything starts with a little push, doesn’t it? This is the first step we need in order to perhaps have the whole magazine in english some day. It is not optimal to take too huge steps immediately, the refore we as a media division decided to start small; release a brief Wykyzi

ne in english. This magazine you are reading works as a reminder for you dear international student - you are not forgotten, it is the whole opposite!

I want to thank you all for this year. I am at the same time wistful becau se this is over, but also grateful I got to experience this year just the way it was. I would not change a thing. Now I want to thank you, dear reader, you are the reason this magazine is being produced. Enjoy the last magazine of 2022. Next one will be Minna’s pro duction.

Happy holidays!

Yours sincerely, Media Manager ‘22

Joni

Mattila

THE FINAL DANCE

The year 2022 will soon come to an end, which will also mark the end of the term of the current Board and a change of the board members. Putting a certain era in a jar is always wistful, but I can only look back on these past two years at the Warrantti Board, first as a Project Manager and now as a Chairperson, with joy and elation. The pain of letting go is great precisely be cause this organisation, these people, these fond memories and this beauti ful city that have bame closer than I could ever have imagined.

The theme of the last Wykyzine of the year is a topic that will also feature st rongly in the next strategic period; in

ternationalisation. Our community is rapidly internationalising and this re quires rapid change from both actors and members. Communication is in creasingly being produced in English and ways of integrating international students are being considered more actively than ever. I hope that in the future we will be even more open and welcoming to all exchange students and foreign students studying an in ternational degree, because together we are Warrantti.

It is now time for me and the Board to move on to the everyday life of a normal student. During the year, we have focused in particular on alumni

and masters activities, increasing the size of events and wellbeing. We also put together a new strategy and a code of conduct.

I would now like to thank each and every Warrantti member for these years. You are invaluable to our com munity.

Your chair of the board 2022, Sofia Kurki

Dreams Do Come True, Even If Through Different Paths

Hiyaa, how’s you? x

As some of the most faithful readers of Wykyzine might remember, I used to be part of the editorial staff of this student magazine before taking a little break this year in preparation for my exchange and moving away from Vaasa… and here I am back in the business as a little “foreign correspondent” of the magazine as you could say! My new home address is Prague, Czech Republic and as a bachelor’s student in international business, I’m staying here for the whole academic year to finish my bachelor’s degree as a double degree student.

When I first got accepted to this programme in the beginning of the year, I was ecstatic. Two years back when I originally got accepted to the University of Vaasa, I decided I eventually wanted to apply for this programme since I already knew I was going to stu dy international business. My personal background is that after graduating from high school, I moved abroad to live in the US, Italy, and Switzerland, and when the Corona crisis hit Milan, I shortly came back to Finland only with the intention to eventually start my university studies somewhere abroad. Be cause of the situation however, I ended up applying in Finland and got accepted to Vaasa. Spring 2020 altogether was some sort of a whirlwind to me be cause of my future plans changing so drastically so all of a sudden but settling down to the situation, I was generally very happy of getting to go to Vaa sa: the school seemed so nice and most of all, I saw there was this option to actually graduate with a fo reign degree at the same time as well – I was going to achieve my original dream, even if I had to walk to it through a different path!

Honestly thinking back now as a two years older of a person, I can also say it wasn’t too bad to be ful ly supported by the Finnish educational system at the same time as well – altogether it was a full-on win-win situation that would only keep all the doors open and close none. The only challenge I had co ming back home was the reverse culture shock I was experiencing – one of the phases in the life of an ex pat who has to readjust back to their home cultu re. This phase is said to be even stronger than the

one they originally experienced going to a new country and I can personally confirm this theory. American chattiness and Italian confidence and carefreeness chan ged to something, well, completely different, and the big city life to an endless view of fir trees. I love my country as a back ground to come from and some may find these things natural to them but I just personally couldn’t own them anymore! There’s many things to love and I might want to consider some future in Finland in terms of raising kids at some point but I figured before that I needed at least a couple of more years of adventure. My idea is that the world is out there to see anyways and I’m not ready to settle down before I’ve actually had the time to live a little.

Now I’m in the situation I originally dreamed of two years ago and ready to tackle the new challenges my new life will bring on my path. We’ll see where everywhere this year will take me to! I’ve learned by now it’s pointless to even try to predict haha. This year alone has surprised me with a new life in the UK as well (on top of me being accepted in the school in Prague) and you could say I’m sort of living in between these two countries right now as much as my long weekends, finances and Ryanair €20 deals allow. Which my lively personality is very okay with!

to use my own story as an example of still believing in your dreams even if it doesn’t work out the way you would’ve originally thought of be cause when you do your own part, you will eventually get what belongs to you. Might be a cliché but hey, it’s a cliché for a reason. Humility is good as long as it’s not preventing you from doing the things you actually want to do in life! I’m generally just very grateful for the opportunity that both Vaasa and Prague have of fered me and in return would like to welcome you all to following along my journey in form of these Wykyzine updates I’ll be sending to each magazine this year.

Na zdraví!

Emilia Ala-Jääski

PS. If any of you is planning an exchange semester and has questions or would otherwise just like to chat about expat dreams, feel free to hit me up on Instagram @emiliair! I’ll be naturally updating tons of exchange pictures as well for those that are inte rested.

I just honestly want

My name is Alexander Dollee, and I am originally from Rotterdam, the Netherlands Currently I am a Senior Consultant in EY, within the Enterprise Risk team, which is part of EY Business Consulting I have my degree from Vaasa, and below you can find a bit about me, and where I come from!

Generally, I have an interest in Risk Management, Social Responsible Investing, Data Modelling, Data Visualization and Financial Analysis in general In my free time I like to cook, renovate my house and studying for my MBA

After I graduated from my B Sc In Finance & Control in 2017, I wanted to study abroad, as I had never studied abroad and would like to step outside of my comfort zone

I quickly drew my choice of universities to the Nordic Countries and after comparisons of universities combined with their programs, Vaasa University became my preferred university of choice In my eyes a big plus was the internationally accredited EPAS certificate of the Finance degree Accreditation gives value and proves the standard of studying, even for those, like me, who were not previously familiar with Vaasa University or the Finnish education system

I graduated in the first half of 2019, and quite frankly the time flew by! Warrantti, Warrantilaiset, being a tutor, case competitions, and learning what a SitSit is

After graduation, I applied for a traineeship in the European Central Bank, in Frankfurt, Germany I worked for almost two years within the Data and Reporting Section, in the Budgeting and Controlling department First as a trainee, later as an analyst

Wanting to eventually come back to Finland, I began applying. EY had always been high on my list of interesting companies. Big4 in the first place, as I like consulting, but EY for its international character.

After making it through the first application rounds, a case question was part of the interview. Solving cases is a skill, and skills you can learn and practice.

Within EY, I get to work with interesting client projects from day one, giving me the chance to develop my skills and impact the business scene through both national and international projects.

Within my current team I focus on Internal Audit and Risk Data Analytics, focusing on process operating models and internal controls for various clients in Finland and globally. In addition, I perform deep dive process audits and assist in the annual planning of Risk Management, Internal Controls, and Internal Audits for various organisations.

Alexander Dollee

The Magic of the Annual Ball

TEXT: JONI MATTILA PICTURES: HETA KORKONEN & JOONA TIKKANEN

Warrantti celebrated its 33rd An nual Ball on 30th of September 2022. Around 400 guests attended evening ceremony at Bothnia hall in Vaasa. Guests enjoyed gourmet food, sang together various songs and listen ed many orations by special guests, for example the lecturer of the year Petri Kuosmanen and guest of honor Lauri Isomarkku. After the evening ceremo ny party continued on official after party, and on a following day at Kve vlax with “Wild West” themed party.

Special thank you for our Annual Ball Officials Johannes Jakonen and Enna Hanka, and the whole Annual Ball staff for arranging this event. Without them this Annual Ball would not have been possible to arrange.

DEAN ADAM SMALE

How did you end up here in the War rantti’s Annual Ball?

I ended up here because all the deans are invited, so it is something I look forward to each year. In the School of management I get invited to three different Annual Balls. I get invited to Student Union Annual Ball, Warrant ti’s Annual Ball and also Hallinnoijat Annual Ball. I love attending these occasions, to me as a Brit who hasn’t studied in Finland in a finnish univer sity, I really admire the responsibili ty the students have on their studies even though they are for free, I admi re how you students interact with us deans and teachers and take respon sibility on arranging these occasions. These kind of things are something you can’t see in British universities.

(Adam Smale was awarded a teacher of the year in 2005 Warrantti’s an nual ball)

I am not sure if students realize how much it means to teachers when you put them in front and appreciate what they do. Usually the feedback you get is critical or somewhat constructive, but to be put in front of the students and be appreciated for what you do, it is really something I remember like it was yesterday. It means a lot to teachers.

Do you have a short message for 33 year old Warrantti and to the fellow people here celebrating it?

All I can say as a dean, my job would be much more difficult if there was no Warrantti. We meet with Warrantti very often and discuss regularly. War rantti does a great job in connecting students to business life. The pande mic was a fantastic example on what Warrantti can do for students that need support beyond what a dean and teachers can do. My main message to Warrantti would be keep doing what you are doing, but one thing we need to look out for on the near horizon is happening in my school, the interna tionalization. International commu nity also needs Warrantti’s support. It is important to bring them in to these parties as well. That is a next big step.

What else could I ask for?

What else could I ask for?

Crossed 8246 kilometers with 46 kilos of luggage from Southeast Asia to Northern Europe, that’s how I began my study abroad journey, the journey of education to become “free people”

Background information:

My name is Mai Alatalo-Ly. I am from Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. In 2016, I mo ved to Finland as an international student studying bachelor’s degree in Internatio nal Business at Vaasa University Applied Sciences (VAMK).

I am now pursuing a master’s degree in In dustrial Management at the University of Vaasa. Besides studying, I am working as an on-call HR at Wärtsilä. I live with my Finnish husband and Mimi, a lovely white kitty.

What is it like to study in a foreign country, especially in Vaasa?

Studying abroad is an adventurous journey to discover myself while gaining an unders tanding of different cultures. Being in a new country was overwhelming for me at first, but I got to test my ability to problem-solve in diverse situations. In addition, moving away from my family allowed me to live in dependently and grow as a person.

What I love about the Finnish education system is the well-being that its schools focus on. I believethat good well-being is a prerequisite for learning, in particu lar, mental health is taken seriously in the school’s healthcare. In Finland, we go to school to expand our knowledge, connect with others, and enjoy new experiences rat her than compete.

Coming from a warm-weather country, I decided to move to Vaasa, the sunniest city in Finland. Attached to the name, Vaasa is

truly a multicultural and dynamic urban area filled with youthful students. In Vaa sa, English is widely spoken in addition to Finnish and Swedish, and the compact size of the city is just perfect for getting around.

Have you enjoyed your study here at The University of Vaasa?

The University of Vaasa is a great place to continue my campus life as the school’s va lues resonate strongly with my beliefs on education. The curriculum is well-designed to meet the trends and development needs of society. Studying at the University of Vaasa, I also get the opportunity to put my knowledge into real-life projects that are given by employers.

What do you think about Warrantti?

I really enjoy my time at the University of Vaasa as along with studies, there are countless fun events offered by the student organizations. Within those, the associati on of Business students, Warrantti, offers a wide range of services and free time acti vities that fit every taste. For me, Warrantti plays a key role in promoting the integra tion of international students into the new academic, social and cultural environment.

Living in a peaceful environment with a support system and surrounded by nice people, what else could I ask for?

Mai Alatalo-Ly

CHRISTMAS AROUND EUROPE

TEKST: SUMAYA SAID

PICTURES: PEXELS.COM

BULGARIA

Christmas is celebrated on December 25 th Advent start 40 days before that, on November 15 th Christmas Eve (Budni Vecher) is a very important day and the main Christmas meal is eaten in the evening of Christmas Eve.

Interesting facts:

Meals should traditionally have an odd number of dishes in it (normally 7, 9 or 11) and odd number of people sitting around the table. There’s a special round and decorated loaf of bread cal led “pita” which has a coin baked in it -> the founder gets good luck for the next year.

Relevant words:

o Dyado Koleda (Дядо Коледа) = Santa

o Vesela Koleda! = Merry Christmas!

HUNGARY

Christmas Eve is spent decorating the Christmas tree and spending time with family members. Sometimes parents decorate the tree in secret to surprise the kids. The main meal consists of fish, stuffed cabbage and a special kind of poppy bread/cake called ‘Beigli’ is a popular dessert. Gingerbread is also included in the traditional meal.

On Christmas day people visit their families.

Relevant words:

o Halászlé = traditional fish soup

o Mikulás = St. Nicholas

o Boldog karácsonyt! = Merry Christmas!

Interesting facts:

On the 6 th of December children are visited by St. Nicholas (also known as Mikulás) and they hope for presents. Children leave their shoes or boots out on a windowsill to be filled with goodies! Presents might also be brought by Télapó (old man winter).

Christmas Eve is the main day when Germans exchange pre sents.

Christmas trees are very important in Germany and the trees are usually secretly decorated by the parent and brought into the house on Christmas Eve.

Germany is well known for its Christmas Markets where all sorts of Christmas foods and decorations are sold.

Relevant words:

o Erster Feiertag = Christmas Day (‘first celebration’)

o Zweiter Feiertag = 26 th December (‘second celebration’)

o Frohe Weihnachten! = Merry Christmas!

Interesting facts: In Germany there are different advent calendars, some are made of wreath of Fir tree branches that have 24 decorat ed boxes or bags hanging from them & some are called ‘Advent Kranz’ and they are ring of fir branches that have four candles on them.

The tradition of Scherenschnitte (paper cutting) is when pa per is cut to the shapes of bells etc. and then different co loured transparent paper are placed behind the openings to make them look like stained glass.

The most famous German decorations are glass ornaments. The glass ornaments were originally hand blown glass and were imported in the USA in 1880s by the Woolworth stores.

LITHUANIA

Christmas time in Lithuania is usually pretty cold with snow and ice on the ground.

Christmas Eve (Kūčios) is more important than Christmas Day. It’s when families come together to feast (the meal is also called Kūčios) and it marks the last day of Advent. Typically the house, beddings and clothes are cleaned and changed before the meal. It was believed by some that cleanliness helped to protect them from evil for the follo wing year.

Relevant words:

Pateikti = present

Interesting

facts: Kūčios starts when the first stars can be seen in the night sky. If it’s cloudy, the ‘head of the house’ decides when the meal will start.

Often there is an extra place set -for a family member who can’t come to the meal or a family member who has died during the past year. In those cases sometimes a candle is lit in the remembrance of the deceased. It is also normal to invite people who might be alone on Christmas Eve to join.