D-I-E United States of America

1. DESCRIBE: Think of one episode that has left you confused or that you think was strange/different. Describe the object or situation in concrete, observable terms. What happened in the interaction? What was said? What did you see? What did you feel at the moment?

I think that the one thing which left me confused at the beginning was that how friendly people in the USA are. At first a taxi driver gave me discount, because I didn't had the exact sum what it costed. Also how they greet every time when they see you. It is just something that you don't face or come across in Finland. Also they are truly happy for you if you achieve something or you get something you have wished a long time. :) They didn't care that what color you were or what size you are or did you wear any high-end brand clothing etc.

2. INTERPRET: Think of possible explanations (interpretations) for what you observed or experienced. From your cultural perspective, try to explain why you think this situation or experience occurred? Try to find at least 3 different interpretations of the interaction or occurrence. What cultural information have you used to produce these interpretations?  

In the beginning this type of action got me mumbling words, because all of a sudden some guy that I have seen once says "sup?" in the hallway and just keeps on walking. :DD Couple of weeks and I got use to that and it really was something that we should learn from them. Just to say that, even you don't expect them to really tell you how they are, makes you feel that people recognize you and that makes you feel good. 

And what comes to that color, size, clothing thing, it really makes you think differently about the things you have, and what you value. Is it so important to have expensive clothes, or are you richer when you have a new friend from Austria? Now, I would say that having friends all over the world and travelling across the USA made me damn lot richer than any amount of money could.

3. EVALUATE: Evaluate what you observed or experienced. What positive or negative feelings do you have regarding the situation? Consider how you might feel if you were a member of the host culture and held the dominant cultural values and beliefs?

I really don't have a lot of bad or negative things to say about USA or it's people. Like I said, there are few things we could learn from them, and definitely these are the ones! Small talk culture, kindness and authenticity are features we should embrace from them. It brought a brighter side out of me when I got used to these.

Letter Home - Sami Pihlava

1. In what country and University are you studying?

• I studied in Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, which is in Pennsylvania, USA

2. In what Study program are you studying at Centria?

• Industrial Engineering and Management / Industrial Management

3. What are the courses like at the host University?

• I took mostly management courses and one business course
• They were a lot different than in Ylivieska, because we had really much self-studying and presentations. Other than that, they were okay but could have been a little harder and more in-class lectures, and less homework. :)

4. Describe the study culture?

• Pretty much the same as in Finland, but waaaaay more homework. Our days were also short, something like 2-3 hours of lectures each day. Main difference was that every teacher or Professor / Doctor as they liked to be called, took attendance in every class. If you missed even one class, it affected on your final grade of the course. Also they took gave you minus points if they saw that you had phone in your hand or needed to go to the toilet during the class.

5. What is your study group like?

• We had really nice group of internationals, but for some reason the group also divided after a while at the beginning. Of course everyone took courses which are close to their major so mainly we were among the Americans or locals..

6. Please describe what the everyday life is like in your host country? What do you like in particular?

• It wasn't anything spectacular.. Just normal, like it would be in here Finland. Just more studying or homework and because it was so small city there wasn't a lot of things to see. BUT when ever we had the chance to go or travel to some city, we did so we planned with few international students those trips. PS. I did pretty amazing things during my time in there and visited so many places that I could have never believed. Fulfilled few of my life long dreams also!

7. What has been challenging? Why? 

• Most challenging was at the beginning to get everything done and sorted. Paperwork, Visa, Courses, Money, Inspections, and all the things I needed to do before I left. It was so overwhelming and still wasn't sure that when I had all documents, that I really had everything I was about to need.

8. What has been the highlight of your exchange so far?

• Getting to know some really amazing and awesome people around the world!
• I got to see 4 NHL games during my time in there!
• One NFL game!
• One NBA game!
• Oh boy the list is neverending! Like I said I got to do many things off from my bucket list and fulfilled many of my dreams!

D-I-E France

1. DESCRIBE: Think of one episode that has left you confused or that you think was strange/different. Describe the object or situation in concrete, observable terms. What happened in the interaction? What was said? What did you see? What did you feel at the moment?

Maybe the first time I was greeted in French way, by faire la bise. I knew about this way of greeting before coming here. Me not growing up with this or not used to it, it was different and caught me by surprise. To faire la bise, you touch cheeks lightly and kiss the air.

2. INTERPRET: Think of possible explanations (interpretations) for what you observed or experienced. From your cultural perspective, try to explain why you think this situation or experience occurred? Try to find at least 3 different interpretations of the interaction or occurrence. What cultural information have you used to produce these interpretations?

To faire la bise is just a normal way to greet your friends here. You see this everywhere regardless of age and gender. The feeling of it being different was just because I wasn't used to it and known with it.

3. EVALUATE: Evaluate what you observed or experienced. What positive or negative feelings do you have regarding the situation? Consider how you might feel if you were a member of the host culture and held the dominant cultural values and beliefs?

If I were French this would've been just a normal everyday situation. I'm used to this way of greeting now. It feels nice to get used to your host country's customs and understand it a bit more.

D-I-E, Zhi, Poland

1. DESCRIBE: Think of one episode that has left you confused or that you think was strange/different. Describe the object or situation in concrete, observable terms. What happened in the interaction? What was said? What did you see? What did you feel at the moment?

When walking to the street, I saw different views in the city. It’s mixed west and east Europe. There are not only western Europe style buildings, factory buildings, but also Russian churches, Stalinist architecture. Seniors are more likely to speak Russian as foreign language, while young people speak are more likely to speak English and German as foreign language.

2. INTERPRET: Think of possible explanations (interpretations) for what you observed or experienced. From your cultural perspective, try to explain why you think this situation or experience occurred? Try to find at least 3 different interpretations of the interaction or occurrence. What cultural information have you used to produce these interpretations?  

This fact makes the city quite interesting, and I started to read the history of the city. From the 19th century, Łódź has been the Land for many nations: Poles, Germans, Jews, and Russians. German merchants built the textile factories, schools, theaters. Jewish built the Jewish community. Russian built Orthodox Church, Stalinist architecture. Because of the WW II, the city was partly destroyed and people died or moved away from the city. After World War II ended, Poland fell under Soviet control and the communist People’s Republic of Poland was created as a Soviet satellite state.In 1989 Communism was abolished and the Third Polish Republic had been established. 

3. EVALUATE: Evaluate what you observed or experienced. What positive or negative feelings do you have regarding the situation? Consider how you might feel if you were a member of the host culture and held the dominant cultural values and beliefs?

I realized how history can affect a city from different perspectives. Not only the buildings but also how people behave.

It is always interesting to me to trace back the history of a city. I would like to share the interesting stories about the city.

Course organization, timetable, assignments, assessment

 Students going abroad form Centria are recommended to take the Training course for studies or work placement abroad course, that leads to 2 ECTS credits. This is how the course is organized.

The training course follows your exchange study or work placement. Each path follows this process: Pre-departure, During exchange and Return. However, the pace is unique, since you follow the academic calendar of your host University or work placement.







Pre-departure: The learning path starts with the Pre-departure training, part one (1). This workshop is organized twice a year, in October or March yearly. Pre-departure training part two (2) is also organized twice, In November/December or April yearly.

During Exchange: You will do two assignments during your exchange, that will help you integrate into the new environment, as well as give us and future exchange students information about your host University or work placement. The assignments are due before your return to Centria.

Return: Return workshops are organized in connection with the pre-departure training courses. There is also a return workshop in August yearly.


Fun, together and engaging - Strengthens your self-esteem and so much more. 

 
Formal learning objective: 

• Student can explain the basics of intercultural development and global competence.
• The student can be effective in the new host country by being successful in studies or work placement and has made connections (friends)
• The student is more aware of him/herself and can analyze, reflect and communicate cultrual learning and global cmpetence
• The student can communicate to other students and employers, what characteristics and competences he/she has developed.

Assignments

Predeparture

• You will have Pre-assignments before your exchange, that will help you prepare for your period abroad. 
  Focus is also on Intercultural development

During exchange

• These are two during exchange assignements. 
  • Letter or video home
  • Describe, Interpret, Evaluate

Return

• No separate assignment for the return workshop
  
  
  Requirements
  Participation in three meetings. Pre-departure training 1, Pre-departure training 2 and the return workshop
  Completion of the Assignments
  Sharing to other students about your experience
  Assessment
  Pass or fail 
   

 n mindedn

Assignment 2

1. DESCRIBE: Think of one episode that has left you confused or that you think was strange/different. Describe the object or situation in concrete, observable terms. What happened in the interaction? What was said? What did you see? What did you feel at the moment?

-The first days of school were in a way exhausting and it took some time to settle in to the enviroment, mentally and physically. For the first week or so we bought enough breakfast food to go through the days. We only had a few hours of classes per day, only a couple of times a week so a good breakfast was enough for each day. The other reason why we bought such huge amounts of food in to our firdge, was that the meals they offered at the school cafeteria looked very unhealthy, it was basically fast food.

There were 2 different cafeterias in our school, both of them offering different variations of meals, but the theme was the same, which usually was fries, chicken wings, pizza and so on. Also the snacks they offered in the school was mostly crisps, soft drinks, chocolate and other variations of sweets.

2. INTERPRET: Think of possible explanations (interpretations) for what you observed or experienced. From your cultural perspective, try to explain why you think this situation or experience occurred? Try to find at least 3 different interpretations of the interaction or occurrence. What cultural information have you used to produce these interpretations?

-This is only my point of view and for that it feels like a huge thing if you compare these dishes to the dishes they serve in finnish schools. This might not be such a cultural ”shock” if i was to come to Scotland from, lets say the USA, where the school foods are pretty much alike.

3. EVALUATE: Evaluate what you observed or experienced. What positive or negative feelings do you have regarding the situation? Consider how you might feel if you were a member of the host culture and held the dominant cultural values and beliefs?

-Even if im sitting here, critisizing the food they serve to students, I too am part of the so called problem, due to the fact that it really was nice having a good slice of pepperoni pizza (cheap I might add), after a hard and exhausting day of school

D-I-E Netherlands

1. DESCRIBE: Think of one episode that has left you confused or that you think was strange/different. Describe the object or situation in concrete, observable terms. What happened in the interaction? What was said? What did you see? What did you feel at the moment?

In Netherlands, people are very friendly and social. However, in situations where something goes a little wrong, you can run in to a phenomenon called "Dutch comfort". It is something like cold comfort, meaning you do not get very sympathetic response, but for an example "better you than me". When I was registering as a resident of Enschede in City Hall, there was many problems along the way. I was very relieved when I finally got it done, and I thanked the person at the desk and said that I am glad it's over! The office worker started laughing at my face and said that it is not over yet, I still need to wait about a week for them to send the forms back to me. 

2. INTERPRET: Think of possible explanations (interpretations) for what you observed or experienced. From your cultural perspective, try to explain why you think this situation or experience occurred? Try to find at least 3 different interpretations of the interaction or occurrence. What cultural information have you used to produce these interpretations?  

In the beginning of my stay the Dutch comfort was quite a shock, but luckily our Dutch cultural studies contained a mention about this phenomenon. My first interpretation was that some people are rude and that customer service is bad. This first interpretation was from my Finnish point of view. Then I started to realize, that the Dutch comfort is actually a way to cope with hard situations and the people can actually mean well. To get the second interpretation, I had more experience and knowledge. Now the third interpretation is that the Dutch people are kind of friendly, they regard even strangers like their acquaintances, and they can say things that in Finland would be said only to a friend.

3. EVALUATE: Evaluate what you observed or experienced. What positive or negative feelings do you have regarding the situation? Consider how you might feel if you were a member of the host culture and held the dominant cultural values and beliefs?

The Dutch comfort now can even make me smile because I know it means well. I can even say something like it myself. I think if I was Dutch, I wouldn't even think about this phenomenon because it is so deeply rooted in their communication.