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 had confusing situation at the local church while we went listening Christmas songs there with my friend family, songs were presented and hosted by a family who was locally famous about this annual happening. The church was full of quests, and the son of the family welcomed people to the happening, from the stage, at his intro. I was introduced to them a bit earlier, and suddenly this man says to all: “May I introduce to you all, here is Rita.”  “Rita has come here all the way from Finland, etc.” I had to stand up and say hello to everybody, when they turned to see this weird miracle; all the way from Finland. It was awful to me because I haven’t used to be in the spotlights and it’s not so Finnish thing anyway.

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 Finland that wouldn’t be happening, but I realized that it was a major politeness from their perspective and culture. In America you really must stand out from the crowd or leap to the eye, if you want to find the success in there. We don’t have that same system in here, so it was very weird thing to me. No worries, everything went well, and the concert was very good, but it was a good reminding of the differences between our cultures.

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 don’t know? The situation was okay to me after a first shock when I thought to run out as fast as I could – not literally of course. The experience was good because now I know. In any case of willing to do business or have a job or a flat or you name it, it’s a competition. You must be seen, heard and noticed positively. There is a difference to the Finnish culture because we usually say that it’s good if it’s understandable, but in America it is far from good at that point; whatever it is.

Letter to Home – Riitta Saarelainen

1. In what country and University are you studying?

I studied in Lock Haven University, which is in Pennsylvania state, 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 studied International Business, Macroeconomics, Human Resources and English writing skills. Part of these courses were under the management major program and part were under business major program. I felt that some of the courses were challenging to me because those were for the senior student, but it was okay, just did the best I could.

4. Describe the study culture?

I liked this American way better. Somehow it was more effective, because there were not so many lectures and that way topics were more clearly filled or booked up to the lectures. Because lessons time was shorter, there were more homework and assignments to be done.

5. What is your study group like?

I didn’t get along so well with other internationals, so I had to find my connections from elsewhere. It was okay because I get to see more of local manners and habits instead of the regular student life. Studies went okay, I had so different groups around me because of different classes and the major programs.

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

Lock Haven is a small town. It surprised me, but eventually it was good that it was that way. Studies were so hard, so I wouldn’t get those done if I would have more action out from the campus. In their school system I appreciate mostly the respect of time. Because it’s more expensive there, people value more time and the schedules in USA; at least it felt that way.

7. What has been challenging? Why? 

Paperwork was very challenging, demands for the visa are huge, at least it felt that way, but still I managed and got through of those, so it was just one part of the exchange. My most stopping challenge was my linguistic skills; it felt like don’t know English at all and I’m ready to come back home. But as everyone said, it got better and stronger all the time, and I’m so glad for that.

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

·                  Getting to know some so super nice people and get awesome friends around the world!

·                  I got to see and feel NYC, and see the Statue of Liberty, it has been my dream for so long time

·                  I got a chance to live in another culture and country

·                  I pass all my courses and get good grades!

·                  I get to live many of my dreams, so now it’s easier to go back and do that again

D-I-E USA

1. DESCRIBE:

One instance was when Spring break came, and everybody left school to go on a vacation, but I stayed at the dorm during the break. There were couple of us that stayed there, but most of the students were gone during that week.

2. INTERPRET:

Most who left were from other states or cities, or they just had planned other vacation plans. I know that at least couple guys from our corridor left to have a vacation near a beach so they could just relax on the beach, but there were so many people around the US and world that they left for their home or just sightseeing. I had made plans of having couple adventures in Arkansas, so I decided to stay.

3. EVALUATE:

I felt it was similar to our ‘hiihtoloma’ in spring. Actually, it was almost at the same time, too. In Finland many people during the time off go back to their parents or have a vacation abroad or just go sightseeing around the country. What I heard from other peoples’ plans, their plans were similar to what people here would do during their vacation; going to the beach, visiting parents and other relatives, going on a cruise, things like that. Some also just worked during that time, which is also what I can imagine lots of people doing in Finland.

Lobby which normally is full of people

Afternoon outside my dorm

Letter Home - Pasi Karjalainen

1. In what country and University are you studying?

I was studying in United States at University of Central Arkansas

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

Information Technology.

3. What are the courses like at the host University

The courses at UCA are somewhat similar to courses at Centria, at least in Computer Science department. Classes can be small but also fairly big with 20-40 students. My classes had 10-30 students. The classrooms are about the same size as in Centria, but they also have small auditoriums where they also teach, those were the best kind of classrooms

4. Describe the study culture?

Study culture is also somewhat similar, a bit more study oriented than in Finland. In our classes people started to do the assignments right there when they were assigned if the professor gave permission to do then, libraries were always full of people studying and people would do projects on groups even though the projects were for individuals.

5. What is your study group like?

I usually studied alone but occasionally did assignments in groups, then it was usually me and couple Americans. They were great people, our thinking process matched and it was pleasant working with them.

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

Somewhat similar to Finnish life. There were some differing things, like people would use shoes inside their houses, streets didn’t usually have means of transport other than cars, or other motorized vehicles, church was big thing as lots of people went to church on Sundays and the church was apparent in many local afterschool events. Food there was interesting as a Finnish: Instead of potatoes there were usually sweet potatoes, meat was mainly beef and often food was greasy.

7. What has been challenging? Why? 

As I liked being alone often, going to stores were most challenging. Nearest store was Kroger in maybe about 2 kilometers away, but the roads to it were mostly roads for cars, so cycling was interesting. To be fair, cycling wasn’t dangerous, but it was still scary to cycle with cars. Usually I took a longer trip to Walmart where I could take a local cycling path which started about half a kilometer from school. Sometimes talking were hard, I could think of something I would want to say in Finnish, but because I wasn’t experienced English speaker, it was sometimes hard to come up with some words or good way to say what I wanted.

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

Highlight was probably all the trips I took with my good American friend, Aaron.  We met almost immediately when I came to Conway, I believe it was on the same day or at least the next day. 

We took couple trips outside Conway during the spring, one to Petit Jean state park which was really beautiful and cool place, but when we were there, there was a heavy fog, so we couldn’t see any scenery but the trails we walked were good and we had a good time. Petit Jean State Park | Arkansas State Parks

Other time we had an adventure where we cycled to Little Rock from just outside of it totaling to about 41 kilometers. Took us 2 and half hours but it was worth it.

Introduction- Ngo Tan BUU

Hi,
My name is Ngo Tan Buu, I am studying IT in Centria UAS.
I am also a Youtuber ! My channel is Buu's channel.

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!

Introduction - Sami Pihlava

Hello everyone!

My name is Sami and I come from a small town called Eura. It's located in Western-Finland about 450km from Ylivieska where I live and study nowadays. My field of study is Industrial Engineerin and Management in Ylivieska and this is my 2nd year.

I applied to Lock Haven, Pennsylvenia mainly because it has been my lifelong dream to visit in the USA. I'm also very excited to improve my language skills. There is a lot of things I wanna see and do during my studies, but I also chose interesting courses so this is going to be awesome!

This will be dream come true in some areas for sure, but at the same time i'm shitting myself because it is so far away and I don't know anyone from there.