Autumn semester 09 revisited

By Anna Bessonova 20.12.2009 – 21:32 in Aiheeton

Autumn semester oh-nine passed so quickly we hardly noticed how the time went by. Apart from following courses, taking book exams, learning languages, partying and debating, we’ve been active in student politics. By ‘we’ I mean the inexhaustible Tsemppi members (find more about us on our website www.tsemppi.com), and our devoted supporters from Finnish as well as international community  – we wouldn’t have achieved what we have without you!

Let’s remind ourselves what’s happened in the international community this past semester:

- University of Helsinki got more international students joining brand-new Master Degree programmes in English. We’d very much like to hear about your experiences so please share them with us in comments to this post!

- Tsemppi (Organization for International Degree Students) hosted a number of popular events to welcome new students: blueberry-picking, second-hand shopping, boardgames night, meetings for PhD students and general discussion evenings. Unfortunately, due to problems with venues and shortage of manpower we weren’t able to host our traditional dinner nights. We hope to change that in the next semester and offer you a bunch of exciting opportunities to socialize and discuss various topics.

We want to emphasize, though, that Tsemppi needs new members! Although we’re called an organization for international degree students of the University of Helsinki, we are not exclusive: we welcome everyone, students and non-students, foreigners and locals. All you need is be open-minded and interested in meeting new people. The more active members we have, the greater scope of activities we would be able to offer and the more fun we’ll all have in the process!

- Debating Society lives on! We’re still the only debating club in the Nordic countries and we still do weekly debates in English (find more information about our society and debating in general at www.helsinkidebating.org). Apart from debating events (show debates and a debating workshop), we’ve held social events (Design Museum excursion, stand-up comedy night, sauna evening and a two-day cruise to Stockholm) and recently travelled to Riga for a debating competition (one of our teams reached semi-final). Next semester we’ll continue hosting weekly debate sessions and we’ll offer new socials and travelling opportunities. Join our Debating Society to meet new people, have fun and learn public speaking, critical thinking and analytical skills!

- Thanks to the support of international community, Tsemppi now has a representative in the Council of Representatives at the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY). This is quite important because HYY affects every student at the university – foreign students included. UniCafe, YTHS (healthcare center), Ylioppilaslehti – are just a few of the many services that HYY provides to it’s members. Membership in the Student Union (HYY) is compulsory for all students at the University of Helsinki (except for PhD students). You become a member by paying compulsory 80 EUR or so for the whole year (sum changes slightly from year to year). NOTE: this money goes to the Student Union (HYY) and NOT to the University of Helsinki.

Since HYY has such a big influence on lives of students at the University of Helsinki it’s important that voices of foreign students are heard when it comes to decision-making within HYY. If you are interested in taking an active role in this respect, join Tsemppi Group – new members are always welcome! If you are experiencing some problems with services provided by the Student Union (HYY) – let us know and we’ll try to address them too. For more information contact me at anna.bessonova(at)helsinki.fi. We need your support to continue improving situation for foreign students!

- Let us know about a student organization YOU are part of! Student life at the University of Helsinki is exceptionally vivid and has something to offer for any taste. Share with us your experiences here in the comments section or start blogging here!

Next year is a start of a new decade. Coming from USSR, I am not a big fan of five- or ten-year plans so let’s start with something less ambitious but more realistic. Hence I’ll wish for just one thing for the next year: I hope for 2010 to be marked by vigorous student activism. Internationalization within Finland is growing and you have an exciting opportunity to be part of that process.

You can be active in many spheres: within international community or within a Finnish/Swedish-speaking student organization (which we highly encourage you to do because apart from finding new friends, it will help you learn Finnish or Swedish) – or both.  You can even create an organization of your own. The main point is – be active!

Hyvää Joulua! God Jul! Merry Christmas!

Comments (0)

Student Life, Student politics!

By Julia Toivanen 1.11.2009 – 20:32 in Aiheeton

Every wondered how you could have your say in the Student Union? Well here is the perfect opportunity for you. This week on 3.-4.11 the Student Union will be having elections for its representative council. All student who are members of the student union, so the international students and the exchange students can also have their say in what types of services they would like.

If you feel that international students should receive health care regardless of whether they come from outside the EU/EEA, or are studying for a PhD, you should make sure to VOTE in the election! If you feel that international students have special problems when it come to finding housing in a new country and in a language they often do not understand, YOU SHOULD VOTE in the election! If you, in general, feel that it is important that the special interest of the international students are given due consideration in both HYY and at the University, YOU SHOULD VOTE! If you think it is important to ensure that things continue to improve for international students at Helsinki University, also in a future where you are no longer here, YOU SHOULD VOTE! In order to participate in the democratic process as a member of HYY, YOU SHOULD VOTE!

So how do you vote? Follow the steps below:

1.Find your candidate:
-Check out the SYL election machine at www.edustajistovaalit.fi to find candidates that match your views.
-Go to www.tsemppi.com/elections to find the only list focused purely on improving things for international students.

2.Go to a voting station between 10.00 and 18.00 on Tuesday 3.11 or Wednesday 4.11. Remember to take your student card with you. The alternatives are:
• Unicafe Ylioppilasaukio, Mannerheimintie 3 C
• University main building, Fabianinkatu 33
• Porthania, Yliopistonkatu 3
• Learning Centre Aleksandria, Fabianinkatu 26/Vuorikatu 7
• Topelia, Unioninkatu 38
• Metsätalo, Unioninkatu 40
• Social Science Library, Unioninkatu 35
• Learning Centre Minerva, Siltavuorenpenger 20 R
• National Library of Health Sciences, Haartmaninkatu 4
• Institute of Dentistry, Mannerheimintie 172 / Kytösuontie 9
• Physicum, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2a
• Chemicum, A. I. Virtasen aukio 1
• Exactum, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2b
• Information centre, Viikinkaari 11
• Biokeskus 3, Viikinkaari 1
• EE building, Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2
• Department of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Niemenkatu 73, Lahti
• University of Vaasa, Yliopistonranta 7, Vaasa

3. Head to UniCafe to enjoy the free coffee and cake you receive for taking part in student democracy!

Be active rather than stay at home complaining about issues. Make a difference and take part in student elections!

Comments (1)

Meeting Finns: a Foreigner’s Perspective

By Daniel Moran 29.9.2009 – 13:56 in Aiheeton

This isn’t really a piece about meeting Finns or my experience per se, but more of a point to be made, on how one may go about meeting Finns. Yes, as a new or old student living in Helsinki you may have heard a vast number of stereotypes about living in Helsinki and Finland in general, from “UniCafe food is bad,” to “Finnish beer isn’t as good as German,” “Finnish coffee isn’t as good as Italian” to even “Unicafe food is good.” Another stereotype I’ve heard in the time I’ve spent in Helsinki is that “I haven’t gotten to know many Finns.” Well, my personal experience has been one of getting out of it what I put into it – ie the times that I’ve gone to events put on by the Social Science, Sociology or Political Science student organizations, I’ve usually met a good number of Finns – some for the first time, some who I knew already.

So, if you are in Political Science, and would like to get to know some real-live Finns, then you should go to the Voo (Poli-Sci Student Organization) International night TONIGHT September 29th, 2009 at Kuppala, the downstairs social-room at Snellmanninkatu 14 (Entry from the yard of U37), at 6pm.

If you happen to be a Sociology Student, then I encourage you to go to the International Evening on Thursday October 1st – that’s this Thursday, also at Kuppala from 7pm.

If you happen to miss these or just aren’t a Sociology or Poli-Sci student, there are plenty of events being organized by the various student organizations. The best way is to sign up onto the email lists – just send an email to majordomo(at)helsinki.fi with the subject line empty, and the words subscribe _________

For example, to sign up for the sociology international student list you would send the email to majordomo with the following in the message:

subscribe kontakti-int

Here are some of the other student organizations email lists:

Sociology in Finnish: kontakti-ry

Political Science: voo-news

Political Science in Finnish: voo-l

Social Science (Kannunvalajat): kannu-news

There are others, though I don’t really know them all. If others could post them that might be useful. There are also groups on facebook – some are used more than others, but just search your department’s student organization’s name and I’m sure you’ll find them.

Here are the names of a few select other student organizations (though these are not the terms used for subscribing to the email lists) and I apologize if I’m wrong with these:

Anthropology:  Mana

Social Policy: Stigma (?)

Social Psychology: Status

Development Studies: Keho

Philosophy: Dilemma

Economics: KTTO

Communications: Media(?)

Comments (0)

No Housing? Still no solution!

By srasmuss 2.9.2009 – 8:32 in Aiheeton
Tagged , , ,

By Søren Berg Rasmussen

Last year a number of international student arrived in Helsinki, to study either as exchange students or for a master’s program, only to find themselves without a place to live. HYY arranged some emergency accommodation and in most cases it seemed to solve the problem for the time being.

Now, a year later, nothing has been improved. In fact, the situation has only become worse. This year a record number of students, international as well as Finns, are expected to be without accommodation at the beginning of their studies.

The Finns, to some extent, might be able to rely on their social networks to get a couch to crash on at a friend’s place, but where is the international student to go? The central park? A quick look at the University website as well as the Student Union’s website does not give any hints to an answer. So far the international students, and maybe even some of the Finns, have been left, hanging in the dark.

It is alarming that despite the fact that this has been a recurring problem, and the fact that already a year ago the alarm bells were ringing louder than ever for this year’s incoming students, all efforts seems to have been fruitless.

When it comes down to it, it is the City of Helsinki who is responsible for making sure that no one living within its boundaries is homeless, but so far the response to the lack of student housing have been completely inadequate. At the moment only a handful new apartments are being build, resulting in a desperate private market where landlords can charge outrageous rents due to the fierce competition to get an apartment.

A last minute emergency accommodation plan has been agreed upon with the City of Helsinki, but if there is no information about this, how are the international students expected to benefit from this.

Some might argue, that if anyone ends up in situation without a roof over their head, then they will obviously seek help, so why inform about something which is for emergencies only, and which could then be abused by people who would rather take the emergency housing, than make a ‘real’ effort to find a place of their own. Unfortunately last year’s experience tells us that some, especially international students it seems, do not seek help, for reasons of which we can only speculate, and therefore end up in the woods, literally speaking.

This week the orientation course for the incoming international students will take place, and a glance at the program reveals that housing will be discussed. But considering that teaching also starts this week; is it not a bit late to let people know what to do if they are without housing? Until then, we all hope for sunny weather.

I wish I could answer the question of what to do if you do not have a place to live, but the best I can do is to suggest that, if you are in trouble, on your way to the nearest park bench, you should contact either your faculty office, the international office at the university (studentinfo (at) helsinki.fi), or the international affairs representative at the student union (international (at) hyy.fi).

If you are having problems either finding a place to live, or getting help, we at Tsemppi would be very interested in hearing about them. The more we know the better we can try to influence the people who are responsible. Send us an email with your story to info(at)tsemppi.com.

Good luck house-hunting!

Comments (1)

Back to school

By Anna Bessonova 2.9.2009 – 8:06 in Aiheeton

Dear Old and New Readers,

The academic year has already started and our blog is starting its work again! As said in the introduction to this blog, we are here to tell you stories from our lives, raise concerns and discuss pressing topics.  Feel free to comment on anything you find interesting and check our blog at least once a week for updates on what’s going on in international student community ;)

We are also looking for new authors to join in our team. If you are an international student and you want to share your experiences and thoughts with others, please contact me at anna.bessonova@helsinki.fi.

Good luck in this academic year!

Comments (1)

Adventure in the city

By Julia Toivanen 23.7.2009 – 12:45 in Aiheeton

So, summer is for outdoors fun. I enjoy picnics and walks on Suomenlinna and all of this but last weekend I discovered a new pass time for the summer. A friend to a group of us canoeing! The place/company is called “Natura Viva” and it is very easily accessible, somewhere between Rastila and Vuosaari metro station. The people there are friendly and speak English, even the website is available in English: http://www.naturaviva.fi/en/.

Now with the details out of the way, we spent the afternoon and early evening canoeing. The rhythm of it took a little while for the les experienced of us to get used to but by the end of the day (and post accidental tip into the water) we had managed to get the hang of it and were travelling in a straight line in the intended direction. We stopped at to islands on out trip, one with a grill where we had a BBQ, the second with a sauna. We did not actually use the sauna but it is open to those who wish to add it to their days adventure.

Despite the various mishaps that we managed to endure, it was a great day out and very recommendable. There are not many placed where you can get to a canoe by taking the metro from the capital!

Things to remember:
1) Book the canoe in advance (info on the website)
2) Dry change of clothes that you leave on dry land before you depart
3) Leave all valuables that might get damaged with the dry change of clothes (they are locked in an office at the back to no worries)
4) Sunscreen/sunglasses and the likes are most useful
5) A first aid kit (just in case, you never know what may happen even with a safe sport like this)

Go and enjoy a summer adventure of your own!

Comments (0)

Summer in Helsinki

By Julia Toivanen 28.6.2009 – 22:52 in Aiheeton

Unlike most of my friends, I am spending the summer in Helsinki. A lot of people are abroad and the rest scattered through out Finland but only popping back to Helsinki on occasion. When I first realized this situation, I wondered what I would do all summer and imagined many a moment bored on my own. But as it turns out this city really has a lot to offer in the summer too.

One of my great passions in life, like those who know me at all will testify, is dance. The traditional Finnish lavatanssit(dance events that include al sorts of dances from folk dances to waltzes, tangos, foxtrots, cha cha’s and many more) continue all around the year to some extent but really kick off during the summer. The closest one you will find takes place on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at Pavi in Vantaa. In addition, the outdoor dance floor behind the oopera has become a favorite spot of mine to hang out at. On Tuesdays it is taken over my Comets dance club and other enthusiastic swing dancers and on Sundays the Salsa dancers of Baila Baila claim the floor. Excellent exercise and in the sun! Come and check it out…(don’t worry, no one will force you to dance and it’s a nice spot for a picnic too!)

On a nice day there are plenty of parks to go to. In the winter they do not really occur to me but even in the center, nice spots to go and sit in the sun include Hesperian puisto, Esplanaadi, Ullanlinnanmäki and Kaisaniemenpuisto. Recently I also discovered the newly opened botanic gardens of Kumpula. What is a better way to spend a lazy afternoon in the park eating an ice cream or some strawberries in good company or reading a book for instance?

There are also various music festivals for all tastes of music coming up all around the place, might try to write a blog entry about them in more detail some time later.

All in all, Helsinki really is not that bad a place to be in the summer. It would be nice to have the same bunch of people around but all the same, I do not think I will be dying of boredom any time soon!

Comments (0)

Vappu Survival Guide!

By Julia Toivanen 29.4.2009 – 14:46 in Aiheeton

As I am sure you are all aware that Vappu is here. You can already see the technology students in their overalls in the streets… So how to get through, here are my tips on how to prepare oneself:

1) Get out your overall( and white ylioppilaslakki if you have one…) and dust them off.
2) Find a group of friends or tag along to you your subject organization to make sure you are not lost on your own in the crowds of people.
3) Find out more about the possible events at: http://www.hyy.helsinki.fi/english/3/news/545/
-The must see once ones in my opinion are as following:
• Go to see Hanken place the cap on Havis Amanda at 18.00. This officially marks the start of Vappu for Finnish students. Its worth seeing just to see how this holiday really is one for students in Finland. The center will be filled with brightly colored overalls of all the faculties and univesities!
• On the 1st of May go and join the mass pick-nick : I would suggest you pick either Ullanlinnamäki (traditional for the Finnish-speaking students) or Kaisaniemi Park (traditional spot for the Swedish-speaking students)

Hope you enjoy Vappu 2009 and celebrate in style with the local students!

Here is a link to a picture from last year when the cap was placed on Havis Amanda’s head:
vappu 2008

Comments (0)

Performing in English

By Alexandru 19.4.2009 – 19:08 in Aiheeton

Last year, I was discussing with a group of friends (mostly from English speaking countries) Helsinki’s lack of an English Language Theater, or at least of one geared to the needs of foreigners (to see performing arts in a language other than Finnish on a regular basis).

What the average foreign student will have to rely on, until such a theater is opened, is the enthusiasm of amateur and student acting groups such as the Finnbrits and the Thespians, who fortunately put on a number of performances in rented venues around Helsinki each year.

This year, in the Middle of May (the exact dates will be announced soon), the Thespians will perform a show entitled “The Rimers of Eldritch”, by Lanford Wilson.

The story, set in the 1960’s “smalltown america”, is a haunting reminder that appearances are not everything that matters. In the wake of a murder trial and the attempted rape of a young girl, the residents of a crumbling coal town are forced to reassess their innocence. All the while, gossip and judgment run rampant.

You are all welcomed to see your friends and acquaintances in unusual roles and contexts, in a play that will keep you holding your breath until the very end, as we celebrate yet another year of Thespian activity.

alfi

Comments (0)

Little boxes

By Julia Toivanen 14.4.2009 – 14:45 in Aiheeton

I was recently watching TV and heard a song called “little boxes”. I Only really started listening at the moment where the song goes:

And the people in the houses
All went to the university,
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same,
And there’s doctors and lawyers,
And business executives,
And they’re all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

And here, I started thinking. The university system, like the educational system does in a sense herd us all through the same exams, the same courses, to create a set of “skills” that mean we are qualified for whatever job we end up doing…

But is that really it? Of course we’re brought up to think that it is important to study to develop ourselves, but if we all turn out just the same, what is the point? I understand that an education is important and creates opportunities but then there must be more to the experience that purely which exams we all pass.

So what is it about the university experience that makes us “grow” as humans? It’s the whole package… for most of us this is moving away from home, into a new group of people, into the world of academia. It includes everything you do outside your studies to, from the discussions about whether male and female differences are evolutionary or socially constructed that you have during your lunch times, to the football you play in some team, to the decision to take advantage of the range of student discounts in various museums.

Yes, this is a very typical thing to say, but it was my reaction to this song, my natural knee jerk reaction to rebel against the thought that I am exactly the same as all the other students at the university…my need to be at least a little bit unique!

Comments (0)