My Jyväskylä

And so the time has come. It's my last night in this beautifull country. Since yesterday I've been noticing so many new things it just hurts my heart to leave so soon. The small things - the sparkling snow, the burning sky while sunset. I know that the moment I leave, I'll never be the same. Some part of my soul will stay behind. I didn't meet lots of people. I didn't party and socialize. But the few people that I came in contact with became closer to me than most of the people I know in Poland. And I will always miss them. I love U guys.
- (this might be a bit chaotic, I don't care about aesthetics of the text)
When I first came here it was summer, it was nice and warm, the trees were green. The first noticable difference between the two countries (aside from language) are the people. In PL everybody seems always pissed. Here, altough it is said that the Finns are distant and cold it's absolutely different. Everybody is smiled, whenever You buy something or ask someone, they seem happy to help You. They smile. Supposedly nothing special, but it hits You. The second thing is tidyness. I've been in probably every kind of district of Jyväskylä, from big houses to big block of flats. Everywhere the pavements are clean, the litter bins aren't like garbage waterfalls. Also, despite the city being one of the bigger ones it's full of trees. Don't get me wrong Poznan as a City also is quite green. But this place is different. From the city center (a.k.a. promenade - Kauppakatu) it's a 20 minute walk to a vastly forested are. A 20 minut bus ride gets You to a giant forest. Altough I didn't have the chance to swimm in the city lake I know there's a beach. I'm quite certain that the water of Jyväsjärvi is a thousand times cleaner than any of Poznans lakes.
Since I've started about Suamalaisille (Finns), something more. I can't quite understand why they are said to be "cold". True - they ain't open like Spannish or Italian people, but they are still very nice. Truth is that for strangers, they avoid eye contact and keep their distance but that's pretty much it. Politeness and a nice attitude are normal. Something that in Puola would be considered most probably madness, is the fact that elder people are usually very happy. Most of them speak english fluently enough to help You out when Ur lost, sometimes even chic-chat for a while. Alkohol, however is a great opener. I'll remember the moment I got drunk with my tutor and her friends forever. After few drinks they we became BFFs. (A bit exaggerated, but U've got the idea.)
Having this nice subject transition, let's stay for a while with alcohols. Because of the restrictive laws, in a normal shop You can't buy anything strong. Most beers and ciders, have 4.7%. Cider is a type of beverage made of fermented apple juice and is absolutely brilliant. It's not common in Poland, which is on one hand sad. On the other hand, we have good beer. Finnish beers are in most cases disgusting. The cheapest, and one of the most popular ones is called Lapin Kulta (gold of Lapland), more commonly adressed as Rheindeers piss. This name in my opinion gives the idea on all olut (beer). There is no great party however without vodka, or any other strong alcohols. These can be found in "Alko" - a shop network governed by the country. Here You can find anything You want. A thing that struck me was that Finns have vodka that has 32%. I've always though that boose is supposed to have 40% and more, but apparently I was wrong. Two funny facts concerning vodkas. "Finlandia" is also sold here, quite expensive (like most alkohols though), but also there is a vodka Suomi (Finland), the cheapest (32%) boose U can find (still 0.5 costs around 10 euros). On the other hand the most expensive vodka is... Zubrowka, the original polish "bison grass vodka", sold in a different bottle though than in Poland. It costs around 30euros for a 0.7bottle.
Funny how the alkohol part is so much longer that others... And to think I didn't drink much. Well, nevermind that now, time to go to school.
The higher educational system of Finland isn't much different from the Polish system. There are two unis in Jyväskylä: JYU (Jyväskylän Yliopistoon), the "normal" university. And of course, the university of applied sciences, JAMK (Jyväskylän ammattikorkeakoulu). I spend the last few months in the latter one, so I'm going to write about it, since my contact with JYU ended on having a roomate from that school. (He said however that the system is mostly the same).
First and biggest difference - You create your schedule. There is of course the minimum curriculum, however U choose which subjects You wan't to attend at each semester. Each year U must gather 60points, how You distribute them is up to You. To join courses, see their schedule and check Your grades there is a special internet based system ASIO. It's quite helpfull, but not as usefull as OPTIMA. This, is the internet environment You work in mostly. There are workspaces for each subject (if the teacher needs/wants one), in which there can be found a number of things. From course description, homework, teacher-student contact, through slides from classes to return folders for assignments. The school doesn't end on the internet of course. What differs it most from Poland is that there are tons of computers set around the campuses in commmon areas, but also U can use any free & opened (most usually they are) class and computer rooms. Need I say how nice it was to watch a movie on a 32" plasm screen? Ending the technological aspect, every student has also a print quota (500pages/semester), which allows You to print every needed document without worrying about a printer or cash like in Poland.
Classes themself, in theory at least, aren't much different from the Poland. Here however, there isn't a distinction between "lectures and excersises"(probalby translated wrong). The teacher decides if your presence is mandatory(usually is). Many courses are seemingly as boring as the ones "home", but at some point You start to notice that in fact they are more life targeted. You don't learn pure theory, but more often than not, You are asked to use the knowledge You have gathered to create a project that is very similair to the ones that might be Your job in the future. Also, the amount of excursions is amazing. (This year lessend due to AH1N1, sadly.) From my own experience, visiting places like Moventas, or Finnair Cargo tought me more than a houndred hours spent in my home school.
Also, quite often students are asked if they would like to join some sort of project regarding their field of study or interest. Or (like in my case), because they have a knowledge that will be useful. These projects not only give You a nice position in your CV, also ECTS points (if You want) or even some cash.
I can't write much about the student life in Finland, only from the "official channels", since I pretty much didn't participate in it. Nevertheles, seing how much "spam" the International Club, has sent there were lots of parties for international students, so I'm guessing that the residents had even more. Aside from the IC, another very active organisation was JAMKO, the students union. They organise events and parties, also they run a cheap cafeteria in the main campus. Finns are the biggest coffe drinkers in the world, so U should have an idea how popular it is.
With this curio, let us switch to the next section of this summary - everyday life.
Most non-resident students rent their rooms in student flats owned by KOAS. The rent is quite cheap, starting from around 180 euros/month in an unfurnished room. There are over 20 housings around Jyväskylä, only some however give the possibility for furnished rooms. They contain a table & a chair, a wardrobe, bed(and matterace, without sheets) and a regal. Each room has a internet connection (in rent), via cable with a transfer limit of 3GB per 24h. These flats are in various different shapes, sizes and "rommate amount". Aside from the obvious, there are common areas in every hosing, which usually have aside from laundry room (free) - gym, sauna and a common room with a TV, games, some books and f.eg. a billard table.
Altough the kitchen usually has most of the needed stuff (probably left by the previous tenants), a survival kit rented by JAMKO, is a must have for people who wish to stay only for a semester or two. It consits of a pillow and a blanket (which the room doesn't have), also bedding, cutlery a mug, plate and a small jug. It costs 70euros, from which after returning you get 40euros back...
While being in the kitchen, let's eat. Whilst joining the school U get a student card which allows You to eat in the schools cafeteria. A dinner costs 2.53euros and you decide how big is your portion. The irritating part is, that they close the cafeteria around 14.30 so U will probably wan't to do shopping. Most popular markets are K-market, Prisma, and LIDL. For me (and I like to eat:), a bi-weekly supply of food costed around 25-30 euros. I did however try to find the cheapest products. Altough the country is quite expensive in general, food is one of the cheapest parts of Your expenses. Some examples of LIDL prices: bread(1.5euro), chicken legs(1kg/~3euro), macaroni (1kg/2euro), potatoes (1kg/0.7euro). From what I noticed the most expensive group of products are the cheeses. Since we're in a store, remember to take Your bottles back. Almost all bottles and drink cans are returnable (from 0.15 to 0.30cents), and most of the bigger markets have a return machine. Another curio for You: altough most prices (in accordance with the well known "less then" convention) end with a .99 Finlands smalles coin is 5cents, so the prices are being rounded. One may think that it's "stealing" but on the other hand, at least U don't have tons of junk in Ur pocets.
OK, You've got Your groceries time to get home. Of course You can walk, but the cheap shops are usually in some distance from your home so why not take a bus? A bus card costs 42euros/month and allows You to ride all buses in Jyväskylä. They are almost always on time, but remember to wave at the bus driver when he's coming close to the station or he won't stop! The same applies when You're inside - press the "stop" button before Ur stop or he won't stop. It's also customary in Jyväskylä (and only there as I heard) to say kiitos (thank you), when you are going out. There is no chance of riding for free as only the door near the driver serve for entering. A one time ticket costs ~3.5euros (I don't remember exactly). For the same price You can get a transfer ticket, which alows you to switch buses once within an hour. You can buy the ticket from the driver, also U can load Your montly ticket there. The first time however You can buy only in a few places in the city, one of them - the tourist information, located directly in front of the city bus "central" station. I would love to tell you how the bus schedule works, but I didn't work it out. It's extremely recondite.
Too expensive, You say? Well then, buy a bike. Used bikes cost around 40 euros and are by far the most popular means of communication in Finland. There are bicycle paths everywhere, so U don't need to wory about safety. Despite the cold people use bikes the whole year. It's cheap, fast and ecological. Also U needn't worry about theft. It doesn't happen here. Especially on bikes. When leaving You can sell it back for about half it's price. It's a good deal indeed.
After school, dinner, homework and all that mandatory stuff U might wan't to spend some quality time. The good thing is that the movies in TV or cinema are not dubbed (unless it's said so - for example cartoons, only particular showings though), so You can catch a movie. If You wan't to read go to the Jyväskylä Kaupungikirjasto (City library). The library card is free and has many merits to it. They rent not only books (lots in english), but also movies, music CDs, notes. There is a place to listen to the music, watch the movie or even play a musical instrument. Wan't to catch a drink? Jyväskyläs' nightlife stands on a good level, with tons of pubs and clubs opened untill late night. In a pub a beer/cider costs around 3euros for a 0.33 glass. I haven't seen a place that sells 0.5, but they are some as I heard. Personally I found pub Kätse very nice. Be aware however, that ther's a non smoking policy in every pub, some however (like Kätse) have a place inside where you can have a smoke. After all, who want's to leave the place when there's -20*C outside?

I know that I probably missed a ton of things that should be in this text. I will however probably write about Suomi for the next few weeks or months, each time remembering something new and interresting. It's a place trully worth a visit, with beautifull landscapes, nice people and great schools. I know, that this exchange was one of the most amazing experiences of my life and it changed me in a way I can't fully comprehend now. I know however, that in the future, I will look back at these few months with a tear of joy, and even bigger one of regret that I couldn't stay longer.