My Finnish Journey by Tomáš Kabilka https://padlet.com/tomi_kab/oiqcx2ngu1q9 Here you can read about my experiances, interests and knowledge I have gained in Finland. en-us 2017-11-13 13:19:40 UTC 2023-05-09 12:21:15 UTC hello@padlet.com Sauna as a part of Finnish soul tomi_kab https://padlet.com/tomi_kab/oiqcx2ngu1q9/wish/208913081 Before I came to Finland, I have never think much about sauna, because in Czech Republic it is something usual and not so interesting for me. I have been there in sauna 2 or 3 times approximately and it has never gained my interest. 

When I came to Finland, I was really surprised about fact that everybody has access to sauna - personal or public ones. Many people have a sauna in their own flats and we have sauna in our dormitories. As I said, for me it is something unimportant, but for Finns it is something more than just important. It is a part of their lifestyle and part of their soul. For example, when I meet some finnish friends, sometimes they tell me they don´t have time, because they have to go to sauna. My reaction is always like "Ehmmm ok, maybe you can go to sauna sometimes else, so we can meet." and they always reply me something like "No way I will skip sauna, we must meet later". This is what I don´t understand and what foreign people can´t understand. 

With this experience I realized that there is no other way for us foreigners than get used to it or just respect it.]]> 2017-11-20 22:29:27 UTC https://padlet.com/tomi_kab/oiqcx2ngu1q9/wish/208913081 Ice-hockey from Czech point of view tomi_kab https://padlet.com/tomi_kab/oiqcx2ngu1q9/wish/208919428 If Finnish people consider sauna as a part of their soul, a large part of my soul is Ice-hockey. I am really big ice-hockey fan. I watch american NHL, where I support New York Rangers and in my hometown Prague I support Sparta Praha. Me and my friends are visiting Sparta´s games a lot, so I had to taste a little bit of Finnish hockey as well. 

Finnish ice-hockey league is considered as a one of the best ones in the world. That´s true and I can´t argue with that, but I wanted to see it on my eyes. I live in Kouvola and they have here local team called KooKoo. I already visited 3 of their games, so I gained some knowledge and overview about Finnish league.

I have to say that Finns play quality and exciting hockey and if I compare it to our Czech hockey league I can see some differences. Both of leagues are comparable and seem to have similar quality, but I must say that Czech league seems to be more creative. I can see there a lot of good-looking actions and players with that "ice-hockey creative intelligence". On the other hand, Finnish ice-hockey is a little bit faster, which is a consequence of lower creative skills. 

KooKoo and Sparta Praha have one huge difference - size of arena. This is obvious fact, because Prague is 10 times bigger than Kouvola, but I can feel it a lot in local arena here. An atmosphere in Prague is crazy - more than 10 000 people screaming anthems and yelling at referee. Here are good ice-hockey lovers and loyal fans as well, but it is not enough of them to create as good as atmosphere as there is in Prague.

Last thing I want to mention is beer consumption on ice-hockey games. In Prague we drink a lot of beer on ice-hockey games, almost all people do. We drink beer there during breaks and also during a game.  But here in Finland people just drink beer during breaks in restricted areas. That´s really weird for me and I am not used to it to not drink beer during sitting on my seat and watching a game.

So if I summarize my hockey experience here, it is something else for me and different point of view on ice-hockey, but I can´t wait to see our Czech league again.]]> 2017-11-20 23:18:32 UTC https://padlet.com/tomi_kab/oiqcx2ngu1q9/wish/208919428 The Finnish Past tomi_kab https://padlet.com/tomi_kab/oiqcx2ngu1q9/wish/209076824 I have had a wide range education of history on my high school, so I have already known some basic facts about Finnish history. I know that they have been part of Sweden and afterwards part of Russia. Another fact I have known is that capital city used to be Turku. Me and my friends already visited Turku and its castle. It is really beautiful historical place.

Surprising for me is that in foreigners and refugees in Finland count only 1,5 percent of the population. It is really small number, but on the other hand, foreign population in Finland is quite diverse. 

Another interesting fact is that Finnish women were the first in Europe, who gained the right to vote in parliamentary elections. It was in 1906 -  14 years earlier than in my country Czech Republic. 

I know that now is population of Finland approximately 5,5 millions. Finns count around 93% of population, Swedes 5-6%, Russians and Estonians less then 1% and rest of population counts small numbers.


]]> 2017-11-21 13:31:18 UTC https://padlet.com/tomi_kab/oiqcx2ngu1q9/wish/209076824 VERLA tomi_kab https://padlet.com/tomi_kab/oiqcx2ngu1q9/wish/209245249 Verla is a beautiful historical mill village, which is located in the middle of Finland. It is known especially because of their paper mill, which is the reason, why was Verla written on the UNESCO list in 1996. This place is nowadays really unique, because it is not as other museums - only synthetic fake models or items brought from elsewhere. In Verla´s mill are things and items the same as they used to be before shutting down in 1964.  Nowadays the mill offers tours and it is really exciting and popular place for tourists.

I have never been there yet, but I hope, I will make some trip there, because according to pictures, it looks really interesting.]]> 2017-11-21 19:34:00 UTC https://padlet.com/tomi_kab/oiqcx2ngu1q9/wish/209245249 The future of Finland´s economy tomi_kab https://padlet.com/tomi_kab/oiqcx2ngu1q9/wish/209276696 In the recent years, economy of Finland was considered as a sick man of Europe and they were struggling with economic growth, because of financial and indrustry development crises. However, nowadays they are already recovering and looking for a brighter future for their economy growth.  According to statistics, in 2017 has Finland´s economy grown by 3% and next year it will be similar numbers. Foreign countries will provide higher demand of Finnish export and inflation is picking up gradually. Also employment should records improvement. Negative part of Finland´s economic growth is that country is struggling with big debts, which is growing every year and also they are struggling with sanctions by their neighbor Russia. There is a problem from demographic point of view as well. Finland´s average population age is getting higher and higher every year, which is going to affect their economy in long-term growth.

However, Finland´s economy is strong and stable, so there should not be any big changes in further future.]]> 2017-11-21 21:24:01 UTC https://padlet.com/tomi_kab/oiqcx2ngu1q9/wish/209276696 Studying in Finland tomi_kab https://padlet.com/tomi_kab/oiqcx2ngu1q9/wish/209570792 University educational system in Finland is quite different than the one I am used to have in Czech Republic. It is more personal and based on individual and group work. In Czech Republic we have mostly lectures with big student participation – more than hundred students in each lecture.  This causes no interactive approach to all students. We are just sitting there and listening to teacher talking about the course without many emotions. Here in Finland it is right opposite approach – we have courses, where is mostly around 30 students. Teachers are communicating with us and requesting our opinion about every topic. That´s the approach I prefer, especially with interesting courses, where I like to participate. 

Another difference is that XAMK University requires a lot of group work. We have many projects we have to accomplish in groups from 2-4 persons. In my opinion, it is really effective, because we are more motivated to reach our grades and we are trying to not let down our teammates.

In Czech Republic, it is not so focused on work during the semester, but mostly on final part of it, where we have exams from all courses. On XAMK it is totally different. This semester I have to reach on XAMK six courses and only one of them has final exam. This is quite new to me. Even though I have work more during semester, I prefer it, because it is not so much pressure in the end of it.

]]> 2017-11-22 23:36:17 UTC https://padlet.com/tomi_kab/oiqcx2ngu1q9/wish/209570792 Everyman´s right tomi_kab https://padlet.com/tomi_kab/oiqcx2ngu1q9/wish/209574929 Everyman´s right is a list of rights and restrictions, according to which has to behave people of all nationalities in Finland. The rights are same for all of them, but with these rights comes responsibility as well. We can enjoy beauties of Finland, but we have to respect it and care about other people. 

This is the list of everyman´s rights and restrictions:

You may:
  • walk, ski or cycle freely, except very near people's homes, or in fields and plantations which could easily be damaged.
  • camp out temporarily, a reasonable distance from homes
  • pick wild berries, mushrooms and flowers, as long as they are not protected species
  • fish with a rod and line
  • use boats, swim or bathe in inland waters and the sea
  • walk, ski, or drive a motor vehicle or fish on frozen lakes, rivers and the sea.
You may not:

  • disturb people or damage property
  • disturb reindeer, game, breeding birds, their nests or young
  • let pets off leash
  • cut down or damage trees
  • collect moss, lichen or fallen trees from other people's property
  • light open campfires without permission, except in an emergency
  • disturb people's privacy by camping too near them or making too much noise
  • leave litter
  • drive motor vehicles off road without the landowner's permission
  • hunt without the relevant permits
  • fish with nets, traps, or a reel and lure without the relevant permits

In Czech Republic we have this kind of rights as well, but it is quite modified due to different culture and our nature.



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