{"id":117,"date":"2025-05-12T10:15:29","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T10:15:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.hanken.fi\/kansainvalisena-opiskelijana-hankenilla\/?p=117"},"modified":"2025-05-14T08:01:19","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T08:01:19","slug":"kylma-talvi-lammin-vastaanotto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.hanken.fi\/kansainvalisena-opiskelijana-hankenilla\/2025\/05\/12\/kylma-talvi-lammin-vastaanotto\/","title":{"rendered":"Kylm\u00e4 talvi, l\u00e4mmin vastaanotto"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post is available in both Finnish and English. Jump to the English version ??. <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Haastattelimme Hankenilla viime syksyn\u00e4 opintonsa aloittaneita Michael Gimenezi\u00e4 ja Zachary Huangia, jotka molemmat opiskelevat uudessa Bachelor in Business -ohjelmassa. Halusimme tiet\u00e4\u00e4, miksi he valitsivat Hankenin opiskelupaikaksi ja miten he ovat viihtyneet Suomessa t\u00e4h\u00e4n menness\u00e4.<\/p>\n

Haastateltuamme kahta opiskelijaa It\u00e4- ja Kaakkois-Aasiasta aloimme kyseenalaistaa omaa k\u00e4sityst\u00e4mme kotimaastamme. Olimme erityisen yll\u00e4ttyneit\u00e4 siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 Suomi oli heid\u00e4n ensimm\u00e4inen tai toinen vaihtoehtonsa opiskelupaikkana. Miksi Suomi? Miksei Ruotsi tai Tanska, jos he olivat kiinnostuneita opiskelemaan Pohjoismaissa? Tai vaikkapa Alankomaat, joka tunnetaan yliopistojensa hyv\u00e4st\u00e4 hinta-laatusuhteesta? Suomalaisena ei v\u00e4ltt\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00e4 tule ajatelleeksi, ett\u00e4 kotimaamme voisi olla ainoa valinta kansainv\u00e4liselle opiskelijalle.<\/p>\n

Ennakkon\u00e4kemyksemme Suomesta joutuivat koetukselle tavalla, johon emme olleet varautuneet. Haastattelun my\u00f6t\u00e4 ymm\u00e4rsimme, kuinka onnekkaita olemme ja kuinka ainutlaatuisessa maassa el\u00e4mme.<\/p>\n

\"Zachary

Zachary Huang ja Michael Gimenez<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Kokemuksia Suomesta \u2013 ja talvesta<\/h3>\n

Olimme kiinnostuneita kuulemaan, mik\u00e4 on haastateltavien mielipide Suomesta t\u00e4h\u00e4n menness\u00e4. Onko pitk\u00e4 ja kylm\u00e4 talvi k\u00e4ynyt heille liian raskaaksi?<\/p>\n

Michael kertoi pit\u00e4neens\u00e4 Suomesta todella paljon t\u00e4h\u00e4n menness\u00e4. H\u00e4n rakastaa Helsingin arkkitehtuuria ja Suomen rauhoittavaa luontoa. H\u00e4nen mielest\u00e4\u00e4n Suomi on t\u00e4ysin erilainen kuin h\u00e4nen kotimaansa Singapore, joka on t\u00e4ynn\u00e4 pilvenpiirt\u00e4ji\u00e4 ja suurkaupungin h\u00e4lin\u00e4\u00e4. \u201cSuomessa on helpompaa p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 luontoon rauhoittumaan, jos esimerkiksi kouluty\u00f6t k\u00e4yv\u00e4t liian raskaaksi\u201d, Michael toteaa. Suomen talvi on Michaelille t\u00e4ydellinen, sill\u00e4 h\u00e4n kokee itse asiassa olevansa tehokkaampi ja virke\u00e4mpi kun ulkona on pime\u00e4\u00e4 \u2013 ei niink\u00e4\u00e4n valoisina p\u00e4ivin\u00e4.<\/p>\n

My\u00f6s Zachary on pit\u00e4nyt Suomesta t\u00e4h\u00e4n menness\u00e4. Suomen talvea kauhisteltiin h\u00e4nelle etuk\u00e4teen, mutta kylmyys onkin ollut mukava yll\u00e4tys.<\/p>\n

Kulttuurieroja ja -yht\u00e4l\u00e4isyyksi\u00e4<\/h3>\n

Michael on kotoisin Singaporesta, ja h\u00e4n on huomannut yll\u00e4tt\u00e4v\u00e4n paljon samankaltaisuuksia Suomen ja kotimaansa v\u00e4lill\u00e4. H\u00e4nen mielest\u00e4\u00e4n suomalaiset, kuten singaporelaisetkin, kunnioittavat toisiaan ja k\u00e4ytt\u00e4ytyv\u00e4t asiallisesti julkisilla paikoilla. H\u00e4n my\u00f6s ylisti suomalaisten julkisten tilojen siisteytt\u00e4. H\u00e4n yll\u00e4ttyi siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 Suomessa ei saa pit\u00e4\u00e4 kenki\u00e4 jalassa sis\u00e4ll\u00e4 kodeissa. Michael toteaa kuitenkin my\u00f6s, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nen mielest\u00e4\u00e4n suomalaiset ovat aika ajoin liian tuppisuita ja h\u00e4n suosittelee suomalaisia kehumaan toisiaan enemm\u00e4n.<\/p>\n

Zachary on kotoisin Kiinasta, joka on todella kaukana Suomesta, mutta h\u00e4n ei silti koe k\u00e4rsineens\u00e4 kulttuurishokista. \u201cIhmiset ovat t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 kuitenkin mukavampia kuin Kiinassa\u201d, Zachary toteaa.<\/p>\n

Sek\u00e4 Michael ett\u00e4 Zachary kertovat pit\u00e4neens\u00e4 Suomessa hiljaisuudesta ja rauhallisuudesta. Molemmat ovat my\u00f6s nauttineet ajan viett\u00e4misest\u00e4 suomalaisessa luonnossa. Verrattuna heid\u00e4n kotikaupunkeihinsa Helsinki on ollut seesteinen ja ihanan tyhj\u00e4 paikka el\u00e4\u00e4 viimeiset puoli vuotta.<\/p>\n

Suomen kielen opinnot<\/h3>\n

Suomella on vaikean kielen maine. Meit\u00e4 kiinnostikin, ovatko haastateltavat kohdanneet haasteita kielen oppimisessa.<\/p>\n

\u201cOpiskelen t\u00e4ll\u00e4 hetkell\u00e4 kenties liian monta kielt\u00e4 samaan aikaan ja sekoitan kielet p\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4ni silloin t\u00e4ll\u00f6in\u201d, Michael kertoo. H\u00e4n haluaisi kovasti oppia lis\u00e4\u00e4 suomen kielt\u00e4 ja mahdollisesti my\u00f6s ty\u00f6skennell\u00e4 suomen kielell\u00e4 tulevaisuudessa. \u201cOnneksi suomi on helpompaa kuin mandariinikiina!\u201d, Michael toteaa. Zachary puolestaan on kokenut suomen kielen opiskelun vaikeaksi. \u201cHaastavinta on ehdottomasti ollut \u00e4\u00e4nt\u00e4minen\u201d, h\u00e4n lis\u00e4\u00e4.<\/p>\n

Sosiaalinen verkostoituminen Suomessa<\/h3>\n

Michaelin mukaan kouluvuoden alussa uusien yst\u00e4vien saaminen oli haastavaa, koska kaikki oli t\u00e4ysin uutta. Asiat k\u00e4\u00e4ntyiv\u00e4t kuitenkin nopeasti parempaan suuntaan. H\u00e4n kertoo l\u00f6yt\u00e4neens\u00e4 hyvi\u00e4 yst\u00e4vi\u00e4: sek\u00e4 muita ulkomaalaisia opiskelijoita ett\u00e4 suomalaisia. \u201cJoskus koen kuitenkin, ett\u00e4 haluan vain olla yksin ja nauttia suomalaisen luonnon rauhallisuudesta\u201d, Michael kertoo.<\/p>\n

Zachary sen sijaan kertoo, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n ei ole panostanut uusien yst\u00e4vien saamiseen, sill\u00e4 h\u00e4n kertoo viihtyv\u00e4ns\u00e4 paremmin yksin. H\u00e4nen mukaansa Suomi on ollut t\u00e4ydellinen paikka siihen. \u201cKoen, ett\u00e4 kun olen yksin, s\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4n energiaa ja voin paremmin\u201d, Zachary selitt\u00e4\u00e4. \u201cKoska Helsinki on niin rauhallinen kaupunki, voin viett\u00e4\u00e4 aikaa asunnossani tai ulkona ilman h\u00e4iri\u00f6tekij\u00f6it\u00e4.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tulevaisuudensuunnitelmat<\/h3>\n

Lopuksi haastattelimme Zacharya ja Michaelia viel\u00e4 heid\u00e4n tulevaisuudensuunnitelmistaan. Onko ensimm\u00e4inen lukukausi luonut jo raameja tulevaisuudelle?<\/p>\n

Michael kertoo, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n on suunnitellut opiskelevansa Suomessa ja sen j\u00e4lkeen mahdollisesti hakevansa Suomen kansalaisuutta. H\u00e4n kokee olonsa kotoisammaksi Suomessa kuin Singaporessa. Zachary puolestaan toteaa odottavansa innolla tulevia opiskeluvuosia Suomessa mutta ei osaa viel\u00e4 sanoa, mihin suuntaan aikoo jatkaa el\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4 sen j\u00e4lkeen.<\/p>\n

Sek\u00e4 Michael ett\u00e4 Zachary kertovat haluavansa k\u00e4yd\u00e4 my\u00f6s Helsingin ulkopuolella, kun opinnot helpottavat kev\u00e4\u00e4n edetess\u00e4. Molemmat odottavat innolla my\u00f6s ensimm\u00e4ist\u00e4 kes\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4 Suomessa.<\/p>\n

Oliko Hanken ja Suomi oikea valinta?<\/h3>\n

Sek\u00e4 Michael ett\u00e4 Zachary ilmaisevat tyytyv\u00e4isyytens\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4t\u00f6kseen opiskella Hankenilla ja Suomessa. Heid\u00e4n mielest\u00e4\u00e4n Hanken on ollut hyv\u00e4 opiskelupaikka, ja he kehuvat Suomessa erityisesti luontoa ja seesteisyytt\u00e4. Molemmat kertovat saaneensa viimeisen puolen vuoden aikana upeita kokemuksia niin Hankenilla kuin sen ulkopuolellakin ja odottavat tulevaisuutta innolla.<\/p>\n

Kirjoittajat: Akseli Salo ja Andr\u00e9 Yl\u00e4outinen<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>\n

Cold winter, warm welcome<\/h2>\n

We interviewed Michael Gimenez and Zachary Huang, who both started their studies at Hanken last fall and are enrolled in the new Bachelor in Business program. We wanted to know why they chose Hanken as their place of study and how they have enjoyed their time in Finland so far.<\/p>\n

After talking to these two students from East and Southeast Asia, we started to question our own perceptions of our home country. We were especially surprised that Finland was their first or second choice for studying. Why Finland? Why not Sweden or Denmark, if they were interested in studying in the Nordic countries? Or even the Netherlands, which is known for its universities’ good value for money? As Finns, we don’t necessarily think that our home country could be the only option for international students.<\/p>\n

Our preconceptions about Finland were challenged in a way we weren’t prepared for. Through the interview, we realized how lucky we are and how unique a country we live in.<\/p>\n

\"Zachary

Zachary Huang and Michael Gimenez<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Experiences of Finland \u2013 and winter<\/h3>\n

We were interested to hear what the interviewees thought of Finland so far. Had the long, cold winter been too much for them?<\/p>\n

Michael has enjoyed Finland so far. He loves the architecture of Helsinki and the peaceful nature of Finland. In his opinion, Finland is completely different from his home country Singapore, which is full of skyscrapers and big city hustle and bustle. ”In Finland, it’s easier to get out into nature to relax if, for example, schoolwork starts to pile up,” Michael says. The Finnish winter is perfect for Michael, as he feels more efficient and energetic when it is dark outside rather than on a bright day.<\/p>\n

Zachary has also enjoyed Finland so far. He was warned about the Finnish winter beforehand, but the cold has turned out to be a pleasant surprise.<\/p>\n

Cultural differences and similarities<\/h3>\n

Michael has noticed a surprising number of similarities between Finland and Singapore. He thinks that Finns, like Singaporeans, respect each other and behave appropriately in public. He also praises the cleanliness of public spaces in Finland. He was surprised that you are not allowed to wear shoes inside people’s homes in Finland. However, Michael also feels that Finns are sometimes too reserved, and recommends that that they compliment each other more.<\/p>\n

Zachary is from China, which is very far from Finland, but he does not feel that he has experienced culture shock. ”People are friendlier here than in China,” Zachary says.<\/p>\n

Both Michael and Zachary have enjoyed the peace and quiet of Finland. They have also enjoyed spending time in nature. Compared to their hometowns, Helsinki has been a peaceful and wonderfully empty place to live for the past six months.<\/p>\n

Learning Finnish<\/h3>\n

Finnish has a reputation for being a difficult language. We were interested to hear whether the interviewees had encountered any challenges in learning the language.<\/p>\n

”I’m currently studying perhaps too many languages at the same time, and they get mixed up in my head sometimes,” Michael says. He would like to learn more Finnish and possibly also work in Finnish in the future. ”Luckily, Finnish is easier than Mandarin Chinese!” Zachary, on the other hand, has found learning Finnish difficult. ”The most challenging thing has definitely been the pronunciation,” he adds.<\/p>\n

Social networking in Finland<\/h3>\n

According to Michael, making new friends at the beginning of the academic year was challenging because everything was completely new. However, the situation quickly improved. He says he has found good friends, both other international students and Finns. ”Sometimes, though, I just want to be alone and enjoy the peace and quiet of the Finnish nature,” Michael says.<\/p>\n

Zachary, on the other hand, tells us that he hasn’t invested much effort in making new friends as he prefers to enjoy his own company. The Finnish lifestyle suits him perfectly. ”I feel that when I’m alone, I save energy and feel better,” Zachary explains. ”Because Helsinki is such a peaceful city, I can spend time in my apartment or outdoors without any distractions.”<\/p>\n

Plans for the future<\/h3>\n

Finally, we asked Zachary and Michael about their plans for the future. Has their first semester laid the foundation for the future?<\/p>\n

Michael plans to study in Finland and possibly apply for Finnish citizenship. He feels more at home in Finland than in Singapore. Zachary, on the other hand, is looking forward to his future studies in Finland but is not yet sure where he will continue his life after that.<\/p>\n

Both Michael and Zachary say they want to visit places outside Helsinki when the pace of their studies slows down in the spring. They are also looking forward to their first summer in Finland.<\/p>\n

Was Hanken and Finland the right choice?<\/h3>\n

Michael and Zachary express their satisfaction with the decision to study at Hanken and in Finland. In their opinion, Hanken has been a good place to study, and they particularly praise Finland’s nature and tranquility. The two say that they have had wonderful experiences at Hanken and outside of it over the past six months, and they feel excited about the future.<\/p>\n

Authors: Akseli Salo and Andr\u00e9 Yl\u00e4outinen<\/em><\/p>\n

(Translation from Finnish to English produced with DeepL, checked afterwards by Johanna Haapala.)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Haastattelimme Hankenilla viime syksyn\u00e4 opintonsa aloittaneita Michael Gimenezi\u00e4 ja Zachary Huangia, jotka molemmat opiskelevat uudessa Bachelor in Business -ohjelmassa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1663,"featured_media":130,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.hanken.fi\/kansainvalisena-opiskelijana-hankenilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.hanken.fi\/kansainvalisena-opiskelijana-hankenilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.hanken.fi\/kansainvalisena-opiskelijana-hankenilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.hanken.fi\/kansainvalisena-opiskelijana-hankenilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1663"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.hanken.fi\/kansainvalisena-opiskelijana-hankenilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.hanken.fi\/kansainvalisena-opiskelijana-hankenilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":148,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.hanken.fi\/kansainvalisena-opiskelijana-hankenilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117\/revisions\/148"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.hanken.fi\/kansainvalisena-opiskelijana-hankenilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.hanken.fi\/kansainvalisena-opiskelijana-hankenilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.hanken.fi\/kansainvalisena-opiskelijana-hankenilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.hanken.fi\/kansainvalisena-opiskelijana-hankenilla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}