Nordic Brilliance Blogs

(Photo: somewhere on a highway in Dubai, UAE)

This picture sums up not only my last couple of weeks but pretty much my life since the middle of August. I am very busy, and I find myself complaining about it too much already. Cannot help it though, I really am.

So, what am I up to? Let’s start the story from September. To be honest, I think I have overestimated the amount of workload I will have this year and I have taken on more responsibilities that I would normally. I am one of those people who appreciate their free time a lot so feeling so busy is super weird. So far, I have been involved in: part time job as Data Analyst, thesis writing, courses that would put me way above required 120 ECTS (blame my curiosity), basketball, running the Masters’ Committee, Hanken’s mentorship programme, travel, various meetings, outings, etc. Thus, the last three months have flown by in the fastest way ever.

Anyway, let me focus on the last week, it has been rather interesting. On Tuesday I had a possibility to meet with my mentor Marcus. It was our third meeting and I am glad that Marcus himself is taking an initiative on having them regularly. So far, Marcus has given me some valuable life insights, we had cool discussions about professional life as well as got to know each other better. Therefore, I want to say HUGE thanks to Hanken because there always are numerous possibilities allowing one to increase the soft skills’ package and I am blessed to have this opportunity. By the way, if you want to have an awesome mentor like Marcus, look up Hanken’s Mentorship Programme.

(Photo: meeting with my mentor Marcus)

On Wednesday I had a meeting with Miltton’s representative. I had no feeling that something might go wrong prior the meeting but after I had arrived at the office, I found out that the lady I am supposed to meet does not work at the company anymore. Great! It was slightly funny, but I am glad Miltton has solved it well and I have got what I’ve wanted. Let’s just say, stay tuned for some cool events :).

On Thurday I flew to Dubai for the third time since February. Cannot complain as I love that city but at this point in the year I would rather not travel. Why am I here? Basically, I have just changed the working place. Instead of working from Helsinki, I am doing it from here. So yeah, I am not at the beach here.

(Photo: about to take off with Finnair)

(Photo: it is hot here)

(Photo: an outing with my friends)

On Friday I had the possibility to attend the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Funny thing is that the race was won by Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas later that week. I could also hear one of my favourite artists – J. Cole.

(Photo: at the concert of J. Cole, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix)

So, what is next for me? Heading to Oman for a while and then coming back before exams to try to get back to the routine again. On the other hand, I doubt it has been gone. Sad thing is that I will not go back home for Christmas due to workload, but you make choices and don’t look back. For the New Year, I am going to Rovaniemi with couple of friends from Dubai. Haven’t been in Lapland yet so looking forward to that.

I would also like to use this opportunity to advertise Kalliorundan, a pub crawl by Masters’ Committee, coming up on 8th of December. Look it up on Facebook and join in for the fun.

Thank you for taking your time to read this and see you in the other entry.

Vytas

There isn’t a “right way” of doing your degree, really – just do what suits you best. Some hurl themselves into a vortex of studies, emerging after a year and a half with a thesis clutched in their shaking hands (me, again), while others take a more paced route, enjoying their student life while balancing work, parties, and courses equally. Hanken is a judgment-free place for either type.

I remember that during the orientation week I had already emotionally attached myself to an excel file I had constructed, wherein I had organized all the courses I’d need to take, in which semesters, with their sign-up codes and everything. And yes, I colour-coded it, and separated the compulsory courses from the elective ones. No, I don’t think that everyone should do that. But for those of us who’re prone to anxiety, staying organized keeps us afloat and somewhat capable of breathing.

So, for those interested in suggestions on how to plan their studies, I’d say that no matter how busy you get, make sure you 1. sign up for courses on time, and 2. stay organized throughout the chaos. Go to Weboodi, then check from the study handbooks which courses make up your degree. Then check when each of the courses is scheduled to run, and mark that down. Keep track on those courses, and remember to sign up on time. This way you’ll be able to pace out your studies without needing to rush anything, while still steadily advancing. Does it need some extra effort? Well, surprisingly little, really. But it does help, if you choose to do it.

One of the most significant contributors to getting things done has been finding the right place where I could sit down and work for hours. Luckily for me, Hanken has plenty of those.

Pictured: Naturally, after praising the amount of sunshine that we get in through those big windows, I took a picture at 8pm with the sun long gone.

Since the very beginning, I enjoyed studying in the foyer of Hanken, where the big windows let in enough light for me to not forget what the sun looked like. The foyer, with its numerous tables and electricity sockets, and the constant stream of sunlight, is a great place to get started with your assignments if you don’t mind a bit of noise around you. I specifically remember working on a company assigned project, on a day surprisingly bright for February. My team mates and I gathered around one of the round tables, each one with a laptop and enough coffee to sustain an army. We did put in more hours than expected, but it was worth it: both us and the company were happy with our work, and we celebrated by dining at a Thai restaurant once the project was complete.

Image: Coffee & good company!

That’s my third suggestion, really: make friends. Be actively nice to people, and allow yourself the opportunity to become friends with the people you meet. Especially when you start working on your thesis, all the support and positivity from your circle of friends (who’re going through the same process) will be indispensable!

What matters quite a bit when you work with your teams – and oh boy, will you work in teams – is how comfortable everyone is, and how well they can concentrate. When one yearns for a place less exposed than the foyer, they can make their way down below the deck, to a fairly favoured working area for groups. I’m sure it has an actual name, but we called it “the green area”. It’s got lots of green in it. We’re imaginative like that, you see?

Image: What are friends for, if not asking them to look 100% natural while wearing a coat indoors and pretending to read an article, just so you wouldn’t photograph another empty space at 8PM?

And while I, well aware of the memes highlighting the perils of group assignments, know the worries that revolve around the formation of groups, I can’t deny that it has led me to meet people whom I cannot now imagine life without. And if you looked at that seating arrangement and thought “sounds like a great place for a study-picnic to me”, you’re not the only one. Grab your tea and biscuits and settle in, then proceed to gleefully hook your laptop into the screen of your seating arrangement, just so you can admire how good your presentation looks on a bigger screen.

Image: I wasn’t kidding about the study picnic. And before you ask – that bottle is Russian soda.

But, before I digress too far into the distance, let me get to my next suggestion: put some semblance of effort into team work, as it will not only make everything easier for everyone in the long run, but you’ll be reaping great benefits. Academically, but also socially. And while I wouldn’t dare to delve deep into the discussion on the sociological impact of effort in theory, and how exhibiting the very implications of putting an effort into something is easily construed as the definition of trying too hard, I would still like to suggest putting some measure of it into everything you do, be it in groups or on your own. Aint there nothing wrong with trying!

It wasn’t until the final quarter of my first year that I was led to a different area, somewhere deeper than the mines of Moria. A place where groups could work peacefully and quietly, far away from the hustle and bustle of folk upstairs.

Image: I swear I didn’t chase the people out. I just… happened to find it empty.

I remember working with a team here on a project for a yet another company. It’s a great place for study groups when you’ve decided that nobody’s leaving this lockdown until something has been achieved. Need to plug your laptop in? You can! The rooms differ slightly from each other, but aint that just the charm of it all?

And finally, the fourth place, is mainly for individual working: the library.

Image: One of the study areas in the library.

Now here’s what we all know about libraries: it’s got people, it’s got tables and chairs, and it’s got people who help when you need it. It’s a great place for you to work quietly on your own, seeking the answers for an economics assignment from a Facebook post’s comments section. Reliable source, that.

Navigating your way to the finish line may come with a few unexpected setbacks, but to all anxious and stressed students, with big or small worries, near or distant deadlines (and to those of us who aren’t quite sure what we’re doing, or where we’re going) – keep going, there’s hope at the bottom of your coffee cup.

– Fairouz

Starting my degree in humanitarian logistics was one of the best decisions I made. It opened the door to a new professional area that is so important yet relatively under-recognized. So what is humanitarian logistics? And what are we studying to become humanitarian logisticians at Hanken?

Humanitarian logistics is basically providing relief (food and non-food) items to the needed in disaster areas such as in political riot and natural disaster zones. However, this life-saving process is rather complex and needs much all-round professional knowledge including logistics, country-specific information, supply chain management, uncertainty and risk management, and cooperation among large number of involved agencies. Though, doesn’t it also sound exciting that so versatile skills and knowledge that you could learn from this field while having the mission of saving lives!

Now peacefully entering the second year of my education, the intensity of first year’s studies is still so vivid in my mind and is logged with the large amount of material left in my laptop. Most of the mandatory courses are taken in the first year as in many master degree studies at Hanken. However, the journey was rather fruitful and enjoyable, but also rough at times. As sharing is caring, and as well a good self-observant tool, here I go telling some of my take-ways from surviving the first year study.

The amount of work won’t kill you but certainly will leave you some scratches at times…

At Hanken, the quality and quantity go hand in hand meaning there is not only large amount of work including individual assignments, group works, projects, and tests, and also high level quality requirements of your work. The studying terms are periodic spanning over 6 weeks each that quite often when you just finished the assignments of the week and you are facing the deadlines of end-of-term big projects.

My proven track of conquered courses!

Don’t get scared! You will manage! You chose Hanken and Hanken chose you – there is a mutual understanding of expectations. Beside this pep talk, the different types of assignment are also making things more interesting for you to learn and to work on.

You will watch documentations and read related academic papers, and apply theories to the practice – at Corporate Sustainability. You will act as a local government official, or chemical corporation representative, or NGO agent in negotiating an agreement to make sustainability development for an area that is endangered of pollutions – also at Corporate Sustainability. You will write diaries of your grocery store visits or movie theatre experiences to analyse their service levels – at Service and Customer Management. You will have very active in-class discussions at Supply Chain Strategy and Theory and at Supply Chain Risk and Resilience. You will participate in mine-field game and flood crisis game with stones and beans at Humanitarian Logistics course. You will experience Finnish working culture and solve a real company problem at Project Course in Corporate Social Responsibility and Humanitarian Logistics. Besides diverse assignments, there are company visits, guest lectures, and large-level seminars.

Okay, okay, these are the interesting parts of humlog degree I just mentioned, and there are lots of challenges and struggles I’m hiding behind. But I believe in hard work and these fun moments are just making the experience even better which I don’t want you to miss out. Besides, the learning of hard-working, persistence, positivity, and resilience is the most important skill after all!

Last but not the least point, you will find your best friends here at Hanken that I’m sure of, and with whom you will walk this challenging path with constructive complaints and good moments of time-out!

Tiia, Essi, Mea, Tram, and me welcome you to HumLog (and sorry for the blurry picture!)

Having been living in Finland for several years and finished my bachelor degree here, the student life at Hanken has still taught me so many things!

1. Enjoying singing in Swedish when you can’t even speak it

When I was chatting joyfully with students sitting next to me at my first master sitz at Hanken, suddenly people were arm-locking and swinging from side to side singing in Swedish. What did I do? I went along like everybody else. Don’t be afraid if you can’t speak any Swedish, however this will happen in almost all the sitzs and you will get used to it before you know it. Besides, at an instant of vigorous joy, no one is listening to you, so just enjoy yourself and the moment.

2. Dissolving stress with coffee

Master studies can sometimes be stressful with all the deadlines seem to be attracted to each other and decide to meet up at a single date. One thing you should know is that Finland has the heaviest consumption of coffee in the world. Learning to drink coffee and to enjoy a proper coffee break with friends at school is a great letting out of stress.

When you are stressed and march toward the Hanken café, here you go, in the queuing line you encounter a familiar smiley face showing mutual understanding of stress and the solution. Chatting away while sipping the strong dose of Finnish coffee, here you just survived another crisis.

3. Embracing diversity with flexibility

Not only diversity from the nationality, but also diversity from the life status and from the work style, you learn to respect diversity and to embrace flexibility when studying master at Hanken. I have worked with international students, students that work almost full time, and students that are also mothers. I loved the fact that everyone is welcomed, encouraged, respected, and given the same opportunities and challenges. Working with them over different projects has been fun, stressful, productive, disappointing, creative, and learning. The amount of group works at Hanken is teaching you so much more.

After knowing the diversity level of students here at Hanken, you are probably not surprised that many of us are actually good cooks! So go explore your friends circle here and you might start some “cultural evenings” with authentic tastes. And the myth that students can’t cook is thus proven false!

4. Keeping an annotated bibliography

The best way to keep track of your references and literature review is to keep an annotated bibliography as taught in our academic writing class. An annotated bibliography basically summarizes the main ideas of the paper and how it can be used in your academic work. It sounds like an extra work to do and to be honest I didn’t like it in the beginning. After doing it for starting to write my thesis, it actually saves so much time that you won’t find yourself re-reading the same paper. Keeping a good habit of writing annotated bibliography can come in handy when you have a big academic project to write.

5. Enjoying more fun times!

When the deadlines are safely passed and all the assignments in place, we usually have a good sense of what to do – anything Fun! It’s not surprising that you will find your best friends here in Hanken as I did and we set all our senses together to find out what’s the next fun thing to do as motivation and as reward. We went to sitz, fairs (and really don’t miss the fairs in Helsinki Messukeskus – Gamexpo, Wine&Food, Pets, I Love Me, Travel – just to name a few); slush volunteering, food & coffee dates, sports, concerts, and all kinds of parties. Having my favourite Hankeits with me is just too lovely!

wall climbing with my favourite hankeits!

So period 2 has started here at Hanken, and with that, many interesting finance courses! Perhaps the one a lot of students are looking forward to is the course titled Strategic Growth Investing. Here, you get to attend guest lectures given by company heads of HackerOne, Lifeline Ventures, and Eureka, among others. You also get to work on a business presented at SLUSH! Can’t get much more entrepreneurial than that! A similar course is International Corporate Governance, again being offered this semester, where one can sit in multiple guest lectures and write a term paper about a chosen company.

I would strongly recommend that new finance students opt for these courses for their electives. Other good options are Cases in finance, taught by Professor Timo, or, if you prefer a pure theory approach- then international accounting, which is taught by the esteemed Professor Troberg, or the undergraduate course, Pricing of financial securities and derivatives. Most courses I’ve taken as my electives, though, are theory based as opposed to those that have a more entrepreneurial side to them. I guess I’m not as much of a creative thinker as I’d like to believe! Also, I never seem to have enough time to take ALL the courses I want to take!

Finally, on to the social calendar- the annual Halloween party was held by the masters committee this Saturday in collaboration with KY finance. Attendees included masters as well as exchange students, with the after party taking place at the Apollo Club! Though there were many worthy competitors, the best costume went to the person dressed as Trump, mostly because he was representing the character so well. For pictures, check out https://www.shs.fi/sv/gallery (coming soon).

For now, please make do with this grainy picture!

Lastly, a perfect way to deal with being practically snowed in (and all the stress related to deadlines and term papers!) is to enjoy warm drinks with close friends. Here are Fei and I, having coffee at Espresso House and complaining about our workload!

– Sasha

While diving into a jungle of group assignments and learning diaries, fending off deadlines and exams as they whoosh by, can certainly make any student question tearfully their purpose in life, it helps to think of what’s up ahead. The good bits, that is. In particularly the possibilities of what awaits once all this studying is done.

Plenty of people discuss opportunities: the distance you can travel towards your own personal idea of stardom, the CVs you polish regularly and send to potential employers, the entrepreneurial or academic avenues you can explore. Sometimes we hear stories of a one-in-a-million lucky soul that wins the professional jackpot and gets carted off to Google or Stanford, or the incredibly successful CEOs and politicians that graduated from Hanken.

This year’s Becoming a Global Force seminar brought a few notorious Hanken alumni such Hjallis Harkimo and Aleksander Ehrnrooth onto the stage, showcasing examples of people who can objectively be considered successful. What this seminar also did, was highlight the ambition that Hanken facilitates: the simple message that if there’s a certain level of success that you want to achieve, there is no reason you wouldn’t be able to do that.

Becoming Global Force seminar, hosted by Hjallis Harkimo, brought us amazing presentations from Aleksander Ehrnrooth, vice-chairman of Fiskars, Heidi Jaara, founder and CEO of Belmuir, and Risto Siilasmaa, founder and chairman of F-secure.

But when the daydreams of fame and fortune fade a bit, many of us are left with a simple wish: I’d like to work at a place that I enjoy, be financially secure, and stop hating Mondays.

A job? Financial security? In this economy? What are the odds?

Well, Mondays aside, the odds are fairly good, it turns out. Hanken has an open line of communication, not just with current students, but alumni as well. Turns out that 95% of the 2016 graduates found a job within three months after graduation. 78% had jobs even before graduating. 15% are entrepreneurs. However, while numbers tend to look convincing when bolstering up a claim, I decided to look into some information behind these numbers.

The first thing that I realized was the amazing diversity in terms of the careers and companies that Hanken students have ended up at. Account managers, warehouse managers, sustainability trainees, digital coordinators, project managers… It’s evident that while the degree preps you up for a lot of opportunities with business and management in mind, it doesn’t shoehorn you into certain positions; there is no pipeline that says: “you specialized in this, therefore you can only ever become that”.

Further inquiry (I mean, just consider me an investigative journalist at this point) revealed that specific aspects about Haken keep popping up regarding what enhances employability: Hanken’s focus on corporate sustainability and social responsibility, its support to students (e.g. CV workshops, interview clinics, internship grants), the relevance of its courses and the applicability of its research education at work, were consistently brought up in conversation. One respondent even said that he made use of a lunch break once to walk to his job interview nearby, and then come back right in time for his next lecture. If that is something that enhances employability on a general level is unclear, though there certainly are perks to having a campus right in the heart of the city.

What you see when peering out of one of the 3^rd floor windows.

I’d like to link the picture above to something symbolic, but it’s just a casual street, very close to one of the key shopping areas in Helsinki (Kamppi). I thought it looked nice. All I can say is that all roads lead to somewhere, and the roads from Hanken can lead to some unexpected, awesome places, all over the world.

– Fairouz

Hei Everyone!

I’m Sasha, a student of finance and one of the several international student ambassadors here at Hanken! In this blog I’d like to talk about a couple of events that I attended as part of the International Student Ambassador team, which delved into the student life at Hanken.

While there have been so many events held at Hanken in the past month that I couldn’t possibly talk about them all in one blog post, they do deserve honorary mentions : we had Hanken network day, PwC popup, and the kick off of the mentorship program, and more, all in the month of September alone!

Hanna addressing the crowds in the Hanken foyer!

this post, though, I’d like to specifically talk about life at Hanken as a student. I’m very often asked about courses, the social life, and the job opportunities etc by students who are considering applying to Hanken for their masters degree. For their benefit, we had the Masters open House this past week. At the open house, prospective students visit Hanken and mingle with current students and professors. Masters open house has become a yearly Hanken tradition, with a steadily increasing number of participants every year. I’d strongly encourage everyone to attend this open house if you are in Helsinki, as it gives a unique perspective into life at Hanken, as well as allowing you to meet your future professors. Familiarity with the professors and current students will help you settle into Hanken and feel comfortable once you start your studies here!

This year, we had special rooms where the professors conducted information sessions related to their subjects. In the Hanken Business Lab, the head of department of finance and statistics, Professor Anders Löflund, and the head of department of Economics, Professor Topi Miettinen, explained the importance of their respective subjects, and talked in detail about the kind of courses students can choose from in within these specializations. Professor Markus then talked about the function of the Hanken Business Lab- although I must admit; all I have used it for so far is some studying and a lot of great coffee.

Professor Topi Miettinen addressing the prospective students

Towards the end, I, along with Vytas, (the president of the masters committee 2017-2018, so you’ll see him when you join Hanken next yearJ) took questions from the potential students, and tried to answer them only as two innocent souls who have borne the brunt of finance and economics can.

Professor Anders Löflund talking to the participants of the Hanken Open House 2017

The next day, we also held a webinar for applicants that related to details of the finance and accounting program, and a video link to that is available, should you be interested (please contact either hanna.donner@hanken.fi or natalia.boltovskaya@hanken.fi for the link!). I, along with Professor Maury and Linnea answered specific student questions about required tests (for admission), as well as how to work your way through the courses, depending on what you are specifically interested in. Professor Maury is the Wahlroos Professor in finance, and teaches a substantial number of challenging courses within the finance specialization.

I know potential students would have questions, and specifically international students may have reservations about packing their bags and moving to this far off, unknown land where people speak a different language (or two, or three) J. To them- all I can say is, I had the same concerns, and moving here and choosing Hanken was probably one of my best life choices!

I would love to answers all/ any concerns you may have, please feel free to email me, or drop me a line on facebook!

First off, let’s start with some fun facts about Vaasa. The sunniest city of Finland is famous not only for holding the largest energy cluster in the Nordic countries but also for a very young population. Today it is recognized as the educational and cultural hub of Western Finland. Considering the fact that in a city ranked “210th largest in Finland” found 3 universities and 2 polytechnics, there is no doubt 80% of whoever you meet on the street is a student. Thanks to that, lots of interesting events take place every week. Here you are served in 2 languages…together, Swedish and Finnish. It is a small, pretty, and very Finnish “Swedish” city. To make it easier to visualize, imagine an old “garden” town.

 An amazing view from Tritonia library 

Vaasa Walkaround – Sunset

Somewhere near Strampen – Sunset

Now Hanken-Vaasa…General Management (GM) is the only English program at Hanken-Vaasa. What is so unique about GM that people (like me) are willing to give up the capital life to come here just for it? Well, the name of the program already speaks for itself. If you are into diversity of knowledge with a deep touch of a particular field, GM is for you. Almost 2 semesters have passed and I am so proud to say that I got myself a great chance to explore the world of business from different aspects: commercial law, finance, accounting, management and marketing. What I love love love about Hanken is the freedom and flexibility to do things. There is no rigid frame in learning. It is all about inspiration and self initiatives.

Entrance decor of CellaNova – Hanken’s bar owned and run by SSHV 

CellaNova – Hanken’s bar owned and run by SSHV (source: SSHV)

Repetition is never a case of GM. You will always find yourself indulge in something unfamiliar. This means even when marketing is your track, reading, for example, an IFRS financial statement, or a piece of news about financial market should be a piece of cake. 😀 Nothing can put you in an awkward position, even with the rules and implications of commercial contracts, the principles of corporate finance. And of course, nobody here forgets to enjoy the fun and challenges of entrepreneurship. It seems to be very demanding, doesn’t it? But that’s the beauty of GM, lies in a rewarding and fruitful conquer of knowledge. It is not for the faint of…mind. 😉

Some of us from GM programme

Closeness…let’s talk about the communication and contact between professors and students. I believe nowhere can offer you as many or as frequent individual consultation sessions as in Hanken-Vaasa. When the attention is concentrated on a small body of students, we got ourselves a superior “service”. Simple logic! 😀 Also, everything here is centralized so that you can always find whatever you need in the shortest amount of time. Hanken-Vaasa is located right in the city center and the city library is just a couple of steps away from the front door. All shops, markets, restaurants are within walking distance and you are always near the nature, the sea, and especially the Kvarken archipelago. Finally, the housing service is also great with an exceptional student tenant board but I will save that for another post.

I love the sun and Finnish nature, the young faces, and the cozy surroundings. I needed a good study environment with less distraction, unnecessary expenses and much open space to breathe, I came to Hanken-Vaasa. No regret since then!

Lots of sun and fun,

Linh

One thing I really like about Hanken is that this is the place where people are able to grow both business world and academic world. Let me show you two examples that happened during the past week.

“Once Hankeit, always Hankeit”, it’s once again proved by alumni showed up in the flash mentoring on April 6th, to help the current students with their challenges and various issues by discussing and sharing their professional experiences. I am so amazed by their patience and enthusiastic to give their advices and support to the students. 

The flash mentoring was designed in a very thoughtful way, Hanken tried to get the mentors from different fields and backgrounds, mostly senior executives and leaders, so students could get different perspectives and angles when having the discussion with them. After the formal event, there is a follow-up dinner arranged, so that mentors and students could sit down together and continue the discussion in a casual way, so we became friends! 

At the same day on April 6, Humlog (humanitarian logistics) track of Business and Management degree programme organized an event with Peter Tatham, who is a global expert from Griffith University, and he shared great insights in his keynote about technology meets humanitarian logistics. Actually we have such guest lecture more than often, thanks to the Hanken professors connecting us with researchers world widely and bringing us opportunities to learn from different corner of the world. 

I truly enjoy and appreciate what Hanken has been doing that prepares us to be a future business elite! 

Калинка, калинка, калинка моя,

В саду ягода-малинка, малинка моя.

Калинка, калинка, калинка моя,

В саду ягода-малинка, малинка моя.

With this song we started our Russian dinner at Hanken that took place on 20^th of March, and had a great success!

But let start from the beginning. March 20^th was bright and sunny day, and Helsinki was especially beautiful at that day after long winter. The Russian evening was initiated by Irina Prokkola, a lector of Russian language for her students studying Russian language. It was an introduction to Russian culture for some of her students, but also an opportunity for other students to share their cultural experiences that they received from their exchange in Russia.

It all started around 4.30 pm, we all gathered on the 5^th floor, where a long table was already served with Russian dishes and decorated with some traditional elements by students and Irina. The program of the evening promised to be lively and active. The first activity was a dance “Kalinka”- a traditional and well-known Russian song. We started with some simple steps, and speed up along the music. Both Russian and Finnish students quickly picked up the moves, and found themselves dancing joyfully. The music was catchy, cheerful, and literally breathtaking. After a fast dance, pleasant feeling of tiredness occurred.

But the evening just started! The second activity that followed the dance was a performance of Margarita Blank playing the flute. She performed a Joke Waltz by Shostakovich. It was very relaxing and beautiful moment. It is always nice to found out that your classmates have some talents and hobbies that you haven´t heard of, and pleasantly be surprised.

After the performance were over, the main dish –“pelmeni” (dumplings consisting of a filling wrapped in thin, unleavened dough) were put into the boiling water waiting to be cooked. Meanwhile, together with students we were playing some Russian games. One was called “fanty”, where each participant placed at the box his or her belonging into the box. Then a facilitator asks one volunteer to pick up one item and another volunteer picks up a list with one task for the person, to whom “fant” – the item from the box, belongs. The tasks were related to Russia in various ways. For example, to name 5 Russian male names or 6 Russian politicians, rivers and cities. After several rounds, pelmeni were ready, and we all sat at the table waiting for main dish to be served. The table was full of various treats: mustard, smetana, pickles, honey. Everytjing was very tasty!

After the main dish was over, two Finnish students – Anne and Lauri, shared their photos and stories from the exchange in Russia. Both students were very enthusiastic, and encouraged their classmates to go on exchange to Russia. Moscow and St.Petersburg- each city impressed students in different ways, and the students were eager to give some tips and stories associated with their trips. The presentation smoothly changed into the discussion with tea and Russian sweets: waffle cakes, “sushki”, and gingerbreads (originally “prjaniki”, which are not similar to gingerbread in other countries).

A culmination of the evening was singing Russian songs accompanied by guitar. The evening was very welcoming and friendly. It left a very warm feeling after it was over. And I believe I was not the only one who left with the same feeling!