01 June 2009
Long Trip
Hello all, I just returned to Helsinki from a long trip to Poland, Ukraine, Norway, and Sweden. Pics are on photobucket. The albums are called: Gdansk, Warsaw, Krakow, Kiev, Dnipropetrovsk, Larvik, Göteborg, Kristiansund, Trondheim, Norway Sweden Train Journey, Uppsala, and Ferry Sweden to Finland. Enjoy!
10 May 2009
11 April 2009
15 March 2009
29 January 2009
First 2 Weeks Of Class
Hello everybody, the 1st week of classes went off without a hitch. I like all my instructors. Classes here are small, just like Tulsa. I have made many friends at Hanken and am starting to learn some Swedish. I will post some new pictures on photobucket today, so be sure and look at them!
Cary
Cary
17 January 2009
Orientation Week
So, this week has been quite busy. My roommates arrived Monday, there are 2 of them. Mikael is from Stockholm, Sweden and Miguel is from Zurich, Switzerland. Wed-Fri we went through an Orientation program which told us most of the things we need to know about living in Helsinki and studying at Hanken. I will be taking 5 courses: GIS for Business, European Integration, International Economics, 20th Century American Culture through Litrature, and Swedish as a Foreign Language I. I am happy to finally take a Geography class at University level, even though it still has business applications.
One of the best things I have experienced yet is the University cafeteria. The food is delicious, hot, and fresh and lunch is only 2.60 Euros (approx. $3.50). The food service is subsidised by the Finnish government. It includes one entree and unlimited salad bar, side items, and fresh-baked bread and butter. And I won't forget Thursdays, pea doup with a pancake (more like a crepe) and lingonberry preserves.
I do intend to send postcards and gifts, but I have not yet figured out the postal system here and all the information is in Finnish and Swedish (Swedish being significantly easier to decipher in writing).
I have met all the other exchange students and they are all very interesting and conversational. I am AMAZED at their English skills, although I belive Peter (my Chinese roommate from last semester in Tulsa) is still the best English speaker I know. Here is where the exchange students come from: France (8), Germany (6), Poland (2), Sweden (3), Norway (2), USA (3), Canada (2), Greece (1), Mexico (1), Switzerland (1), Austria (1), Italy (2), Russia (2), Singapore (2), China (1), India (4).
I start classes next week and will be very busy, but I will try to put some more pics on my photobucket soon!
TTFN,
Cary
One of the best things I have experienced yet is the University cafeteria. The food is delicious, hot, and fresh and lunch is only 2.60 Euros (approx. $3.50). The food service is subsidised by the Finnish government. It includes one entree and unlimited salad bar, side items, and fresh-baked bread and butter. And I won't forget Thursdays, pea doup with a pancake (more like a crepe) and lingonberry preserves.
I do intend to send postcards and gifts, but I have not yet figured out the postal system here and all the information is in Finnish and Swedish (Swedish being significantly easier to decipher in writing).
I have met all the other exchange students and they are all very interesting and conversational. I am AMAZED at their English skills, although I belive Peter (my Chinese roommate from last semester in Tulsa) is still the best English speaker I know. Here is where the exchange students come from: France (8), Germany (6), Poland (2), Sweden (3), Norway (2), USA (3), Canada (2), Greece (1), Mexico (1), Switzerland (1), Austria (1), Italy (2), Russia (2), Singapore (2), China (1), India (4).
I start classes next week and will be very busy, but I will try to put some more pics on my photobucket soon!
TTFN,
Cary
11 January 2009
Tallinn for the Weekend
I write to you a bit exhausted and with a sore throat, but I had a great weekend in Tallinn, Estonia. I rode the ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn and back. It is by far the most charming European city I have ever visited. Pics posted on my photobucket!
06 January 2009
Moving In
Hello again, I write to tell that I have moved into my apartment. It is quite Spartan but will do. I had a chance to walk around the city today and I took a few pictures. I am unable to post as many pics as I would like on here, so my pictures will be on http://www.photobucket.com/caryfinland. I have uploaded 3 albums, just see the album list on the left side of that page.
03 January 2009
Journey and Finland Day 1
Greetings everyone, I arrived safe and sound in Finland around 23:00 local time Friday night, but not after a long, tiring journey. The flight from Houston to Frankfurt went smoothly, as Lufthansa is always the best in the air. I had an interesting conversation with an Egyptian family in my row. During my 8 hour layover, I rode the train into town wandered around the city centre for a while. I was impressed with the diversity in the area, I suppose it is because Frankfurt is an international banking centre. The train station was amazing, it reminded me of Union Station in St. Louis. The state of cleanliness of the downtown left much to be desired, though.
Once I made it back to the airport, I came across something I had been warned about in TU's Global Education pre-departure orientation but had swept under the rug thinking it would only happen in lesser-developed nations. Yep, a full-fledged political demonstration turned riot. Hundreds of police were struggling to restrain thousands of demonstrators (some dressed in clown outfits). I still haven't figured out what it was all about, but I steered clear, per orders from the CGE. After that mess, and past security (which is much less militant than in the States), I had to walk about 3 miles (or so it seemed) to the gate for my flight to Copenhagen. It was a short flight, but I made some small talk with a Chemistry professer in Denmark, who happened to be from Spain. Once I arrived at CPH, I walked approx. 50 metres to my next flight (thank goodness, I was tired). The flight to Helsinki was uneventful and customs was nonexistant, but it took forever to retrieve my luggage. I'll post some pictures from FRA if when can figure out how to do so.
FYI Post times are US, Central time, GMT-6. I am 8 hours later in Finland, GMT+2.
Once I made it back to the airport, I came across something I had been warned about in TU's Global Education pre-departure orientation but had swept under the rug thinking it would only happen in lesser-developed nations. Yep, a full-fledged political demonstration turned riot. Hundreds of police were struggling to restrain thousands of demonstrators (some dressed in clown outfits). I still haven't figured out what it was all about, but I steered clear, per orders from the CGE. After that mess, and past security (which is much less militant than in the States), I had to walk about 3 miles (or so it seemed) to the gate for my flight to Copenhagen. It was a short flight, but I made some small talk with a Chemistry professer in Denmark, who happened to be from Spain. Once I arrived at CPH, I walked approx. 50 metres to my next flight (thank goodness, I was tired). The flight to Helsinki was uneventful and customs was nonexistant, but it took forever to retrieve my luggage. I'll post some pictures from FRA if when can figure out how to do so.
FYI Post times are US, Central time, GMT-6. I am 8 hours later in Finland, GMT+2.
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