From Start to Finnish!: Random Info

As of tomorrow, I will have lived in Oulu for 2 weeks! WOW! I really can't believe it. It has flown by, but at the same time so much has happened that it feels like I've been here for months! So far I've only really talked about what I've done. For this blog I want to talk about what it's actually like to live here and how it's different than being back in Missouri.

SCHOOL

Read my last blog for the details on how the academic system works here :P

APARTMENT LIFE

I live in a 2 bedroom apartment so it is very small. Our kitchen is basically a hallway. There's no room for a table and no living room. The people who have 4 bedroom apartments have a large kitchen with room for a table and couch, but no worries. I live in the building known as "club 16". It's called this because there is ALWAYS a party going on somewhere in this building.

TRANSPORTATION

I think everyone who lives here owns a bike and that is how everyone gets around. My friend told me that Oulu has the most bike paths per person of any city in the world and I definitely agree with it! There are bike paths EVERYWHERE! It is so wonderful! The best investment I have made since arriving has been purchasing a bike. I ride it every day! It saves me so much money by not taking the bus and not to mention is much healthier. I also really get to know the city a lot better by riding all around through it. I don't think you can truly fit in here until you have a bike haha! But of course, a lot of people still ride the bus or drive a car (at least the adults. a lot of students don't have a car)

SHOPPING

There is a nice little shopping center 3 minutes (walk) from my apartment. There is Tokemanni which has a little bit of everything! There is also two grocery stores, a post office, a kiosk store, a chinese restaurant, a pizza place, and the university bar. It is so great to have them so close! but there is also a Prisma (the walmart of Europe) that's a short bike ride away if I need something more specific. It is hard to shop sometimes because everything is (of course) in Finnish, but I finally got a English to Finnish dictionary so that really helps me out!

EATING

Most of the time I eat on campus because, with my student card, it is only 2.70 euro. You get bread, two drinks (water and juice, milk, or beer), rice or potatoes, one of four main course options, and salad. It's a really good deal! and it's a lot easier to eat with friends in the cafeteria than in my non-existent dining room haha! There are six restaurants to choose from as well.

PARTYING

There is a lot of partying that goes on here. I'm pretty sure there is one every night. If an event is going on some evening, then there is usually a pre-party or most certainly an after-party based around said event.They are in people's flats or in the city centre. I feel like I'm a freshmen again! haha! They are pretty fun, but sometimes I'm an old lady and have quiet nights instead :D hahaha!

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

There are a lot of student organizations at this university! They have something for pretty much everything and there is always an event going on of some kind. Frats and sororities don't exist here. That's an American thing. Instead, the big thing at this school are student guilds which are the different departments of study. (e.g. biology, business, math, etc).

PEOPLE

I think I fit in really well here with the Finns. They are quiet at first but once you meet them a few times, they really start to open up! They don't care much for small talk because they place a lot of value on words. They are super helpful and very friendly people! I really love them.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

Finland has an excellent reputation for being very environmentally conscious. Waste is separated when thrown out so most everything is recycled. Cans and bottles can be turned in at the store for money so that really helps motivate people to do it (plus I think it's the law). Pollution is low because everyone rides bikes or takes the bus. Nature is very, very big here. There is water, trees, and other vegetation everywhere you look. Sometimes I forget that I'm in a city because of all of it. And at night time, you can see the stars so clearly! It's beautiful here :)

There is A LOT more I could talk about, but I think this is enough for now. That's quite a bit of type O_O