People

Finland, My Second Home



I’m pretty sure that most Koreans know the word hyvaa hyvaa, which means “good” in Finnish. Yes, it’s from the TV advertisement for Xylitol gum. The ad says, “Finnish people chew Xylitol gum before going to bed to keep their teeth healthy.” Guess what? Finnish people do not chew Xylitol before they go to bed! How do I know? Because I lived there! Yes, I studied in Finland through an exchange student program last spring semester. I had a fantastic time there and would like to share my story.

My first day in Finland was on January 3, and it was -20 degrees when I arrived at Helsinki Airport. I had never felt that cold before! It was always around -15 or -20 degrees. I can’t say how cold it was. But what made me feel warm was my loving friends whom I met there. We used to swim at a lake, go skating, and have dinner parties and sauna days. But I was so shocked by the fact that many of my friends love Japan and its culture or language and don’t really know about my country, Korea! That fact drove me to take part in Korean Link (a cultural exchange activity among students). We had many links to foreign countries like France, Greece, Poland, China, and the Czech Republic to get to know those countries. Other Korean students and I prepared Korean movies, presentations about Korea, and, most importantly, Korean food! Actually it was my first time to cook Korean traditional food. It took me 3 hours to cook japchae! We invited local Finnish people and other exchange students and the link was very successful. Everyone enjoyed the movie, our presentation, and food. People say when you go abroad, you become such a patriot, and I am a great example.

In Korea, Finland is famous for its educational system. I decided to take education courses and from that experience, I found that education plays such a big part in Finnish culture. I had to observe 60 hours of classes in primary or secondary schools, and it was very interesting. Students and teachers are very friendly and students always get help from teachers. What really surprised me was every break time, students should go out of the building unless it is colder than -20 degrees! So students cannot stay in the building during the 15-minute break time. I think that helps students to get fresh air and to increase their circulation. And it results in better academic achievements.

In short, I had the best time of my life in Finland. I experienced a whole new world, made unforgettable memories, and, most importantly, met loving friends who still send me post cards and actually will visit Korea very soon. It is a pity that I have to stop writing at this moment as I have so many experiences that I would like to share with you. Literally, the world is huge and there are so many things to do. I strongly recommend the exchange program to all Keimyung students. It is a privilege for such young and passionate people like you! What you will get through this program are friends, memories, independence, better English, and confidence. And maybe cooking ability for a bonus. So don’t hesitate and just give it a shot!