Study Abroad and Domestic Study Away

I had dreamed for such a long time to visit Finland from the day I wanted to be Santa Claus, and I am really glad that my dream came true. Comparing with when I first arrived in Joensuu where University of Eastern Finland is located, today I find a home in Joensuu. I live with four flatmates in a cozy flat with a shared kitchen, and we have a sauna open to public on Tuesday and Wednesday in our apartment. The city of Joensuu is small but surrounded by the beautiful nature.  

I have never seen the city without snow yet and it still feels like winter. But, I have experienced many activities including skiing, hiking, aurora hunting, skating, ice hockey game, friend sitsfest (Finnish traditional party), husky riding, Finnish birthday party, ice fishing, and more. The best memory from those precious experiences unique to Finland is when I did homestay in my Finnish friend’s house in Tampere. I was warmly welcomed, served with Finnish traditional food, taken to the summer cottage, and showed around the beautiful city. Another unforgettable memory is when I met Santa Claus in Santa Claus village in Lapland. Santa Claus told me that he has lived for 400 years and still continued his job so I cannot work as Santa Claus but I can be an elf to support him.  

The Finnish education system is very different from what we have in the US. I visited some local schools in Joensuu, and I was really surprised how much autonomy given to students even in an elementary school. My favorite classes so far are called marriage and parenthood and pedagogical perspectives of educational use of ICTs. It is very interesting to learn about how marital relationships works and affects child-rearing and also how to integrate ICTs in education in different ways.  

Minori visiting the Santa Claus village in Lapland: