Monday, February 24, 2014

The Little Creeepy Things

By living in Finland, and being able to learn about Finnish culture and the little differences between the two cultures (USA and Finland.), I have actually learned that there are some things that I just CAN NOT change about myself! They are just ingraved in me from my own culture in the USA, and they are just little things that come naturally and without thinking about.

Ive been thinking about these things a lot, and a few of them actually tend to make me laugh! Ive gotten into a few very awkward moments by doing these things, and sometimes it makes other people laugh too!

So, as you guessed it- this is going to be a post about some things about my culture from home that is unchanging about myself, other things that I have seen about Finnish culture and the Finnish ways of doing things, AND little habits that I have picked up. :)

Lets just get RIGHT into it, shall we? ;)


1.) My American Smile

 

Oh boy...WHERE do I start?! 

The typical American smile is smiling with your whole face. Not just with your teeth showing, but smiling so you see it in your eyes. (I dont really know how to explain it.). I ALWAYS made my last host family laugh because whenever we would take a picture, they would always comment on my smile and how "American" my smile was. :) 

I remember taking a picture with my whole class, and when I recieved the copy of the picture, I couldnt help but laugh because I was the only one with this HUGE cheesy smile on my face!

The typical Finnish smile is generally just looking at the camera with a straight face, or awkwardly cracking a small smirk, which can be taken as a smile. (And hopefully that description doesnt offend anyone!) 

Its very, very different for me! My host family couldnt help but laugh at me when they told me to try to make a picture with a, "Finnish smile". I couldnt! I physically couldnt keep a straight enough face! (I ended up looking angry or like I was taking a mug shot! I just CANT keep a straight face without looking angry!) 

I am not at all in any way trying to portray the, "Finnish smile" in a bad light. I just think that its interesting how different things can be, even when just taking a picture. :)
 

 
 


2.) Smiling and Waving at random people

 

In Finland, it is very awkward to go up and talk to a person you have never met nor seen before. Its just seen as a, "no-no". Its not done very often, and usually it makes someone pretty uncomfortable and it feels a bit creepy sometimes. 

Coming from the USA, I have a VERY VERY bad habit of waving at random people and smiling at everyone I walk by. I come from a small community, and in Oregon, I live on a big hill out in the middle of nowhere. When we drive home, we ALWAYS wave at people on the hill. When we drive past another car on the hill, we always wave at the driver. I guess its just WHAT we do.

When I came to Finland, it felt so WEIRD for me. It was suddenly CREEPY to wave at people, and I didnt know HOW to just walk passed someone without smiling or waving. 

Unfortunately, I cant seem to stop smiling at people while I walk by them. Its just something ingrained into me, and I cant seem to stop. And to tell you the truth, I dont actually want to stop! :)

 
It almost feels as though this is everyone´s reaction when I wave at people I don't know...or at least this is how I feel on the inside!


3.) Being loud.

 

I KNOW what you are thinking...and I hate to follow the stereotype...but YES. I AM loud. 

Its very interesting because before coming to Finland, I actually didnt notice how loud I REALLY was. Everything in Finland is just so quiet, and so silent.

I didnt really notice how loud I had the potential of being until I was walking down the street with another American Exchange Student, and we were turning heads everywhere we went! It wasnt that we were TRYING to talk loud, or that we were trying to get attention...it just sort of happend! 

Of course we are not meaning to attract so much attention...I guess since our culture is just that way, that we dont really realize how loud we are talking sometimes. 
 
 

This is what our faces generally look like when we realize how loud we are being...
 

4.) Talking with my Hands 

 

I always talk with my hands! Everywhere I go. No matter if I am sitting at a desk, or standing up. Even if I am whispering or trying to explain a math problem...I talk with my hands! 

I guess it just helps me explain what im saying better, and it helps me get my point across. (Im not even sure if this is something I did before I became an Exchange Student, or if I picked it up when I wasnt able to communicate!) 

I talk with my hands both when speaking Finnish AND English, and to tell you the truth, I cant really tell you why!

People tend to laugh when I am having a conversation with someone, because I talk with my hands SO much! (And they tend to laugh even HARDER when I am having a conversation with another American exchange student, because he does the same thing!)

 
Im guessing that this is what I must look like...
 
 


5.) We like saying names.

 

Im not exactly sure WHY, but when I have conversations with other Americans, I have realized that we like saying peoples NAMES a lot.

 "How are you, (insert name)", "Oh Hi, (insert name)" Annnnd you get the idea. 

 Im not sure WHY we do it, but we sure do...

I have gotten a comment or two about it, and to tell you the truth, I dont even realize when I do it!

 
A couple of my friends have given me this same exact facial expression when I use their names way too many times during a conversation...


6.) Eating with Both Hands

 

To tell you the truth, eating with both hands isnt something I am actually used to! The social "norm" in the USA is eating with one hand, and having the other hand on your lap, or just in general below the table. 

We dont actually eat with a knife in one hand, and a fork in the other! We just kind of pick up the knife if we need it, and then set it on the side of our plate again until you need it again. 

It was a little weird for me to learn how to eat with BOTH of my hands, and in a way it felt like I was multitasking for awhile! It wasnt that it was hard or anything like that; it was just different. And I had to learn how to do it. (As sad as that sounds!)


 
I felt like this every time I had to awkwardly eat until I finally figured out how to do it without looking silly!


7.) Not saying what you mean


This is sort of a big one. I have found that Finns say exactly what they mean; and in the USA we basically keep our opinions to ourselves and dont really explain how we REALLY feel unless you are either family or REALLY good friends with someone. (Depending on the situation and the culture of where you live in the USA.)
 
We dont want to hurt peoples feelings, and we feel bad being brutally honest about things unless we know the person really well or we are related to them. In Finland, people only say things if something needs to be said or needs to be talked about. So naturally, they say what they mean. 

I have learned that in American English, "How are you?" isnt actually a question. Its a greeting. You never REALLY tell the person how you are; and instead everyone answers with, "Im fine, how are you?". 

I cant really honestly think of a situation where someone tells how they are REALLY feeling when asked, "How are you?" If you honestly want to know how the person is, you would rephrase the question. 

In Finnish however, the person honestly wants to know how you are. 

I guess its just a culture difference! 
 

When someone has you try something and you end up not liking it..
This is a little exaggerated, but I thought it was funny: When someone insists you try something, and you don't like it- but you don't want to hurt the persons feelings!
 
 
 

8.) Apologizing a lot.

 
 
This one might be the BIGGEST for me, and the only I ABSOLUTLY cant change! I dont know WHY I apologize so much, but I do! I always say, "Oh, im so sorry!" or, "Im sorry!"
 
And people always comment on it and say, "Why are you sorry?!" and I have to reply with, "...I don't know, actually!" and then they say, "Thats weird..."
 
And its true! It actually makes people uncomfortable! Im not sure WHY I apologize so much, I just do; and it seems to be an American thing because the other American Exchange Students always apologize to each other all the time as well. None of us know WHY, its just something we do...we dont even realize just how MUCH we really say it!
 


 
I can imagine that we accidentally sound like this when we apologize so much...
 
 
 

9.) I like to talk...a lot.

 
In Finland, small talk doesnt really exist...and to tell you the truth, sometimes that's really hard for me! I never realized just HOW talkative I REALLY was until I came to Finland!
 
I have even been told by one of my Finnish friends that if I was a Super-Villain, my power would be talking someone to death haha! ;)
 
And im glad that Finns are so honest, because none of my friends are ever afraid to tell me to stop talking when they want some peace and quiet haha. ;)
 
I never noticed before how much I actually talk, and sometimes I feel quite bad about just how MUCH and how OFTEN I actually talk...
 
 
 

 
I don't know what I would do without my friend´s brutal honesty haha. ;)


 
 

10.) Casual Talking

 

In the USA, its really natural and normal to talk to random people. At the grocery store, at the gas station...its just something we do! We are super casual, and we like company. We like talking to people and being social.
 
So naturally, of course I learned pretty quick that this was NOT casual OR normal in Finland haha! :D
 
I had to kind of learn how to reproach people without scaring them away or coming off in a bad light. Its not something bad at all, and I think its a really good lesson that I learned about the culture in Finland!



Im betting that this is probably what a lot of people thought when I first arrived in Finland...
 
 
 
 
 
And that pretty much wraps up 10 cultural difference from the USA and Finland! Some of these things I had to relearn, and others I simply can not change about myself. I think its great how different the culture is between the USA and Finland; and even though some differences are bigger than others, I seriously love it- and Finland.
 
Ive learned so much about myself this year and I even realized things that I didn't even know were a part of my culture and myself! It has taught me to understand Finnish culture, and to notice the small and big differences between my country and the country that I am currently living in...and I wouldn't have it any other way! :D
 
 

New Chapters!

So, as you all know- from my last post, I have changed host families! :D And all is well regarding that, and things are seriously great!

I decided to really update a bit about my life instead of doing a specific post this time, because im sure that it might be a bit more interesting this time rather than just doing "Subject-Specific" posts.


SCHOOL!  

 
At school I am taking a grand-spanking total of 5 courses. (Which to be honest, is the bare-minimum you can take at my school!) In the beginning of the courses, I WAS taking Biology at the International Campus of Lyseo, because I thought it would be easier to make friends in IB. (Which to be honest, it REALLY is- and currently almost all of my friends go to the International School.) However, it just didn't feel right to take a course there...my biology class was in English, and after working so hard to study Finnish all this time- I somehow just felt as if I was letting myself down a little bit; even though that wasn't the case at all!

Im not exactly sure why I felt so icky going to that class...but if im honest with myself, I guess the big part of it is that my Exchange is slowly coming to an end, and by taking a class in English- it almost felt as though my exchange was ending even sooner than I intended!

I switched the course to another art class, and so now I am taking all of my courses at the regular Finnish campus of my lukio instead. And although it is much harder that way, I feel much more comfortable that way and happy! (Funny that how being UNCOMFORTABLE is now COMFORTALBE for me.) ;) I guess I am all around much happier when I speak Finnish, no matter HOW bad it is; and it makes me happy! Im not ashamed! ;)

Along with that art course, I am also taking History, English, Geography, and another Art class. I decided to take classes where I could socialize a bit more, because then I could speak Finnish at the same time and work on my speaking skills-. which is what I really need!

My Finnish is always slowly but surely improving though, and fortunately- I can now hold pretty easy conversations fluently and I understand almost everything that people say at full speed! Hilariously though, I still cant really understand very much when it comes to more educational discussions...so for example, when a Teacher assigns group discussions or projects, the person sitting next to me and I exchange an expression exactly like this:







The reason why its so hilarious is because I can understand EXACTLY what the teacher is saying, until she is talking about the subject we are supposed to present a project on or hold a discussion about...but im not capable to discuss what we are talking about at all! So my partner and I just awkwardly look at each other, while they try to figure out what to do with me!


I am also taking an Art History class...but unfortunately, we are supposed to memorize different famous art pieces and during the final we are supposed to give the names of them. But we discuss them all in Finnish, so I can never remember the names. (Especially because the names are not on our copies of the art work we are supposed to memorize!) But I am sure I will figure something out!

In my History class, I understand enough to follow the idea of whats going on, and if I tried really really hard, I could get out the most important information from the course...but because the whole lesson is always a lecture, its so hard to get through the whole class! It just feels although it drags on and on! (although it IS interesting...Finnish isn't my first language, and im no where near fluent! Its hard to get a lot out of the class without giving myself a headache!)

Anyway, I guess that is more than enough about my school update!


SPORTS

 
As everyone knows, we recently had the Winter Olympics! They were SO much fun to watch with my host family, and surprisingly its really super popular to watch them in Finland! Everyone was following it on TV and posting about it on facebook, and it surprised me a lot because in the USA we watch it of course, but we don't talk about it very much or follow it as closely as my host family or friends did in Finland.
 
When the hockey games started coming along- I would run home from my bus stop to watch the games on time, and of course when the bigger games came around, I got SUPER excited about it! (Like USA VS. FINLAND and FINLAND VS. SWEDEN.)
 
 

 
I was seriously SO into the Finnish games that I probably looked something like this...
 
 
It was crazy how all of my friends got so into everything once the hockey games started coming! The games were on the TV in stockmann (a small department store complex), and when Finland played Sweden. my teacher put it up on the big screen and we all got to watch the game! I was a little bit sad about the outcome...but im glad that Finland won the Bronze! :D
 
 

Everything else in-between...

 
Socially, now that wanhat is over, im trying to figure out exactly WHAT to do with all of my Free Time! Im excited that I get to attend more Rotary meetings now, and its nice to be able to get to know the Rotarians a bit more and attend the Rotary meetings about school. And fortunately, there is also an Interact club in Oulu now! (Which is a program for youth that is sponsored by Rotary and they create projects to help out the city and people, and its pretty cool.) Its the very first Interact Club in Finland- so its a pretty big deal!
 
I think its mighty snazzy that its in my host city! Especially because I am in need of hobbies; and it will be awesome to get involved more with my host city and rotary. ;)
 
One of the hardest parts about being an exchange student is keeping busy! You cant wait for people to invite you to things or for hobbies to come your way. You just gotta grab ´em as they come, and invite people to do things with you. Its hard sometimes, especially when so many things cost money; but there are plenty of fun things to do if you just go find them. :)
 
So far so good, my exchange is as great as ever! My ONLY current struggle is just finding things to do after school. ;)
 
OH- and I almost forgot! I have an announcement to make!
 
*drum rollllllll*
 
 
I- Jennifer, have OFFICIALLY signed up for the National Finnish Fluency Exam! (intermediate level of course haha)
 
But still! YAY! I am officially testing my Finnish skills April 5th!
 
I am no where near ready to take this exam...but im hoping that with lots of studying and preparing that I will be able to take the exam and do okay at it. But I guess what happens, happens. ;)
 
 
How was that for an update!? :)
 
 
 


 

 

Friday, February 7, 2014

Update (Suomeks)

nonii, tänään oli...no, se oli...tylsä haha. Tylsä koska mulla oli historia. Voin ymmärrän paljon, mutta se on nii tylsä... :/

Mulla oli vain yks tuntia koulussa, nii, se oli helppo päivää tänään haha. Myös mä menit kirjastoon, koska mun täytyy löydää jotain noin mun suomen kieli koe. Haluasin ottaa suomen kieli koe, mutta en tiedä, jos tiedän tarpeeks suomea haha. Ehkä voin ottaa sen jos puhun vain suomeks, koko ajan haha. ;)

Se on vähä outo, koska nyt, ymmärrän kuin mä katso suomalainen elokuvat, tai televisiota. Ja ennen, en voinut. En ymmärtä miks, voin nyt haha. Voin kirjoittaa parempi, kuin voin puhua...mutta toivon, että, voin puhua myös pian. ;)

Luulen, että, jos voin ymmärrän paljon nyt, ehkä voin puhua, myös haha. Mutta se on vaikea puhua, koska en voi sanoa oikea. Mutta, mun ystävät, auttavat mua, ja se on tosi kiva! :D

No nii, myös- asun uusi perheni kanssa, ja he ovat tosi kiva! Mulla on host äiti, host isä, ja kaks host-siskot. (Mutta, vain yks asuu kotona.). Mun host sisko, oli vaihtari USA:saa, viime vuonna. Hän puhuu englantia,

 mutta puhumme suomeks. (koska haluasin oppia suomea haha.)

Mun täytyy puhua enemmän suomea, koska en ajattele, että, puhun tarpeeks. ;) Ja ehkä olisi helpompi, jos puhun enemmän... ;)

Mun uus host-perheeni, katsovat paljon suomalainen elokuvat. Ja se on hyvää, koska sitten, voin katso elokuva suomeks. ;) Mun host-sisko, sanoo, että- voin katso sen suomea tekstitys kanssa, tai ei mitään haha. Ja se on hyvä, koska sitten, mun täytyy katso ja lukea VAIN suomeks. ;)

Emmä tiedä mitas muut sanoa...mutta mä vain halusin kirjoitaa suomeks. ;)

Mutta no, kaiken kaikkiaan, elämäni on kaunis. ;)

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Night and Day Difference

No, anteeks en ole kirjoittanut, pitkään aikaan. Se on vähä nolostuttava, kertoa miks en ole kirjoittanut....mutta, mun täytyy kertoa miks haha. ;) Mä oli vähä surullinen, pitkään aikaan, koska mulla ei ollut ystävät tai jotain tehdä. Nii, mä oli yksin, kanssa ei mitään tehdä mun aikaani.

Se on nolostuttava myöntää, mutta se on totta...emmä tiedä miks, mutta joo haha. Ehkä se on koska se oli pimeä, pitkään ajan haha. Emmä tiedä! MUTTA...nyt se on jännittävä sanoa, että, mä oon tosi onnellinen. ;)


So, unfortuantly- I did NOT translate that before posting...so hopefully my Finnish didnt fail me haha. ;)

Back to the beginning; I guess I should translate and kind of talk more about what has been going on. I mean, its been awhile! :D

Unfortunatly, what I say stands true. Part of the reason why I hadent been posting for a long time was because I was just kind of having a hard time. It wasnt that I was homesick, or any of that stuff...it was just that things were the same everyday. (And I dont mean in an ordinary, "im used to this", boring sort of way...)

I mean that I didnt have anyone to sit with at lunch very often, my language skills were still on the rocks, I had TOO much free time on my hands that I spent alone, and it was dark and cold all the time.

At a glance, I just really wasnt having the HAPPIEST time on my exchange. It was super dark outside, it was COLD...and I think the darkness sort had a lot to do with it, as embarassing as it is for me to admit!

To ANY exchange students who come to Finland, I absolutly recommend vitamin D suppliments, as cheesy as that sounds! I didnt think I would need them at all, (sorry, mom.) and I sort of regret it. I thought it was cheesy to take them, and even though I had them on my bedside table- I never really picked them up. I thought that the darkness wouldnt get to me, and wouldnt bother me at all...but really, it sort of did, without me even realizing it!

I guess that as an Exchange Student, you just have TOO much going on at one time- and a little boost of happiness never hurts anyone. ;) (And yes...Vitamin D makes you happier haha...and I had to find that out the hard way.) :)

Once I actually STARTED taking the suppliments that I brought with me, I started noticing a HUGE, HUGE difference. And I was pretty embarassed about it too, because it was SUCH a little thing! Unfortunatly, when I started taking them, it was starting to get light again- and so I felt like I had lost a lot of the time on my exchange...and there was no way to get it back again! So that was pretty sad...

But fortunatly, I think its just a "Finland Exchange Student" thing, because I KNOW I wasnt the only one. When all of the Exchange Students in Oulu hung out together, we all seemed pretty blue and depressed...and I think NONE of us wanted to admit it! 

Its not that we wanted to feel that way, or that we just let it happen...I cant really explain it. There IS no way to explain it...but you could for sure see the difference in all of us Exchange Students. I think it was just that the weather was so extream and dark, and we just werent used to it being so dark and cold and silent all the time...

Once it started getting lighter, things REALLY started to look up. And this is actually something that is SUPER embrassing to post about! But I feel as though since this is a blog about my exchange in Finland, that I need to include all the little details and such that go along with what an Exchange in Finland is like.

I am not trying to say that any exchanger that comes to Finland will be a little depressed during the darker months in Finland, but this is just the experience that I personally had, and that I saw other Exchangers in my host city have. I think its normal, and there are for sure ways to distract yourself from the darkness and create other ways to boost your happiness. :)

Currently, things have SERIOUSLY looked up- and I am literally having the time of my life! I guess the darkest part of the Finnish winter was just a little bump in the road for everyone. ;)

It sort of actually reminds me of the song, "Here Comes The Sun" by the Beatles, as cheesy as that sounds. :)

I kind of look at it as an interesting experience though, to tell you the truth. When I picked Finland, I wanted a challenge. A different sort of challenge that I would battle by going to a country with a more reserved culture and a difficult language. I guess that this little bump in the road was just part of that challenge, and im actually really glad that I expienced it, even though I wasnt expecting it! I guess I SHOULD have seen it coming when I found out how little sunlight there was in the winter in Northern Finland...but it REALLY didnt cross my mind that it would effect me at all. I thought it wouldnt effect me what so ever, and I didnt even REALIZE it did until after some time! But man, am I glad that that little bump in the road is past; because its sure good to feel amazing again! :D


“You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.”



“Maybe the paths that you each shall tread are already laid before your feet though you do not see them”