SURVIVING IN JYVÄSKYLÄ MAKE THE MOST OF IT Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas 30.8.2011 1
SOME OF THE CRAZY STUFF I VE HEARD Is there electricity in Finland? What do you do about the polar bears? Do you have movies? Isn t it cold all the time? You can t go to Finland! The communist Russians will kidnap you!!! How to survive in Jyväskylä, Alison Doolittle-Suokas 30.8.2011 2
Finns don t always engage in small talk. Silence is comfortable here. Finns may show respect by being quiet and listening to what you say. Don t always expect them to answer with uh huh sure oh yeah etc. Finns can come across as rude or shy. A LITTLE ABOUT FINNS The sauna is a very important part of the Finnish culture. Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas 30.8.2011 3
TEACHERS AND SCHOOL HMMM Teachers are most often called by first name Teachers are interactive Teachers and staff are here to help you Be active! If you have a question about your studies please ask a teacher! Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas 30.8.2011 4
UNDERSTANDING CULTURE SHOCK What is culture shock? An unpleasant surprise or shock that occurs as a result of being in another culture. The main aspects of culture shock Stress caused by the effort to adapt Sense of loss and feelings of depravation Feeling rejected by or rejecting members of the new culture Confusion in role, values and self-identity Anxiety and even disgust or anger about foreign practices Feelings of helplessness Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas 30.8.2011 5
PREPARING FOR CULTURE SHOCK The first step in preparing for culture shock is just knowing what it is. While travelling, remember to look for signs (sleeplessness, anxiety, frustration, anger) and take it seriously. Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas 30.8.2011 6
BEWARE THE STEREOTYPE! 1. Beware of stereotyping the study of cross-cultural communication is based upon generalizations. Not all individuals from a culture will behave according to such generalizations 2. When encountering a person from a different culture, do not assume they will automatically behave according to the pre-conceived characteristics of their culture. 3. Remember! Cultures are not right or wrong but merely different! Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas 30.8.2011 7
Be forgiving and keep an open mind People rarely mean to be offensive Be open to new experiences Be wary of forming cultural cliques SOME SUGGESTIONS Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas 30.8.2011 8
PRACTICAL STUFF EVERYDAY THINGS Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas 30.8.2011 9
IF YOU GET SICK Nurse's consultation at Student Health Services Call this place first: Consultation without prior appointment Mon-Fri 8-11, Sepänkatu 3, 2nd floor. You can also call the Public Health Nurse +358 14 266 0792 Need a prescription and you ve already talked to the nurse? Doctor's appointment Mon-Thu 8-16 at your local health centre 13.70 /visit (first three times a calendar year, after that you can visit a doctor for free of charge). If you become ill and need urgent medical attention you should contact the Central Hospital (Keski-Suomen Keskussairaala). The address is Keskussairaalantie 19 and phone number (+358 14) 2691 811. To order an ambulance, dial 112 (urgent cases) or (+358 14) 211 606). Note! The fees are different for non-eu citizens. Pharmacies (Apteekki) Pharmacies are usually open until 17.00 or 18.00. The University Pharmacy (Yliopiston apteekki) at Kauppakatu 39 is an exception - it is open every day 8.00-23.00. Yliopiston Apteekki - Kauppakatu 39, tel. +358 300 20200 Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas 30.8.2011 10
GUIDANCE AND A SHOULDER TO CRY ON Overwhelmed by your studies? Study Councelor Irja Keralampi irja.keralampi@jamk.fi 040 585 3272 Finland can be lonely for a foreigner Need someone to talk to? Psychologist Heimi-Maria Pietilä heini-maria.pietila@jamk.fi or 040 521 9415 Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas 30.8.2011 11
RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES The majority of Finns (80 %) are Lutherans. Sunday services in English are held in the Old Vicarage (Vapaudenkatu 26) every second Sunday at 5 pm. If you would like to get more information on the activities of the congregation, please get in touch with reverend Raimo Laine (mobile 050 518 5445, e-mail raimo.laine@evl.fi) or join the Christian Fellowship in Jyväskylä Facebook group. There are five Christian organisations for students in Jyväskylä. More information about their activities can be found on notice boards, in the student newspaper and in the Student Union calendar. The Orthodox Church of Resurrection is situated at Rajakatu 39, next to the JAMK University of Applied Sciences. There are three services every week in Finnish: Vespers every Wednesday at 6 pm, Vigil every Saturday at 6.00 pm and Divine Liturgy every Sunday at 10.00 am. The Divine Liturgy in church Slavonic is celebrated five times a year and twice a year in English. For more information: tel. 020 6100 380 and http://www.ort.fi Saint Olaf s Roman Catholic Church (Mass also held in English) Yrjönkatu 36, tel. (+358 14) 612 659, olavi@catholic.fi, http://olavi.catholic.fi/ Mormon Church (Myöhempien aikojen pyhien Jeesuksen Kristuksen kirkko), Sammonkatu 9, tel. (+358 14) 615 274, http://www.mormonit.fi/ Free Evangelical Church (Vapaaseurakunta), Puutarhakatu 16, tel. (+358 14) 614 026, http://www.jyvaskylanvapaaseurakunta.fi/ (English fellowship group held every other Saturday at 2 pm. For more information contact: stevek@metacase.com) Adventist Church, Ilmarisenkatu 18, tel. (+358 14) 217 767 http://jyvaskyla.adventtikirkko.fi Pentecostal Church (Helluntaiseurakunta), Lyseonkatu 3, tel. (+358) 50 4099 170, http://www.jklhelluntaisrk.fi/ Jyväskylä City Church (Jyväskylän Cityseurakunta), Kauppakatu 1, tel. (+358 14) 3100 155, info@jyvaskylancityseurakunta.org www.jklcitysrk.org There is also an Islamic community in Jyväskylä. For further information, please contact the Islamic Community of Central Finland at Vaasankatu 4 a, +358 40 535 2010 (prayers every Friday at noon). Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas 30.8.2011 12
On these holidays shops and banks are usually closed, and there may be some changes in hours of operation on the previous day. Below are the public holidays and other celebrations (*)in the academic year October 30th Clocks turn back one hour November 5 - All Saints Day (pyhäinpäivä) November 13 - Father s Day (isänpäivä) December 6 - Independence Day (Itsenäisyyspäivä), since 1917 December 24-25 Christmas Eve & Day (jouluaatto & -päivä) December 26 - Boxing Day (tapaninpäivä) January 1 - New Years Day (uudenvuodenpäivä) January 6 - Epiphany (loppiainen) February 5 - Runeberg s Day* (Runebergin päivä): A national poet. Special cake! February 14 - Valentine s Day* (Ystävänpäivä) HOLIDAYS IN FINLAND February 21 - Shrove Tuesday* (laskiaistiistai): Finns eat pea soup and special buns, and head for the slopes for sledding April 6 - Good Friday (pitkäperjantai) April 7-8 - Easter (pääsiäinen) April 30-May1 - May Day Eve* & May Day (vappuaatto & päivä) May 13 - Mother s Day (äitienpäivä) May 17 - Ascension Day (helatorstai) May 27 - Whitsun (helluntai): If you don t have a girl/boy friend by Whitsun you won t have one the whole summer (a Finnish proverb) June 22-23 - Midsummer Eve & Day (juhannusaatto & -päivä) Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas 30.8.2011 13
USING THE TOILET JAMK Toilets are cleaned on a daily basis Flush by pushing the button on the top of the toilet Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas 30.8.2011 14
THANK YOU! TIME FOR QUESTIONS Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas 30.8.2011 15