SURVIVING IN JYVÄSKYLÄ
MAKE THE MOST OF IT
Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas
30.8.2011
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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
A LITTLE ABOUT FINNS
• 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.
• 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
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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
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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
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SOME SUGGESTIONS
• Be forgiving and keep
an open mind
• People rarely mean to
be offensive
• Be open to new
experiences
• Be wary of forming
cultural cliques
Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas
30.8.2011
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PRACTICAL STUFF
EVERYDAY THINGS
Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas
30.8.2011
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IF YOU GET SICK
Nurse's consultation at Student
Health Services
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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
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GUIDANCE AND A SHOULDER TO CRY ON
• Overwhelmed by your studies?
Study Councelor Irja Keralampi
[email protected]
040 585 3272
• Finland can be lonely for a
foreigner
• Need someone to talk to?
Psychologist Heimi-Maria Pietilä
[email protected] or
040 521 9415
Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas
30.8.2011
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RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES
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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 [email protected]) 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,
[email protected], 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: [email protected])
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,
[email protected] 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
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HOLIDAYS IN FINLAND
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
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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)
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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
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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
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THANK YOU!
TIME FOR QUESTIONS
Surviving in JKL, Alison Doolittle-Suokas
30.8.2011
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