Hello friends, it is another week again! The Vappu celebration has come and gone, so it is now time for everybody to get back to business as usual. We are still in the fifth period and for many students, it still a very busy period for them because they may still have some pending assignments,projects and exams to complete. For example, students in the Information Technology are now very busy with their project works.So everyday, they will have to resume school from 08:15am and close for the day by 04:00pm. What a very busy period for them!

This week on Home and Away, I will be having a 20-year old Ville Huttu to share his study experience here in this blog. He is a first year degree student currently studying Information Technology at Oulu University of Applied Sciences. Interestingly, he is my classmate and also my friend. So getting him to share his experience was not a very difficult task for me.What a nice thing to have Ville here on Home and Away!

I began my brief interview with Ville, by asking him to share or tell us some of his experiences here in Oulu and how he was able to cope with for example the cold weather, the dark weather(that occasionally happens),and the Snow. Here was his response: “I've always lived in Oulu, so I'm pretty used for the weather around here.I don't mind having cold and dark weather. It's refreshing to go for a walk at night when snow is glittering from the moon's light.”

Since Ville, is from Oulu, I wanted him to share his fun experiences as a student and also tell us some of the places that he has visited or he prefers to visit catching fun. Here was his response:”There are a few different kind of attractions and fun places to visit in Oulu. For example Tietomaa and Nallikari, which is extremely nice place at summer, and a lot of other places too.Of course just chilling around with friends is the best option to have fun.”

Have you met some International students? If yes, what is your general opinion about them? Was another question that I asked him and here were his opinion about International students: “Yes, I've met a lot of International students and they all seem to be really interesting persons. They're always cheerful and do their studies well.It's a lots of fun to talk with them, even though I'm not much of a talker.”

Apart from studies, what else do you enjoy doing at your spare time? Was another question that I asked him again,Knowing fully well that almost every student has one or two things that he/she enjoys doing during their spare time and here was his response:”During my spare time I usually listen to some kind of music while relaxing or hang out with friends. I also go to gym occasionally and enjoy playing video games.”

Finally, it was time for me to know Ville’s general opinion about his school-Oulu University of Applied Sciences, the teaching environments and the teachers as well. This was his opinion:”Oulu University of Applied Sciences is a great school! I've enjoyed all my time in this school, even though sometimes it has been pretty hard to wake up at morning to school.
The teachers are professionals and most of them can explain things in a way that's easy to understand. About teaching environment, I have nothing to complain about. In a nutshell, Oulu University of Applied Sciences is awesome place.”

It quite interesting to see how this few days have been full of fun because of the Vappu celebration. For me, this is my first time of experiencing his kind of celebration. There is parties almost everywhere and people are having time with their friends and loves ones. For most people, it has been a very special period of celebration that they have been long waiting for. A period to wine and dine with friends. What a celebration!

In this period of celebration, I will be having a 20-year Hanna Haapala, who hail from Oulu to share some of her experience as a student here in Oulu. She is a first year degree student currently Civil Engineering in Oulu University of Applied Sciences. It is some times rare to find ladies studying engineering courses even in Africa where I came from. So seeing same thing here is no news to me. Like in my group (Information Technology) here in Oulu Uas, there are only few ladies as supposed the large number of guys in the same group.

When I asked her to share or tell us some of her experiences here in Oulu and how she was able to cope with for example the cold weather, the dark weather(that occasionally happens),and the Snow. From her response, it was very obvious that Hanna likes the summer period than the winter seasons and that of the dark weather. Also she share her likeness about the brightness of the day and even at nights during the summer period. For the snow, she likes as well as that of the summer!

Since Hanna is from Oulu, I wanted her to share her fun experiences as a student and also tell us some of the places that she has visited or she prefers to visit catching fun. Here was her response: “Well, I have been here whole my life so I’ve been having fun and sometimes not so fun, of course. But I like living here.”

Have you met some International students? What is your general opinion about them? Was another question that I asked her and from her response, it was quite interesting to learn that Hanna her not really met any interesting student. Apart from studies, what else do you enjoy doing at your spare time? I asked her again. This was her response: “ I like being with my friends and doing sports, for example. I go to work while going to school so I don’t have too much time to do anything else.”

Finally, it was time for me to know Hanna’s general opinion about her school-Oulu University of Applied Sciences, the teaching environments and the teachers as well. At this time, she smiled and here was her response: “ Of course, I wouldn’t study there if I didn’t like the school. It depends a lot about the teacher, but generally they are quite easy-going but still they are professional .”

Hello friends and welcome to the fifth period. A very busy period for most students especially those in the engineering department and perhaps some from the school of business. For those students in the Information Technology, it has really be very busy for them because they have been so occupied with either some project works, Lab reports, assignments or even some make up tests to write. What a very busy period for them!

In this week, I will be sharing the experience of a first year degree student currently studying Information technology at Oulu University of Applied Sciences. She hails from a beautiful city called Kolari, Lapland and she moved here in Oulu, last summer. Interestingly she is 19 years old making her the youngest girl in her class and she is by name Aino Leppänen.

I began my brief interview with her by asking her to share or tell us some of her experiences here in Oulu and how she was able to cope with for example the cold weather, the dark weather(that occasionally happens),and the Snow. Here was her response: “ I don’t know if the weather is that cold, since I come from northern Finland. But since Oulu is so close to the sea the wind makes the weather feel colder.

So the temperature doesn’t bother me but the wind does. The darkness is kind of depressing because all the snow we have in Oulu turns grey very fast. In Lapland the snow stays white and it brings more light than what we have here. I do, I like snowboarding and also the snow makes everything look cleaner, if even just a little while.”

I wanted to know if Aino has been having fun since she came to Oulu and also to know some of the places she has visited catching fun. So when I asked her to share with us some of these places, if she has, here was her response:” Yes, I’ve had fun since I moved here. I like this little cafeteria in downtown called Bisketti, so sometimes I go get a coffee from there but it’s quite expensive so I don’t do that too often (student budget and all). For clubs I like Kaarle because there’s both pub and dance floor (+ yard at summer).”

Have you met some International students? If yes, what is your general opinion about them? Was another question that I asked her and here were her opinion: “ I have made some good friends since our classes got merged together. I like that international students have had the bravery to move to completely different culture, and I have learned some new things myself. It is always fun to meet people from variety of different backgrounds.” Apart from studies, what else do you enjoy doing at your spare time? I asked her again and she responded: “I like to watch movies, play video games and hang out with friends.”

Finally, it was time for me to know Aino’s general opinion about her school-Oulu University of Applied Sciences, the teaching environments and the teachers as well. At this time, she smiled and here was her response: “Yes the school is very nice. Some courses i like more than others but i guess that’s the same with every person. Sometimes I wish the information would move around a bit better. I like it when teacher is aware of the level his/her students are at, and doesn’t try to overextend their limits in learning. But in general I like the teachers and there’s nobody I “hate” so much that it would affect my learning. ”

Hello friends, it is really interesting to learn how fast the summer is approaching. Now in school, so many students have almost rounded off their exams while others are still at the verge of rounding off theirs. For most students in the Engineering departments, these periods are quite busy for them because of the assignments and the lab reports that they have to complete before the summer holiday. What a busy period!

As we are already warming up for this week end, I will be featuring on “Home and Away” blog, an exchange who was studying Automation Engineering in his home country and have decided to continue in same course(Automation Engineering ) as an exchange student here in Oulu University of Applied Sciences. Interestingly, I have shared a course (Internet Programming) with him and that was where it felt it will be good as well to have him share some of his experiences here in Oulu. I am talking about a 22-year old guy called Orestis Mavropoulos .

I began the brief interview with him by asking about the course that he was studying before coming to Oulu University of Applied Sciences (Uas) as an exchange student. For someone who knows exactly what he wants in life, he told me that he is still studying the same course (Automation Engineering) he was studying from his home country. What a very brilliant choice indeed!

When I asked him to share with us some of his experiences since he has been here in Oulu for some months now and how he feels for example, about the cold weather, the dark weather and also the snow and here was what he said:" Since the beginning of my journey I was aware of the cold weather and snow. Although I come from a land that is almost always sunny and “hot” and I am not used to this temperatures, it was a challenge to learn how to live in Finland.

I am more the “sunny” type of guy this is why I’m looking forward to the loon days which are coming. Living in the dark was also a challenge and a very nice experience that I could only have here. Apart from all the great experiences that I have had here being an Erasmus student, one of the most fascinating moments was when I saw the Aurora Boreallis shaped normally in the sky creating a green wavy curtain above our heads. Really amazing! ”

Will it be a bad option if I asked Orestis to share his fun experience here in Oulu? Certainly not! Have you been having fun since you came? If yes, can you tell me some of the places that you have visited to catch your fun? This was the question I asked him and here was his response:" Fun is a very poor word to describe what’s like since I came. I could say that the experiences along with the company, people from different nations and cultures, where the main axis of my entertainment. It is everywhere you can have fun when with good company.”

Again, it was time for me ask him is he has met some Finnish people and also for him to tell us his general opinion about them. This is because when you are new to any environment, you would want to first of all, observe the people of that environment and how they behave so that you will be able to understand and get along with them. This was what he said: "I have not been very close to a Finnish person as a friend here in Oulu but I’ve been in companies that there were a couple of Finnish people. I consider them to be open in conversation and pleasant.”

Apart from studies, what else do you enjoy doing at your spare time? Was yet another question that I asked him, knowing quite well that we all have one or two things which could be in form of a hobby that we enjoy doing at our spare time. Here was his response:" I really enjoy having some trips (e.g Tallinn, Levi etc), I enjoy swimming in the swimming pool, working out, bicycling, walks in the centre and at the sea.”

Finally, it was time for me to know his general opinion as an exchange student, about Oulu University of Applied Sciences, the teaching environments and the teachers as well and here was his response:" I believe that generally the universities of Finland are one class higher than other universities. This is what I believe for the Oulu University of Applied Sciences, especially when I compare it with my university in Athens. Very well organized with very good teachers who motivate you to study. Their method of teaching is much different because they put you in the procedure of finding what you need to study by yourself, sometimes hard in the beginning but with very good results.”

It is Esther celebration again.What a celebration! A day when Christians all over the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. For most International students, this is their first time of having this celebration outside their home country. For me, it is quite interesting to see how quiet this celebration can be most especially here in Oulu. Well, I think it is nice also experiencing this celebration outside your home country. It gives you a different perspective to life in general.

Nevertheless, this week on "Home and Away", I have decided to feature a 27-year old Deependra Danai who hails from a beautiful country called Nepal. He is an international student currently studying International Business at Oulu University of Applied Sciences. He arrived Oulu on the 27th October 2011 and according him, he felt he has finally arrived where he has been dreaming for long.

When I asked him to share with us some of his experiences since he has been here in Oulu for some months now and how he feels for example, about the cold weather, the dark weather and also the snow and below was his response: “It was cold, the wind was too strong and a very good friend called Ola picked me up at the airport. Wow it felt really good inside when I met him. There were so many things in my heart as soon as I landed at the OULU airport and I can’t explain in words. It was very cold and I was too desperate in the early days but as the time passed it was, I felt better.

Dark weather sometimes could be a big problem, sun was hardly seen and depression had almost occupied in my heart, fortunately I got very good friends and slowly got used to it all. To see the snow for short is a life time experience but all the time to be with snow means what to me, I can tell you. Everywhere pile of snow and sometimes I felt that where the hell I have arrived? Snow is part of life here for every six month of a year and it’s good.”

Have you been having fun since you came? If yes, can you tell me some of the places that you have visited to catch your fun? This was another question I asked him and he responded thus: “ I almost every day , visit the city center and have some coffee at coffee house, with friends I go sometimes to victor villa, city library, go to friends place have fun, Momo party, birthday party, festival of light we had celebrated together with Nepalese friends. It feels really good. Most of the places which are in the most attractive lists I have been. I have really had fun of life since I came here.” What an interesting experience!

Again, it was time to ask Deependra if he has met some Finnish people and also for him to tell us his general opinion about them. This is because when you are new to any environment, you would want to first of all, observe the people of that environment and how they behave so that you will be able to understand and get along with them. Here was his response also: “ I have mixed conception about Finns. People are good, some people are too friendly but some people unfortunately feel that it’s not worth maintaining friendship. “

Apart from studies, what else do you enjoy doing at your spare time? I asked him again, knowing from his previous responses that there could be other things or hobbies that he could enjoy doing other than studies. Here was his response: “Surfing is the best part of my spare time. I do watch movies, talk to my friends, go to city to talk to other people to improve my Finnish language skills, visit new places, read books about world economy and organizing parties to have fun.“

Finally, his general opinion as an international student, about Oulu University of Applied Sciences was of interest to me and when I asked him of these, he replied: “A World class study opportunity has Oulu UAS provided us, so I have got a platform to bring my dream to reality. I love my school.The Teachers are highly experienced and know how to make all understand what they teach. Excellent teaching methods, Whiteboards, slide videos. They use all kinds of tools just to make sure that all do understand what they are teaching and what the message is to the students.”