Nature&City

View from the window of my student apartment is so calming, helping me to struggle with actual legal problems of European consumer law! Finnish nature is not really difficult from the Karelian nature, but the attitude towards it is so different. Nature is an inevitable part of city, making it is so easy to escape from daily worries!

Recently I tried to surprise my colleagues that I have recently seen a squirrel in my student building, running from the first floor to the third. Well, actually there it is not a surprising story - some buildings have roes as permanent visitors! Not to mention hares and hedgehogs. Still when I see a hare (or rabbit?) on my way I try to run after him, so little I am used to be in close contact with nature. Hopefully, hares don`t become too scared of me.

Helsinki

Today I realised that already 3 months have passed since I came to Helsinki. It wasn`t first time I came to the Finnish capital, but first time as a student of the University of Helsinki. Three exams passed, as well as one essay, as well as one conference, and I have so many open-minded and inspiring people there from whom I can learn and whom I can try to help and inspire as well.

And, surely, I cannot refrain from making a short summary of my first assumptions of living there:

1. A small city feeling

I am a provincial girl - I mean, I am from a small city of Petrozavodsk, Republic of Karelia, which population amounts to around 260 000. Moving to a bigger city would surely be stress for me, but not to Helsinki. You may see crowds at the streets, but not often, and even if it happens, you can easily change your route and enjoy silence of Kaisaniemi park.

And the venues are so close to each other - actually, I had to travel more in Petrozavodsk. Faculty of Law campus, cozy Kaisatalo library of the University of Helsinki, UniCafe student canteen (which was serving tasty Zambian today to support African development, actually!), student venues (where awesome debates are held), gym (I do my best to find time for yoga classes) are situated so close to each other, saving precious time. Leading law firms are also nearby, which is of less relevance for me at the moment, but still relevant, as I go to seminars to practice my legal Finnish and gain understanding of Finnish law.

2. Events

There is a common belief in Karelia that life is boring in Finland. Too boring that going there will mean sacrificing best ages of your life. I have no ideas what these beliefs are based on and what is taken as a comparison. You can actually find so many events, including free events there! I really will not forget my first experience of watching ballet outdoors - it was a chilly August evening and we had to reserve places at the steps of the Helsinki Cathedral in advance, but it was worth it. Much more events are to follow, and I am happy that I can participate in some of them (not all! exams are coming!) and even organise something. 

3.International atmosphere

I may say so much about that, but what I want to say is that you can easily learn any language there and for free. I finally started to learn Swedish: intonation is not easy to learn, but language cafe will surely help me in that. Understanding finally texts in both official language is just great, and finally I managed to grasp why svenska is such a beautiful language.

Learning Swedish

Last week I went to the Swedish language which was marked by three main things: I lacked my interned connection, I forgot to install offline dictionary but still I could get engaged in conversation!
Of course, it is not that easy and lack for words can be noticeable, but still I could get express myself.

So, tha basic idea of any language should be as follows:
1. Forget you gadgets=don`t worry that you don`t know too much
2. Don`t be afraid to ask for translation
3, Smile when you hear something you don`t understand :)
4. Improvise when forgetting words, even change topic!

Tammerfors, day&night

This weekend I spent in Tampere which I have always considered one of most open-minded and welcoming cities of Finland.

First of all, traditions - going to Pyynikki observation tower to enjoy the view and a cup of tee with delicious sweety munkki.

And new challenges are coming as well! I like to compare cultures of Finland with cultures of my dear friends. One of the criteria was karaoke culture. In Finland karaoke bars are really popular and there you are supposed to sing at the stage in front of the audience. And we song! Actually, it was a certain must-do experience: sharing you joy of new experiences with the audience which is separated from us by age gap (30, 40 years?) but not by the urge to sing!

Day and night - I like Tampere in both times.

Dance and learn

One of things I miss most is the ability to train with my dance team three times per week, learn new culture and explore the Indian culture.

But there I am happy to practice by performing!
The open stage event rook place at Aleksi Think Corner during Helsinki Summer School. Surely, summer schools are about learning, but learning in a wider sence! For me each performance may it be dance (which happens rarely) or public speaking is about learning. Each person who is watching at you make have advice or encouragement for you, and this is amazing!

Harmony and sun - Suomenlinna

Summer is the right time to visit Suomenlinna not for learning its history, but just for relaxing your soul: the sunshine motivates to do that!

It is nice to be a pug and enjoy a summer promenade in metro, accompanied by two drivers (read: your pesonal servants).