Ice Hockey and Doughnuts

It's been another week here in Tampere and I have to say, as every day passes, the more and more I think I could so live here! If there was a possibility to work here I would grab their hands off and move tomorrow! There's just something about Finland that I love, I can't decide whether it's the beauty of the place, the people, the weather, I don't know! Maybe it's a combination of them all, but whatever it is, I will be coming back! Actually, when I have been speaking to random Finnish people here they always point out how depressed the Fins are, and yet, whenever I meet people I really don't get that vibe! Everyone I have met so far has been so lovely and helpful and generally very jolly! They are quite crazy here I admit! The amount of people I see wearing weird outfits, crazy hair, all sorts, it's fab!

Actually, last saturday myself and my friends went to watch an Ice Hockey game and I have to say, it was amazing!! I've never seen ice hockey before, actually I don't really like sports, but this one game sold it to me! I'm now a fan! I am just so desperate to watch another game! I am now a supporter of Tappara and want to get the whole T shirt thing! Oh yes they've sold it to me now, I think I might even be becoming part Finnish! We also went sledging which was extremely fun too! In England when (I stress When!) it snows, it's like mush, but here it's so great! And it hasn't even been snowing that much too, but there's still enough to sledge on and well I have to say I had a blast! This particular hill we found was very steep and lined with trees (yes, I saw the dangers too!) and it was actually probably more icey and snowy but we went for it and it was breath-takingly awesome! THEN! Some little kids came along and started competing with us! On their knees and all sorts, they had an advantage I say, they live here and they see snow all the time! We're amateurs! Show offs! Anyway they moved on and left us alone, I think our screams and rediculousness was embarassing them :D The place where we were as well had an observation tower which apparently sold the best doughnuts in town, so naturally we had to check it out! I agree, they were pretty good! And the views were amazing! It amazed me how such a large mass of water can actually freeze (refering to the massive lake) - and when I said that all my friend gave me that look of 'oh god, what is she talking about now?! of course it can freeze!' haha it still amazes me!

Anyway apart from having lots of fun in the snow our classes have been going great! This week we are learning about Sound, which is my department, and it has been fab! Lots of interesting things to learn and our teachers know so much and are soo enthusiastic! This one guy we have is really small and thin, has the wildest hair and knows everything there is to know about Sound! He's my hero! Today we were having a play about with all the equipment; camera, mic, track and dolly, lights and of course our actors! It was really great doing this again, it's what I love doing, but man it was cold! Standing outside at -3 all afternoon is not something to take lightly! Luckily I was prepared, wore my thermals (woo!), 100 layers, hats, hoodie etc etc and was actually toasty warm! The only problem was, I was wearing extremely padded mittens and couldn't do a thing! I had to get everybody to get things out of my pockets, to zip up my coat, everything! I had my headphones keeping my ears warm too! Fun and games it was, looking forward to our shooting schedule in a few weeks, even though it will be so intense, like 7am-10pm kind of thing, but I guess that's all part of the business, and that's why we love it!! x

Classes in Finland

Well! I feel like I have lots of time at the moment to write about my time here (despite having those projects which I have started but are due in 2 weeks!). We have started classes here now and I have to say, I'm having a brilliant time! The place where we are at, Tampere University of Applied Sciences, is great. The facilities are fantastic and the teachers and students are all so nice and very helpful! The welcome we have recieved was very good and has definitely helped settle in.

Another great thing about where our campus is, is that it is right in the centre of the city-which means shopping! Haha it's not like we are all rolling in cash but as our Erasmus grant has just come in it seems only right to celebrate a little! I am glad however that we are all quite responsible and everyone I have spoken to has mentioned that dreaded word "budget". On that note, I'm pleased to say that as a student in Finland, there are lots of perks! We get very good discounts on the bus (and the buses themselves are a pleasure to take!) and with our student cards get good discounts on many other things. The best I have to say is the canteen at uni! We get a full, hot meal (with unlimited salad!) for 2.35 Euros. Its so cheap and very yummy and it fills us up so much that we don't need to eat much in the evening, which means we don't need to do as much food shopping! I can't help but tell my friends this when they ask (actually they don't even need to ask, I just tell them!).

As far as lessons go, we are given short classes with very respectabe teachers (our scriptwriting teacher wrote and directed his own feature film, which I have to say was very good!) and then left to work on our own. I'm glad we are at this stage now where we can work together and get on with things on our own, I guess it's all part of the learning process. This is a very important subject for us, making this film, and we all feel so passionately about it. We all have our input and everyone will put all their effort into, because at the end of the day, it's not only our degree that will be affected but also our careers. Oh dear, on that thought I feel a wave of stress come on! Time to go do some research! ...

I'm here again! I have arrived in Finland and having a great time! We got here last week and spent 2 days in Helsinki. It's a really lovely city, very clean and beautiful. Apparently the Fins love their coffee so we had to have our coffee breakfast..we thought it was at a really special place then realised the cafe we went to was a chain all around the country! Never mind, the coffee was good!

We then finally made it to Tampere where I'll be spending the next 3 months, and so far, we have got lost a few times (spent a good 2 hours on the bus going to the countryside when actually we were only supposed to be going 5 minutes) and took aprt in a REALLY fun tour of the city where it was like a race, met loads of other international students and tried lots of Finnish things! For anyone who gets a chance to do something like this, DO IT! There was an after party where all the international students and Finnish students got together and had a boogie, it was a really fab night and definitely worth while.

Our accommodation is good too, a little old but we are all housed together in the same block and it's a short bus journey to the city! I'm settling in very fast which is good, we now know (just about) which buses we can take to get around, where to buy food, etc etc. It has made it a lot easier being in a group, especially with some of my close friends, but at the same time, if I had to do this on my own I think I would be able to do it, it's all great fun and a fabulous experience!

Well that's all from me for now, my classes start soon so the action should begin! Xx