During a trip in Inari (in finnish lapland), we visited a reindeer farm in a sámi family. The second generation of the family offers several activities. When we arrived, we have fed reinders, we had the possibility to touch them and the grandmother gave us a lot of information about them. After that we satisfied the examinater of ability to drive a reindeer sledge. With the licence, we are allowed to move, with due care and attention, in the wilds of Lapland. This licence is valid for 5 years.

Then, we were able to try sports activities and for example the assault of a fault reindeer. The grandmother offered us a coffee in a typical hut. She had explain us how suomi people live whether it is finnish suomi, norway suomi or sweden suomi. Moreover we learnt what are their rites, their professional activities, their language and their clothes. On other woman, sang us famous songs around a fire.

At the end, it was possible to buy souvenirs on the shop where made of traditional sámi materials reindeerantler, sheep wool and northern wood adjusted to modern use (create cup).

Audrey Brousseau

On 13 and 14 november, ESN organised a famous event with name “Pirates of Baltic sea”. That doesn’t tell you Nothing, but the principe is to gather more than 1000 Erasmus students who come from Finland or the countries of Eastern of Europe to make the crossing on a ferry. Several activities were organized during the journey which lasted from 17:30 to 8:30. And in the early morning, we arrived in Stockholm (Capital of Sweden).

Snow in Stockholm

The city consist fourteen islands

It was fantastic because there was snow everywhere on the city, and some people skied or sledged in the park. The city has very nice buildings but what I found the cutest was the old centre with pretty colorful buildings. We also visit the Stockholm Cathedral and we assisted at the changing of te guard.

Pretty colorful buildings

The old centre

Audrey Brousseau

We all know that it gets cold in Finland in the winter. The temperateness varies considerably between the southern coastal regions and the extreme north.

Since October in Oulu, the cold had settled down. At this period I wore my gloves and my big scarf. But since the beginning of November the snow appeared and covered the streets and trees. It makes actullement very cold. Thus we go every morning to the university with -11 degrees. It is not easy everyday because there are snow on our saddles so our buttocks are wet. And something else, our hair and eyelashes freeze outside. But it’s very invigorative, especially when the sun is present and it reflects on the snow.

The most annoying point on this change, it’s the passage at the time of winter. Now, the night come between 15:30 and 16:00. Knowing that the sun gets up between 8:30 and 9:00, we see very few the sun. And that is going to go only by worsening till the middle of December (where it’s plans only 3 hours of sunshine per day).

But it’s not a reason to stay indoors, so just make the most of the fresh white season and enjoy it !!

Snow in the forests of Oulu

Very cold temperatures and sunset at 15:30

Audrey Brousseau

One Saturday, we decided with others exchange students to take our bike and go to Koitelinkoski situated at 24 kilometre from Oulu (we cyclied during 3 hours to go there). Koitelinkoski is an outdoor recreation area located along the Kiiminkijoki river in the Kiiminki district. This place is nicknamed “Rapids” and are about four kilometres from downtown Kiiminki. The area consists of a small islands dividing the free-flowing river into smaller streams and rapids. It’s a beautiful place for people who love nature, and visiting tourists. The Koiteli region is surrounded by rich vegetation, and its many islands provide excellent opportunities for fishing, canoeing and kayaking, and trekking. The Koitelinkoski rapids are an excellent fishing spot for the whole family. During the summer, it’s possible to take a guided canoe or Kayak tour along the river. On the other hand in the winter, we can exploring the area with ski or by snowmobile.

The larger islands are connected with a suspension bridges. We can find on the site a summer café “the Tunnelmatupa” on Sahasaari island and several campfire sites where we can prepare our food and enjoy some refreshments. We took the opportunity to burnt marshmallow ;)!

Audrey Brousseau

One of the most popular sport in Oulu is the ice hockey. The Kärpät Oulu (Oulu Stoats) is a Professional ice hockey club based in Oulu, Finland. The club was founded in 1946. Indeed, in the first annual meeting in January 1947, an ice hockey section was established. At the beginning of the new decade, Kärpät was somewhat successful in ice hockey and it became the main sport of the club.

The club has won so far the league five times, in 1981, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008. Kärpät have claimed the Finnish championship title seven times, and have been the most successful Finnish ice hockey team in the 2000s and 2010s.

I went on the Oulun Energia Areena to see a game of the champions hockey league with others Erasmus students. This areena can welcome more than 6500 peoples and the show was good. The game was the team of Oulu (Kärpät) vs Germany (Krefeld Pinguine). It was the first time for me, and I almost understood the rules. The ice hockey take place in 3 rounds. The teams can change players without stopping game and it’s made in an impressive speed. What it suprised me on this game, is the violence that players made against an other player on the plexiglas. A match lasts three periods of 20 minutes each, the clock being stopped in every stoppage time. Between two periods, a break takes place and one or several surfacers smooth the ice.

After this game, Oulun won the game with 5 points while the german team had only 3 points.

Audrey Brousseau

Before to arrived in Oulu, we have to book a room in a shared apartment on april with Psoas website : rubric « housing application ». Psoas is an organization which propose lots of rooms in different residences for all students who are finnish or exchange student.

 

Moritz, German : Münster, 23 years old, 2nd year of Master in Accounting

Alexandra, German : Bamberg, 24 years old, 2nd year of Master Adult and Further Education

They manage student housing in Oulu and owns over 5,500 student apartments. Their mission is to offer usable apartments as cheaply as possible.

I was lucky to have a room with psoas, because price of accommodation in Oulu is very expensive. There are 2 principal residances where exchange student live. The first one is at Yliopistokatu near to the university (500 meters), and propose flats for 4 or 2 persons.

Sebastian, German : Regensburg, 25 years old, 2nd year of Master Information Technology

Michael, German : Munich, 29 years old, 2nd year of Master in Management

The second is at Tirolintie situated between the university (3.5 kms), the center (2.5 kms), and the beach. So it’s easy to move by bike. This residence is one of the best, because many events are organized there. There are 3 kinds of flat on each floor : 2 flats for 3 persons and 1 big flat for 7 peoples. Furthermore, residence offers several services like : gym, landry, sauna, and club room for prepare events. We can book for six washing machine/week and one sauna/week.

Carina, German : Munich, 24 years old, 2nd year of Master Industrial Engineering

Josef, Czech Republic : Kromeriz, 23 years old, 2nd year of Master Financial Markets and Investments

Personally I live in Tirolintie with 6 others peoples. I pay only 240€ for 17 square meters and I share living room, kitchen, two toilets and two bathrooms. That is a good plan ! It’s really interesting and important to share flat with others students because it allows to meet new people, improve his English, to have a cross-cultural exchange, and share moments together. With flatsharing, I met 6 peoples who are Alexandra, Moritz, Michael, Sebastian, Josef and Carina.

Audrey Brousseau

Fishing village

Way to go to the beach

 In september, we went for one day on a island near to Oulu. Hailuoto Island is the pearl of Bothnian Bay. Situated in the North of the Gulf of Buthnia, in the face of Oulu, the municipality is totally an island. Hailuoto lies within easy access. Various means of transport can be used : come by car, board a bus, sail a boat or fly over. Ferries ‘ Meriluoto and Merisilta’ operates regularly between Hailuoto and Oulunsalo (Oulu). In winter an official ice road connects the island to the mainland. The distance between the island and Oulu should fill (over the centuries to come), and to disappear since sea levels will rise.

Marjaniemi is the westernmost point in the island at the end of the road in Hailuoto. Marjaniemi is endless open spaces with fishing boats on the harbor, restaurant, café, artisan shop, museum and beach. The importance of fishing for the fishing village and villagers is still present today.  Even today, considerable amounts of herring, whitefish and salmon are unloaded from ships in the harbor. One of the most popular attractions in Hailuoto is the Marjaniemi lighthouse, built in 1871. On the top, we have a beautiful view of the ocean.

Marjaniemi lighthouse

Harbor

Audrey Brousseau

 To be clear, the university of Oulu is  one of the biggest and most multidisciplinary universities in Finland with a focus on innovation, internationality and notherness.

University welcome several pole like business school, faculty of science, education, humanities, medecine, technology. To facilitate the service during the lunch, with 16000 students, the university propose ten restaurants (like a Subway for example) for an average price of 2,60 €, which is totally reasonable. There are also a zoological museum  within the structure, a stationery store, a post office, a cloakrooms to put his jackets…

And do you know what is else? If I tell you that there a room for seepling, you can’t believe me but it’s true. The « quiete room » is present. And many space are reserved for group work.

After a few hours of lessons, it’s complicated to find his bike in the middle of other hundreds bikes, located on parking for bike everwhere around the university. I let you watch the video to discover more about the building.

Video editing: Audrey Brousseau
Music : Evelina (finnish singer), honey ft. Mikael Gabriel

Audrey Brousseau