AIESECer's experience: Joan Avit

 By: Unknown    03:56  AIESECers Experience, GIP, ICX   No comments

Joan came to Jyväskylä for a GIP internship at Agora research center in 2013. This is her reflection of the experience.

"Am Joan Avit, From Tanzania. I Studied Bachelor in Economics from Mzumbe University in Tanzania graduated in 2012, then went for one year leadership role in AIESEC in Ethiopia national board while working as a consultant in one of the institutes from June 2012 to June 2013. I knew about AIESEC in my first year of campus, from advert of the Info sessions they had posted around the campus and being briefed about how the info session was and about the organization from one of my best friend who attended the info session. I came to Finland to participate in the professional internship offered in Jyväskylä, Finland through AIESEC Global Internship Programme.

From January 2013 I started planning my next step, I wanted to further challenge myself and wished that my next experience to be out of Africa. I however still wished for a unique project that I can still relate to Africa in one way or another. As I was in search of different internship opportunities offered by AIESEC, having known my interest in research and something related to Africa a friend recommended the GIP from Jyväskylä, Finland, which was to deal with desk research on African countries but done in Agora center research institute. I choose Finland and this internship in particular because I knew that Finland and the institute in particular is among the best in Research and Development hence believed that I would learn a lot through taking up a GIP in search an environment in a short interval of time and with it I would also have inspiration to help figure out my next step in my academic growth/path. 

While traveling I have learnt to have as minimal expectations as possible so as to be able to enjoy whatever comes in the way with it, so have to admit I had minimal expectations of Finland as a country. However I ensured I was aware of the basic and general information about the project I was going to work in and what I was going to do and some basic details such as logistical information, basic language words, financial system, do and don’t etc, just the basics I thought might be essential in one way or another. I however tried to learn as much as I could about the project so as to have better contribution to it within the short limited of time I would be there. I expected the project to be challenging (in a good way) but most of all help me grow personally and professionally in the research field through exploring me to the research world.

I loved this project because the Project descriptions did not only match but surpassed expectations. I was mainly conducting desk research on the educations system focusing in pre-primary to primary education in selected Africa countries. And additionally designed a feasibility plan on GraphoGame approach in Tanzania primary schools. With external reality (apart from project related matter), even with minimal expectation I was still not sure if I would easily cop up with new environment with completely different realities from what I was used to. However this happened to be easier than expected from day one as I was having extra ordinary support and assistance The AIESEC EB Team and other AIESECer, The project team and any external I would need assistance from at any encounter.

Joan and members of LC Jyväskylä

They were a lot of memorable moments right from the first welcoming party which was prepared on the same day I arrived. This really helped me feel at home. I got to partially experience two seasons (summer and winter) and  fully experience Autumn. I was so happy to see snow and the autumn colors ( I love nature). Other memorable moments from my stay in Finland were visiting Lappajärvi (I will always be thankful to Talvikki and her wonderful family for this J) and visiting other places in Jyväskylä such as Tiiakatemia and Christmas market. I also had lots of conversations with the project team at the office.

Been the first time in Europe, it’s almost like every day had its special experience with something new to learn, the advancement in technology and the way its best integrated to make life easier. Environmental consciousness and looking into alternative possibilities that maybe if would have been used in some of the African countries could help in solving problem like traffic jam, health etc. 

I would recommend anyone to come to Finland and Jyväskylä in particular because its one of the cities with the best in it, lots of multicultural youth interaction and many university students too - hence a lot to learnJ. And most of all the people are very friendly to make your experience as smooth as it should be."

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AIESECer's experience: Thyara Antonielle Demarchi

 By: Unknown    01:02  AIESECers Experience, ICX, Kindergarten project   No comments

Thyara worked for the Kindergarten Project in kindergarten Meritähti during January-February 2014, here's what she had to say about her experience.

"Hello everyone, my name is Thyara Antonielle Demarchi and I’m 25 years old. I’m from south of Brazil, a city called Blumenau, in the state of Santa Catarina. Nowadays I’m doing my Master’s degree of Education, and my thesis is about the teacher training in Finland, especially at Universities of Jyväskylä and Helsinki.

I found out about AIESEC, got in contact, did the interview and they accepted me. The project was perfect for me, because I’ve already worked in Kindergartens for the last 5 years in Brazil.

As I said before, about the Master’s degree, I’m studying the Finnish system of education, but, with focus on teacher training in Finland. I’ve been studying about Finland almost two years. I read something about the culture, politics, economy and education. 

My expectations on the project were the best ever, and I couldn't wait to go and do it. Now, I can say how happy I’m with all I achieved during those 6 weeks. Participating in this kind of project make me think how better I can be as a person and a professional. Now I feel the difference, and how I miss the children from the Kindergarten and my host family. They all received me so well, and I felt like home.

At the Kindergarten I worked during 6 weeks teaching few words in English, playing with the kids, going outside, helping the teachers at the kitchen, anyway, so many things, and I loved so much!!!

I learned to do skating, I tried to do snowboard and skiing, I played so many games with the kids, I improved my drawings, I meet so many people, I made lots of friends, and I was so happy with all of this. I wish I could go back one day, and say thank to everyone, who helped me and shared all the knowledge and happiness. Thank you Jyväskylä! Thank you AIESEC! Thank you to my host family and to Meritähti Kindergarten.

Nowadays everybody is asking me about this experience, and I recommend to all my friends. All my family and friends can see something different in me, and I believe it, I feel different, because I made a difference on people’s lives."

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AIESECer's experience: Selena Liu

 By: Unknown    08:06  AIESECers Experience, ICX, Kindergarten project   No comments

Selena spent 6 weeks during spring 2014 working in Jyväskylä for the Kindergarten project at Kindergarten Majakkasaari. This is her story:

Selena and Santa Claus in Rovaniemi

Finland, the fairytale…

I am Selena from China, my hometown is a rather small but beautiful city called Changzhou. I am now a junior student in Tianjin Normal University, majoring in International economics and trade. 

Karjalanpiirakka made by Selena

When I am now sitting at my desk, recalling my memories, everything seems to be still happening… I still remember when I first caught the news of the AIESEC Finland on the website of AIESEC, how excited I was. I didn't even think of anything before I sent my first letter to the deputy (Talvkki), I was desperate to go to that country. At that time, the reason for going to Finland was so simple---- I wanted to gain a better understand how that beautiful country develops so well on all kinds of sides，and has so many well-known things and people - Nokia, Angry Bird, Santa Claus and my hero KIMI.

I have a lot of stories I want to share with you, one and a half month’s life is a quite long time and every minute a bulk of stuff seems to happen. My eyes seem to be like a digital camera and my brain seems to be like a USB as well. The paper has limit but the feelings do not….

Jyväskylä city church

That night was cold when I first came to Finland. After the long flight and the bus trip, finally I found my friend Talvikki was there, waiting for me….. That moment I realized, unlike leaving for work or studies in my country, everything would be quite different in another country! The culture, the language, the food, even the hair and skin color of the people... But that moment you just feel like you just gone to another your home. It is true, I got another family.

When I first came to Finland on that cold evening, when I first viewed this country - of which I only learnt from in my geography class - through the window of the bus, I told myself this was the real Finland. Everything was like a fairy tale, the snow everywhere, the white everywhere, everything is so quiet and peaceful, the residents here are so kind and warm-hearted, and the trust between people seems to be so solid. All the landscape is quite different from China, where I lived for 21 years. 

Kindergarten crew

At first, it was a bit difficult for me to adapt to life there, but to tell the truth, I would like to learn that and I quite appreciate it. I am so grateful to Tytti, she showed me around the kindergartens and the school in Jyväskylä, which help me get better understand of the education in Finland. Everyone in the world knows that the education of Finland is excellent, but for most of us, we don’t know why and even how. This time, I believe in that fact. For most day care centers, teachers do the same things everywhere in the world; singing, dancing and playing - but in Finland, all the teachers do their best to take care of every child, give them enough love, and what’s more, teach them the principles and values of life. At the same time, although parents and teachers try to give all the best to their kids, they won’t spoil them; here is an example, which touched me a lot. One morning, when I came to the kindergarten as usual, and saw one boy of the Majakkasaari got off the car with his mother. I thought I'd just leave the door open for them, but the mother told me,” thank you, but he wants to open the door by himself.” This is such a small thing that everyone would ignore, however, it is very important to the growth of the kids. As for the preschoolers’ education, I have learnt a lot from Laura, She told me that the textbooks of kids are not just distributed to every preschooler, they hide the books in the forest, and when everyone found that in the forest, they would treasure them. Also, Laura teaches the kids, not only to use their brain, but also use every part of the body, which is good to their imagination. I couldn't agree more with the principle of Majakkasaari; music, dancing and adventures. Every kid in the day care center is allowed to go outside for at least 2 hours, no matter how cold it is. The benefits of keeping in touch with nature are obvious, but the folk in the modern times, just overlook it. 

Although the ways of education differ in every country, we sometimes can't assess them correctly, just because there is no criterion for that. The tiger mother -model is still popular in Asia, especially in China, and after that model, we do develop a lot of talented pupils. But in my personal opinion, I prefer the model of Finland, giving kids enough time to play while under the proper pressure of study.

Hockey game

Of course, besides the lessons I have learnt in Majakkasaari, I also learnt a lot of from my home stay family. Through the experience of home stay, I have learned how the local residents live as well as the local custom. It seems that everyone keeps a good balance between work, study and free time, which is so vital, especially in this society, where the pace is getting increasingly fast. My host father took my ‘little sister’ and I to the local library to enjoy reading, the sports stadium to watch an ice hockey match, and the local library, his palace (his company) to see the working atmosphere there….’Mum’ always prepared so much tasty food and snacks for us and took the utmost care of me, which made my stay just like in heaven. Most importantly, my Little sister, she is so sweet just like her name, which is also the name of the famous ice cream. I have watched her skating lesson, we would draw together, play the games together, do almost everything together, oh, my little princess…

I love this city, I love everyone and everything there. Just like I said, even you just walk along the street, you will quite enjoy yourself. In the city, I have experienced a lot, all the warm-hearted teachers and the residents, all the lovely kids, various parties held in the students village, all kinds of delicious food, of course my visit to see Santa Claus up north…..The  list of memories is quite long, I can only say that the paper is limited, but the feelings and the gratefulness is unlimited… 

I try to appreciate everyone for their kindness, but later I found what I could do for them in return is so little, ‘kiitos’ [thank you] is not enough to represent how grateful I am, words couldn't do that. But I still want to say thank you for you all, the kids, all the teachers, my host family, my friends of the students village as well as Sari, and the Santa Claus of the daycare center, you are the ‘real’ Santa with the modern car as the transportation.:))  Hopefully, the Earth is not so large that we just call it as ‘an Earth village', so there is no goodbye just SEE YOU.

Finally, if I have to use one to describe Finland, that is ‘mecca’,This is a mecca, which is full of arts and artists. This is the unique the place for someone, who loves arts and wants to experience different cultures.

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AIESECer's experience: Jose Garcia

 By: Unknown    01:07  AIESECers Experience, ICX   No comments

Jose worked for Global Me in the autumn together with Anastasia and Jovana. Here's his experience, modified from his blog. In the project the interns taught multiculturalism at local schools.

Sunset on a pier

Finland is Silence. It is getting off the plane on a Sunday in September and covering myself with a jacket because of the 14ºC instead of the usual 30ºC for me. It's a sunny summer day in Helsinki, which becomes cold and dark during the five-hour bus ride to Jyväskylä. An evening walk at 4ºC before arriving at my new home portrays a different autumn. It's moving from summer to winter. My room is empty, there is only something like a mattress on the floor. Security... Housing on the ground floor doesn't require bars. You can hang clothes in the garden which is on the street, they won't disappear. No need to be alert all day thinking about it, since you end up accepting that it is usual here. A normality that we [in my country] can't aspire in our wildest dreams. For the second time, internship abroad with AIESEC, this time with co-workers from Serbia and Moldova. The main objective: get out of the comfort zone.

Fall foliage

Finland is snow in September. Jyväskylä, a university city of about one hundred thirty thousand inhabitants in the Central Finland region. Autumn is here, and the trees are turning red. On the road, looking at the range of colors that merge between lake and lake , the landscape is simply spectacular. The saying of "The country of thousand lakes" is widely justified.

Finland is peace and respect for others. Order and punctuality. Where things are done in another way. Peace is to be quietly eating in a restaurant, and chatting with your friends in a proper tone, without television or radio pounding your ears. Suddenly, you pause and you realize that you can't hear conversations from other tables because people are not screaming. The food, delicious by the way, tastes infinitely better, without stress. And in the highschools of the project, equally so. The lunch as a very late at 11 a. m. because they close the dining room at 12 a.m. Interesting change of habits, starting with meals. And they must be adjusted dinners at 5 or 6 p.m., because already is dark from 4 p.m... Daily sunshine hours are dwindling more and more, and the night is becoming eternal. My Finnish friends told me at the beginning: "Winter can be depressing because of the few hours of light." I don't consider it depressing. It is different. Depressing if you insist on bringing the lifestyle you have in Spain. You just have to adapt to it. It’s up to you.

JAMK university of applied sciences

Finland doesn't have many foreigners, for the time being. As restless mind that I am, I make the effort to learn Finnish, even a little, to get a better understanding of the culture. The multicultural Center is not far and they give free language lessons to immigrants. I collaborate helping on the Spanish lessons for Finns who were living for a time in Spain and they don't want to forget the Spanish they learned. Tiinu, Mónica, Jukka, Louis, Rocío, Luis, Evelyn. What a great place to meet people from other countries: Colombia, Nepal, Thailand, Mexico, Somalia, USA, Italy, France, Russia, Germany, Venezuela, Poland, etc, or learn some basic words of Swahili.

Finland is the country where you go to a store, supermarket, pharmacy ... and you try to ask or talk in Finnish, and Finnish people smile and begin to speak in English to help you (not always could be extrapolated to bus drivers...). Finnish is a language spoken only by 5,4 million people in the country, and if you try to communicate in their language, you will get their sympathy. It may be because the ratio of immigrants is very low (approximately 2% of the population) in this region. Few foreign students dare to come in this latitudes.

Finland is the place in which at each meeting your friends are going to offer you coffee or tea, and a plate of fruit will be there. If in Germany one could say that the largest aisle is for chocolates or beer, here it is the fruits and vegetables aisle. Here is where I will try the first Shusi with Tsuri as host. Finland is that variety of food in the shops, with wide presence of functional foods, adapted to every need of the consumer. Here, each event / meeting, there is a suitable menu for vegetarians, lactose intolerant, and sometimes even for vegans. 

Project school

Finland is where students going to speak as little as possible when they are in the group. No one wants to comment, as if what they could say is not interesting enough. It is humility, perhaps too much. The Finns will not show off if they don't know how to do it very very well. They speak Finnish, Swedish (also official in Finland, although they do not really like talk and study) and most of them English. And they speak it well, because the demand in the education system is very high. Sometimes they're too silent and no one knows what is going through their minds. Again, trying to communicate in Finnish is a useful icebreaker.

Nightlife

Finland is a place where you will not make many friends. They are reserved, quiet, distant. A handshake is the norm in any greeting. No kisses or hugs, maybe a hug when you have more confidence. But the friends that you do make, will be good friends. Once you have confidence with them, they show you their customs, their dishes, their way of thinking. Everything at their own pace. Slow. The neighbors don't greet you when they see you, because they don't know you. Maybe in other countries people establish trusts too fast. The Finns will not bother you by offering you things or help, but when you need something and ask them about it, you'll have it.

Finland is undoubtedly Sauna. A birthday with sauna, a Local Commitee Meeting of AIESEC with sauna. New Members weekend in the forest, with sauna. This contrast of 90°C to 0ºC (or less) is an indescribable feeling, which I recommend to everyone. And sauna is also nudity, with Finnish normality. Normality, and their indifference about what others do or do not do. Gossip here loses its reason for being.

Finland is a sunset on the Lake with shades that make you speechless. And it is suitable because of the silence that reigns demands that. Sun doesn't rise too high, so it is a succession of sunrise-sunset from November. 

Finland is also a little bit of Helsinki in the AIESEC national meeting. Many people so motivated to do things, with great ideas, developing future projects. Those weekends are too short. And at night, learning Finnish / German / English / Polish / Spanish with Antti on a whiteboard in a classroom, while others are sleeping. In silence. Normal, of course.

Finland is Talvikki, Piia, Kati, Antti, Tsuri, Kim, Anna, Amy, Dicle, Joanna, Kenan, Le, Marianne, Mira, Petteri, Riku, Thao, Jovana. And all those who have been part of this incredible and unforgettable adventure. Kiitos.

Finland is the place where you would like your family live. For me, normal.

A gallery with more photos: Suomi album at Flickr

Original post in Spanish: Finlandia: experiencia como voluntario.

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AIESECers' Experience: Sandra Jagić

 By: Unknown    06:38  AIESECers Experience, ICX, Kindergarten project   No comments

Sandra worked in the Kindergarten Project at Tenavat Myötätuulessa. Here are her experiences as an Exchange Participant in Finland. Check out this post to see what the Kindergarten thought of Sandra!

"So, my name is Sandra Jagić and I earned my Master's degree in psychology just recently. I live in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, but actually I come from the small village in east Croatia. Small village - big wishes I would say. My only wish during my student life was to travel...so I tried to do so. This program that I've heard of from people in AISEC Zagreb, Global Community Development, was ideal for me. I always wanted to go up north and I wanted to do something up there :) This time, at the very end of my studies I decided to do something for myself and just go, see what happens.

Kindergarten Project in Jyväskylä was my number one, from the beginning of my search (that lasted over a month, and yes, I was picky). I almost went to India! So I a had skype interview with Talvikki from AISEC Jyväskylä and waited for a few days until I got a confirmation letter and that was it! Why did I choose this project? I had a lot of experience with children, so I thought I could manage and I really wanted to go to Finland. It looked like the whole thing was well organised so I trusted them. Of course I thought it would be nice to say to my future employee that I've worked in kindergarten in Finland.
 

It was a hot summer, everybody in Croatia was going to the coast. My friends told I'm crazy, leaving the beach an the sun and going to Finland. ''It is winter out there''- my friends said. It's funny how we function according to stereotypes. I've heard that Finnish people are reserved, drink a lot of coffee and alcohol and have a bunch of crazy competitions like cellphone throwing?! Oh yes, Finland is also the home of Santa Claus, the one who walks in snow on postcards. I read a lot about Finland because I wanted to be prepared. Of course you can never really be prepared :)

I enjoyed working at the kindergarten where I was constantly reminded how great it is to be a kid. Some of the kids approached me right away, some later. I didn't really feel like a teacher or psychologist to them, we were friends, and I was one of them. When people here in Croatia ask me, ''but HOW did you talk to them?'', I don't know what to answer, because I just did. We communicated. They taught me more than I taught them! One time we were baking cookies with the children for grandparents' day and Laura [a co-worker] translated to me how Aapo, one sweet boy, told her he had dream about me. I was in his dream and I spoke Finnish. He asked himself, how is this possible - Sandra is speaking Finnish??!!. I think that is so sweet.

My co-workers were all really great to me. They didn't treat me as ''someone special'', I was just like one of them. I did almost everything that they did: played with the children, gave them food, took care of them, put them (and myself) to sleep at nap time, read them (in some undefined language in my case, which they liked), sang with them and all kinds of different things! Oh yes, we did a lot of creative work and even went treasure hunting! :)

My last day at the kindergarten was really bittersweet. The children made me a book of their drawings! I also got Moomin dishes. Those gestures were just beautiful. That day we sang, played, took some pictures, I gave them presents and each of them gave me a hug! I even cried a bit."

"There was one place in particular that I've wanted to visit since I came to Finland, Santa's village in  Rovaniemi. It is a small city up north, near the Artic circle. I planed to go alone by train - it was surely a long time to be alone, Lapland is so far away! In Rovaniemi I couchsurfed with a French girl called Marion, went hiking in the woods, met Santa, took a lot of pictures, saw the longest river in Finland: Kemijoki and just enjoyed my time! I really liked this little city.

What I loved about Jyväskylä, were the bike routes - you can go anywhere in so many ways. We don't have such things in Croatia. I enjoyed going to work by Saila's [host mother] bike, spending time on my own and thinking. one night around 11pm, I took my bike and went to the bridge. Everything was so peaceful and the city lights shone. I thought to myself: ''Who would have known, I'm in Finland on my own standing here on this bridge feeling so happy!'' I know it sounds funny, but that is THE feeling I like to have when I go somewhere.

What does Finland have that we in Croatia don't?

- forests and lakes, of course!

- flea markets and second hand shops, which I found very interesting

- recycling waste! You do it a lot more than us

- Salmon!

- Sports that I've never heard of, including sähly - (floorball) I played with people from work and some children's parents, I love it, I even scored one time!

- expensive alcohol

- chocolate that is almost good as ours ;)

What did I learn from all of this?

- I'm not afraid of being alone - in reality you always have someone to rely on, even far away

- I learned to be more brave and open, to let it go and see what happens

- I learned a lot about children and other people

- I've learned that communication does not mean words, you can say something in so many ways

- I also learned that Finnish and Croatian people are very similar

I would recommend this program for anyone who likes to travel, who enjoys working with children and just wants to experience a different little part of the universe, and see how they can change it - and return home truly happy" 

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AIESECers' Experience: Anastasia and Jovana

 By: Unknown    10:17  AIESECers Experience, ICX   No comments

Two participants, Jovana and Anastasia of the Global.me project tell us about their experiences in Jyväskylä for the past 9 weeks. Our GCDP (Global Community Development Program) team is currently working on bringing about a whole new upgraded Global.me for future EPs to experience so take these girls' word for it and apply if you get the chance! All pictures belong to the EPs.

Harju stairs at Jyväskylä city centre

1. Who are you? 

- We are Anastasia and Jovana, and we're from Moldova and Serbia respectively. Jovana is a 3rd year student in the University of Internacional Economy and Finance in Belgrade and Anastasia studies marketing.

 

2. Background with AIESEC.
A: My AIESEC life started during my last year of high school when I participated in a project organized by AIESEC Chisinau. Since then I ended up joining the organization. I've worked as a team member, team leader and now as an exchange volunteer.
J: I'm not an official member of AIESEC yet, but after spending time with so many wonderful people from AIESEC I really feel like one of the AIESECers. When I go back to Serbia, I'm officialy gonna become a member.

3. Why and how did you choose Global.me?

A:  To be honest, I don’t know! I was surprised myself! I guess I just had a tough time and wanted change, new challenges and international experiences. I chose an AIESEC internship, applied for the first project that I saw - and it was Global.me project in Finland. I didn't let any of my friends or relatives know until I got my visa and had bought my tickets! It came as a “shock” to them, going far away to a country “full of snow” :D

J: I found this internship on the AIESEC platform. I was certain this project was my thing and I haven't had any second thoughts. I chose Global.me because it's related to education which is close to my heart. I knew this was going to be a big challenge for me, but I was ready to deal with it. And now, I can tell, it was worth it.

4. Thoughts on Finland prior to coming here?

A: I had no pre-existing knowledge of Finland whatsoever. The only thoughts that I had in mind at the beginning were: “Finland- very cold and a lot of snow” and “What the hell I‘m doing!”. I was too busy with all of the paperwork to even consider what kind of a country Finland is. To my surprise what I saw was a beautiful country with plenty of greenery (not snow! :D), an amazing landscape pierced by lakes of all shapes and sizes and a culture of very welcoming people.

J: Before coming to Finland, I only knew the basics. However information learned at school or found on the internet cannot give you a thorough knowledge of a culture or a country. For a girl from Serbia Finland is a country of many opportunities. One of these opportunities was this project, being able to work as a part of the best education system in the world.

Contemplating on learning the language...

5. What was your job description in the project? Did reality match expectations?

A: Strictly speaking the job description included working in a team of 3 to 5 people preparing and conducting interactive sessions and activities for high schools and organizations. As you can tell this project required a lot of preparation and thus my expectations for this project were high as well. At the end I can say that all my expectations were met. Hopefully the organizers' expectations of us EPs were met as well!

Expectations triangle

J: Our internship matched the job description perfectly, however it also exceeded my expectations! We gained a lot from our teachers and students alike. Our students in particular gave us many funny moments, great questions, great discussions and most importantly they helped us improve because of their thirst for knowledge. 

6. Memorable moments?
A: I think all of this internship is a memorable moment! For me, this is my first independent trip abroad so I tried to “live” every moment. Of course it was challenging from time to time too. In these 9 weeks I met people not just from the Finnish culture but from all over the world. This was because of our frequent visits to the local multicultural center “Gloria” – a place where you can get in touch with all of the world in just one room! Everyday aspects of the Finnish culture with its peaceful environment, friendly people, rock music, milk and butter everywhere, and of course, sauna are what made this internship memorable! To be honest, I don’t know how I will live without sauna. I’m already planning to build one at home! :D

Of course, a special memory is AIESEC Jyväskylä. As I like to think: “Great people are found everywhere, but in AIESEC they’re also AIESEC-ers.” I’m very proud that I had the opportunity to meet those AIESEC-ers, to work with them and to prove again that “I’m an AIESEC-er and it rocks!”. Also, I want to say ”Thank you” to two new people for me at the beginning but, with whom I have spent and share most of time, experiences and memories here in Finland, Jovana from Serbia and Jose from Spain. I’m very grateful to them for being together with me in this amazing, life changing experience!

 J: There are so many great memories from Finland. I'm always gonna remember special times with my dear friends, like the time one of our Finnish friends taught us to make Pulla, a tradicional pastry from Finland. I love it so much I'm definitely going make it in Serbia! Also, thanks to another Finnish friend, I tried sushi which I have never eaten before - with chopsticks and all! Our Local Aiesec Seminar where we worked as OCs was full of memorable moments as well - like jumping into a lake after sauna. That weekend really made me fall in love with AIESEC. At Gloria we got to model for an African show! It was something completely new but we had a lot of fun doing it!  

Jovana and Anastasia modelling for the African show at Gloria.

7. For future EPs, why choose Global.me?

A: Words can't express all the awesomeness I've experienced here in Jyväskylä. If you really want to challenge yourself, then Global.me and Finland are the right choice and the right place!
J: Yeah, if you want to be the change and influence the world while improving yourself, making friends and lots of memories then Global.me is a project for you! After Global.me, you are going to be more confident with a better perspective on the world and lifelong friends. It's definitely worth it, trust me!

 

"Keep calm and try Global.me, come to Finland" :D

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AIESECers' Experience: Anastasia Belikova

 By: Unknown    13:05  AIESECers Experience, ICX   No comments

Anastasia is from Belarus and she is now studying International Business at JAMK University of Applied Sciences in Jyväskylä. 
 

How long have you been in AIESEC? Why did you make the decision to join this organization? Does it live up to the expectation you had before you joined?

I joined AIESEC in 2011, soon after I came to Finland. I made the decision because as a business student, the practical skills such as sales and marketing are very important for me. AIESEC could help me develop these skills. I could also learn how to work better in a team, and get the training and experience that are very useful to me in my future career.

It turned out to be more than what I had expected, especially after I joined the Incoming Exchange (ICX) team. In this team my work is more related to business. I got the chance to work with companies and know more about how business works in this country.

Also what amazed me about AIESEC is the kind of culture and environment if has created. It is friendly to everyone who comes here. The friendly attitude I get from others makes me enjoy working here. In AIESEC I could easily find people with the same mindset and it is easy for us to think in the same direction.

Could you please share with me some of the most impressive experience and most unforgettable moments you had with AIESEC?

The first great moment that comes to my mind is the ACCESS meeting in 2012, and I was the OCP for that meeting. That was incredible experience that I could never forget. Although I had been in the OC team for other conferences before that, it is different to be the leader. By being the leader you could learn much more about how to organize an event and work with the team. The conference was just like a baby of mine. I know it cannot be perfect but I just love it when I tried my best.

Another experience I remember so clearly is at the beginning of my work in the ICX team, when I made my first phone call to a company. I was so nervous at that time. I stood in the corridor and did not want anybody to hear it. But now I am already the team leader and I can even give training to others. It is so exciting to see the change I had within this short period of time.

What do you think are the few most important, but also interesting factors that make you who you are?

First, as those who know me would always say, I talk and smile a lot. I am quite open-minded and communicative, so I love talking with people. And smiling can always make me happy.

Then, I am only 18 years old and I am the youngest in our AIESEC local community.

I am the bigger sister in my family. I have a younger brother and a younger sister. I learned to take care of them since I was young and I am almost the ‘second mom’ for them.

Finally, I love swimming, and I have been doing synchronized swimming for ten years. 

It seems the one and half years you had in Finland is quite successful. What is your plan in the near future?

Yes it is successful experience, and enjoyable as well. This autumn I will go to Mexico as an exchange student.

Why Mexico? Does anything particular about that country that attracts you a lot?

Well, the main reason for me to go there is that I want to try something different. As you know, I am from Belarus. There is quite a lot of difference there compared to Finland, like the culture, the behavior of people and so on, although these two countries are not far from each other. Mexico is much further away and there is much more difference as far as I know. For example people there are so talkative; they do things very fast; the weather is never so cold, and there is amazing food! Such differences are exactly what I would like to experience in my life. I was born to try!

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AIESECers' experience: Halina Skalska

 By: Unknown    05:50  AIESECers Experience, ICX   No comments

Halina Skalska A Master’s degree student of International Relations at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Currently, she is working in AIESEC Jyväskylä as the team leader of Outgoing Exchange (OGX) team.

Interviewed by Harry Moonshooter

When did you first know about AIESEC and when did you first become a member? What was the first experience like?

I first heard about AIESEC in 2010, when I was in my home university in Kyiv, but I became a member only after about one year. I applied for the membership three times before I was finally accepted in August 2011. I was excited about it at that time, after all the effort I had made to join this organization.

What did AIESEC bring to your life? Does it worth all the effort you made to join it?

Well, definitely yes! It has totally changed my life. 

First of all, with AIESEC, it is much easier to for me to fine people with the same interests as me, and then become friends with them! I have made so many new friends since I became an AIESEC member, and they are from all over the world! This is the most amazing part of my AIESEC life, the people! We share our opinions and learn from each other. Such experience helped me to see the world in different ways, and be more open minded.

Also it has brought me new opportunities. With AIESEC I got the chance to come to Finland. Two years ago I could never imagine me being here, talking with you, working in a different country and with people from different parts of the world. Such intercultural work experience is very helpful to me.

Finally the experience in AIESEC helped me a lot with improving my professional skills. For example, I have learned how to make a good presentation, and doing good teamwork. Now I feel much more confident about myself than ever before.

As you mentioned it was in Kyiv where you first joined AIESEC. I think many people here in Finland are interested in the city you come from, but most of them may not understand much about it. So how does it feel to be a student there? And how different it is from the student life in Finland?

Kyiv is a big city, especially if you put it into the Finnish scale. Like any big city there are more activities going on, and for students there are more opportunities. But at the same time there are more challenges and competition. For example in AIESEC Jyväskylä there are only around 20 members but in Kyiv there are more than 200. You could see the difference. There is much more work to do in Kyiv, and more competition. The cultural difference may also play an important role here as in Finland, individualism and creativity is more encouraged, while in Central and Eastern Europe efficiency is more stressed. The education system is also quite different between Finland and Ukraine. For example there we do not use credits, and we choose the courses we take in a different way.

But there are more similarities. Student life in Kyiv is not all about competition and work. There are parks and squares in the city where people go to relax and enjoy life. We have parties as well. I think student life is always the most exciting part of life in all societies alike.

But now you are here in Jyväskylä. What made you decide to come here and how did you achieve this?

I had dreamed about coming to Finland for two years before it finally came true. There are so many things about Finland that attract me, its unique culture, the beautiful nature and so on. By the end of the last year I got to know this exchange opportunity from the coordinator in my home university. Immediately I applied for it and then everything went on quite well. Finally here I am!

How is your experience in Finland so far? Did you have any challenge at the beginning?

Of course at first I had a few challenges. They mainly came from the culture and language differences. To bike on the icy ground was very challenging for me as well and I fell down a few times. But now I have learned how to do it and I am really happy about it.

Finland has made me enjoy winter for the first time in my life. Maybe it is because the winter here is not as cold as I had imagined. I never knew before that we could still have so much fun in winter. I have traveled in this country, and I made so many new friends here. This is great experience I would never forget.

Now since you have experienced working with AIESEC in both Ukraine and Finland. What do you think the AIESECers, or students in general, from these two countries can learn from each other?

As I said, in AIESEC Kyiv there is more work for each member to do. It can be stressful sometimes but it has also given us more responsibility and trained us to work more efficiently. In my opinion this is something the AIESEC here can learn from them. They can try to create more events, and activities to bring members together.

What AIESEC Kyiv need to learn from Finland is to be more friendly towards students, and be more inclusive towards international students. When I was working in AIESEC Kyiv, all the members are Ukrainians. So when I came here it really amazed that in AIESEC Jyväskylä even more than half of the members are non-Finnish students. In this way the members can have more intercultural experience by working together, and I really enjoy it!

-Edited by Harry Moonshooter

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