Rovaniemi

Hi there!
Sorry that it has been such a long time, but I have been quite busy lately and had no access to the Internet in my room! Anyway, the last day in Pori was great! We had our final presentation that went quite well and after that we went rowing in the river. I loved it! It was such a nice weather and so much fun! After that we had diner together and after that I went to see my Finnish friends again.

On Monday we went to Rovaniemi, Lapland, by buss. The accommodation was perfect, we lived in dorms; eight girls in one apartment, a shared living room and kitchen; it was so much fun! Cooking together, watching movies… The first week we had lessons and the topics from this two weeks were wellbeing, marketing and tourism. We had to make a marketing plan for a business who had as target group the Russian market. This was very interesting and fun to do, since we have been to Russia and it's an interesting culture. We learned a lot about marketing but also about the economic crises. One teacher showed us a documentary about how it all started and what the consequences were for the rest of the world. Very informative!

After the first week we went on a Nature Trek weekend. We went hiking, rafting, we visited Sweden and in the evenings we had a campfire were we ate fresh salmon and were we did funny games! We learned a lot about Lapland, especially about the tourism. The nature is so beautiful and I certainly want to go back when it’s winter time. When we got there it was around 6th of June, that means that the midsummer starts! It lasts for 1,5 month; it means that the sun won’t set for 1,5 month! Is really amazing when you look outside at two in the morning and it’s just as bright as it was like two in the afternoon. The rafting part was by the way the best part, it was so much fun! Oh and on Saturday evening I had to arrange a evening program! I made up the game: Scavenger Hunt and it was lots of fun.

On Sunday evening we went back to Rovaniemi and on Monday we had lectures again. It was quite exhausting because lectures were starting at 8.30 every morning but of course we wanted to hang out with each other as much as possible: there were only a few days left! Result: 10 hours of sleep in three days; ai!
For example on Tuesday: we had class until four, then we went to the Zoo (polar bears! I LOVE them) and after that we went out for dinner. After that we went to an Irish pub and played pool and then all of a sudden it was 2.30 AM. Oops! But we had so much fun, the group is so awesome, so I wanted to spend every free minute that I had with them. Maximizing the time!

On Thursday night we had a goodbye party and we had one more last drink in the Irish pub. Then we had to say goodbye to everybody and that was so hard! It’s like, you got to know each other so well in these four weeks. You see each other so much, you go to school together, eat together, go out. It’s intense, so the friendships you make are intense as well. I made so many good friends all over the world and I’m so happy with that!

Like I said before, there were also a few American teachers who gave us lectures and all. But they also participated in the activities like visiting the Irish Pub ;-). Willie, my favorite teacher; he is so much fun! Is going to visit the Netherlands in October so at least I’m able to see him again soon!

Ohh I would recommend the Summerschool to everyone, because you learn so much about different cultures, about yourself, the lectures and the projects you do are really interesting and of course you make friends for life. A life time experience!

After a long train ride, I’m back in Pori now! Tomorrow I will see my Finnish friends again and I’m really looking forward because we have planned a sauna night! And next week my boyfriend is coming over for a few days, so I am really excited about that too!
On Monday I start with my internship again and I’m already looking forward; I’m excited about the tasks I will get! I will tell you about that more next time, because I’m really tired right now and I’m going to sleep!

Moi moi!!