Cultural Awareness

Cultural Awareness

In this blog post, I would like to describe the cultural awareness theory. I will write an article about cultural differences by adding my own interpretation to the information I research on the internet.

CultureHall (1959) defi nes culture as the way of life of a people: the sum of their learned behaviour patterns, attitudes and materials things. Culture is often subconscious; an invisible control mechanism operating in our thoughts (Hall, 1983). In his view, we become aware of it by exposure to a different culture.

In fact, when I came to Finland and saw the Finnish culture closely, I also became aware of it.

 Members of a certain society internalise the cultural components of that society and act within the limits as set out by what is ‘culturally acceptable’

Hofstede’s (1980,  1991) theory aims to explain cultural differences through certain dimensions, such as power distance, individualism vs. collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity vs. femininity. Of these, we use the individualism vs. collectivism dimension. This dimension is defi ned by Hofstede (2008) as “the degree to which individuals are integrated into groups. On the individualist side, we fi nd societies in which the ties between individuals are loose … On the collectivist side, we fi nd societies in which people from birth onwards are integrated into strong, cohesive in groups, often extended families…”

 The experience I got with living in Finland for some time gave me the opportunity to compare those theories with my own impression

 

I had the opportunity to meet other exchange students by attending events and courses. Speaking with my friends from different countries, I got to know their culture a little. I learned which countries they came from. I think seeing different cultures, meeting new people and talking to them add a lot to us. Because people's differences are their wealth. Attending these events enriched my feelings and thoughts. It gave me different experiences.

Communicating with students from other cultures in the Finland has expanded my understanding of intercultural communication.

       It increased my self-confidence. It provided the opportunity to establish a diologist in the community, to exchange ideas about my profession and different subjects. I also exchanged ideas about the traditions of various countries, education systems and health sectors. I introduced my own country and culture to other people.

The identity consisting of cultural values that a society or different communities within that society defines is called "cultural identity". 

These events allowed me to know my cultural identity better. I was able to observe the differences between Turkish culture and Finnish culture better. And I understood that everyone has their own cultural identity. In fact, every person reflects the culture of his own country. But meeting people from different cultures broadens our cultural identity. It opens our horizons.

I think Erasmus Exchange Program is definitely beneficial. It's fun to meet friends from different countries. Both social interaction and learning from them contribute to our personal development.

As we speak, we also learn their culture. And I realize that learning different cultures is a privilege.

Being An Exchange Student in TUAS

TURKU UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

I want to talk about TUAS in this blog post. I made some observations based on the courses I attended. I think the biggest difference between TUAS, my school in Finland, and Gazi University, my school in my country, is the way the lessons are taught. 

In other words, lessons in TUAS are mostly based on activities and group work. In many lessons there is an exchange of ideas between teachers and students. Each group member plays an active role in the group assignments given. And homework is based on steps such as researching articles, learning new information, analyzing this information, and sharing it with people. 

The evaluation of the course depends on our active role in the group. I think this is a beautiful thing. The number of students in classes at my university is very crowded. In theoretical courses for nursing, we have about 250 people in class. And teachers usually lead the lesson. The student is in a listening position. The crowded classes are really a big disadvantage.

In practice lessons, I really liked the system of TUAS. Approximately 10 or 15 students can practice on models. Application hours in our own university are quite limited.

Practice classes are also in large groups. Approximately 30 people become 1 group.

At TUAS, students prepare slides and students make presentations. As a result, they receive evaluation. And most courses are 5 ECTS.

At Gazi University, teachers prepare slides and teachers who give presentations. Basic courses are at least 10 ECTS.

My exchange program was for Theoretical lessons only. Therefore, I do not know how to organize Internship programs in Nursing education in Finland.

After theoretical courses are taught in about 1 month in my country, internship education begins. In groups, we get the chance to practice in different clinics of the hospital. We ask for help from professional nurses when we practice. With the permission of our patients, we can apply some applications (blood collection, IV catheterization, following vital signs, IM injection procedures etc.) on our patients.

  

Gazi University is a university with high quality education. It ranks first among the universities in my country in terms of success. One-year nursing student gets education for 4 years. 4 years is equal to approximately 8 education periods. It is necessary to complete at least 30 ECTS each semester.  Students who pass the courses at the end of the year attend the KPSS Exam. According to the score obtained from this exam, students of the Nursing Department are appointed. After the appointment of students with disabilities, he or she starts his/her career in different hospitals and different clinics.

I want to share a photo from both schools.

This is from a group work in TUAS :)

This is Gazi University Nursing Department. Me and my classmates:)

New Route: Finland-Stockholm

             A Great Day in Stockholm

During our Erasmus life, we experienced one of the most beautiful memories during our Stockholm trip. We went on a 10-hour sea trip with the "Viking Line" ship. Our ship left Turku Liman at 21:00 according to Finnish time. We reached Stockholm at 07.00 in the morning according to the Swedish time. We went to Stockholm together with 4 people. (Sıla, Eda Sister, Gizem Teacher and me)

 It was the first time that I took part in this long cruise. Even this experience was great for us. We would stay in one of the 4-person rooms inside the ship. We were on the 6th floor. And then we started to explore the inside of the ship. Our ship was 12 floors high and really big. During the night we had a wonderful journey among the giant waves.

There were alternative places inside the ship, such as restaurants, markets, bars, mini-parks for children. The first three floors of the ship were for trucks and vehicles. On the other floors, there were rooms for single passengers, 2 passengers or 4 passengers.

            In summary, we had a pleasant and comfortable journey.

When the Scandinavian countries are mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind, Stockholm is a water city, consisting of 14 islands and 13th century canals. It is the largest city and capital of Sweden with a population of approximately one million, and has been the center of culture, art and economy for centuries. The best time to visit the city, which is dominated by the continental climate, is shown as spring and summer months. During our visit in the last days of February, the air temperature was around -10 degrees. In summer, the air temperature is around 20-22 degrees at most.

GAMLA STAN

Gamla Stan, the most famous and touristic area of the city, is the historical city area that contains most of the places you should see in Stockholm. You will enjoy visiting the well-preserved historical streets of the city, which was established in 1252.

STORTORGET

 You know that colorful old buildings are always visible in Stockholm photos; here their photos are always taken from this square. Stortorget, the oldest square in the city; It houses cafes, a fountain in the middle of the square, souvenir shops and the Nobel Museum. Sitting on the benches on the edge of the square, watching the surroundings or having a coffee break in the historical cafe under the red house is one of the most beautiful events to be held in this square.

NOBEL MUSEUM

 Nobel Museum, located in the middle of Storterget square, is on the list of places to go in Stockholm. The museum has all the Nobel Prize-winning works, and display cases and information about personalities. You can visit the museum with guided tours or individually.

STOCKHOLM METRO STOPS 

 

Stockholm metro stops are decorated with paintings and sculptures like an art gallery. Especially the stops on the blue and red lines are worth visiting. You can visit the stops that should be seen by buying a metro ticket valid for 90 minutes and taking a point shot. We bought a metro card for our trip.

Population & Society: In the capital, which has a population of nearly 1 million, there are communities that migrate from many countries, especially those of Finland origin, apart from the local people.

This situation ensures that Stockholm has a cultural and religious diversity. In the city, English as well as native language Swedish is widely spoken.

Stockholm is a city rich in places to visit. Of course, the city's cultural and commercial center since the 13th century has contributed to the popular culture of the city, as well as the interest of the local people in popular culture.

Although it does not promise many options, Stockholm is one of the indispensable places for gastronomic lovers. Especially in the field of coffee, high-level venues operate in the city.

Schools and Education in Finland and Turkey

Education System

I was really surprised when I heard that homework is forbidden in Finland, which has the most successful education system in the world, there is an average of 4-5 hours a day, and there is no such thing as an exam.

In our country, we try to bring the school starting age to an earlier age (5-6). In Finland, the age of starting compulsory school is 7.
According to some information I searched online, Finnish students are never graded in the first six years of school, and when they turn 16, they take an exam across the country. Graded grade system in our country starts from primary school. Therefore, there is competition and race among students.

 Curriculum and textbooks are the main actors of education in our country. There is a very simple curriculum in Finland and it hardly changes. Teachers choose the books to be taught themselves, but there is no dependency on the books. This is another difference that surprised me.

In Finland, the average daily lesson is 4 or 5. In our country, the school hour is 8. And even because it is not enough, this number can be 11-12 hours a day with studies, weekend courses and private lessons after school.

The teaching profession in Finland is one of the most popular jobs in the community! Teachers are chosen among those with a master's degree. The number of prospective teachers waiting to be appointed in our country is very high.

The understanding of the most successful teacher giving the most homework in our country continues. But the place of learning in Finland is seen as a school, students are given almost no homework.

There is no teacher who teaches courses in the Finnish education system. There are classes that do activities together. In our country, teachers generally teach lessons. The students listen. Event hours are unfortunately limited.

Finnish Cuisine

Karjalanpiirakka

Karjalanpiirakka, which has a very unique shape, is a kind of tart and pastry.

So what exactly is Karjalanpiirakka?

This food was born in the Karelian region in the east of Finland, and contains rice porridge, mashed potatoes, etc. in a thin dough. a kind of tart that is put in a mixture and baked in the oven. In the original, the dough is made only of rye flour, but today it is usually prepared with a mixture of rye / bran flour or rye / white flour, but it is still possible to find the exact rye ones.

Since the production of Karelian tart is a bit troublesome, it is usually taken from the bakery department of the markets, cafes or frozen food departments. Even if you cook at home, you get a great well done especially from Finnish friends! I always say: food is the best cultural integration tool!

When we did not try Karjalanpiirakka, we found its taste great. I also like the Karelian tart plain. However, it is usually applied either a poached egg-butter mixture on the tart or cheese, tomato, cucumber etc. putting is also refreshing.

Winter Festival in Finland

Pikkulaskiainen

“Winter is a party”

In this blog post, I would like to talk about a wonderful and entertaining festival that we attend in Finland.Pikkulaskiainen-Winter Festival!!!

Pikkulaskiainen is an off the hook student event organized annually by the Association of Economics Students in Turku for over two decades already.One of our fun memories of erasmus was this event.A big concert area was established in the city center in Turku. Students from all over the city were dressed in colorful clothes.

The day starts with sledging and other fun activities at the Puolala Park, followed by an “After Ski” –pub crawl in downtown Turku.

In addition, stadiums were opened everywhere in the festival. Students visited the stadiums and were given different drinks and hot chocolates. The concert started after skiing in the city center. The concert area was quite crowded. I didn't know the artist :) But the sound of the music sounded very nice to our ears. A nice thing happened when Finnish words and their melody combined.

In this fun activity, students could get badges to stick on their clothes.

They wore the different fabrics and crests they bought from each event they attended in their special and colorful clothes. This created a colorful and pleasant appearance. Complete a festive mood!

After the parties in the city's hottest nightclubs, students finish Pikkulaskiainen or PL as they wish.

Learning Finnish

 Finnish Language

One of the courses we take at school is Finnish for Exchange Students. I loved this course because we were learning a new language. We were learning this language with other exchange students. This was a good thing. Because nobody in the class knew Finnish. And everyone was learning new words.

 And when I researched the language I will learn a little, I came across an interesting detail.

Finnish is distinguished between Scandinavian languages ​​because it comes from a different family: Ural-Altay Language Family. Turkish is also from this language family 😊 Therefore, Turkish from Altay Branch is a distant relative of Finnish from Ural Branch.

In fact, some words are really similar in Finnish and Turkish. Due to the fact that Finnish and Turkish are distant relatives, there are many similarities and the features of Finnish are:

• It is read as it is written.
• It is an additive language. Therefore, as in Turkish, you come across long words / verbs.

I learned to introduce myself as Finnish. I know the numbers a little. I think I am successful in learning a new language:)

Hello mean-Moi! Hei! Terve'

Nimeni on Beyza. Olen kaksikymmenta. Olen kotoisin Afyonkarahisarasta, Turkista. Puhun Turkkia ja Englantia. Olen kolmenen vuoden sairaanhoitajaopiskelia. Turun Ammetikorkeokoulussa.Asun Turussa. Harrastouksian ovat lukeminen, lentopallo, musikki

My name is Beyza. I'm twenty years old. I came from Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. I am speaking Turkish and English. I am a nursing student at Turku University of Applied Sciences. I am living in Turku. My hobbies are read a book ,play volleyball, listen to music.

You learn Finnish from books, but everything changes when you go out on the street. One day I studied the Finnish numbers, I said, "Now I will shop at the market and understand when the cashier says the price". The cashier said the price so quickly and differently that I perceived it as another language. I was angry at why I could not understand for a long time, but then I learned that the language spoken on the street could be very different from the language taught in the book.

Finnish Chocolate

Delicious Chocolates

According to the information I searched online, this Finnish chocolate, which is made from natural fresh milk, not milk powder, is actually well known in the northern European countries.

Karl Fazer, the father of chocolate, is a Swedish entrepreneur born in Helsinki. He had works in the field of pastry in Berlin, Paris and Saint Petersburg, opened a confectionery shop in Helsinki with his wife in 1891, and in the following years he established a chocolate factory by growing the business. Many of his products were among the classics.

The flavor is really great. There are a lot of varieties. I was very surprised when I saw the peppered chocolate. I know that Finns love candies. Therefore, as long as I am in Finland, I have tried to taste every chocolate. But my favorite was definitely Karl Farzen's chocolates. Therefore I brought a lot of chocolate on the way to Turkey. My family and friends also said that this chocolate was delicious.

Finnish Markets

Market Shopping in Finland

Of course, one of the first places we researched to meet our basic needs in Finland was markets. And we were very lucky about this. There were 4 or 5 Finnish markets just five minutes from our house.
Also, Turkish products were sold in these markets. We were very happy when we saw this. And, of course, I took a picture right away. For example, the photo below is Ankara Pasta.

One of the things that surprised me most in the Finnish markets was the presence of all kinds of fruits and vegetables. In a country where agriculture is very limited: it was very interesting that all kinds of food were brought. Sometimes we encounter was seeing the fruits and vegetables even in Turkey!

 When we saw peppers from Antalya Hall, we were very surprised with Sıla. Sıla reminded her hometown.

 In addition, every product was available almost every season. For example, while eating Italian watermelon in summer, you eat Brazilian watermelon in winter. The Brazilian watermelon, of course, is more expensive because it comes from a distance, but it comes after all.

Finns themselves also cultivate in greenhouses. A limited number of crops can be farmed, but these products are both organic and very delicious. For example, giant Finnish-produced cucumbers were delicious and juicy. Although cucumbers from the Mediterranean are cheaper, Finnish cucumbers were bought more due to both their quality and taste. Potatoes, carrots were cheaper than other vegetables.

Write in Finland, you will encounter many blackberry varieties that you may not have heard of. Most of them are tasteless and sour, but I still recommend you try. If you come across a Turkish marketer in the Finnish market like us, it can be mixed up and offered to you, little by little.

Another thing that surprised me was that greens such as lettuce, parsley and dill were sold in small pots in the markets. Such an intelligent method was used to keep these imported products on the road. So you can take the greens off the branch and eat them fresh. 😊

The greens are sold in small pots so that they keep their freshness.

Along with the increasing foreign population in Finland, you will find many markets and restaurants belonging to them. For this reason, you can find products from markets such as Asian cuisine, Middle Eastern cuisine, where food from many parts of the world is sold. There are also many Indian, Chinese, Italian, Turkish restaurants in the country, and most of them are of good quality.

 

Salo Electronics Museum

Museum Trip in Salo

We decided to go to Electronics Museum in Salo. After paying our fee for the entrance to the museum, we started sightseeing. There were many technological tools inside. From old phones to televisions ... There was a huge collection.

Salo Electronic Museum's 'Luxury Play' exhibition was about the history of radio and television production. And from the 1920s to the 1980s, there were radio receivers from crystal sets to stereo systems. I felt like I was traveling in history while I was traveling between the old radio.

The TV exhibition included televisions, from black and white sets with cathode ray tubes to flat screen TVs. I was very surprised when I saw this. I have seen and understood the working mechanism of televisions very closely.

I have learned that these radios and televisions represent the history of radio and television production in Salo, Finland as a whole and internationally. In addition to the technological innovations and designs of these objects, they emphasized their social importance.

Another thing that caught my attention in the exhibition was the display of products produced for decades. In addition to radio and television, it also included other audio products and related peripheral equipment. This cultural tour impressed me a lot. I have had the opportunity to see how technology has evolved until the past.