Aika mennä museoon!

During the last two weeks I have seen and learned a lot more about Jyväskylä. As a part of my Each One Teach One-program have we been at different museums and locations.

It is a lot of things to see and do around here, and I am a bit mad at myself for not realised it before now. It looks like it is not all about sport? How can that be ;) ?

Anyway fist museum I went to was keskus-sumi museum (central-Finland). This was a really nice experience. First, the museum itself was very well done. We walked through periods of time and saw how Jyväskylä grow up from nothing till what it is now. Second, I learned a lot of local history and realised that time is so fast changing! Final, the museum had free entrance! Never experienced that in Norway!

The second museum I visited was the Alvar Aalto museum. Also this museum had free entrance! Love it! Alvar Aalto was a great architect and designer who were born here in Jyväskylä. The museum quite small but it was still very much to see. How he lived and died and of course pictures, sketches and models of his work. Besides his work it was also other architects mentioned. That had basically the same style. A museum worth seeing if you are around!

My third exhibition was the Panda factory! Not much to say, mainly because it was not as I hoped. Looked forward to see some factory history and walking around in the factory. But I understand now that that was too much to ask.  So what I got was a factory-shop. Not complaining, but since I do not eat candy anymore it was not that a big deal.

My final museum was the nature museum here in Jyväskylä. If I was a child I would have loooooooved to be there! It was sounds, stars, animals and everything you can dream about! I have to admit that I loved it even I’m not that a small child anymore!!! Again I learned a lot about Finland and the region around here. The museum also knew how to make people smile by placing totally random things around. Take a look at the butterfly picture and see if you find something funny there!

Group picture

Yesterday it was picture time, and this is the result:

Aprox. 130 smiling exchange students from all over the world =D

package

Yesterday I received a package from my mother. Inside I found my favourite browncheese and a cheese slicer.

Now and then happiness comes easy!

Thanks a lot mom! :D

update

Time is running.

This blog should have been updated weeks ago, but unfortunately it has not.

My first excuse is all I had to do. Last two-three weeks before eastern was insane hard. The university kept on giving me task to do and my social life went to zero while my ‘’nerdy life’’ went to thousand. It was plenty to do and the icing on the cake was that I was sick. Headache, stomach pain and general lack of energy, home sickness and a bit too much exercise did not make this situation good at all. But I made it. And it went pretty well. Got my first best grade during my stay here for my sport and media lecture exam. My speech went well and also the last debates. So all in all it had a good outcome. It ok to work hard when it gives results!

So after this stress period it felt really good to take some days of. It was time to go back to Norway to enjoy my eastern holiday. Felt good to leave the snow for some days and go home to spring weather. First part was spent home at my mum’s place and the second part with my boyfriend and London. Thereafter, short time back in Norway before returning to Jyväskylä.

So since I have been back I have finished one e-learning module (2 ects), and had visit from Norway.

Jyväskylä did not want to shine, so we spent most of the time indoor (read: shopping) and also did some “heavy” cultural touring.  Saturday was spent in Tampere where we saw the Muumin museum. The museum was smaller than expected but it was really nice and absolutely worth visiting.

So my upcoming plans now is learning, learning and learning. To say the weather is not a problem for my motivation now. Today it has been snowing the whole day so being inside is ok.

Belove you can see some pictures from the last periode. It is my super studymate, picture from lab, reason why I am safe, children floorball match, spring is coming and Jyväskylä by night.

less to do

Finally, it gets a bit less to do! After days with school-related work from 8 till 12 hours each day, it feels really good to say that I have less to do, at least for a short period.

The last weeks I have really felt how it is to be a student. It might sound silly since I am in my 3th year, but it is really true. Quite often have I been irritated and frustrated about the lazy Norwegian school system. I have always loved to learn, and increasing my knowledge has in a long time been a big part of me, but unfortunately did I feel that the Norwegian system was not able to give me the challenge I wanted.

But yes, after 2,5 years in higher education I am for first time in my life at a university and I am slowly understanding what ‘University means’ – work your ass off!

So the last 1,5 weeks have I:

 Handed in three different papers,

 Had one book exam,

One speech (10 min),

One presentation (15-20 min), 

and two debates.

It is interesting for sure, but it also too much for me. I neither can dig in to the topic and really understand it nor be critical enough of my own work. For first time in my life I have taken an exam without being prepared. It might sound silly and it might also sound unimportant. My point is that this way of working somehow kills my inner eagerness for learning. On the other hand, am I sure that I will miss the system here. I will miss the possibility to actually have great teachers. Because they are GREAT! 

There are always advantages and disadvantages. However, this period here have thought me a lot, even if it kills some of my eagerness for learning, it has thought my lots of other aspects in life.

diary from week 10: wednesday

Wednesday 7th mars 2012

I got up at 6:30. 6:30 has never felt so early.  I felt like a walking zombie on my way to school. When I came to school I realised that I did not know where I had to go. I knew for sure the room name, but I had no clue where the room was located. After some confusing look at the building map I slowly located the room. Still really tired, and a bit pissed off after all map-challenge in the morning I tried to start focusing on the lecture. The system here with 2 hours before brake feels like ages! My normal 45 min classes back in Norway feels like primary school compared to this. Trying hardly to focus on the lecture, write some notes and be active at the same time is one of my biggest challenges here. The time of the day does not make the challenge easier... In the end of the lecture I really opened my eyes and sad to myself that this will be a quite interesting course. I love the feeling of earn new knowledge, especially if it includes myself growing as person and gives me a wider view of my surroundings.

In the afternoon I participated in an extra skating class. We went tour skating on the lake. The sun was perfect, again, and this was another great experience of Jyväskylä, that I made during these three days. However, the ice was not of perfect shape, but the event itself was really good. And I really understand why it is always so many people out on the ice. Tour skating is really a great recreation activity. 

naaaw!

 The ice, the ice track and skitrack! ooh what lovely active people living here!

In the evening I spent the hours with my dear boyfriend eating pizza and playing billiard.  The pizzas from Sebasitan’s are something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.  While we were there it was karaoke. I will never understand why people do such a thing. However, it is kind of entertainment. Not necessary good, but it is for sure entertaining to even listen to people who cannot sing at all.

Yammmi!

diary from week 10: tuesday

Tuesday 6th mars 2012

Another day with big school tasks. Today I had to take part of the debate “should internet be moderated”.  My preparations for this debate were not as good as it should have been, so I was really nervous before the debate started. On the other hand, I had my statements and was prepared to share and express them. After my opening speech I felt ok, and was somehow in the moment.

The weather was lovely today as yesterday. After lunch we went for a long walk on the lake and around the city centre ending up having coffee and cake out in the shiny, warming spring sun. The feeling of heating sun is amazing. I have never felt so pleased about being heated by the sun again after a long winter period. It is a feeling of success, and of new time to come. It really felt like a break trough for my stay here. Finally I feel a sort of adapted to this place. Finally!

After the long walk we went home for relaxing, before our next event: playing squash. I have never been so exhausted after playing before. The game run good, and we had a lot of good ball passes. A bit competition and speed felt really good after a slow and comforting day. To end a close to perfect day the day closed with a big, lightning moon.