The day I visited from Kathmandu, Nepal; where the population is around 1.081million to small city of in Northern Europe belonging to European Union city called Lappeenranta, Finland where the population is around 70,500 inhabitants. Now, the first thing which came into my mind was- Am I in heaven? Or, am I in hell? I was confused. Later slowly I realized, to adapt in new and different set of environment is the key. Now after staying for couple of years here in Lappeenranta, There are few pointers which I recommend:
1. Don’t get frustrated: Most of the times when we see darkness all around us and no light either in day or night, especially in cold freezing winter, stay inside your room and don’t get frustrated. Hope is the key, just be hopeful that the day will pass and there will be summer coming soon.
2. Be polite: When you are polite you will benefit a lot from Finnish people. I have seen in my own life, Finns are most helpful, shy and honest people found on this earth. Personally I can claim that, nowhere can you find such types of people.
3. Work hard: Hard work always pays off. . The primary focus for the international student should be always study especially of those who arrive here in Student Visa. So work hard, if you are student like me, then work harder especially in winter because during those times you can score more credits and later when summer arrives in Finland, you can relax. I could be one example where I managed to finish Master’s degree in about one year.
4. Discover yourself: My grandfather told me one story long time ago, he said, “Once upon a time in a village, young married couples were walking with donkey. At first wife sat on donkey and husband walked by her side. Seeing this scene, villages pointed the finger at wife saying, “She is disrespecting her husband by sitting on the donkey.” Husband agreed with villagers. After walking few miles, wife insisted husband to sit on the donkey. The villagers dishonored husband for allowing her wife to walk in the blaring heat. After receiving ridiculed comments from villagers, husband decided to walk along the donkey and wife. After walking again few miles into another village, villagers laughed at couple for not using donkey for the support. Now, the couple decided both to sit on the donkey thinking this will satisfy the villagers. After few miles, villagers felt pity on donkey for carrying couple and luggage. Now after so much of guilt, couple decided to purchase stick and rope to carry donkey, the couple now decided to carry donkey in the stick and rope, after they had entered the final village, villagers laughed hysterically at couple. How many times do we have to make adjustment to live our life? To conduct work, to make decisions and to make changes. Although the intentions maybe great but who is the right judge? You, you are the best judge of your own decisions and circumstances so discover yourself.
5. Be happy: While there are many theories on happiness, I would suggest get social with friends and family, talk with those who are close and those who are far, don’t resist you with limitations, explore yourself and smile even in worries because smile is same in every culture and country.
6. Learn Finnish: Either you are here to stay for one year, two year or several years. Learning new language always helps. Locals will find it interesting when you would be able to talk and speak in their own mother tongue. Apart from “Tervetuloa, Kiitos, hyvaa paivaa ….” Try to get in touch with Finnish people and ask them to teach you Finnish (Suomi).
7. Explore Lappeenranta: Visit the Church, Museum, Harbor canal, and many more interesting and beautiful places. I would recommend not only sitting idle in home but to come out of room and explore the beauty of Lappeenranta which is very close to Nature itself.
These are just few pointers which could help not only International students, worker here in Lappeenranta but also to local Finns. What do you say?
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