What are the biggest differences you notice between the daily lives of a Finn and a Uruguayan? Do they have different routines?
“I think the lives of a Finnish student and a Uruguayan student are quite similar, except that here in Finland there are many more events and activities for young people. Everywhere you go, there are student discounts—for transportation, dining out, parties, and other things,” says Victoria.
María Noel explains that she interacts more with international students than with Finnish students, since she shares very few classes with them. However, both she and her two classmates noticed some key differences:
Schedule
The three students say they had to adjust to completely different schedules. “In hotels, breakfast is served from 4 to 8 a.m. Lunch is served at 11 a.m. and dinner at 3 p.m. For the rest of the day, they eat snacks until the next morning,” says María Noel.
“Everyone gets up early to enjoy the day or to be able to do all the activities they’ve planned,” says Diego, explaining that this habit is due to the limited daylight in winter, as the days grow shorter and shorter as the season progresses.
Student housing and dorms have very strict rules. “Between 10 p.m. and 9 a.m., you’re not allowed to make any noise in the building. My roommates and I have to whisper after that time. We also can’t take showers or play music. Otherwise, the neighbors will complain,” says María Noel.
“There’s also a different schedule for going out at night,” adds Victoria. “You have to get used to the fact that parties start at 11 p.m. and end very early, at 3:30 a.m.”
Punctuality
In the eyes of the three Uruguayans, Finns are extremely punctual. “The other day I asked my tutor if she could pick me up, and instead of telling me she’d be there in 20 or 5 minutes, she said, ‘I’ll be there in 17 minutes,’” recalls María Noel. “They’re very precise with time, unlike Uruguayans, who say, ‘I’m on my way,’ when we’re actually just getting on the bus. If you tell a Finn you’re on your way, it’s because you’re really just half a minute away from the meeting place.”
“We Uruguayans tend to make a lot of promises but don’t keep them,” he continues, adding, “We usually say, ‘Let’s get together next week,’ and then the following week we don’t get in touch. Generally speaking, if you say that to a Finn, they’ll call you the following week to ask what time we’re meeting.”
Punctuality isn’t just a hallmark of personal relationships; public transportation in Finland is also very punctual, Diego explains. “There are usually screens at the stops that show how many minutes are left until the bus arrives. Once the bus doors close, they generally don’t open again. This means you have to wait for the next bus, which usually arrives within 10 minutes.”
Food
Adjusting to the food in the host country is often a challenge for most exchange students. Regarding Finnish food, María Noel notes that there is a lot of spicy food. In addition, “they have different varieties of bread, and this is an important part of both lunch and all snacks. Universities always offer a variety of salads, which are included on the menu along with potatoes and rice. The main dish changes, but the sides are always the same.”
Other customs
Unlike Uruguayans, Finns become independent at a younger age. “My 19-year-old tutor has been living alone with her boyfriend for a year now, and she told me that this is very common in Finland,” María Noel says in surprise.
Another habit that caught her attention is the custom of taking off one’s shoes before entering the house. “It’s completely normal. They’re so used to this habit that they forget to mention it when you’re not familiar with it. At one of my colleagues’ houses, they always take off their shoes before going inside and walk around the house in their socks.”
How would you describe the Finnish character in general terms?
“Finns tend to be a bit cold and distant. In fact, at first I thought they didn’t like me,” says Victoria, “but then I realized they’re like that with everyone, even with each other. At the same time, they’re kind. They aren’t very talkative, and they value their personal space a lot, but they’re willing to help you if you need it. They’re generally very reserved, honest, and punctual.”
María Noel shares this view and reflects: “As you get to know them, you realize that’s just their nature. They’re shy, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t sociable or kind. In fact, they’re pleasant people, although, because they’re very quiet and proper, they can seem distant. They don’t understand the concept of small talk; they speak only when necessary, and they’re comfortable with silence.”
“They’re not cold. They have to get to know us and warm up to us, and it’s only then that they stop being distant and start talking more,” concludes Diego, who trains with the Finns and has had plenty of contact with people from that Nordic country.
What should a Uruguayan keep in mind if they want to make a good impression in Finland?
“I think that as long as you respect their way of being, they’ll respect you. You shouldn’t invade their personal space with hugs or kisses. Being loud or rowdy is something that bothers them, too. Whenever possible, you should be punctual, especially if being late causes inconvenience to others. I believe that if you keep these things in mind, it’s easy to get along with them,” says María Noel.
“Finns are very open, but it takes them a while to understand you and warm up to you. That doesn’t mean they don’t like you or don’t care about you; it just means that their history and culture have shaped them differently,” adds Diego.
Is it necessary to know Finnish to get by in everyday life?
All three students agree that it isn't necessary to know the language to communicate with the locals. They say that even older people and children speak English quite well, and that lectures and restaurant menus are usually translated into English.
“The only thing that’s really difficult is shopping at the supermarket, since the labels aren’t translated into English. It took me months to get used to it, and it was through trial and error that I managed to figure out how to buy the products I was looking for instead of something completely different,” says María Noel.
Diego explains that the opportunity to improve his English was one of the reasons he decided to participate in the exchange program. In Finland, he has had the chance to connect with people from many different countries, and they use English as a common language. He points out that “for a Uruguayan looking to improve their English, it’s an ideal country, since people in Finland speak English, but it’s not their native language. As a result, they’re also looking to improve their English.”
What is this experience teaching you academically?
In addition to experiencing another culture and other languages, an academic exchange offers the opportunity to learn about different approaches to knowledge transfer. The teaching methods at TAMK strike the three students as very different; they notice that teachers play a less active role in the learning process. In their experience, greater emphasis is placed on independent study, as professors merely guide students, who are expected to work and even learn on their own.
“Assignments are given in class, and students are given time to complete them at their own pace. From time to time, teachers leave the classroom after assigning a task and return a few hours later,” explains María Noel, adding that class attendance is not mandatory and that there is little homework. In addition, the schedules change every week; they are completely irregular.
“Art supplies are provided free of charge by the school, which offers a wide variety of paints, canvases, brushes, and so on. Students have everything they need, and the supplies are of the highest quality,” he notes.
Since TAMK does not offer a Bachelor’s degree in Animation and Video Games as such, Victoria and María Noel are taking courses in the Media and Arts program, which includes some similar courses, although it focuses more on photography and the study of classical art, such as painting, sculpture, and life drawing.
“I’m not making progress in my degree program, since I’ve already taken many of the courses offered here in Uruguay, or they aren’t specifically related to animation, so I can’t get credit for them. Still, I’m taking courses I wouldn’t be taking in Uruguay, so I’m learning new things,” Victoria says of her academic experience.
Diego, who is studying advertising and communications, says that TAMK doesn’t offer courses in his field. “I was able to find courses in marketing and tourism. For me, this is an opportunity to connect the three disciplines and come up with something interesting from that mix.”
He explains that Tampere places a strong emphasis on business, and notes that the International Business program—in which he is currently enrolled—has the largest number of students at the university.
What advice would you give to a Uruguayan visiting Finland for the first time?
“There are a lot of exchange students in Tampere every year, and apartments get snapped up very quickly, so I recommend starting your search well in advance,” says Victoria.
María Noel’s advice to another Uruguayan student would be not to get discouraged when arriving in Finland and noticing that people seem a bit distant. “Don’t think they’re treating you differently. Be patient, and you’ll see that they’re not rude—they’re just shy. Don’t wait for them to approach you; go up to them, and you’ll see that they’re friendly and courteous to tourists.”
Many students hesitate to choose Finland as an exchange destination because of the weather. Diego downplays this concern and explains that you don’t really feel the cold in dorms, on buses, or in public places. It’s only cold outside, but that’s not a problem, since public transportation never takes long to arrive. The weather in spring and summer is warm and not much different from that in Uruguay.
“The scenery is amazing—it’s very peaceful and lush. Coming to Finland is a great opportunity not only to explore this country, but also to travel to other European countries that aren’t as popular with Uruguayan travelers, such as Sweden, Estonia, Russia, Lithuania, Poland, or Denmark.”
What advice would you give to another student? “Come with an open mind. It’s a beautiful country, very different from Uruguay, but that’s what makes it interesting.”