Farewell party

Couple of weeks ago we Finns had our last meeting and farewell party. Here are some pics from the evening!

Even though it is sad that our project is in its end, I think that we all have good memories to remember. Thanks everybody! :---------)

Best regards, finnish group

A Finnish success story - Nokia

A Few weeks ago, grim news (for Finns, especially) reached Northern Europe: Nokia Corporation lost its place as the biggest mobile phone seller in the world for the South Korean Samsung Electronics. Despite that, Nokia is still one of the most successful electronics company in the world and above all else: it's part of Finnish culture, it defines us Finns, it's part of our identity. A true Finnish success story.

The logo and the slogan. The picture of two hands reaching out for each other is inspired by Michelangelo's  The creation of Adam in the Sistine Chapel 

Here´s a little background story of this mobile phone giant: In the year 1865 Fredrik Idestam founded a groundwood department to Tampere. Few years later, another groundwood department was founded near Nokianvirta, a river in the town of Nokia (where the corporation's name comes from). 1898 Nokia was near to bankruptcy, and was bought by Suomen Gummitehdas Oy which in that time produced rubber. Suomen Gummitehdas Oy was the first corporation to use Nokia as a brand for its rubber boots and car tyres! In the year 1922, a mobile and telegraph cable producing corporation Suomen Kaapelitehdas Oy was bought by Suomen Gummitehdas Oy and in the 1940's these three corporations fused, and Nokia Oyj was born. Later, this corporation became the internationally known,  present day Nokia Corp. 

Decades passed, and the newborn Nokia Oyj concentrated more and more on mobile phone technology and Nokia's first mobile phone (in co-operation with Salora Oy) saw the daylight in the year 1982. This model was called Mobira Talkman. 

Mobira Talkman

Technology advanced, mobile phones became smaller and lighter and Nokia's first mobile phone family, along with the first portable GSM mobile phone (Nokia 1011) was released on the market. Thus began the march of Nokia towards success, smart phones and touch screens.

Finnish designing at its best: the legendary (indestructible?) Nokia 3310
 

-Niko

ps. I want to thank you all, teacher and students equally, for participating this project and making it possible. These memories I will treasure until the end of my days :) But before that, I hope to see you all again and have more awesome memories to share with you!

Penkkarit - "benchpressing fest"

Last week abiturs (third/final-year students) celebrated ending of the school. We don't have regular school anymore!! Now we have to start reading for our matriculation exams, so we don't have that much free time, buhuu. But our leaving party was amazing and now I try to tell something about it.

Last thursday we had a speacial day when we dressed up like fools and went to school. The party included for example singing funny songs about teachers, good food and a parade.  As you can see from the picture, we rode on trucks around Oulu and shouted slogans and thew candy at junior students and passers-by.

 We had really fun time shouting and screaming our school's name "LYSEO" to other schools. After the parade my throat was sore, but it was worth it. :D Here is a picture of some costumes!

From right to left: Our friend Laura as Zorro, Niko as crazy granny, me as hippie and Tarja as Johnny Depp from Dead man. 

At evening we had afterparty, where also teachers were invited. We partied in a night club with our teachers, and it was quite absurd but fun. :----D

-Anniina 

Studying holiday (lukuloma)

The matriculation exams in Finnish high schools are getting closer and closer. First part of the mother tongue exam was already in 11th of February and the listening comprehensions of languages were held during the following week. The next exam is the second part of the mother tongue exam (12th of March) and the rest of the tests are during the next two weeks.

The seniors (abis or abiturients in Finnish) have already finished their lessons (including me :D). Their last normal lessons were in 27th of January. So, You probably wonder, what the seniors do between the end of the normal schoolwork and the matriculation exams. We should read :D Yeah, should. To be honest, mostly we read, but we also use time to do things we are not able to do in the school time. I asked my friend what seniors do during this “studying holiday” and her answer was: “we “read””.

 - Anna

Sit back and relax

Are you one of those persons who know a ton of books you'd want to read, but never have time to? Are the only books you read concerning school? Do you rather watch TV than read?
Reading is one of the oldest activities, and no wonder. It's relaxing and can gain you more knowledge at the same time. You do need to be alone and concentrate on just one thing at the time, but it will lead to better writing skills and specially in foreign languages it helps the process of learning a lot.
My personal favorite author is Sophie Kinsella. Her style of writing is so hilarious that i'm having a hard time reading her books in public places without laughing. You've been warned, her books a bit of chick flicks, but there's nothing wrong with reading something light and shallow every now and then!

Viola

Last day at Kutna Hora

For the last day in Kutna Hora, we went to the Kacov's Bewer. The guide explain us, how they made beer. 

After the visit of the bewery, we visited the ossuary in the old town of Kutna Hora

To finish our works we have been filmed, doing our presentation 

Prague calling

Early on Wednesday morning we all got on the buss and started driving to the Prague International Airport, Ruzyne. There we got to see for example planes landing and taking off from a close distance and heard how an airport works. After the tour we got on the bus again and headed towards the centre to have lunch.

We had lunch in a typical Czech pub in a part of Prague centre called Hradcany. The meals were traditional Czech dishes such as gulash, dumplings and roasted pork. After we had free time to buy souvenirs, go sightseeing and enjoy the beautiful architecture of Prague. Some of us went to a shopping centre while others strolled down the cobblestone streets. In the early evening we gathered the group again and left the capital city to go home. The day was long but not long enough to see everything in Prague. So hopefully we will have a chance to visit Prague again in the future.