Back in Finland

For some people, one opportunity to spend time in Finland is not enough. They come back and some of them decide to stay longer.

Ulf has enjoyed his stay in Finland so far. Finding a girlfriend from here has made his stay an easy decision.

Ulf Geister, 30, was in Finland in the year 2005 as an exchange student in the Oulu University of Applied Sciences' School of Engineering . After personal reasons got involved, which means that he has a girlfriend from here, he decided to come back and is now working in a laboratory project in OUAS.

At the moment he is working on a project which aims to build a combined heat and power plant in the basement of the school. After the project is done, he hopes to find a job in Finland. At the moment he doesn't know if he will stay in Oulu, because all the major international companies are located in the Southern part of the country.

For the first time

When trying to decide where he would want to stay his exchange period, Ulf had Norway as his first option. But since his girlfriend lived here, it was an obvious choice to come to Oulu.

- I think I had more Finnish contacts than an exchange student normally has because of my girlfriend, Ulf says.

Like so many others, Ulf says the biggest difference with Finnish people compared to for example Germans is that they are quiet. In Ulf's opinion this also reflects to the Finnish culture which is not so hectic and crowded.

For exchange period Ulf recommends Finland especially for those who enjoy the nature, going out and rock music. Of course everything is not so pleasant in Finland.

- The first big shock I had when I saw the beer and alcohol beverage prices, Ulf laughs and warns the future exchange students.

Ulf working with his laboratory project where he's building a combined heat and power plant.

Students and teachers at the same level

When comparing Finnish University of Applied Sciences education system to the one in German, Ulf says that the most significant difference is in the relationship between the teachers and students. In Germany teachers are more of an authority figure who are always approached politely. In Finland they are more equal and students can go to chat with them.

The system is also quite organized and well funded. For example the laboratory and measurement equipments are up to date. According to Ulf, the exchange period itself is a good mixture of school and free time. You still have time to visit places in Finland and learn the culture.