ERASMUS T.R.U.E. in Finland - A Memorable Experience

2. Finland Mobility – an amazing experience Carla Elena Stănoi, 7C Since I was chosen to take part in the ERASMUS T.R.U.E., I was very excited because I was going to travel to the amazing country of Finland, one of the northernmost countries in the world and to see its fascinating scenery. It was the 12th of May and we were all very happy at the airport because it was the day we were leaving! After a long and exhausting trip by airplane, by train and by car, we finally reached our destination and our host families picked us up from the railway station in Tampere. They drove us from Tampere to Ylöjärvi, a small town which is located 14 kilometres in the west of Tampere - the second largest city after Helsinki. I stayed with Maria in Annika`s home. She and her family were really nice and kind to us and I am so thankful for the fact that they helped us feel like we were at home. The following day we woke up very early to go to their school, where we were going to take part at the opening festivity, to listen to traditional songs and to be given our tags. We were welcomed with open arms by the Finnish team and I really loved the atmosphere there! The tags we were given helped us divide in groups for the following activities, for example, when we visited the school and took part in a few lessons. The groups contained a student from every country us, Romania, Spain, France, England, Italy and Finland. On Tuesday, we were back to school, where we had many workshops, such as: making wooden things, playing musical instruments and playing outdoor sports, just like the Finnish students learn at school. I was really impressed by the school cleanliness, the education and the good behaviour of all the people. During the outdoor sports we had the opportunity to develop our team spirit, work together and also, find out more things about the traditions of the others. In the evening we went in the forest near the school, where we had lots of fun activities and games with our groups.

3. On Wednesday, we had rehearsals for the final gala which is specific for the ending of all the mobilities and we also had music and outdoor workshops where we enjoyed the fresh air. In the evening, Annika had an orienteering training in Tampere, so we went to visit one of the biggest parks in the city. There we saw interesting trees with strange shapes and huge lakes with clear water. We also learnt about the specific plants which usually grow in that part of Finland. The following day, we went sightseeing in Ylöjärvi. Our first stop was at the City Hall, which was near a lake where we tried to guess the water temperature. After, we went to the Local Church and saw a huge crystal chandelier and an organ, specific for their churches. The next activity was at the library, where we had to find fifteen words to escape the maze. The words were hidden between the books or on the shelves. Then, we went to Tampere to Vapriikki Museum where we first had lunch, a traditional meal with reindeer meat and potatoes. Then, we divided in our groups and had to solve the mystery of the museum`s guard with the ghost which haunted the museum one night. We had to find clues which led to the elucidation of the story. We entered a stunning room with a huge clock, a map of the amazing museum. After that, we went through the Crystals Area and Animals Area. We also had riddles about football players and the Nokia phones.

4. In the evening we went to a sauna in Lempiäniemi, a town near Ylöjärvi, where we experienced the traditional sauna of Finland. After staying in the hot room we swam in a cold lake and repeated these actions. Sauna is very important to Finnish people, there you can enjoy and relax. Almost every house and flat in Finland has its sauna. When Finnish people take you to the sauna it is a sign of respect and hospitability. Then, we played football and volleyball with the foreign students and listened to relaxing and fascinating music played by the Finnish teachers. On Friday, we had the final gala, where students from each country gave an amazing performance which impressed the audience. It was the last day we spent together and we became really sad and feelings of nostalgia and regret were felt in our hearts we were going to say goodbye to some unique friends we would probably never see again. Despite the fact that the ERASMUS project ended on Friday and most of the teams from other countries had left, we had the flight on Sunday so we had a little extra-time to explore Finland. On Saturday we went to an amusement park, called Sarkanniemi, in Tampere, where we enjoyed the Aquarium, Planetarium and the exciting and full of adrenaline rollercoasters. The day passed really fast and but it created lots of unforgettable memories!

5. Sunday…Here we go… It was time to leave and say goodbye to our amazing and nice host families! It was one of the saddest moments and I really hate goodbyes! Almost every day we had lots of activities together, especially walking in the forest and playing musical instruments at Paavo`s house, a Finnish boy. After another long trip back home, we were reunited with our families and the atmosphere was full of happiness! I really want to thank all of the people involved in the ERASMUS T.R.U.E. project because they were so kind and we made lots of funny, exciting and enjoyable memories! Also, thanks to our form teacher, Mrs. Lidia Cazacu, the project co-ordinator and to our deputy manager, Mrs. Marinela Drăghici who accompanied us on this amazing trip! It was one of the most beautiful weeks in my life and I learnt a lot of new things about other cultures and traditions. The time passed very quickly and we were very surprised by all the things that surrounded us! All the activities and people were fascinating and I will never forget them!

6. A memorable week of my life! Ana-Alexia Munteanu, 7C This Erasmus+ project has been a huge opportunity for me to visit a foreign country and to meet such great people! I’ve learnt so many useful things in just one week and it was all happening in an environment which was so pleasant that it didn’t even seem like learning. I had the chance to communicate with children from five other countries, using the English language. Before participating in this, I had already flown several times, so that wasn’t so big of deal for me, but it was the first time abroad without my parents. My fear of being alone quickly vanished after meeting my host family and realising that I’m going to have four more siblings. The family was wonderful and really managed to make me feel like home. I was extremely fascinated by the fact that every Finish family had a sauna in their house! The school was the main place for the activities which we’ve done during our stay. The atmosphere was a lot more relaxed than it usually is in Romania. It was placed near a little forest where kids could even go for a walk if they got bored of the swings and sports’ fields during their break. Even though the school was quiet far from our house, the 15-20 minutes of enjoying the stunning views of the flora around were definitely worth it. In the first three days of our stay, we took part in some activities in school, which were entertaining and fun. The teachers’ main focus was happiness! So, all the workshops were practical, included team work and coordination and most of them encouraged an active and healthy lifestyle. On Thursday we started the day by going on a sightseeing tour in Ylojarvi and ended with a relaxing sauna time and swimming in the lake, which was freezing, but still nice and refreshing. On Friday we had the gala and rehearsals which hopefully went well and then received our diplomas. I felt proud of myself in the moment I was called to be handed my diploma and I realized that unfortunately this wonderful week was about to end. We had our flight on Sunday, so we had one more day than the kids from the other countries, because flights from Bucharest to Helsinki are only once a week. We spent the whole Saturday at the amusement park and from the moment I got there I realized it was a good idea. All in all, I had plenty of fun in Finland, thanks to the teachers, my host family and the new friends I made there. I hope we’ll keep in touch for life because I would like to go back to Finland one day as it is one of the countries I’ve always dreamt of visiting!

7. Finland Maria Vîlculescu, 7D The short part is a bit tongue in cheek since to most people 8 days sounds like a long trip to Finland, it’s just too short. Finland is the first place where I’ve experienced the feeling of almost too much freedom. You feel a certain connectedness with nature. Partly because animals freely roam through the streets, even in very urban places like the middle of the city, and in part because you see an incredibly diverse and almost untouched, nature. Ylöjärvi, which is my favorite city of all I visited, is like that. Like God made a bouldering place just for himself. I can tell that I had one of the most and adventurous experiences I ever lived. I am happy that I was chosen for this project. I want to start with the moment when we arrived in Tampere and saw the host family waiting for me and my friend. At that time I felt a weird feeling like a warm air was enveloping me, but I knew that feeling. It was the feeling of home. At that moment they were strangers, but they truly felt like home. How to remember Finland Mihai Cealicu, 8B Even though it has been over 6 weeks from my amazing experience in Finland, I am still thinking about the magical days that I spent there. After the trip from Helsinki to Tampere we arrived at Ylöjärvi in the evening. I got a friendly meeting with my host family. The next day I went to school with Arttu, the son of my host family. I will never forget the moment I saw the breathtaking image of the most beautiful school I saw in my life. It was like a fairytale: the school is placed in a little forest where kids can play in the breaktime. In the building there are many workshops where the Finnish pupils learn to work wood, learn to sew, learn to play an instrument and many other. Also the tidiness and the order were not missing anywhere. On another day we went to visit the city of Ylöjärvi where we learnt about the history and the past of Finland. After we visited some museums that were interesting and helpful, we went to a lake where we swam in the freezing cold water and then we went quickly into a sauna. You feel amazing and energized after you do that several times. In the last day we spent together we had a pleasant time in the amusement park in Tampere. I never forget this amazing and unique lifetime experience where I made lots of foreign friends that I will keep in my heart for the rest of my life.