Si è appena conclusa la seconda fase dello scambio linguistico-culturale con la scuola Karkkilan Lukio di Karkkila, piccola cittadina finlandese situata nella regione dell'Uusimaa. Protagonisti dieci alunni della classe 4ATUC, che, dopo aver accolto i corrispondenti finlandesi ad ottobre, sono stati da loro ospitati dal 5 all'11 aprile.
Ecco il loro resoconto.
This experience has been a formative week. We had the chance to exchange cheerful moments, such as an evening in front of the camp fire eating sausages and marshmallows with our Finnish friends, walking in the nature with a specialised guide, having a challenging day in Helsinki learning the Finnish architecture while enjoying the snow, understanding the differences between the Italian school system and the Finnish one. Our favourite experience was the sauna, because in the previous days we had prepared dinner for that day, including Mustikkapiirakka, a traditional Finnish cake, Karjalanpiirakka, a bread-like cake made of rice porridge and milk; we then ate the food that we had made while singing both Finnish and Italian songs. A famous Finnish tradition that we wanted to try was jumping in the frozen lake after being in the sauna! We had the opportunity to spend some moments with our Finnish families. This experience was really useful to improve my English although Finnish people are not as extrovert as we Italians are so practising communication was a little bit hard. Learning about their culture was funny and also challenging, especially food. The free time after school was a useful way to get to know each other and be more relaxed together.
Katrina
This experience was really nice and interesting, while I was in Finland I could compare two different cultures and where I shared special moments with my friends and our Finnish correspondents. It was really unique and helped me a lot to improve my English, I definitely recommend it!
Lisa
It was a fantastic experience, especially thanks to the activities organized by our Finnish peers who, even though they had some difficulties in interacting with us, still involved us in all their daily routines. We had the chance to experience the Finnish school system, which is much better in my opinion than the Italian one because of the freedom and lightness that students enjoy at school. The thing I liked a bit less was the food and some of their habits, as they are very different from ours. However, it was still very useful because we were forced to speak English, which really helped me become more fluent and communicate without feeling embarrassed.
Giulia
I really enjoyed this experience, it helped me a lot to improve my English and talk to people I didn’t know. My favourite part was the sauna because it was a special moment we spent all together. I really recommend this exchange because it's an experience that can shape you and helps you grow.
Anna
This experience was very nice and helped me improve my English. I also had the opportunity to learn about Finnish culture. The activities I enjoyed the most were the campfire and the sauna, which I found really funny and relaxing.
Vanessa
During this experience, I had a lot of fun. We had the opportunity to explore a culture different from our own and to experience various traditions. It also helped me improve my English, because it was the only way I could communicate, and it allowed me to interact with other people and make new connections.
Asia
My one-week Erasmus experience in Karkkila was short but intense. Immersing myself in Finnish culture, with its peaceful landscapes and genuine hospitality, opened my eyes to a different lifestyle—more serene and connected to nature. It was a unique opportunity for personal growth and international exchange that I will always carry with me.
Aurora
This experience was very delightful for me because I had the opportunity to get to know a new culture, visit beautiful places, spend great moments with my friends and the Finnish group and improve my fluency in spoken English. I really enjoyed this exchange and I would definitely recommend it.
Marta
For me this experience was very formative. There were some difficulties but despite them I lived beautiful moments with my friends and the Finnish group, which allowed me to get to know a new culture, improve my English and discover things I was not aware of. If I had to recommend this experience to anyone, I would definitely do it.
Margherita
