French student in Erasmus in Finland

A HOFSTEDE DIMENSION A high score, therefore male, on this dimension indicates that the company will be driven by competition, success and achievement. Success is defined by the winner or the best in the field, a value system that starts at school and continues throughout the life of the organization.  A low score, therefore female, for this dimension means that the dominant values in society are concern for others and quality of life. A female society is a society where quality of life is a sign of success and where standing out is not admirable.  The fundamental question here is what motivates people, wanting to be the best (Male) or loving what one does (Female). RESULTS Finland is regarded as a female society. In this feminine country, the emphasis is on "working for a living", managers seek consensus, people value equality, solidarity and the quality of their working life. Conflicts are resolved through compromise and negotiation. Incentives such as free time and f...

WHAT ABOUT SAUNA ? As soon as I arrived in Finland, I began to hear the praises of the sauna: the Finns all assured me that this was absolutely the best possible health care.  The Finnish sauna, in Finnish "Suomalainen sauna", is a very important part of Finnish culture. It is a place that is usually heated to about 80-110° C for sweating, relaxing and washing. It is based on steam produced by throwing water on hot stones. It is estimated that up to 99% of Finns regularly use the sauna. Its origins are thought to date back to the Bronze Age, between 1500 and 900 BC. Finland has five million inhabitants and more than three million saunas, an average of one per household. Indeed, a law in Finland states that every dwelling must have a sauna that it can use on a regular basis. For Finns, the sauna is a place for friends and family to relax, as well as a place for physical and mental relaxation. Finns consider saunas not as a luxury, but as a necessity. Before the advent of pu...

HOW TO GO THERE ? If you live in Turku that really easy beaqcuse the ferry leave from Turku. So you just have tot take the city bus to go there it's really easy.  This time the travel time is really long this is why I did the travel by night on the ship and I booked on little room to sleep there. If you booked your travel really early prices are really correct.  ABOUT STOCKHOLM Built along the river and spanned by some fifty bridges, Stockholm appears at first contact as a relaxed Venice of the North, distilling a real sweetness of life, alternating nature and culture, tradition and "branchiness"...  Forgotten is the image of the distant capital of a cold and boring country. Obsolete, the legendary reserve and institutionalized moderation. Stockholmers show as much energy in adopting new trends as they do in defending their traditions and royalty. Stockholm takes care of its inhabitants: well-organised public transport, accessible to all, disabled, ...

MY REPORT It is a very surprising fact that Finns are among the world's biggest coffee drinkers, a situation that has been going on for decades. And every Finn has his or her own reasons for loving coffee. After all, you will see many Finns drinking a LOT of coffee. Not that in France we don't drink it, but here I was really shocked by their relationship with coffee. For example in the canteen at the end of the meal it's self-service and everybody takes some, I've never seen that in a canteen in France. Also a lot of shops are essentially places to drink coffee, that exists in France too but they are rarer or we drink our coffee in a bakery or a bar.  WHY ? However, the question remains: why are Finns such great coffee lovers?  Some Finns find it difficult to explain their passion for the hot drink. Part of the reason could be that they live in a cold country, so they need to drink hot and nourishing drinks.  But there is also another, more sentimental...

A HOFSTEDE DIMENSION The fundamental question addressed by this dimension is the degree of interdependence that a society maintains among its members. The question is whether people's self-image is defined in terms of "I" or "We". In individualistic societies, people are expected to care only for themselves and their immediate family. In collectivist societies, people belong to "groups" that take care of them in exchange for their loyalty. RESULTS According to G. Hostede, a criterion determines the relationships that individuals in the same community have with each other. Communitarian societies favour time spent in groups, whereas individualistic societies favour time spent by individuals for their personal lives. G. Hostede established a link between economic development and individualism, the most economically developed states having a strong relationship to individualism. The results of Hostede's study are as follows: Finland 63, France ...

HOW TO GO THERE ? First you have to go to Helsinki by bus or by train as you want and next you take a ferry which bring you directly to Tallinn. On the the big ship you spend 2 hours before to arrival there is quite very fast because you can do a lot of things in the boat.  There also I did a free walking tour, you just have to go to the tourism office and ask about it ans they will give you the different times. ABOUT TALLINN Tallinn, the dynamic capital of Estonia on the north coast, is also the main port on the Gulf of Finland, just a stone's throw from Helsinki. It is the historic centre, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and grouping the upper and lower town, which will attract your first steps in this city, between cobbled streets, ramparts, beautiful Hanseatic residences and aristocratic residences. Tallinn also boasts some remarkable museums, which will provide you with an insight into Estonian history and art. ALEXANDER NEVSKY CATHEDRAL I found thi...

SOME TIPS I couldn't spend a year in Finland without visiting the capital! Moreover, Helsinki is very close to the city of Turku, about two hours by bus, and the prices are very affordable. Also, you can book a free city tour that shows you the most important monuments here's the link :   link here ABOUT HELSINKI Helsinki is the capital and largest city of Finland with 642,045 inhabitants in the municipality and 1,456,619 in Greater Helsinki. The city has the highest immigrant population in the whole country. There are more than 130 nationalities residing in the city of Helsinki. It is spread out on a peninsula surrounded by a large number of islands and is strongly characterized by the presence of water. Helsinki is a merchant port open to the Gulf of Finland. Its inhabitants are called "Helsinkiläiset" in Finnish and "Helsingforsare" in Swedish. HELSINKI LUTHERAN CATHEDRAL With the free walking tour we first visited the Helsinki Lutheran Cath...