Hi!
My name is Xavi, I’m from Spain, Mallorca, 28th of March I came to Finland for do my studies practice here, I needed two months of work in one company or association. With Erasmus program I could come to Jamsankoski, was a difficult decision but nowadays im so proud about that. At the begining was little be hard, because I was alone I didn’t know nothing about the people and country, my first impresion was little bit weird, because Jamsankoski don’t have a lot of people. But my feels were changing with the time, I started to know how is Finnish people and that was one of the best and unexpected things, at the begining they looks like a little bit shy and cold people, but when you have more realtion with them you can see that they are so honest, helpful and lovely people, you can be yourself and they will not judge you.
First week I was working in Jamsa College doing physical educations lessons as a teacher assistent with Nina, Mira, Antti and Matias, I learned a lot about Finnish system education. First Monday Nina picked me up and we did skiing in Himös! Was my first time and was so funny, we laughed a lot!
Second and third week I was in Jämsä Old School, with Antti Nurmi, we did lessons about Crossfit, this week was so great because I met diferents teachers and we lunch all together in a lot of places, conversating and sharing opinions about diferences between Finland and Spain. One of this teachers was Sami, English teacher in Lukio, he invited me to one of his own lessons for introduced myself and explain to Finnish students what im doing in Finland.
Week number four, I was in special course of sports with students from different schools of Jämsä, (Paunu, Lukio, Old School..), in this time I was teacher of my own group of students, I did diferents lessons about football and basketball.
Next week I was one day in gym in Jämsä, was great, but I told to Nina that I wanted comeback to Jämsä College again with their lessons, because I felt more comfortable with students than with customers in gym. In the same week, Thursday Nina pick me up and we did Orientation in Jämsä with her sister and her husband, Juha, was really nice feel running in the forest.
I can remember thee special hikings that Nina show me in Finland, Isojarvi National Park, Oravivuori, Synninlukko and Rasuaniemi, all this places are so wondefull, awesome nature and views, really peacefuls sites!
Week six and seven i was in Swimming Hall with Marko and Timo, first week in Swimming Hall I did different lessons in gym for old people, circuits training and helped to Timo to instruct, also we did lessons in the pool with old people, aquajogging, aquatraining, etc.. Second week in Swimming Hall was with kids, we teached how to learn to float up and we used a lot of diferents games for that, was so good, because we could see how they improve in only one week! Also in this two weeks I was coaching Ilves football club in the evennings, I met Manne and Mika, they translate my trainings in Finnish for small players.
Last week I was in Canoeing Trip in Konnevesi, with other students, was wonderfull, awesome views and beautiful place, our cottige house was amaizing, and all the nature too. We down with kayaks a lot of rapids in a river, was exciting and funny and we were so lucky because we had perfect weather!
After Canoeing trip I was with Nina and all her family in her Cottige place, Antti and Mira as well, was really lovely day, we played Volleyball, did pancackes, we took Sauna and swim in the lake, i felt so confortable and like a Finnish boy. I want to say thanks to Nina, Mira and Antti, and especially to Wendy, all of them make me feel like at home, so confortable, take care of me like my family, I’m so lucky!
In conclusion I’m so proud and happy about my decision to come here to Finland, was one of the best experience of my life i would again for sure! I hope comeback again one day, see you soon FINLAND! Kiitos paljon.
