🅕 / Ⓕ Exchange_Note 芬蘭交換期心得
2022.08.18 — 2023.01.10 Finland, Nordic, Europe
為期不到半年的交換學生，就好像做了一場大夢，穿越了千里之外的數個國度，體驗了最為真實的異國洗禮。直至夢醒時分，依然能夠感受到這段時間帶來的震撼！
五個月以來累積好多經驗和感受，那種衝擊和體驗真的很難用三言兩語來形容。不過神奇的是，即便天天都很充實與忙碌，卻不會感到特別的疲勞和心累。而正因如此，感覺每一天、每一個月都過得十分紮實，生活保持在相當快速的節奏。
開始述說芬蘭的種種之前，最想說的是：「真的拓展很不一樣的視野！」，這句話也能夠貫穿所有感受。過去常常會聽到要開開眼界或什麼的，直到有天能夠自己體會的時候，才明白那是什麼感覺，也才知道開闊的眼界多麽重要、多麽有用。或許交換期只有短短半年，但在這樣的狀態下，我有了更為集中的目標與力量。且就某些方面來說，也在心中埋下了更多種子，或許未來可以嘗試納入更廣泛的可能性。
🅕 - Lentoaesma｜Airport
Medium ver.
八月中旬的這天，經過十幾個小時的飛行之後，踏上芬蘭這塊土地。站在機場出口的第一個想法竟然是：我怎麼就這麼入境了？！怎麼沒過海關？！😱然後再看著被摔爛的托運行李，從沒想過這一切的開場白竟是如此的慌亂！然而考驗才剛開始！語言、生活基本需求、文化衝擊，這三者形成了初到芬蘭時的挫折。
儘管芬蘭人的英文都超級好的，不過芬蘭語與瑞典語畢竟作為當地官方語言，因此大部分眼前所見、耳朵所聽到的都是如同火星文一般的咒語。再加上自己的英文也不是到非常好，所以在初期的日子裡，總是想著如何避免與他人進行語言上的交流。至於文字的部分，起碼可以用Google翻譯拍一下…但還是常常遇到國情不同造成的困難，比如說：淡奶？！類似當地才會用到的詞彙等等的。原先張羅生活基本所需對我來說是相當得心應手的事情吧？！然而在生活環境與語言迥異之下，連一點點的小事情都能遇到問題，像是洗衣機的操作吧！儘管只是小小的挫折，但在離鄉背井的環境之下，都能匯集成不小的心理壓力。
飲食文化、搭車與車票文化、學習文化……各種文化衝擊不斷來襲，形成一種與外界的脫離感。也就是當整體生活環境與個人生活模式有著極大差異時，就好像處在兩個不同的空間，不知道自己應該待在哪一個？總之，以機場為原點，開啟了這一連串不斷蛻變的歷程。即使在往後的數月中，入境與出境萬塔機場數次，依然時常回想第一次站在這發生的那些故事，以及後來的那些日子是如何度過與變化。
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As an exchange student for less than six months, it was as if I had a big dream, traveling thousands of miles to several countries and experiencing the most realistic baptism in a foreign country. When I wake up, I can still feel the shock of this period of time!
It is hard to describe the impact and feelings that I have accumulated over the past five months. But the amazing thing is that even though every day is very full and busy, I don’t feel particularly tired and exhausted. And because of this, I feel that every day and every month is very solid and my life is kept at a very fast pace.
Before I start to talk about Finland, the most important thing I want to say is: “I really expanded my horizon quite differently! I think this phrase can be used to describe all my feelings. In the past, I often heard that we need to open our horizons or something, but it was only when I could experience it myself one day that I realized what it was like and how important and useful an open horizon is. The exchange period was only six months, but in this state, I had a more focused goal and strength. And in some ways, more seeds have been planted in my mind that I may try to incorporate into a wider range of possibilities in the future.
On this day in mid-August, after a 15-hour flight, I stepped on the land of Finland. The first thing I thought when I stood at the exit of the airport was: How did I get into the country like this? How come I didn’t go through customs? 😱 And then I looked at the broken checked luggage, I never thought that the beginning of all this would be so panic! But the test has just begun! Language, basic needs, and culture shock all combine to create a frustrating experience when first arriving in Finland.
Even though Finnish people’s English is excellent, Finnish and Swedish are the official languages in Finland, so most of what I saw and heard was like Martian curse words. In addition, my English is not very good, so in the early days, I always thought about how to avoid communicating with others in the language. As for the text part, at least you can use Google Translate to take a shot… But still, I often encountered difficulties caused by the difference in national conditions, such as: light milk? Words that are only used locally. I used to be able to organize the basic necessities of life quite easily, right? However, with the different living environment and language, I had problems with even the smallest things, like operating the washing machine! Even though it’s just a small frustration, it can cause a lot of psychological stress when you are away from home.
Food culture, transportation and ticket culture, learning culture …… Various cultural influences are constantly coming, creating a sense of disconnection from the outside world. In other words, when the overall living environment is very different from one’s own life style, it is like being in two different spaces and not knowing which one you should stay in. All in all, the airport was the starting point for this series of continuous evolution. Even after entering and leaving Vantaa Airport several times in the months that followed, I still think back to the stories that happened the first time I stood here, and how those days afterwards were lived and changed.