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Midnight Sun in Finland and Sun time in general!

First at all, the midnight sun is a extremely strange phenomenon this takes place in the North part of Finland and the Artic Circle in summer months. In the Arctic Circle, where Rovaniemi is located (I will travel there in December!😛. The sun officially remains on the horizon for 24 consecutive hours during the summer solstice, on June 21 or 22. However, the midnight sun period in Rovaniemi lasts a whole month, from June 6 to July 7; This is due to the slight inclination of the Earth's axis and the refraction of sunlight. My stay here finished in Christmas but maybe it is possible that I travel here to see this amazing midnight Sun. I was able to speak with Finnish nurses in my hospital and they said to me that you have to live that phenomenon one time in life!  According to the Turist information office of Romanievi seeing the midnight sun in Rovaniemi is not a big effort. Near the city center there are places like Jätkänkynttilä bridge , Ounaskoski beach and the Arctic Ga

Time to negociate your salary!

First at all, there is a big difference from Spain to Finlan. Here in Finland if you are applying for a job, the boss or one that offer the job are going to ask you how you want to receive about your salary. By contrast, in Spain the boss usually doesn´t negociate nothing. If you want to go out to work outside you will have to negotiate your salary and especially in Finland.  Many leave Spain looking for higher wages, but do not know very well how much is paid for the position they want abroad. If you are like me, you will ask for a salary that you find interesting in Spain, because outside they value us more. The thing is that in other countries the taxes are higher and it is always spoken in gross and annual salary, with which in reality you can end up charging less than what you would have done in Spain, if you do not know this information, in your first job. Then, of course, you will want to charge more than in the first, but you will not be sure of what others charge for

Militar Service in Finland

For all Finnish men to do the military is an obligation. The country is divided into the four military provinces of the Finnish army: the south, west, east and north. Each one is responsible for the defense of their own area. These provinces are divided into 22 regional offices that deal with the recruitment for the military. Each year, some 27,000 Finnish men start military service and 66% of them finish it. Women do not have to do it, although they can volunteer and be accepted. Recruitment begins at age 18, although it may be delayed for reasons of study or work up to 28 - not like me, who wanted to recruit me with 8. Service time is six months (most of the recruits), nine ( recruits that require special skills) or twelve (those selected to train as officers). You can also do the military with unarmed training. After military service, Finns remain in the reserve until they are 50 or 60 years old, depending on the rank. They are also susceptible to being called for refresher trai

Finland how do you sleep without window-blinds?

First at all, I were really surprised when I arrived here because I am get use to have blinds in windows to cover the sun. In Spain we have a lot sun so it is really important to have cover in windows so you are able to sleep properly. However, when I arrived here my surprised was huge due to the fact that they don´t use blinds! So in the first days I wasn´t able to sleep well. There are no blinds in Finland. As much there are curtains that block the direct light, but it is not possible to block it all to have a great night of sleep as it happens in Spain. Finnish people in particular, and the Nordic and Scandinavian countries in general, so accustomed to extreme changes in light, this does not affect them. In winter, if you are further north of the Arctic Circle, there is no light during the day, but the Kaamos, the polar night. If you are further south, there are only a few hours of light. In Summer there is either the aforementioned white night under the polar circle or the mid

Salaries in Europe

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Yesterday me and my friends were chatting in my residence after eating about the difference in salaries between Northen Countries specially Finland and our country (Spain). In Spain we have a Welfaire system similar to Finland but our salaries are lower compared to Finland. It is true that our prices are lower too. Here in Finland the salaries are much higher than Spain but the prices are higher too. However, we were discussing that the real problem is that in Spain the different of prices with Finland is not as big as the difference with salaries.  The average salary in Finland is 2300 for men and 2000 for women . Salaries in Finland, according to the study, are the seventh highest in Europe, and have been rising faster than the European average. Women continue to earn less money) and an age range. A good tool to have a basis when negotiating wages in Finland. There is no minimum wage in Finland but extremely small salaries. If we consider the high level of taxes of the country,

40 words to call snow in Finnish

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As Natal ia told us, curiously in Finnish there is no verb to "snow". They call it "sataa lunta": it rains snow. The list of the more than 40 words for Finnish snow that gn0sis puts is the following. Frosty precipitation that is still falling 1.- lumi: snow 2.- pyry: rain of snow 3.- myräkkä: snow storm 4.- rae: hail 5.- räntä: sleet 6.- tuisku: rain of snow with strong wind 7.- laviini: small avalanche Frosty rainfall mixed with water 8.- hyhmä: snow floating on the water 9.- loska: very wet snow; snow, water and mud mixed together 10.- sohjo: sleet; water and snow mixed Frosty precipitation over large bodies of water 11.- ahto: broken ice and then frozen again 12.- ahtauma: drifting ice formation 13.- jää: ice 14.- Kide: crystalline ice (ice crystals) 15.- kohva: gray ice formed on wet snow 16.- paanne: ice in layers (normally the waves collide with the ice and freeze just above) 17.- Rail: pressure pe

Weirdness about alcohol in Finland

Alcohol and Finland The sale of alcohol of more than a certain gravity (a loose beer, of the lowest grades of beer) can only be sold in bars, restaurants, and in specialized stores monopolized by the state, the Alkos. The Alkos, In addition, they are very expensive for what we are used to, they open few hours and close almost all weekend, so when you want to take something at home you have to plan very well and open the portfolio. Many Finns, therefore, are going to spend the day in Tallinn, Estonia, and there they buy everything they can in the port (boxes and boxes) and take them in carts back. The source was so much the Cántaroa, that they had to enforce laws putting limits to this. Some Finns travel to Tallinn for a few hours to buy alcohol in the port and turn. Some of the most interesting Finnish spirits, if you want to try one there, are the kenkenkorva viina (similar to vodka), the liquor of Lakka (the moor of the marshes), the Minttu, the Sima homemade beer, or

why Finnish student wear "overalls" in parties?

One of my first shocks when I arrived Turku is that most of students here were wearing like "workclothing" me and my friends from were really surprised. If you are in party or an student event in Turku, Helsinki or another city in Finland you always are going to see this "overalls". Also is really traditional to wear "vappu" which is a graduation cap for Finnish students. The students and the vappu: how it all started The origin of the garment is not Finnish, but Swedish, and dates from the 70s of the last century. I have read Swedish students wanted to party immediately after their laboratory classes, and therefore did not stop or take off their lab coveralls to go to the bar. Since then, thanks to word of mouth, it became tradition and these overall became the official uniform of the party during the next decade, where he arrived in Finland (to the Espoo Technological University) in 1979 from the hand of a game of Swedish exchange students.

Cultural issues I miss from my country!

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There are a lot of things that I miss from Spain not material things, specially cultural and weather issues as my car , It's Spanish thing to have a car before a flat, and in northern Europe and so used to cycling or efficient public transport, with less traffic on the streets, I miss driving my car. The Sun ,  that Spain is the country of the sun seems a topic, but the Spaniards that we have moved more to the north of Europe know that it is true. And sometimes you miss living with so much clear sky. Tap water ,  because in Spain, although little, we have one of the best tap water in Europe (although it depends on the regions, specially in Málaga where I live. The elevators,  by not building such tall buildings in northern Europe, or being of old construction, most buildings do not have an elevator. And sometimes, it is missed. The bathtubs, those damn but practical shower trays that are on the student floors. It is not that I use them much, but the space for showering i

Functionalism and Structuralism

In this entrance I am explaining what we understand for Functionalism and Structuralism the last theories about Culture and Society . Funtionalism Bronislaw Malinoswski was his ideologist, part of the assumption that the function of the elements of a culture is always to satisfy some basic need such as food, the production of goods, rest, reproduction, physical security, etc. These needs are the origin of the derivatives that must also be met. Thus, the feeding generates cooperation for the crop, and the reproduction originates the norms of sexual approach. Society then creates the appropriate institutions and forms of organization to solve both types of needs, such as the economy or the family. Cultural change occurs precisely when an institution fails to fulfill its purpose and becomes dysfunctional. According to Malinowski, once we have thoroughly explained the social function of an institution, we will have known scientifically everything that is possible to know

Main theories about Culture and Society

There are four main theories about Culture and Society that are: Evolutionism, particularism, diffusionism, Functionalism, Structuralism . Evolutionism In the second half of the 19th century, it was thought that culture developed uniformly. According to this anthropological model, all cultures and societies are governed by the same historical laws that determine their evolution. Edward B. Taylor was his representative. He affirms that every culture evolves from simple to complex and that all societies go through three great stages: savagery, barbarism and civilization. The savagery is a poorly developed system, based on hunting and gathering, barbarism, the invention of agriculture and the use of metals, and civilization is characterized by the appearance of writing. Taylor also said that culture follows a linear and progressive development, but many societies stop at their cultural development and fall behind other peoples; In addition, the cultural features of a stage never

The cultural mediation

It is a Resource for people of diverse culture, that (acts as (bridge,with the purpose of facilitating relationships, encourage communication and promote integration among people or groups belonging to one or several cultures said process is performed by a person, group, in an impartial manner, through a methodology and determined functions Intercultural mediation is a professional resource that intends to contribute to a better communication, relationship e integration between people or groups present in a territory, and belonging to one or several cultures. The cultural mediator don´t have the power of decision, so are the parts who take decisions. Mediator is simply an assistent in the conflict. The principal work of the cultural mediator is to facilitate communication and promote social cohesion. promote the autonomy and social insertion of minorities. The profile of the mediator that best suits the current needs in European countries in this area is that of a person with a cult

Culture shock and migratory grief (2)

Culture adaptation shock has 4 steps: The first one is the honeymoon phase characterised by excitement with new sounds, visions, smells. Shallow participation in the host culture (as a tourist). Intrigue with similarities and differences between the new culture and its culture of origin. He feels euphoric, energetic, fascinated and enthusiastic. It feels like I'm able to handle anything. The second one is Rejection or regression phase:  The physical fatigue of the previous phase is felt, they detect problems in the physical adaptation to the new environment (insomnia, problems with food or water). The subject is exposed to more exchange situations linguistic in which you realize that perhaps your language level he's not as good as he thought, he misses his family and friends and you feel alone and vulnerable. The differences between the two cultures are already evident and the The most frequent result is that the culture of origin comes out winning in the comparison:

Theory of cultural shock and migratory grief

Cultural shock «CULTURE SHOCK»! The term "cultural shock" was coined for the first time by the anthropologist Kalervo Oberg in the 1950s.! He defined cultural shock as a series of emotional reactions precipitated by the anxiety caused by the loss of the symbols that are familiar to us in social exchange and the adjustment we are forced to adapt to. ! This "cultural shock" affects all those who are transplanted into a new culture and, although it can not be totally eliminated, its negative effects can be alleviated. According to Oberg, an individual is not born with a culture but only with the ability to learn and use it. As we grow in a specific cultural environment and learn to develop socially in it, this culture becomes our way of life and a safe, automatic and familiar way of getting what we want. The cultural environment of destination will not be governed by the same patterns as the origin of the transplanted individual, it will be exposed to stimuli that,

Dr L.Purnell and Paulanka model

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This model is based on based on the cultural competence and its process: C ultural Competence  is the process of becoming aware of our culture, and how we communicate that awareness to the rest of the world.  The Purnell Model for Cultural Competence  is a sequence of circles or rings that each contain the development of this awareness of culture and how it continues to expand from the family to the whole world. The first ring of the model  holds the person. The  second ring of the model  holds the family. The  third ring of the model holds the community. The  outermost ring of the model  holds the global community. There are also different subsections inside each ring of the model that account for changes and evolution in the individual's cultural competence that include occupation, religion, education, politics, ethnicity and nationality, and gender. According to the model, all of these different subsections and circles continue on until the individual is culturally compet

Giger y Davidhizar model (nursing and culture)

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The Transcultural Giger and Davidhizar evaluation model was developed in 1988 in response to the need for nursing students in an undergraduate program to assess and care for patients who were culturally diverse. The model includes six cultural phenomena: communication, time, space, social organization, environmental control, and biological variations. These provide a framework for patient assessment and culturally sensitive care can be designed. The Giger and Davidhizar Transcultural model postulates that each individual is culturally unique and should be evaluated according to six cultural phenomena: (A) communication, (b) space, (c) social organization, (d) time, (e) of the environmental control, and (f) the biological variations. Communication . Communication covers the whole world of human interaction and behavior. Communication is the medium through which culture is transmitted and preserved. Both verbal and non-verbal communication are learned in one's own culture. Sp

Cultural Nursing Models Leininger

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They are three principal models in Cultural Nursing. They are leading by Dra Leininger , Dr J.Giger and R. Davidhizar, Dr L.Purnell and Paulanka. The leading model developed by Leininger said that  Leininger defines 'care' as: what makes it possible to assist, sustain, enable and facilitate ways of helping people, based on culture, in a compassionate, respectful and appropriate way to improve their way of life or help them cope illness, death or disability.  In 1970, Leininger elaborated the nascent sun model which represents essential components of his theory, this way is a valuable instrument to study the diverse elements and components of his theory and to make the clinical evaluations that are logical in the culture. The upper half of the circle represents the components of the social structure and the factors of the conception of the world that influence care and health through language and environment.  These factors influence the nursing systems that are in th

Culture and Nursing

Today I am goint to talk about culture and nursing and how culture can influence nursing cares. Over time, nursing has changed, has evolved from being a mere application of specific techniques to open its field of action to other areas, such as prevention and development. The presence of a new type of emigration meant that nursing professionals should attend to and care for an increasingly heterogeneous group of patients. As one of the possible answers to these new needs arises, in the United States of the 50s, the so-called "transcultural nursing" that tries to unite the practice of nursing with the knowledge of anthropology. Transcultural nursing is, in the words of Madeleine Leininger, its founder: a "formal area of study and work focused on care and based on the culture, beliefs of health or illness, values and practices of people , to help them maintain or recover their health, cope with their disabilities or death. " However, this definition does not help

Hofstede Cultural Dimension (2)

Another main topics that Hofstede speaks us consists on long-term orientation against short-term orientation: this dimension describes the time horizon of a society. Cultures with a short-term orientation value traditional methods, spend a considerable amount of time developing relationships and, in general, consider time as a circular dimension. This means that the past and the present are interconnected, and that what can not be done today can be done tomorrow. The opposite to this is long-term orientation, which considers time a linear dimension and looks to the future instead of the present or the past. It is goal-oriented and values the rewards. Indulgence against contention: this dimension measures the capacity of a culture to meet the immediate needs and personal desires of its members. Those that value contention have strict social norms that regulate and discourage the satisfaction of impulses.   Besides, With this theory we are able to explain why people from different

Hofstede´s Cultural Dimensions (1)

Firstly, it is a really interesting theory due to the fact that it helps a lot to understand the society system also, it helps people from different countries to q uestion the cultural organization of your country with respect to other countries too, this theory can be useful to help societies in the area of ​​fundamental and economic rights. The model consist in 5 dimesions: power distance index, individualism against colectivism, masculism and feminism, Uncertainty Avoidance Index, long time orientation. Hofstede has compiled most of its data on world cultural values through studies conducted by IBM, a US-based technology and consulting firm. UU Next, he has proposed a scoring system that uses a scale of 1 to 120.  I ndex of distance from power : according to Hofstede, "power distance refers to the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions (such as the family) accept and expect power to be distributed unequally." This dimension does

Lewis Model Dimesion of Behaviour (2)

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This model can help to the bussiness to find the suitable profile for the employees overall in this global counntries that countries have presence in several countries at the same time overall in this globalized world in which companies simultaneously have prestige in several countries and seek to expand the market and adapt to the needs of their customers around the world. For this, they need to integrate the cultural needs of both clients and workers in order to offer the product that best suits their characteristics. This can be used even within any company, even if it is a small business that presents workers of different nationalities to see their cultural affinities and improve the work environment. or even within a neighborhood, especially now with the problem of immigrants and their integration into a hostile environment, this can be applied in culturally diverse areas and know affinities between countries of origin of immigrants and help cultural integration.

Lewis Model Dimesion of Behaviour (1)

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The Lewis Model explain us the Dimension of the Behaviour, so what is it? It is the model that are world-wide recognized.  The globalisation of world business in the last 5 decades has heralded in an era when cultural differences have become vitally important to leaders, managers and executives in the world’s international and multinational companies.  This model said that we are able to divide people in 3 categories based on behaviour, not on nationality or religion that we were used to. He divide in  Linear-active, Multi-active  and  Reactive . The reactive group we can say that is located in most countries of Asia, because they usually listen most of the time, they never confronts also they often conceals their feelings being polite and indirect. In the opposite side we have the multi-active countries are located in South of Europe, South Africa and Arabian countries, these countries are in the same group due to the fact the share the same patrons in behaviour as they are really

Finnish Flag!

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🌲⛄ Firstly, one issue that suprises me a lot in Finland is his flag. I really love the Finnish flag and it is interesting because the colours of my football team in Malaga are the same blue and white and I don´t know why this colours are the same in Finland flag! So I investigated and after a while I learn about the story of the Finnish Flag. The Finnish flag with “the blue of our lakes and the white snow of our winters”, as a poet described these symbolic colours in 1870, was made official in a law enacted on May 29, 1918, less than six months after Finland had achieved independence.  "The state flag is either rectangular or three-pointed. The coat of arms of Finland is inset in the square formed by the intersecting arms of the cross. The square has a yellow border, the width of which is one-fortieth of the width of the cross. State departments and establishments fly the rectangular state flag. The Defence Forces use the three-pointed version of the flag, which is one uni

First one in happiness?

First at all, everyone has listened any time that Nordic countries at the happiest countries in the world, specially Finland. How is this possible? This ranking is developed by the UN. This report is based in six issues that are key for  wellbeing. They are income, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust and generosity, too, another one as corruption and so one. The first three countries are Finland, Norway and Denmark. An example of this is that Finland only have 6% of population is living without work. This are the lowest stadistics of European Union.  Also the social support is huge in Finland they pay big taxes but they receive all kind of free services like Education, health supporting for children etc.  Besides, another point is the lack of corruption in Nordic countries. For example, Finland is the country in the world with less corruption and is extremately strange to see and event of this type. Finally, in my opinion the most interesting issue compare