MY CULTURAL

AWARENESS
JOURNEY
INTERCULTURAL AWARENESS

NAME: DERRICK APONG

STUDENT NUMBER: 2312227
INTRODUCTION

As an international student from Cameroon, my exploration of Finnish culture has been an enlightening and
transformative experience, I just love how well the culture of Finland is so diverse, unique, and captivating all
at the same time. I have never experienced anything like that before. Before I got to Finland, I had no idea of
its culture and its society but now I can say it has exposed me to a society deeply rooted in tradition.
Finland is a country that has fascinated me with its unique culture, language, history, values, customs,
traditions, and people. Since I have had the opportunity to study in Finland for the past 1 month it has been
one of the most enriching and rewarding experiences of my life. In this essay, I will reflect on how my cultural
awareness journey in Finland influenced my personal and professional development, my worldview, my
attitudes, my beliefs, and my behaviors.
My reflective essay aims to dive into the multifaceted aspects of my journey through the various Finnish
cultural activities I had the opportunity to do since I got to Finland.

My First Snowfall

I had never seen snow before. I had only seen movies and pictures of how beautiful and magical it was. I
had always wanted to experience it for myself, but I lived in a tropical country where it never snowed. SO,
when I got the opportunity to study in Finland I was overjoyed and hoped that I would finally get to see snow
and feel it in my hands. I arrived in Finland in late October when the winter was just beginning. The weather
was cold and gray, but no sign of snow yet. I was a little disappointed, but I tried to enjoy the other aspects
of the country. Into some days of early November, it started snowing but it wasn’t that much though I was still
excited to see it and then into late November one morning, I woke up to a surprise. I looked out of the
window, and everything was covered with snow. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I then got dressed and went
outside. The snowflakes were falling gently from the sky, like feathers. They landed on my hair, face, and my
clothes. They felt cold and wet but also soft and fluffy. I reached out my hand and caught some snowflakes
as they melted in my palm, leaving a trace of moisture. I smiled and felt like a child.

I then had the opportunity to build a snowman which didn’t look that good but then it was my first time, and I
also made a snow angel. The snow was beautiful and bright, and I was happy and grateful for the
experience. And I got to know that snow was more than just frozen water, but it was a gift of nature, a source
of joy, and a symbol of hope and made me appreciate the beauty and diversity of the world.
LEARNING THE FINNISH LANGUAGE

One of the aspects of my cultural journey that I learned a lot from was the Finnish language. Finnish is a
Finno-Ugric language that is very different from English which is my native language from back home and
other Indo-European languages. It has a complex grammar, a rich vocabulary, and a distinctive sound
system. Learning Finnish has been challenging, but also rewarding, as it helped me to communicate with
other Finns, understand their culture, and appreciate their literature and music. I am still learning Finnish
through various methods, such as taking classes, reading books, watching movies, listening to podcasts,
and practicing with native speakers but I have learned some Finnish slang, idioms, and proverbs, which
added some humor and color to my conversations. Although learning Finnish hasn’t been easy for me, it has
not only improved my language skills, but also my problem-solving, and creativity skills.

EXPERIENCE WITH FINNISH SOCIETY

The third aspect of my cultural journey that I learned a lot from was the Finnish people. Finnish people are
known for being friendly, polite, helpful, and hospitable. They are also known for being independent, hard-
working, punctual, and reliable. I have come to be acquainted with many Finnish people since I arrived in
Finland, such as my classmates, my teachers, my friends and some Finns I met at the marketplace. I
learned that Finnish people are very proud of their country, their culture, and their achievements. I also
learned that Finnish people are very open-minded, tolerant, and respectful of other cultures and opinions.
Interacting with Finnish people not only improved my social skills, but also influenced my attitudes, beliefs,
and behaviors.
EXPERIENCE WITH FINNISH CUISINE

My first experience with Finnish Cuisine was a delightful introduction to the unique flavors and traditions of
this Nordic country. I was excited to explore the food scene in Lappeenranta, which offers innovative and
diverse culinary offerings. One of the highlights of my cultural experience was trying some traditional Finnish
dishes such as salmon soup and Karelian pasties which were very delightful. And another food item that
caught my attention was the famous rye bread, known as “ruisleipä”. This dark dense bread is a staple in
Finnish households, and it’s said to have its roots in the country’s agricultural history. As I took my first bite
of ruisleipä, I was immediately struck by its hearty and earthly flavors. But compared to the traditional dishes
of my culture in Cameroon, our meals tend to be more spicy than Finnish cuisine nonetheless Finnish
cuisine has a unique torch to Finnish culture.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, my cultural awareness journey in Finland was a valuable and transformative experience that
had a positive impact on my personal and professional development, my worldview, my attitudes, my beliefs,
and my behaviors. I learned a lot from the Finnish language, culture, and people, and I gained many skills,
insights, and lessons that I can apply to my future endeavors. I am very grateful to have had a wonderful
experience in Finland, and I hope to experience more as I continue my cultural journey.