Blogs

The Associations for the Blind in China

    Today, we are going to know more about the associations for the blind in China. Beijing, the capital of China; and Shanghai, the biggest business city of China, are the cases to study.
    According the website of Baidu ( the replacement for Google in China), the study of WHO (World Health Organization) from the director of the prevention for the blind and deaf, Dr. Thylefore, suggests there are around 5 million blind people in China (imagine the whole population in Finland is blind…), which is the biggest group in the world and the number goes higher by 450,000 people per year. If the situation continues without any solutions, the number would be fourfold- 20 million visually impaired. On the website of WHO, it clearly points out that most of the blind are from developing countries. As we can see, while the booming economy starts, China has lots of issues to deal with; lots of people in need to take care of.
    I am here to introduce you a school in Beijing and an association in Shanghai. Meanwhile, I can also compare the service in Taiwan with China. The first thing I notice is that both websites have the English version for foreigners. It would make things a lot easier to interact with the resources overseas.
    In Beijing, there is the special school for the blind- Beijing School for the Blind, the only educational institution for the blind. It was founded in 1874. It is not only the earliest special educational school in China but also the unique special educational school for the visually impaired in Beijing .It has now developed into a comprehensive school for visually impaired students ,which includes kindergarten for kids before, special-needs class ,primary and secondary schools , high school section (including senior high, intermediate vocational school for acupuncture and massage and piano tuning vocational high school) and teachers’ training program.
    The school also undertakes the responsibility of guiding those visually impaired children reading in normal schools, information counseling and early intervention for the visually impaired children from 0 to 3.
    Over the years, the school has highlighted the idea of "scientific development" "people-oriented" and "multiple intelligences". The school art troupe and sports teams have won many awards in international and domestic competitions .It is one of the earliest schools that carry out the research project of computer-aided teaching .Thus we build a bridge for the visually impaired students to step into the information society by using modern technology. In 2008, the massage teaching and research group of our school was honored as Innovative intermediate vocational school team in Beijing. The teachers and students of our vocational department have won a number of prizes in many domestic massage competitions. What’s more, the profession of piano tuning is unique and has a good reputation in China, having trained a great many influential piano tuners that are warmly welcomed by the community. Now the new Beijing School for the Blind is developing to have fine education facilities, first-class teaching quality, and high reputation both at home and abroad. Now the new Beijing school for the blind is developing towards the goal of Beijing first, China best, world advanced.
    The vocational education is worthy to know more if you are interested (http://mrxx.bjedu.gov.cn/EVocational.asp). The photo below is the 6th contest of massage for the blind. The student from Beijing School for the Blind had the excellent performance. The way to contact the school is via e-mail: yangshifeng504@163.com; or by phone call: surport: 010-88464930＆Tel: 010-88461146.The School Address : Beijing School For The Blind ,NO.11 Fuwai wuluju,Haidian District, Beijing, China.

    Through their own introduction, I can see the difference. First, Beijing School for the Blind integrates early intervention, computer science, piano tuning training, massage training and Chinese acupuncture training with their lesson planning. The trainings for future jobs are more choices for the blind. Further, on the website, I can read lots of details for the vocational education but not in the Taipei school for the blind. It seems that the information at the Taipei school is not transparent enough.
    Next, let’s talk about the association for the blind in Shanghai. Originally, the association for the blind was founded in Beijing in 1953, and then in 1961, the branch in Shanghai was built up. The association is well-organized with professors of Shanghai Music College supervised.
    Again, I see more information and resources on the website- the English version, the national library   for the blind, the electronic products for the blind. Allow me to cut to the chase to mention the electronic products. There are audio labels, e-book for the blind and two specialized cell phones.
The audio labels are the special labels to audibly inform the blind what the things are, such as the heater that they should not touch or the medicine they should take every day. The product is from the company called AMONE Company and charged as 150 RMB (19 euros).
愛漫科技 AMONE （北京）有限公司
聯繫人：張彥輝 先生 (Mr. Yan-hui Zhang)
電話 (phone)： 010-82897271-606
手機(mobile)：18801012131
傳真(fax)：010-82439285-607
郵箱 (e-mail)：18801012131@139.com
QQ (the Chinese version of MSN)：530562053
    The audio books work as the moving library. By downloading the file, you can listen to books and manage your personal agenda. There are more products from the Guangzhou Braun Electronics Ltd., especially for the blind and deaf. The info to contact the company is as below:
廣州博朗電子產品有限公司(Guangzhou Braun Electronics Ltd.)
公司地址：中國廣東省 (Guangdong Province, China)廣州市天河區車陂路黃洲工
公司網址 (website)： http://www.eview-ebook.com/enindex.asp
聯繫電話 ( phone )：0086-020-38602937or 13482759849
    There are two cell phones served for the blind- GA81 and E2266. Basically, they have unique functions like they can “speak” to the users. The first one is installed with GPS to help the blind find places, also with the special typing function, the blind can use social media like QQ (the Chinese “MSN”) to contact people. 

    And for the second one, it has the SOS function for the blind to call out for help. The typing is also for the blind. Speaking of it, there is a big program for the blind in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. I just read an article to introduce the national library for the blind. It says that although all can speak Mandarin Chinese in these three places, the “written languages” are all different from one another! Therefore, the keyboard to type and the written books cannot be shared. If you are interested to open the market in these three countries for the blind, it is the thing you should keep in mind- the language barrier.
    The E2266 phone is from TongQiMing Technology Development Ltd., and here is the info to make contact with them.
北京瞳啟明科技發展有限公司（ TongQiMing Technology Development Ltd. ）
公司地址(address)：北京市海淀區復興路 83 號
電話(phone)：0086-10-5160 6478
傳真(fax)：0086-10-5160 6478
E-mail：andrew.wei@tongqiming.com

    Again, hope the information I share helps you know the service for the blind better!

The Associations for the visually Impaired in Taiwan

    Back to 1891, a foreign priest (甘為霖as the Chinese name) founded the first school for the visually impaired in Tainan, the previous capital like Turku in Finland , where locates in the Southern Taiwan. To date, in Taiwan we have more associations for the blind throughout. Let’s take Taipei, the capital, for instance, today I would like to introduce what kind of associations for the blind in Taiwan.
I would break this topic down on three perspectives- the education, career, and entertainment.
For the education, there is The School for the Visually Impaired in New Taipei.
    It is founded for the deaf and blind since 1917, by the Japanese called木村謹吾. Afterwards, the system for the special education turned more sophisticated, so the school for the deaf and blind was separated.
    In 2000, The School for the Visually Impaired developed the whole education system for the blind. From the kindergarten to the senior high school or the vocational school, the visually impaired schoolchildren can stay in the same school for 15 years long. The school has lots of social resources like audio books for the children from Taipei Resource Center for the Visual Impairment, located in the school itself.
    Trough the gallery on the website, I saw that the blind schoolchildren are not just confined to the indoor activities. They were taken to the zoo in Taipei and the traditional culture center in Yilan. Even though they cannot see the world with eyes, they “feel” it by all means. The more social contact they have, the easier they can develop their career after graduation.
    Unfortunately, all the associations I searched for the blind tend not have the English version of official websites. It was shocking to me since lots of social associations were founded by Westerners or Japanese. Although we try to localize our own service, we need to open ourselves to the whole world. Here is the e-mail and the phone number of The School for the Visually Impaired. tmsb@tp.edu.tw (+886228740670)
    For the career, there is the association of the advancement welfare for the blind in Taipei since 1957. As I saw, the association is good at connecting social resources. They maintain relationships with plenty of companies such as中華電信、台灣大哥大、遠傳電信、帝盟科技、富晶電子、和碩聯合科技、友達光電、南亞科技、信義房屋、森森百貨、耕莘醫院及新北市政府 and so on. Most of them are technology companies. The association sends their professional blind masseurs to serve these clients and also get some support from them.

    Speaking of the massage, every blind masseurs serve with the license. If you are craving for some self-indulgence, you can make a reservation online or by phone call. The service will be home delivery, which means they will drive theses blind masseurs to your places to massage you. From Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 10 pm in New Taipei Area, this service is right for everyone. Also, the price is reasonable, 800 NTD for one hour, about 20 euros and you can have the whole-body or feet massage.
Moreover, everyone deserves more choices. The association works on more possibilities for the blind. Now, they have a program of “telephone marketing (電話行銷)” for them. In other words, the blind are able to get the training and make sale business via phone calls. The products they sell are newspapers, magazines and even insurance. The blind members are empowered by selling products on their own. Now, the association is looking for more products for them to promote.
    The e-mail of the association is jie0029@pchome.com.tw and the phone number is +886-22964-8122.
    Last but not least, the entertainment is important for everyone. There is an interesting association for the blind to play BASEBALL, the most popular sport in Taiwan, called Taiwan Beep Baseball Association, that is founded since 1996. It shares the faith that sports should be played by EVERYONE. In 2009, the Taiwan team won the second place of the world game for the blind . In 2010, they were invited to play with many foreign teams. The info to contact them is :

球員 players／ 召集人：張壬壤 +886915-848-999
志工 volunteers／聯絡人：張宇萱 +886955-514-188
Email：taiwanbba@gmail.com

    They maintain a blogger (http://taiwanbba.blogspot.fi/) to interact with the society. In many photos, I saw some foreigners were playing baseball with the Taiwanese members. Since they already have some channels to reach out, it would be a good business opportunity for someone who is interested.
    Hope this introduction helps!

    On 25th of June, we were honored to interview Mr. Ilkka Pirttimaa, who has developed application programs of cell phones in Apple for three and half years, one of the most popular brands in the world nowadays. 

    I must say that Mr. Ilkka Pirttimaa was such a passionate and patient interviewer through the whole 70-minute interview with us. We talked the application he has been working on for the blind. He shared his profession, answered our questions, and discussed with us. Interestingly, a person who does not have much knowledge of technology like me could be immersed into the exciting technology world by Mr. Pirttimaa’s explanation. In my opinion, that is what experts should be good at- trying to break down possible barriers to communicate with outsiders. Then everyone can easily be on the same page.
    On the website of WHO (World Health Organization), it points out the key fact that so far 285 million people are visually impaired worldwide: 39 million are blind and 246 have low vision. It is a huge group that Apple pays attention to and they are working on the advanced app for them. Speaking of the application for the blind, Mr. Pirttimaa said that he has started it from scratch even sometimes without knowing how to do. He groped about all the information he needed, such as how the blind really uses cell phones, what places they may search the most, what kind of service they need, how to make the technology easier for the blind and so on. Hence, he turned to the blind, professors, other experts in Finland and associations even in Australia and the U.S.A. for different advice. Through his network of career, the blind’s whole new world shall be quickly opened.
    Currently, over 20 million people uses service called foursquare that can be used with any smartphone. With it, you can share your experiences, discover what’s nearby and find what you’re craving. There is a website of Foursquare Labs where you can download it (https://foursquare.com/about/new).
    The app for the blind people, blindsquare, is specially designed, that works as simple as possible. Since the current smart phones are not suitable for them (they cannot use the phones by touching the screens), the blind can use the app just through voice. Mr. Pirttimaa demonstrated how it works to us on Skype. By selecting a keyword, let's say "restaurant," the phone started to give the direction of restaurants and the instruction how to get there in details like the addresses, the current locations, the transportation you can get. Without the ability to see, the blind can basically get wherever they want, of course, a guide dog or person is required due to the safety.
    On the other hand, Mr. Pirttimaa encounters the language barriers and culture barriers. For languages, there are Spanish, Italian, English, Dutch, Norwegian version. At moment, because of the giant market in Asia, he needs the ability for Japanese and Chinese languages to develop 200 basic sentences. Mr. Ilkka Pirttimaa was especially concerned about the market in China because in China, where they do not use the Foursquare app. That is, they should figure out a way to connect the alternative service. For culture barriers, the questions would be like how to deal with the payment in foreign countries? Or how to avoid to touch the local people’s taboo? There are so many unsolved questions to answer and problems to solve. Mr. Pirttimaa has been aware of it and made a list to take action step by step. We later got a to-do-list from him and saw how well-organized he is toward this app project.
“These features are brought into product in last 3 weeks, working few hours/day:
NEW FEATURE: Cross street tracking on bus
NEW FEATURE: Auto-blanking of screen can be disabled
NEW FEATURE: Italian language added
NEW FEATURE: Bouncing table starts WhereAmI query (for non-VoiceOver users)
NEW FEATURE: Rating added
NEW FEATURE: "Look around" reports also nearest crossing in each direction
NEW FEATURE: When editing My places, you can reset location
NEW FEATURE: You can start/stop tracking a place from Own places
NEW FEATURE: In settings you can control how shake gesture is used
CHANGE: Compass renamed as "Look around"
CHANGE: Settings-button renamed as "Other"
FIX: Poor GPS or network connectivity announcements doesn't cut out speaking but wait for it's turn
FIX: Changing radius with VoiceOver has smaller resolution
NEW FEATURE: 30 recent places mentioned can be found from Tools/Recent Places, latest first
NEW FEATURE: FourSquare checkin stops tracking
NEW FEATURE: Faster way to stop tracking (Tools / Stop Tracking)
NEW FEATURE: New page for FourSquare check in + starting/stopping tracking. Includes address, twitter, link to menu, distance, direction and phone number
NEW FEATURE: If place published phone number in 4sq, you can make a phone call
NEW FEATURE: If place published twitter account in 4sq, you can open their feed
NEW FEATURE: If place published menu in 4sq, you can take a look at it
NEW FEATURE: Shouting is enabled when doing foursquare check in
NEW FEATURE: Distance Unit can be changed (default is read from iOS settings)
NEW FEATURE: Possibility to set more exact location to FourSquare venues. Corrected locations are saved to iCloud, so they affect to all your devices.
CHANGE: When doing check in with shake gesture, places with corrected location are prioritized
FIX: Rounding error fixed with imperial distances
FIX: Street number is announced when reporting your address
FIX: italian translation typos fixed”

    Besides the barriers, Mr. Pirttimaa was asked the price of the app. The price for the app is not high- US 15 dollars (12 euros). Hopefully, Mr. Ilkka Pirttimaa would like to keep the price higher (like US 30 dollars = 24 euros) to maintain the quality. But first of all, the app should be tested by the customers in real markets, he suggested.
    Helge later introduced the Chinese professor whom we just interviewed last week- Tao, Minling (陶密霖), who is working on the project to help the people who have mental issues or elderly for the independent home care service. Helge acclaimed that since both Mr. Pirttimaa and Professor Tao are helping the people with special needs, it would be a good idea if they can interact with each other. I saw that by doing the interview, we could build our network with all different kind of experts, and also help them connect each other. It is exactly the advantage of the social media.
    Last, it occurred to Helge that the app could also be applied to foreign tourists. Since as a foreign tourist, everyone is not that different from the people who cannot see- we could be the same lost. In that case, I surely will buy it for my own travel purpose. After all, a great technology shall benefit everyone in the world. We gratefully thank Mr. Pirttimaa for the interview and wish him all the best for the app.

 Note: for the audio file of the interview, please go to the link:
http://visualradio.posterous.com/ilkka-chloe-and-helge-public

    On 20 of June, it was our pleasure to interview Mr. Heikki Hallantie about the idea of modeling, social media ,culture and the concept of happiness.
Mr. Heikki Hallantie had served Aalto University for ten years and now retired. He is good at building the bridges in the social media. Honorably, he is called as “ The Father of Sometu” and “The Conductor of Orchestra.” Mr. Heikki agreed with the importance of social media. The issue we should pay attention to is that there is no single one to satisfy all of needs. The social media is widespread and too many so that it turns out no single person can make decisions- it takes groups to do so.
When it comes to modeling, Mr. Heikki had so much to share. He mentioned about a “three-dimension hat” to analyze the connection between human beings’ mind and activities. Since humans’ mind is complex and difficult ( like someone focuses more on feelings but some others do not ), when we solve problems, we need modeling to make things smaller and take action to deal with it step by step. In this way, we are allowed to concentrate on one thing at one time. There is a model of 5T.

Tavoite = Destination, target

Tunne = Desire, feeling

Tieto = Data, knowledge

Tahto = Determination, dedication

Toiminta = Do-it, execution, action

    Via this model, we can definite tasks one by one and get to solve problems. I also found a video about this 5T video (http://vimeo.com/20203585)

    Mr. Heikki Hallantie could not emphasize the importance of modeling enough. He explained that modeling has something to do with working memory, which means the memory skill to work on human mind and let us take action spontaneously. That is exactly why we need modeling to guide us how to do. Modeling is to reach people and reduce problems.
When being asked about how Finns compete, Mr. Heikki replied that let’s focus on people instead of nations. Nations are too complicated and political. If we focus on individual human resources, we can just focus on skills. Then, we three discussed about the education in Finland. The Finnish free education is highly admired in Taiwan, I shared, and there are more and more Chinese and Taiwanese students coming to experience , so it must be one advantage for Finns to compete. Mr. Heikki pointed out that education cannot change cultures easily. We have to understand what is receiving. I immediately agreed with him due to my own experience- two-year of American education did not change my culture but reinforce the meaning of my own Taiwanese culture background.
Next, we talked about technology. Mr. Heikki suggested the meaning of technology is to make people understand each other better. In order to build a long-term relationship, we should work on people-to-people contact instead of institutions. I could see that Mr. Heikki is the one who tries to keep the harmony and balance between technology and people.
    Last, I got to know that Mr. Heikki studied about the happiness. He shared with us that happiness is not just a state of mind, so people should practice it. Since how to practice it was too big to discuss this time, it was quite a pity to let the question stay in our mind. Hope we will have another opportunity to talk more about the idea of happiness. Thank Mr. Heikki Hallantie! Kiitos!

*Note:
1. the audio file about our interview:
http://visualradio.posterous.com/heikki-chloe-and-helge
2.there are some social media about Mr. Heikki Hallantie
http://tinyurl.com/7twqbvm (the profile from LinkedIn)
http://www.facebook.com/hhallantie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hek1n0P36tc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuZxOTAw7HQ

     Interview with Professor Linmi Tao

    Chinese have a saying-高瞻遠矚,which means people should see higher and see farer. The research Professor Tao has been doing is a great example of it.
    Today, it is our pleasure to have the interview with Professor Linmi Tao (陶霖密) from Beijing about the research to improve the mental health and home care for elderly. As we know, China owns more than one billion population; therefore, before the interview, I assumed that most of care for people in need is done by actual the care givers. Professor Tao pointed out that due to the one-child policy, the structure of population is twisted. That is, the population ages very quickly- way to quickly that they should rely on the technology to fill the gap. With the advanced technology, they can connect the elderly with the service of medical care at lower cost.
    During the interview, we got to know that Professor Tao has been actively interacted with Europe. He shared with us that he has an European project with plenty of Europeans, some are from Finland, he emphasized. Moreover, he also mentioned that Oulu University here even offers him a job as a professor. When I googled about Professor Tao, who is the expert of biology, biophysics, computer theories and engineering ,I later found more information about more communication he has had with Europe- in the end of 2000, he participated a project with the E.U, known as “Augmented Reality for Remotely Operated Vehicle for underwater survey and inspection”; in 2001, he was hired as an assistant professor in Verona University of Italy. Through his profession, he really opens the whole world to himself and hence spreads the meaning of the technology to the people- that is, to make life easier.
    Nevertheless, some people stick to the way they are used to live. It may be difficult to persuade them to change. For example, the research for mental health also can be applied to help the elderly in China. With some sensors in kitchens, we can clearly see when they cook or heat water, so that easily track if the elderly function well in their daily lives. Some argue that the technology for home care would violate their privacy. How to keep a balance between the technology and privacy is the universal issue that we all should be aware of.
    Promisingly, he is positive about the research he has been working on. With the cooperation with some big companies, such as IBM,INTEL,SIEMENS, he knows well how to connect himself with all the resources he needs. The capital, human resources and great ideas are the “ingredients.” Now all he needs is more time to wait for the fruits of the research. We are looking forward to it.

Ps. The audio file about our interview is the link as below:
http://helgekeitel.posterous.com/professor-linmi-tao-bejing-university

Interview with Pauliina Mäkelä

    If someone generalizes all Finns as silent and shy people, I would suggest him/her do not jump to the conclusion and meet Pauliina Mäkelä, an entrepreneur, a social media trainer, an event organizer and simply just an enthusiastic sharer!
    The whole 50-minute interview was inspirational with her delightful tone. She was such a giver to share her experience about social media on different perspectives. By sharing her profile, articles on Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook, Kinda, Sometu, Slideshare these websites, I was amazed how active she is to connect the world through the social media. At that time, it occurred to me about what I studied about Finland on the geography textbook- “Due to the cold climate, sparse population and huge land, Finns are good at the technology to connect people, such as mobile phones.” From mobile phones to social media, it only takes such a short time for the users around the world to accept.
    Mrs. Mäkelä takes advantage of the trend. After working in Nokia as a network organizer, she knew what she is good at. Afterwards, she starts to run her own business. She loves learning, sharing, connecting with people and creating events. From all the links she shared during the interview, I clearly saw that she is working and enjoying her work with all her heart and soul.
    Among thousands of millions social media users, the key point to attract people’s attention is, according to Mrs. Mäkelä, a good photo of yourself. Make people interested in you and follow what you share. From her lovely and creative profile photos, she seems like a super star in the social media and people do enjoy her very much.
    Later, she shared the do’s and dont’s in the matter of social media. Be kind, do listen and discuss, get a good skill to make use of social media, create your own boundary, act well on the Internet, think twice before sharing, do share things whenever is possible. On the other hand, there is something Finns need to break it down- the shy characteristic. She personally believes that a personality matters a lot for communication. People should talk about things instead of waiting up for the “right” moment. There is no such a moment, so just speak up and be more motivated.
Last but not least, Mrs. Mäkelä and I shared about our own cultures- Finland and Taiwan. We know each other “exists” on the global business platform, but lack a better understanding about each other. The common reason may be because of the lack of promotion or easy access. For example, in Taiwan, Japan and some another Asian countries, the characters of Moomin are popular, but only few people know it is originally from Finland. Mrs. Mäkelä agreed and shared the link with us (http://www.moomin.com/). As I looked it up and I realized that even the official website is in three languages- Finnish, Swedish and English, there are not Asian languages to make things easier for Asian audience/readers. The language barrier has become one of obstacles between these two different cultures.
    As we can see, a better and more friendly communication channel is urgently needed for the global business world. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to talk with Mrs. Mäkelä and learn from her. 非常(very much) kiitos!

    Yesterday Nokia laid off 3,7000 employees in Finland and 100,000 globally. As the slogan says, ironically, they are connecting people but also firing people... Recently the sale of HTC smart phones has been dropping down by approximately 30%. As far as we know, Nokia was the biggest cell phone company in the world, occupying more than 25% of the cell phone market. On the other hand, HTC is the company that invents the very first smart phone in the world. In that case, Finland and Taiwan both have advantages for the global competition. Then what exactly happened? Why both us lost the technology battle with Apple and Google?
    My Finnish colleague suggests that Nokia overlooks the importance of the Internet and a decent software, so it led to the current situation. As for HTC, I would say HTC smart phones did not gain the first comer advantage and has not created an extract value for their products. Step by step, HTC cell phones are just “cheaper” alternatives for i-phones. Nokia and HTC are pioneers for the mobile devices, but both fail to satisfy the picky customers around the world.
    Another question comes along- why do Americans win over us? Apple and Google are not even the companies that originally produce cell phones! Apple is known for the computers and Google is for the search tool. They build up their own kingdoms and hunger for more possibilities. It takes such a long time for them to do R&D work and know the market better. Unlike most of Taiwanese companies, these Americans are not in hurry to make profits. Steve Jobs, the former CEO of Apple, is not a genius for innovative products but a patient businessman, who really takes his time for the best outcome. He is the pioneer for the personal computer revolution and leads Apple to the top of the world. If we think about it, maybe Nokia and HTC urgently need such a strong leadership.
    Even Apple is that successful, Forbe magazine recently wrote about Apple and asked a question- how long can Apple last? This is Americans, who always analyze for the best and worst in their money-driven society.
    What can we learn from these Americans? What can we do to improve ourselves? It takes a good leadership, capitals, human resources and global marketing. Are we enough for these factors?

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Apart from beaches Kerala has much more to explore. The state is dotted with many picturesque hill stations. Wayanad, Devikulam, Munnar, Top Station and Rajamala are the some most beautiful hill stations of the state. Tourists will enjoy the sightseeing virgin natural beauty at these places. Beautiful hill cottages, resorts and tourist lodges are easily available at all these places offer excellent accommodation option.

With enjoying the charm of backwaters your Tours Kerala remains incomplete. Kerala is the only place in India where tourists can relish backwater journeys. Backwater boat cruise is also the best way to explore the remarkable natural beauty of the state. There are many popular backwater spots located across the state. Alleppey, Kumarakom, Kasargod and Cochin are the most important of them.

So, get a right holiday package Kerala and relish your summer vacation with family and friends. There are many travel agencies working in the city provide well organized trips. You can select a suitable Kerala tourism package according to your budgets. It will be completely refreshing break for you.

    “ Years and years ago, Chinese invented three things- fireworks, compass, printing and paper. Years and years later, when western countries set off rockets to the space, we are still setting off fireworks! “ My favorite professor once pointed out a fact in a teasing way and the students, including me, laughed aloud. 
    My professor was right. The eastern technology used to be dominant for centuries before the industry revolution in 18th century. When the western countries were still in the manor system, the Chinese empire, Yuan Dynasty (13th century), could expand its power across three continents, Asia, Europe and Africa. It is also hard to believe that during the time, western countries needed to assign ambassadors to “worship” Chinese emperors. Since China is such a giant country with lots of resources to be self-sufficiency, she did not need to rely on someone else. On the contrary, the neighbors, even farer countries always needed something from China, the silk, China, tea and some spices.
    For the decades, which is the most crucial period for international competition, China isolated herself from others, immersing in an unrealistic fantasy that she was still the super power around the globe. Actually, the Chinese name for China is中國 (Zhōng guó), literally means the country of the center. The way of thinking is one of the reasons that prevented China from making progress in the technology industry.
    Then the industry revolution rewrites the whole history of the world. The western countries opened the Asian market by force- the undefeatable weapons blew Asians’ mind. They were shocked, “How can these barbarians beat us up?!” Japan is the first country to wake up and starts the modernization movement, following examples from western countries. Later, Japan was the most developed country in Asia and the second biggest economy in the world.
    It takes such a long time for China and other Asian countries to catch up. Nowadays, the world cannot underestimate the Asian market. They want capitals, labors and nature resources from Asia. It sounds really promising , but there is something missing here- the technology .
Except for Japan that already creates a good image about herself, the idea about the modern technology is all from the West. What is the actual value for Asian countries? The global customers are crazy about buying Apple, driving BMW, wearing Gucci and using Google and Facebook. When it comes to similar products from Asia , no matter how good they are, they are all “duplicates.”
    In this 21st century, the technology speaks louder than anything. Samsung, HTC LG, Asus and Acer are trying hard to gain a foothold here. Eventually, we Asians have to look at a bigger picture, and ask ourselves, “How should we recreate our value or make an extract value from our products in the global competition? ”

Hsuen-Chu, I'll traveling  tomorrow and maybe on Friday as well. Would you be interested to blog about famous Asian bloggers? Some examples of those who also write in English language. What do young people like to read? How important is social media? Facebook, G+, Twitter and / or Asian alternatives... Some examples of great digital services...

What do people write about? Are fashion or celebrity blogs popular? How about politics, business, etc.

    Once I travel more and more, I cannot help but compare the job conditions in Taiwan, the U.S.A., and Finland (Europe). Taiwanese workers are like hard-working ants, if you give up, and then there will be another ants to replace you. You are not special and supposed to devoted almost all your time and energy to the job. On the other hand, American workers get used to compliments and empowerment. Also, you are allowed to take your time to learn and make mistakes. Therefore, negotiation and communication is common. The next level is the workers in Finland. You have not only certain social security protection but much more holidays.
    I personally feel that everyone in Taiwan complains about his/her jobs; everyone in the U.S.A. complains but somehow enjoys his/her jobs; and everyone in Finland talks about her/his jobs with enthusiasm. I ask myself if I have a chance to work in Finland longer, what my dream job in Finland would be?
    Confucius said, "Find a job you enjoy, and you'll never work a day in your life." After working in Taiwan and the U.S.A., I know that I am not that kind of person who chases for fortune and big success. I want a job that provides me with the sense of fulfillment and enough leisure time to enjoy my own time. It sounds a bit abstract, so I am willing to talk more about it.
    My previous jobs were all about teaching. I know I enjoy the interaction between students and teachers. I can play both roles, a teacher and student, quite decently. Being a teacher, I love helping students have more interest in what I teach and being a student, I love critical thinking. I love to hear professors enriching my knowledge and challenge what I believed. The atmosphere gives me such an accomplishment. I know I always am a good student and good teacher.
    Few people have the same experience as I do- I have the vision about Asia and the U.S.A., which are the two biggest economy units. That’s to say, I have the advantage to work in Finland by sharing my experience and background. If I can think big and be more ambitious enough, please allow me to honestly explain my dream job in Finland, even without considering about the cruel reality.

    I would put it into 3W1H- where, when, what and how.

Where- I would like to work in big cities. It helps me connect with people and develop my social network much more easily. Needless to say that the transportation is a big advantage for a foreigner like me. So far, I am pretty content with Oulu.

When- in Taiwan, I worked from 2 pm to 10 pm on weekdays, sometimes on weekends, too. The working time could not allow me to have enough family time and the leisure time to be with friends. In my definition of dream job is that you work at the time when everyone also works. And you can take your own responsibility to work in a more flexible way, which means you can work, eat and leave at the certain range of time. The routine should not be not rigid. Everyone is different individual and deserves the best schedule for her/himself.

What- like I describe above, I like to work with people. This way I can exchange ideas with them, learn from them and build relationship with them. I know myself- I am a people person. Moreover, for the ideal job description, I want to create my own value by sharing my cultural experiences. For instance, teaching Chinese to American college students in the U.S.A. was such an exciting experience to me.

How- I worked in Taiwan for one year, and I clearly felt the pressure that we Taiwanese have to compete with China. The working condition is more and more unpleasant for employees, such as working overtime and lower pay. I know the only way for me to find a dream job is to challenge myself in foreign countries. Learning languages and cultures are my priority ever since. How to find an exit to my dream job in Finland? I need more opportunities and more challenges to myself!

Hsuen-Chu, thank you very much for visit to Sotkamo. It was a lot of fun for Irja and myself. We hope that you enjoyed the stay and the work in the garden.

A weekend is a short time and we didn't have time to discuss all aspects about work and future, but we will meet again within two weeks.

I will be having a meeting with Juha Mentu (also a member of KK-Net) and we will be speaking about bioeconomy and -technology, process measurements, and knowledge management in mining, pulp and paper mills, and energy production.

For today, I suggest you to blog about a perfect job in Finland. What you would like to do to improve Asia (Taiwan, China, Hong-Kong) collaboration in Finland. Your personal educational and career goals. Try to define your dream job profile and it will help us to find out roads to make these objectives come true.

What do you think? I'll be in the meeting all day, but you can call me any time to discuss todays program.

In addition, I'll be making two customer visits tomorrow and we could talk at 5 pm (if the time is okay for you) about tomorrow and other things for the coming week.

Have a great day!

Helge

Honeymoon is a very special time for the newly wed couples. It is an important phase of their lives as it lays down the foundation for a happily married life. Everyone wants their honeymoon destination to be as romantic as possible. And what could be more romantic than a honeymoon tour in India. Many newly wed couples, both foreign and domestic, choose India because of its amazing beauty and variety. However, a properly planned honeymoon is even more romantic. Here are some basic tips to choose and book from various honeymoon tour packages in India.

1. Plan your tour mutually. Share ideas with each other. Take time and give full thoughts to details like where to go, is that place suitable at that time of the year, etc. Also ask friends who have recently been on a honeymoon tour to get some basic ideas like which locations they chose, how long was their tour, etc.

2. Wedding is one of the greatest moments of life for everyone. They are also the most hectic ones. After the wedding, relax for few days before going on vacations. No point in going on a honeymoon trip if you are already tired and exhausted.

3. Take the help of an expert honeymoon travel company. Tell them, specifically that you are a honeymoon couple. This way, you can get great deals on honeymoon packages. They can also help you pick from a variety of honeymoon destinations.

4. Do not hesitate to ask about details of the tours. It’s your honeymoon after all and will become a lifetime memory. Do not let small things spoil your holidays. Proper arrangements can avoid many problems.

5. Choose a package and destination which suit your needs. The most important thing that a couple wants on their honeymoon is privacy. Spending romantic time together with no disturbance is what every couple wants. Try to avoid family vacation destinations. Pick those hotels and resorts which take exceptional care of the honeymoon couples. Ask if they provide special candle light dinners, room decorations, private lunches, etc.

6. Always ask for additional discounts from your travel company because many hotels provide special rates for honeymoon couples to boost their business.

7. Do carry the proof of your marriage. It could be a copy of your marriage certificate (if available) or your snapshots taken during your marriage. This serves two purposes. First, it allows you to get those special discounts in hotels, spas, etc. Second thing is it proves that you are legally married so that you can avoid any awkward situations.

8. Make sure that your baggage has room for things you will buy during your holidays. Carry some medicines in case of emergency. Take a camera with you so that you can capture those beautiful moments.

Honeymoon tours in India are a great way of spending your very first vacations after marriage. There are so many great honeymoon destinations in India like Kerala, Goa, etc. Enjoy every moment of your honeymoon with your spouse to create ever lasting memories.

Find the best information on Honeymoon Tour Packages in India and Cheap Holiday Packages from Delhi. For honeymoon enquiry visit at: http://www.mastholiday.com/honeymoon-packages/

Author: Swati Singh

Tomorrow I am visiting these two cities during the weekend. Before the trip, I would like to do some homework about them for the business and leisure purpose.
In Wikipeida, it says that “ Kajaani is the capital of the Kainuu region. It is located southeast of Oulujärvi (Lake Oulu). There are 38,038 (in 2012) inhabitants. The population density is 20.73 inhabitants per square kilometre (53.7 /sq mi) . Kajaani is in the center of the region of Kainuu. Folklorist Elias Lönnrot began his travels from here when collecting folklore in Karelia. “
“One famous historical monument in Kajaani are the ruins of Kajaani Castle, located on an island in River Kajaani in the centre of the city. The castle was originally built in 1604 and completed in 1666. The castle served as an administrative centre, prison, military base and a refuge for the citizens.” I had been the castle with my Finnish friends. They told me the story about the soldiers who toughly, bravely fought against the enemy for months even when they ran out of supplies and food. They did not give up. The spirit passes on to the next generations. Finns know how to fight with the limited resources. I believe that’s why Finland can stand out even though with the harsh climate and small population.

On the other hand, Sotkamo is a municipality of Finland, located in the Kainuu region. The municipality has a population of 10,694 (in 2012)and covers an area of 2,952.11 square kilometres (1,139.82 sq mi) of which 302.61 km2 (116.84 sq mi) is water.The population density is 4.04 inhabitants per square kilometre (10.5 /sq mi).
Vuokatti, west of Sotkamo, is a popular skiing resort. The Hiidenportti National Park (see as the picture below) is located in the municipality. In sports, Sotkamo is known for its Finnish baseball team, Sotkamon Jymy.
One of the major landmarks of Sotkamo is the sandy beach of Hiukka, which locates by the lake Iso Sapsojärvi, just beside the Sotkamo center. Beside tourism, mining is important for the economy of Sotkamo. Mondo Minerals BV mines talc in Lahnaslampi and the biggest unutilized nickel deposit in Europe is in Talvivaara. Talvivaara Mining Company was formed to utilize the reserves and metals production started in late 2008.

For the business purpose, I should take a loot at some companies in the region. Snowpolis Technology Park is the technology park I surfed online in Kajaani-Sotkamo region. The below is the information I got from their website (http://www.snowpolis.com/index.asp?pid=2). “With well-being with the help of sports-, nutritional- and winter technologies, Snowpolis Vuokatti is an international leader in the areas of wellness technology, sports and winter. The Competence and Firm Center is located in the Sotkamo-Vuokatti-Kajaani-region. Functionally, the technology park is a meeting point for companies, scientific research, development centers and education. Snowpolis gathers various companies working in similar fields together, in order to develop the area business activities, top-quality expertise, education and services. Snowpolis Vuokatti offers reputable jobs in an interesting working environment, as well as a pleasing and safe living environment for the entire family.

Business
Snowpolis is a modern and innovative environment e.g. for companies designing sports- and fitness equipment. The Technology Park suits well various kinds of testing, testing in cold conditions, electronics- and programming industry, as well as businesses based on biotechnology. Snowpolis combines entrepreneurial pursuits with university-level competence in sports technology, nutrition, and wellness technology and snow expertise.

Science and research
Local businesses as well as scientific personnel throughout domestic Finnish and international universities are part of Snowpolis-cooperation. The University of Oulu, the University of Kuopio,… and the Kajaani University Consortium are all part of it, as well as the Municipality of Sotkamo, the City of Kajaani, the Kainuu Employment and Economic Development Centre, and the Province of Kainuu.

Snowpolis is a part of a larger Multipolis-network, where there are 17 000 top-skilled professionals from various fields of expertise.

In addition to these facts and despite of the fairly young age of Snowpolis it has been accepted as a member of many remarkable international networks, such as IASP (International Association of Science Parks), TEKEL (Finnish Science Park Association) and ENoLL ( European Network of Living Labs) .

Snowpolis lifestyle
The strategy of Snowpolis builds on frictionless synergy, which is created by the companies and departments. Behind all activities are the competence and skills of the people, teamwork and willingness to do high-quality work. What makes the strategy of Snowpolis special, is its modern way of seeing the daily work to be done in a highly technological environment, whilst living and spending one free time in the midst of nature; factors which continuously support each other and raise the quality of living. Snowpolis stands out, both nationally and internationally, providing an attractive, pleasant and safe environment for working and living.

Sports technology
The competence of Snowpolis in sports technology is based on the activities of two university departments, the Department of Biology of Physical Activity and its division of Sports Technology …, as well as on the Measurement Laboratory for Sports at the University of Oulu. Different measuring equipment, - methods and concepts and their applications are tested. Winter sport is an area of specialization.

The competence in nutritional technology is based on the long experience the Laboratory of Biotechnology at the University of Oulu possesses. In addition, the MTT (Research Center for Agriculture and Food Science) in Sotkamo supports the competence in nutritional issues.

The expertise of Snowpolis in winter technology is founded on the many years of experience in testing winter sports equipment. The Vuokatti Sports Institute, the Vuokatti skiing slopes, the cross-country skiing tunnel and the snowboard tunnel have already functioned as a testing ground for many years. At Snowpolis, we are constantly seeking new dimensions of snow, ice and extremely cold conditions. The vision is to combine snow sports, ice sports and the testing of vehicles for their characteristics (e.g. friction).

Finland is such a country with freezing cold climate and only 5.3 million population. Decades ago, she promoted herself to the whole world with the telecommunication technology like Nokia. The world has changed the lifestyle since then. As we are aware of the fact- nowadays technology matters tremendously. Snowpolis takes advantage of the “traits ( the cold climate and few residents)” that Finland has, and transforms them into the competitive aspects, such as the skills to integrate the same profession and develop the winter technology. That is the dominant position that some countries such as Taiwan cannot compete with.
I am looking forward to my trip to Kajaani and Sotkamo, waiting to see more and learn more.

    As a foreign newcomer in Oulu, Finland, it is not easy to “survive” in such a different environment, especially you do not speak the language-Finnish. Fortunately, I make some Taiwanese friends, who have been in Oulu for more than three years. They help me develop the interest in Finnish language and know the Finns better. Yesterday, my Taiwanese friend, Corrina (interesting enough, Taiwanese in general like to have English names ), spent the whole day with me to give me the survival guidance in Oulu. The first stop is to the information center. To my surprise, Oulu has such a thoughtful service for bikers. There is a map for bikers in three languages- Finnish, Swedish and English. As you can see in the map, the city is covered by well-organized bicycle paths to almost everywhere. How convenient it is!

    Then, we went to the market hall, which the local calls it “red house” in Finnish. They have fresh meat to buy. In Taiwan, we believe in buying fresh ingredients in traditional markets instead of supermarkets. Shopping here for food makes me really comfortable and homesick. My friend used Finnish to communicate with the butcher and bought some beef. It was fascinating to see one Taiwanese speaking Finnish fluently to the local. After we had the food, I told Corrina that I also needed my“ soul food,” so we went to try my luck in the biggest library in Oulu. The city library is the heaven for book worms. The space tries to make people as comfortable as possible. No wonder in Taiwan we hear so much about the Finns’ reading habit, that is the soft skip cannot be underestimated nowadays. Luckily, we found some Chinese books that I had been missing. Corrina did not understand why I came to Finland to read some Chinese books. I told her that staying away from Taiwan for two years in the U.S.A. makes me appreciate the beauty of Chinese language more. Even though I should take advantage of the chance to know more about the Finnish culture, I just cannot help myself to read some Chinese books. It was not surprising that simplified Chinese ( that Chinese use in China) books outnumbered traditional (that Taiwanese use in Taiwan) ones. We amusingly guessed that the librarians had no clue how to arrange these Chinese books, because the selection was a bit about Chinese classic novels, a bit about romance novels and a bit about some books that Chinese speakers hardly have the interest to take a look. Nevertheless, I was grateful enough for what I could have in Oulu! Kiitos!

    Corrina told me that she wanted to “reduce some weight,” because she is going to visit her family in Taiwan with her husband soon. They would most likely tease about her weight once they see her, so she wanted to take me to swim with her (poor her! She is as light as approximately 46 kilograms! Why Taiwanese are so harsh on girls’ body figures?! ). The swimming pool near the library was shut down for maintenance during June. “Why did they shut it down when the people need to excise the most on vacations?!” Corrina argued. The K Market in the city center was the ideal place for Corrina to show me how to shop in Finland. She taught me how and when to buy some fruits. She gave me lots of tips to pick up all the ingredients. She said that in Oulu, unlike in Taiwan where we can get all the fresh local vegetables, meat and fruits; hence, we should do our best to satisfy ourselves at the least cost. After all, we are such the people who grandly value eating.

    Three hours later from the trip in the downtown, Corrina invited me to her place. She lives in the students house with her Finnish husband. It was such a good pleasure to visit such a bicultural family. She baked Finnish cake for her husband but cooked Taiwanese food as well. Two people with two totally different culture backgrounds live in harmony, which is a perfect example for me to follow.

Rajasthan, the largest state of India, offers ample tourism opportunities. It is famous for its glorious history, rich cultural heritage and stunning desert landscapes. In this state you will see many historical forts, palaces and monuments which tell the saga of its past and heritage. Forts & monuments, wildlife sanctuaries & national parks, sand dunes, camel safari rides, etc are key attractions of Rajasthan tourism. These are attractions which are key elements for various travel packages and products for tourism in royal and imperial Rajasthan. Have a look at some of most poplar tour packages for travel and tours in this royal and imperial Indian state.

Historical tour packages: This kind of tour packages are designed with historical monuments and cities of the state. Historical tour in this state will provide you a wonderful opportunity to explore the historic cities and some of the best Indian monuments featuring forts, palaces, havelis, temples and museums.

Wildlife tour packages: Ranthambhore National Park, Sariska Tiger Reserve and Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary are the most sought after destinations for wildlife tour packages in Rajasthan. Desert National Park, Darrah Sanctuary, Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary, Tal Chappar Blackbuck Sanctuary, etc are some other important destinations for wildlife tourism in the state.

Camel safari tour packages: You cannot enjoy the complete charm of Rajasthan Tour if you do not take here camel safari ride. Camel safari tour packages are offered by almost all Rajasthan Tour operators. You will have a great opportunity to see the desert charm of royal Rajasthan and see the rippling sand dunes. Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Bikaner are prominent destinations for camel safari tours in India.

Golden triangle tour packages: Manu of Rajasthan tour operators also provide golden triangle packages. Golden triangle covers Delhi, Agra and Jaipur as its destinations. Delhi is a marvelous amalgamation of modernity and traditional charm. It is famous for Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate, Lotus Temple, Rajghat, etc are attractions in Delhi. Agra is mainly famous for Taj Mahal Tours. Agra Fort and Itmad-Ud-Daulah are other attractions in Agra. Jaipur is the capital city of Rajasthan and famous for forts and monuments. City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort, Jantar Mantar, Albert Hall Museum, etc are key attractions in the city.

Kerala, a beautiful Indian state located on the Malabar Coast in southern India, offers ample tourism opportunities. If you looking for some of the best experiences of incredible tourism in India then Kerala will never fail to lure you. The state is lovingly known as the God’s Own Country and its capital Trivandrum is known as the God’s Own Capital. The state is internationally famous beautiful beaches and world-class beach resorts. It is also famous for serene and scenic backwaters with luxurious houseboat cruises.

Most of India’s finest beaches are in Kerala. Alappuzha, Bekal, Kovalam, Varkala, Mararikulam, Poovar, Beypore, etc are some of the popular beach resorts in the state. Alleppey, Kumarakom, Kollam, Kuttanad, Kozhikode, Thiruvallam, Thottappally, etc are prominent tourist destinations famous for backwaters and houseboat cruises. Munnar, Devikulam, Echo Point, Rajamalai, Ponmudi and Wayanad are popular hill stations in the state. These are all destinations provide great tourism experience to cherish for lifetime. These destinations are key attractions of Kerala tourism packages. With a right
Kerala Tourism Package you can enjoy best charm of the trip.

There are many other fascinating things to do and see during Kerala Holidays, the God’s Own Country. When you will explore Kochi (fondly known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea) you will see many historical monuments and colonial buildings. You will see the famous Chinese Fishing Nets. Houseboat cruise on magical backwaters is on thing you should not miss during your Kerala Travel Package.

In Chinese language, we say there are four basic aspects to constitute life. They are eating, clothing, housing and transportation (食衣住行). Frankly, I do not have a strong position to comment the life in Oulu, because I have only been here for three weeks, which is longer than a tourist but shorter than a resident. However, you may find my observation entertaining and start to see Oulu in a different way.
For eating, Oulu is such a multicultural city with many exotic restaurants, including Indian, Chinese, Tai, Turkish, Viet, Japanese ,American restaurants. I am happy to see this city enjoying Asian food that much, because it is my favorite.

I had been in Oulu in the winter of 2010. It was freezing cold for me, since we do not have snow in Taiwan! -5 degrees were “warm” for the local but “fridge-cold” for me. Before going out, wear two more swears, one big coat, one pair of glove, two pairs of socks, one scurf and one hat! Gosh! I told my Finnish friend that I had never worn this much in my whole life and I felt like a Christmas tree hanging with lots of stuff!

I wonder how come Finns never invent one piece of super powerful coat that you only need to wear it and you will become undefeatable in the harsh winter? In that case, people do not have to wear so many clothes to go outside and take off them to come inside, how brilliant is this one-billion-dollar idea (kidding)!
Next, it is housing. I have stayed with my Finnish friend in an apartment and visited several of my Finish friends’ houses. I would say the houses in Finland are simple, cozy without too many decorations or too much stuff. Maybe it is because Finns do not like to shop too much; maybe Finns know how to organize and store stuff. In Oulu, you cannot tell the difference between the normal apartments and social houses; the city center and the outskirt. What kind of urban plan can reach such a level that you cannot see the the division between the rich and poor; the city and the nature? Everything emerges exactly the way to show the most significant value of North Europe- equality. Unlike in the U.S.A., there are “black areas,” where you should be more cautious. In that country, you always notice the difference among people, the race, social status, education, so on and so on. At this point, I must say that I feel very comfortable in Oulu.
The aspect opens my eye the most is the transportation. People can really bike to get almost everywhere they want. The paths for pedestrians and bikers are well designed. It is safe, relaxing and “green” to bike around in Oulu.

Oulu, the 6th largest city in Finland with the population around 140,000 people, may be the 40th city that I have stayed in. It may not be as exciting as New York or Paris; may not be as lively as Taipei; may not be the popular tourist attraction as Venice. Nevertheless, Oulu is such a treasure that you should take more time to know it better and appreciate the way it is.

I think there are very few people who are as lucky as I am for participating three different cultures- in graduation ceremonies and parties. In 2008, I graduated from National Taiwan University; in 2012, I graduated from Trine University, U.S.A.; and on 2nd/6, I was invited to join one high school graduation ceremony and the party after then. It is just so amazing to be in Taiwanese culture, American culture and Finnish culture in such big events!
In Taiwan, EVERY graduation ceremonies count, because they represent a good symbol for the next step of life. In 2008, we, the graduates, dressed up with the graduate gown and the cap with tassel. Different colors of collars meant different departments. My belonged to Sociology Department, which was purple.

The ceremony was long and boring. It was all about rituals, so I decided since there were so many people, I would not be the spotlight if I had my own fun. I quietly took out the donuts to share with my friends! Finally, we had a great time in such a routine!


At night, it was the time for the graduation prom. It was such a fancy event, so we seriously dressed up for the very first time. It was fantastic to see all my friends that elegant and gorgeous.

It was a bit strange that after the graduation ceremony, we still needed to go to school for the rest of classes and tests. During the time, we threw a thank-you-teacher party for all of our professors in Social Work Department. We recalled all the good memory during these four years and thank each of our teachers by showing videos, and giving small gifts.

Four years later, In U.S.A., on 9th/5 of 2012, it was the graduation ceremony of Trine University. Compared to my university in Taiwan with around 7,000 graduates, it was only about 521 graduates. Graduates wore gradation gown and the cap with the tassels. Different tassels represent different departments. To my surprise, few graduates showed up with flip-flops in such an event!
Since I already experienced being a graduate in the university ceremony, this time, I attended as an audience. When all the graduates entering to the ceremony, all the audience cheered and applauded loudly! It was such a pleasure to see their families graduating from university. Especially, I could see the race difference. Because it is so hard for African Americans to graduate from universities, their families were extremely proud of the graduates by whistling and yelling their names aloud. I somehow felt like in a basketball game and shared the excitement together.

After the all the routine of graduation ceremony, graduates went home with their families to celebrate a bit time. We, international students, had no families in the U.S.A., so the school arranged a banquet in Caruso Restaurant, the Italian restaurant . It was a nice gesture and it was the last activity I attended in Trine University. No more classes and tests from now on! How wonderful it is!

I could not believe after three weeks, I participated another graduation ceremony in Finland although I did not know the graduate! Unfortunately, I did not understand Finnish to get more involved in the ceremony, but I observed it on different perspectives. Finns are serious and quiet even in a graduation ceremony- no cheers, whistles, yelling or loud applauding but soft music, speeches and rituals. It seemed to me that it was not appropriate to cheer up or something. I asked why and my Finnish friend answered me that it actually was sentimental for graduates because they were leaving friends and families for the next step- boys go to military service and girls go to universities.

For the dress code, it was interesting to see that Finns do not wear graduation gowns; instead, they wore their own fancy gowns/suits and the special white cap!

After the ceremony, we went to the graduate’s home to have our celebration. The house was full of people ,but they could still manage to talk quietly in such a crowd. I was amazed and wondered how they made it! The food was special- sandwich cakes, dessert, salad with drinks and it was buffet. People talked and ate for more than three hours.

In graduation ceremonies, people in different countries celebrate in different ways. Taiwanese respect teachers a lot; Americans are more casual; and Finns are more restrained. I am grateful for these cultural experiences and hunger for more!