First days at the Campus

The first two weeks of our studies were like a huge information avalanche coming right on us. There we were, lost and confused TOBBA13 (our group name) freshmen, trying to remember everything that was said and somehow make sense of it..

Our studies started with 3 orientation days. During those days we were introduced to the campus, to our studies and practical issues such as course enrollments, schedules and interactive platforms used in our studies, but most of all, to our group. Our beloved tutors were our guides during those confusing orientation days and they organized fun "get-to-know-each-other-games" for every day. The highlight of the orientation days was our first Campus Goes Wild -party with the tutors and other Porvoo freshmen.

HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences has its own Student Union called HELGA and Porvoo Campus has its own local Student Association called HePo ry which is a part of HELGA. HePo ry is responsible of the student trusteeship at Porvoo Campus and it organizes all kinds of activites for students such as Campus Does Sports -sports evenings and Campus Goes Wild -student parties. HELGA's maybe the most visible feature at the Campus are the tutors: they're all dressed up in tutor T-shirts and petrol blue coveralls filled with coverall patches. Among shy and nervous freshmen they didn't seem just the most visible people but also the most loud people in the crowd..

For a lost freshman tutors are like the saving angels. They give you all the information needed on how to become a HAAGA-HELIA student and how to navigate in the information jungle. The whole campus may seem like a jungle although Porvoo Campus is very transparent; all "class room" walls are made of glass! (More info about our Campus' innovative design can be found from the "Encounters" video at the bottom of the page.) Tutors are always there when you need them and at least to my opinion all our tutors are awesome! :)

After the first days at Porvoo Campus I felt like I was at home. Tutors and our teachers weren't just some faceless "authorities" or "information guys", they were humans, personalities and there just for us. The warm welcome to our new working community gave me the feeling that I am in the right place. It also made me motivated towards my studies and towards our group's common success. I felt like a part of a big family, HAAGA-HELIA family. :)

Getting started

I'm starting this blog a bit late. My studies in Porvoo have already started on 21st of August so I have about 5 weeks to catch up for this blog. No worries! There's never too much of repetition..

So, who am I and how did I end up studying in HAAGA-HELIA?
My name is Emma Raivio, I'm 24 years old, originally from Keuruu, Central Finland and I have no idea what am I going to do with my life. I have tried many different kinds of roads during my life and now it's time to try the road towards a career in the ever growing field of business, tourism.

I started my studies in HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences on August. I'm studying the Degree Programme in Tourism with 35 other students from around the world. Our studying language is English so almost all of the courses are tought in English (except Finnish for Finns abviously and some of the Swedish courses).

I'm a Finn, my mothertongue is Finnish, so why am I studying in English? First of all, I love English! I started my English studies already on 1st grade at the age of 7 (thank's of that early start belongs to my teacher at that time who tought us some basic words although we were'nt supposed to start English earlier than on the 3rd grade) and since that English has been my passion and later on my true skill.

Before applying to HAAGA-HELIA I applied to Tampere and Jyväskylä Universities English translation and English teacher studies in my mind. At that point I knew I want to study something that gives me a career inside the "world of English language" but despite my eagernes towards English I didn't succeed in the entrance examinations. I said to myself "You would've bored yourself to death on those University lectures anyway..".

While spending my gap year working in a restaurant I also rehearsed English and raised my Matriculation Examination grade in English from Magna Cumlaude (3rd best) to Eximia (2nd best). At the same time my friend recommended HAAGA-HELIA's degrees to me and told me about the option to study also in English. I surfed the net and read all about HAAGA-HELIA's degrees and new immediately that I want to study in Porvoo Campus to become the Bachelor in Hospitaly and Wellness Management.

My friend is studying the same degree programme but in Finnish. I applied also to the Finnish degree but I was lucky and got accepted to the English degree. There are different specializiation areas in Finnish and English degrees: in Finnish degree you can choose between Tourism Selling/Customer Service and Research/Development and in English degree between Business Travel and Event Management.

We haven't got any information about the specialization yet but I know we are supposed to make the decision about it next Spring. I feel the Event Management to be more "my field" since I have a strong background in volnteering event managing in local associations. But you never know, after we get the infos my mind may change!

I will be posting stories about my studies every week. Until January they will be mainly about our first semester project "Matka 2014 Nordic Travel Fair" where our group is setting up HAAGA-HELIA's stands. The fair takes place in Helsinki Convention Center on 16th - 19th of January 2014. Next posting will be about my huge responsibility as the Project Manager of that project.. :)