Presentations, Exchange Programs and TV Interview

This monkey was really slow to write a new blog post, but my days were scheduled full, so I needed a brake from all: Ones I got the chance!

So far, I have given presentations of management in Finland, Startup life, Trade between EU and Russia. Currently, I am working on presentation (or was it plenary, need to verify this!) about EU's policy on green energy. Yes, they requested it. Here at the heart of oil and gas. I was also interviewed by the university media, if you are able to follow news in Russian, check the link. (Do not worry, I was speaking in English. Not that confident yet!)

Me looking highly professional. 

On Friday we had spree of meetings and I was introduced to the Vice-President on External Affairs, Georgy V. Korshunov and he kindly offered to assist me tosee, if I could gain access to public information on Russia's policy development on international trade, which is central information for my subject in masters thesis. So now I need to draft an official letter of introduction to the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Department of Trade Negotiations. Of course, it is just to see whether I could get assistance to get the information. We will see how it goes...

So now I need to draft the text and make a translation as well, by the beginning of next week. Luckily, I do have someone to proofread my text before it leaves!

Winter is coming...

So busy, busy,.. I have couple of more projects concerning new possible exchange programs coming up. I really enjoy developing relations and starting something new and therefore, I am grateful to have the opportunity to gain this experience and to be able to have my wishes heard on what I do and learn.

I think I am progressing with the language as I managed to discuss (if few word sentences counts!) on Friday about topics such as, Finland and Russian history, geology of Finland, minerals found in our soil and how they collect those in Russia from the water underneath the oil. It took two hours and sometimes dictionary as these subjects are not something we would have gone through during our Russian lessons in Finland. But hey, it is to be understood that counts right?

When you fail with the understandable communication -part: I managed to order two set of icecreams instead of one. Oh boy! For my defence, I was not at my best that day... but really! Two bowls of icecreams! ! Please, do trust me to take care of some official communication, oh wait...

I do remember that I promised to give you more information on Innovatika! I should get back with it soon. Though, cannot promise anything as the following two weeks are quite hectic.

Slowly Slowly Catch the Monkey

I think I took longer brake with my blog, sorry about that. You will find explanation for that in the following text.

Last weekend, well, I could say the pace finally got me and so I needed to rest. This week has been a bit easier. I am starting to be able to have casual conversations in Russian, although I am still finding it difficult to always find the right words. But I am getting there!

Today I managed to solve an issue concerning my sim card and in Russian. It is not as bad as it felt at the beginning. Yesterday I was requested to help new students as one of them had lost their mobile. So I end up interpreting again. I also managed to switch less painfully within different languages today. So I was mixing Russian, English and French again. If I continue this way, I can say I am capable to work in five different languages, including my mother tongue. Not of course anything too complicated, but at least on a general level.

Last week I honestly felt I am just going over the board with everything. (But it is quite hard to actually interpret immigration law into French, have not done the course for that!) So I just had to work around how to explain it. I am really trying my best here to work on the language skills - and I do not finish when I get to the dormitory during the evenings, I might continue trying to find the words to do better work next day. So I am continuing to study both French and Russian during evenings too. It is just that, now I have the time and place to practice and I really should put my best effort to gain the level of fluency on these languages.

Judging by the experience, I would really recommend this university as internship placement. I am gaining so much while here.

This picture was taken during the first Russian class. I switched to more advanced group. I also got verification that I am able to add the course into my studies in Finland. Study points are always good to have!

What I have learned in the new class, was the difference between ли and если. We are also learning the formal way to defend thesis in Russian. They emphasise the passive voice, or usage of "we" instead of I. This has roots in the time when the thesis was combined effort with the instructing professor.