"Living and working in a whole new country is always fascinating" - student ambassador story
How long have you been in Tampere and what brought you here originally?
I have been in Tampere since Autumn 2016; therefore, this is my fourth year at TAMK. Finnish education, which has one of the best teaching methods in the world, is quite popular in my country. I was really glad that I found the opportunity to come here to study for my bachelor’s degree. Besides, living and working in a whole new country is always fascinating.
What subject do you study and how did you choose it?
Environmental and Energy Engineering is my major. When living in Vietnam in one of the most polluted cities in the world, I felt worried for my family and myself. Even though our country was reckless and did not give much attention to the environment and are now living with the consequences, it also shows our poor education related to this field. That was the reason why I chose TAMK as a destination to fulfil and develop my knowledge, in order to improve our situation in the future.
What do you like about Tampere and Finland the most?
When people are talking about how cold Finland is, I actually like this weather. I had never seen snow before because I was living in a tropical country, sometimes we don’t even have a proper winter. Here in Finland, the air is fresh, the modern city mingles with nature, beautiful lakes are everywhere. Definitely, the landscape is what I like the most.
Tampere is the city for students, plus it is the second biggest city in Finland. It is not too crowded, not too much hustle and it is modern like the capital but somewhat balanced between the two. The city is quite international, and many events are held every year. The residents are kind and friendly, I have been helped a lot by complete strangers. Moreover, there are opportunities to find a part-time job for students.
What about your hobbies here in Tampere or in Finland?
The cosy feeling of baking delicious cakes inside a warm kitchen on a snowy day is always the best for me! In the summer, we sometimes go picking berries and wandering around to enjoy the beautiful landscape.
What would you say to someone deciding whether Tampere is the right place to come to study and live?
Tampere universities and Tampere UAS cover a wide range of study majors, you could possibly find your interests in one of our campuses. Valuable projects, amazing clubs, fascinating exchange programmes are right around the corner. The city, the people and the activities are perfectly harmonized. Since it is not the capital, the living cost is average, and at the same time, the city still has everything you need.
Anything else you want to say?
For international students, maybe you might find it is hard in the first place, but great things never come from comfort zones.
Photo: Saara Lehtonen
Read more: TAMK's Bachelor's Degree Programme in Environmental Engineering