Week Two
Last weekend they held a 12 nations ice-hockey cup for women in Vierumaki. We went with a few other guys, who stayed over the weekend at the campus, to check out the USA vs. Canada game on Sunday, and as it mostly happens at first games of the year, I managed to catch cold, that has had an impact on the whole week.
Monday
On Monday we had a really easy day, with teachers showing us how the student computers and network operate: where to download lecture material from, how to enroll for courses, where are all sorts of other information hidden and how they can be found. That was more or less it. We could have the rest of the day off and concentrate on other things - like tea and honey with extra hours of sleep.
Tuesday
We started with Athletics and sprinting, getting a whole new dimension in running.
Before lunch we had a class of Technical and Tactical Development in Sports, which is basically coaching. We are all to do some coaching during our studies. Within this the desire from the School side is for us to coach at least one athlete per student in the Vierumaki A juniors ice-hockey team. This will get really interesting and fun once we get to know the team and get this rolling.
After lunch we had the first class of our toughest class during our studies: Structure and function of human-being… anatomy and physiology, that is. Not only is the class way different from all the other courses, but we also have the first exam coming up in just two weeks. Great, at least we get a go on right from the start. For this exam we need to learn the human skeleton, names of the bones and the possible motions of the body.
Wednesday
Before lunch we met up with the "older class" (where the average age is actually way lower than in our class) and introduced one another. After that we had a football (soccer) game against each other, where we won in penalty shots.
After lunch we had a Psychology class which will turn to be a great use in motivating players, children and athletes.
I also had my first golf-experience that day.
Thursday
We continued our golf lessons in the morning, after lunch we were introduced to some not-study-based-activity in and around the School. Amongst this the school "Students-Committee" introduced itself to us. This board is responsible to forward requests to and from teachers; they hold events and manage sessions; represent the School and the Students towards companies, associations; they contact other schools and work together with them (eg. arrange a school vs. school game). I am most likely to join the Board of this Committee. This work not only provides credits to the studies, but also makes it possible to arrange events and meetings representing the Vierumaki Students and ice-hockey.
Friday
Today - and every Friday from now on - is our "Project based day". These projects are basically our core studies, this is what drives our whole study procedure and this is why IIHF is so closely involved. The other courses are basically there to support this. During this day we do our chosen projects, that we must finish. These projects are given by the IIHF, the Finnish Ice Hockey Association and / or the Vierumaki School. One may also do his own studies, research: for example I am good to go with any Singapore or Asia related project if we choose to. Right now I have an IIHF project, but it's quite a fast one, and should end by next week, after that I am happy to work on a project of our own.
