This document provides information for GSE visitors to Finland including facts about Finland, the region of Forssa, and tips for surviving in Finland. It outlines an itinerary for the GSE visitors' time in Forssa from April 3-7, including visits to local attractions, meetings with community members, and staying with host families. The schedule includes visits to the Häme visitor centre, Torronsuo National Park, the Forssa hospital, police station, church and sauna. The goal is for the visitors to experience Finnish culture and learn about the region while staying with host families.

1. Welcome to Finland
GSE AUSTRALIA
Forssa Rotary Club and Sepänhaka Rotary Club

2. Finland survival kit
 Basic facts about Finland
 Something about the region
 Weird ways Finns love it
 Tips and tricks to survive Finland

3. Facts

4. You won't be ready for a PhD on Finland, but this
page will give you enough info to impress at least
your pals.
People
 Population: 5.3 million, 15.7 inhabitants per km2
(40.2 per square mile)
 Life expectancy: Men 76 years, women 83 years
 Languages: Official languages are Finnish (spoken
by 91%) and Swedish (5.4%). Sámi is the mother
tongue of about 1,700 people, members of the
indigenous Sámi people of northern Lapland
 Religion: 80.7% Lutheran and about 1.1%
Orthodox.

5. More facts
State & Government
 Independence: Declared on December 6, 1917.
Previously a grand duchy in the Russian empire for
108 years, and a part of Sweden for 600 years
before that
 Form of government: Parliamentary democracy
 Parliament: 200 members in one chamber, elected
every 4 years in a direct vote
 Head of State: President of the Republic, elected
every 6 years, two-term maximum. Currently Ms
Tarja Halonen, first elected in 2000
 International cooperation: Member of United
Nations since 1955 and European Union since 1995

6. We are not running out of facts...
Society & Economy
 Key features: High standard of education, social
security and healthcare, all financed by the state
 GDP per capita: 34,769 euros
 Main exports: Electrotechnical goods, metal
products, machinery, transport equipment, wood and
paper products, chemicals
 Main imports: Raw materials, investment
goods, energy, consumer goods (for example cars
and textiles)
 Currency unit: Euro

7. Still some more facts
Geography & Climate
 Area: 338,424 km² (131,985 square miles),
the fifth-largest country in Western Europe
 Greatest length from north to south:
1,160 km (720 miles)
 Greatest width rom east to west: 540 km (335 mi)
 Capital: Helsinki
(1.25 million inhabitants in metropolitan area)
 Climate: Great contrasts – cold winters and fairly
warm summers

8. Sick of facts?
 County is HÄME
 Municipalities that form Forssa Region are:
 Forssa (www.forssa.fi)
 Humppila (www.humppila.fi)
 Jokioinen (www.jokioinen.fi)
 Tammela (www.tammela.fi)
 Ypäjä (www.ypaja.fi)
 Let’s see briefly what the area looks like

9. Forssa

15. Humppila

16. Jokioinen

17. Tammela
Iron bar walk games

18. Ypäjä

19. What it takes to become a real Finn?
 To understand our mentality, here are some images
to describe Finns
 We sure do like our sauna and lakes (even in winter)

20. Originally Finnish, now international
 Mobile throwing games

21. Air Guitar world championships
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJx0SAa-0Mw

22. Old Geezers World Carting Championship
 Äijän kärräys
 Click here to view the video titled "Old Geezers race
in milk carts“

23. Finns weird???
 Eukonkanto
(wife carrying..)
 Teams from Finland, Canada,
England, Switzerland, Australia,
Atlanta USA, Bayonne USA,
Ireland and Russia ....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr3lAAsOOk

24. Finns weird and creative?
 Finns playing swamp football

25. Finns WEIRD???
 Sitting in ants nest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KdYN0mn604

26. Tips and tricks to survive
 Basic language skills:
 Sorry = anteeksi
 Good morning = hyvää huomenta
 Good evening = hyvää iltaa
 Thank you = kiitos
 Do you speak English? = Puhutteko englantia?
 Very handy, if lost:
Please return me to my host:
Mr. Jaakko Kuusinen
Address
Tel no

27. We love our pets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFgrPGUY9Hg

28. GSE-AUSTRALIA - PROGRAM - AREA 5 3. - 7.4.2012
Tuesday, 3.4.2012
Contact: Ms Heidi Cavén, mobile +358 50 361 7073
6:35 Flight at Helsinki-Vantaa airport
7:00 GSE meet Heidi - Transportation from the aiport to the host families by FAI student FAI = (Forssa vocational institute)
9:00 Arrival to Forssa, guests to the host families - probably sleep needed….
Wednesday, 4.4.2012
Contact: Ms Heidi Cavén, mobile +358 50 361 7073
Breakfast at host families
Morning - taking it easy
12:30 FAI transportation from the host families Meeting with Risto Härkönen
13:00 Visiting Häme visitor centre Address: Härkätie 818, 31380 Letku
14:30 Visit to Torronsuo National Park, Finnish camp fire activities
~ 16:30 FAI transportation to the host families
Evening with the host families

29. Thursday, 5.4.2012
Contact: Ms Heidi Cavén, mobile +358 50 361 7073
Breakfast at host families
Hosts take to visiting places, hospital/police station
Individual program:
9:00-12:00 Liz ja Marc: local hospital and health centre with Mrs. Hanna Hutka-Ojanen/Anna-Maria Silfvenius-Pura
9:00-12:00 Margaret, Andrew ja Damian: Forssa police station with Mr. Tomi Repo
Hosts bring guests to the centre of the town
12:00-13:00 Lunch some where in the centre
13:00-16:00 Getting to know Forssa (daycare centre, Kehräämö, centre) with Ms. Heidi Cavén Forssa
Hosts pick up guests from Scandic Hotel at 16.00 and bring later to Intercity meeting
18:00 GSE-group presentation to area 5 clubs in Intercity meeting / Hotel Scandic
evening Hosts take back to families
Good Friday, 6.4.2012
Contact: Ms Heidi Cavén, mobile +358 50 361 7073
Breakfast at host families
With hosts to Forssa church
10:00 Church service in Forssa and presentation of the church by Mr. Esa Löytömäki Due to Easter church is decorated with black
12:30 Getting to know Forssa from bird view if possible due to weather
16:00 Smoke sauna, hole in ice -swimming and light supper with Mrs.Elina Kiiski
Saturday, 7.4.2012
Contact: Ms Heidi Cavén, mobile +358 50 361 7073
Breakfast at host families
9:45 With hosts to Forssa bus station
10:00 - 12:05 By bus from Forssa to Pori

30. GSE-AUSTRALIA - PROGRAM - AREA 5 3. - 7.4.2012
Guest Hosts
Liz MacKintosh Ms. Heidi Cavén, Helgantie 11, FI-31110 Matku Map link
Marc Andres heidi.caven@surffi.net or heidi.caven@fskk.fi, mobile +358 50 3617073
Damian Cooper Mrs. Johanna Talikainen (husband Jari), Kaskenkatu 21, FI-30300 Forssa Map link
Andrew Coss johanna.talikainen@mainossatama.fi, mobile +358 400 851 704
Margaret Mansour Mrs. Anna-Maria Silfvenius-Pura (husband ?), Savikkakuja, FI-30100 Forssa Map link
anna-maria.silfvenius-pura@fstky.fi, mobile +358 44 069 6316