Survival Guide for International Students and Trainees in Lappeenranta

Lappeenranta University of Technology Survival Guide for International Students and Trainees in Lappeenranta www.lut.fi

1. Lappeenranta University of Technology 4 2. Important Practical Matters 4 2.1. Residence / Work Permits 4 2.2. Health / Travel Insurance 7 2.3. Civil Registration 7 2.4. Taxation 8 3. Arriving in Finland 8 3.1. What to Bring Along 8 3.2. How to Get to Lappeenranta 9 3.3. On Arrival / Tutors 9 3.4. Orientation Program 10 3.5. Check-List for International Students at LUT 10 4. Life in Finland 10 4.1. The Country 10 4.2. The Finns 12 4.3. Equality 12 4.4. Way of Life 13 4.5. Visiting Friends 13 4.6. Nature and Seasons 13 4.7. Finnish Currency, Standards or Measurements and Time Systems 14 4.8. Education 14 4.9. Driving License 15 4.10. National Holidays 16 4.11. Sauna 16 4.12. Alcohol and Smoking 17 4.13. Drugs 17 5. Life in Lappeenranta 17 5.1. University 17 5.3 The Cost of Living and Shopping 20 5.4. Health Care 20 5.5. Local Transportation 21 5.6. Banking 21 5.7. Postal Services 22 5.8. Laundry 22 5.9. Cinemas 22 6. Student Life 23 6.1. Student Union 23 6.2. Student Card 24 6.3. University Clubs and Associations 24 6.4. Traditional Events 25 6.5. Sports 26 7. Finnish Language 29 7.1. Pronunciation 29 7.2. Basic Expressions 29 8. Useful Addresses and Phone Numbers 29 OTHERS 29 Foreword

Tervetuloa Lappeenrantaan! Welcome to Lappeenranta!

The Student Services and the Student Union of Lappeenranta University of Technology welcome you and wish you a pleasant stay in Finland.

The purpose of the Survival Guide is to provide you with information about Lappeenranta and Finland, as well as the Finnish way of life. We hope that this guide helps you to take your first steps in our country and town and, of course, at our University of Technology.

You can find information about Lappeenranta at: www.lappeenranta.fi

1. Lappeenranta University The university campus is located on of Technology the shores of Lake Saimaa, which is the largest lake in Finland. The university is Lappeenranta University of Technology located some seven kilometres from the (LUT) was established in 1969 as a centre of the city of Lappeenranta and is national university of technology. LUT, surrounded by the picturesque Finnish as well as the 16 other universities in nature. Finland, are all state-run and financed Lappeenranta University of by the Ministry of Education. Technology operates in modern Lappeenranta University of premises. All teaching and research Technology is specialised in technology buildings are located in a joint campus and economics. About 5,000 students area in which new facilities are study in the various degree programmes constantly being built for the university offered by the university, and about students and researchers. 950 new students are admitted each year. There are about 350 postgraduate 2. Important Practical Matters students and 900 members of staff. The most outstanding feature of the 2.1. Residence / Work Permits university is the way in which it has successfully integrated expertise in All foreign students who wish to study technology and economics. LUT’s location in Finland for more than three months on the border between the EU and Russia are required to have a residence permit has also had a major impact on the (non-EU citizens) or register their university’s activities and orientation. residence (EU citizens).

4 5 Citizens of EU/EEA countries and insurance which covers the types of Switzerland must register their right treatment and costs that are covered by to reside in Finland at the local police. municipal health care services and the Citizens of the Nordic countries public health insurance system. (Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland) Students are permitted to do a are registered by the Local Registry limited amount of paid work under a Offices. Nordic citizens must register residence permit issued for studies if their stay if residing in Finland for more the work is practical training included than six months. in the studies or final project work. To obtain a written certificate of Part-time employment is possible if the registration a student needs to fill working time comes to an average of 25 out a form at the local police station hours per week at most. There are no and include an attendance certificate limitations on working hours in full-time from LUT or a confirmation of the employment during holidays, specifically employment relationship or a certificate the summer and Christmas holidays. of employment from the employer, Please note: Although your residence a proof of having adequate health permit gives you the right to work you insurance cover and an account of should note that it is difficult to find jobs livelihood. A student needs to prove that in the Lappeenranta area. he/she has at least 560 EUR per month The trainees (salary-based or not) for living. The written certificate costs 50 coming from the EU/EEA countries and EUR and it is valid until further notice. Switzerland do not need a residence After registration an EU citizen can work permit. However, if the traineeship while studying in Finland and does not lasting for more than 90 days, the need to acquire a special work permit. trainees need to register their residence Citizens outside the EU/EEA countries at the local police after their arrival. For and Switzerland must always apply registering the residence, they will need for their first residence/work permit a certificate of their employment at LUT. by submitting an online application The registering of residence will cost the at eServices of Finnish Immigration trainees 50 EUR. Service (MIGRI) or at a Finnish embassy The trainees coming from outside the or a consulate in their home country EU/EEA countries and Switzerland must before leaving for Finland. The first always apply for a residence permit at residence permit is always issued for a Finnish Embassy or a consulate in a fixed term. The first permit is usually their home country, or submit an online granted for a year, unless the residence application at MIGRI eServices before permit is specifically applied for a leaving for Finland. The length of the shorter period. Students must be able traineeship plays no role in this rule – to prove that they have at their disposal the residence permit is always needed at least 560 EUR for a month or 6720 when working in Finland. EUR for a year. They also have to attach details of their comprehensive health

6 More information about when they apply for a residence permit, residence and work permits: otherwise their request for a resident www.migri.fi (Finnish permit will be rejected. Residence Immigration Service, MIGRI) permits cannot be issued for periods www.poliisi.fi (Police) that exceed the period of the insurance See contact information for the cover. For further information, please Finnish embassies abroad at: contact Finnish Missions abroad or the www.formin.finland.fi - Countries Finnish Immigration Service. and regions LUT has negotiated health insurance deals with Marsh/SIP. To buy the Marsh SIP insurance please go to Marsh/ 2.2. Health / Travel Insurance SIP webpage. This website allows you to purchase your health insurance All foreign students and trainees must online with a credit card. If you have have sufficient health/travel insurance any questions about the insurance, you while they are studying or working at must contact Marsh directly (see their LUT. For citizens of EU/EEA countries “contact us” section of the website). and Switzerland it is enough to obtain the European Health Insurance Card More information about MARSH/SIP (EHIC) from social security authorities at: www.sipinsurance.eu in their country of origin. The holders of the card are entitled to the same 2.3. Civil Registration benefits provided by the Finnish Insurance Institution as Finnish citizens. The Population Register Centre However, in addition a private health which operates under the Ministry of insurance is recommended. the Interior maintains an electronic The salary-based trainees are insured database known as the Population by LUT while working, but the non- Information System, which contains salary based trainees need to be insured information on Finnish and foreign either by their home university or they citizens who reside in Finland. It is need to have an insurance of their own compulsory for anyone staying in also while working. Finland for more than one year to Citizens of other countries (excluding register with the Local Register Office EU/EEA and Switzerland) must have (maistraatti). valid health insurance cover provided Your tutor will take you to the Local by a reliable and solvent company or Register Office and help you to fill out institution. Students whose period of the necessary forms. studies covers less than two years must have private insurance which covers the More information on the Population costs of medical treatment up to a value Registration Centre is available at: of EUR 100,000 (cost level in 2007). www.vaestorekisterikeskus.fi Students must have insurance cover

7 2.4. Taxation 510 EUR/month tax-free and pay taxes of 35% for the rest of their monthly The following information on taxation salaries. in Finland has been obtained directly from the Finnish tax administration’s 3. Arriving in Finland websites. 3.1. What to Bring Along More information can be obtained at: www.vero.fi When coming to Finland there are some things you should bring with you. First Resident individuals are taxed on their of all, in addition to your passport and worldwide income. Residents are taxed your residence/work permit, you will according to progressive tax rates for need some euros and the phone number national tax purposes and flat rates for of your contact person in Finland. If you municipal tax (including church tax and have an ISIC card take it with you, as social security). well, although it does not entitle you A non-resident alien, e.g. one who is to any discounts in trains or coaches. occasionally working in Finland, is taxed Student apartments are furnished with on Finnish-source income only. However, the most important cooking appliances tax treaties may provide that under (ovens, electric cookers), but the tenants certain conditions, even this income will are expected to supply their own dishes not be taxed in Finland. Non-residents and cooking utensils. LOAS apartments are taxed at flat rates in accordance with do not have bed linen, duvets, pillows, the Non-residents’ Tax Act. mattresses, towels or curtains. You An individual is deemed a resident of might want to bring along a sleeping bag Finland if he has his permanent home and a pad or similar for the first nights. in Finland or if he stays in Finland for You should also keep in mind the a continuous period of more than six weather. Average temperature is around months. The stay in Finland may be +15 during summer and -7 during regarded as continuous in spite of a winter. However, the temperature temporary absence from the country. may vary from +30°C in the summer Individual taxpayers’ income can be to -30°C in the winter. Make sure you divided in two categories: (1) earned bring the warmest clothes you have income and (2) capital income. Income with you, including shoes meant for low tax is paid to the state and the temperatures and snow! If you will be municipalities at a progressive tax rate. staying in Finland for the summer, do Capital income tax is 28%. not hesitate to bring T-shirts, shorts and Trainees, when their status being swimming gear with you. Spring and student in their home countries and autumn can be very wet, so we suggest their traineeship lasting for less than six you to have some rainwear with you. months are able to get a tax-at-source Sunglasses are needed in the spring and card. This means that they will earn summer and sometimes in winter, too.

8 Finnish student card. You can apply for Information about the weather in the card only after you have arrived in Finland can be found at: Lappeenranta. Holders of an ISIC card www.foreca.com will not receive any discount on the bus www.foreca.com/Finland/ or train tickets. Lappeenranta If you arrive by car, take a direction of www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi Porvoo from Helsinki, then to Kouvola and finally to Lappeenranta. You can also drive via Lahti, but this is a bit longer 3.2. How to Get to Lappeenranta route. About 8 km before Lappeenranta, go right off of Exit 51 in the direction of If you arrive in Finland at Helsinki Yliopisto (university) and follow the signs International Airport, you can take leading you to the university campus an express bus from the airport area. The distance between Helsinki and or the Helsinki central bus station Lappeenranta is 225 km. to Lappeenranta. The trip involves changing buses once or twice and it 3.3. On Arrival / Tutors takes about four hours. International students and trainees www.matkahuolto.fi/en/ are advised to send information about their exact arrival in Lappeenranta as The fastest alternative of getting to early in advance as possible. Before Lappeenranta is to take a train from your arrival a tutor student, a senior Tikkurila railway station, which is student studying at LUT is appointed situated a short bus drive from Helsinki to you. Please note that the Student airport (takes about 20 minutes). The Services is unable to appoint a tutor for bus line 61 from the airport to the you, if do not send your arrival details by Tikkurila railway station runs every the deadlines given to you. In case you 10-20 minutes. You can also take the e.g. do not have your residence permit train from the main railway station in ready by the deadline note that you need Helsinki, but this is slower than going to inform Student Services about the via Tikkurila to Lappeenranta. Finnair delay immediately and send the arrival buses shuttle at regular intervals (every information latest 2 weeks before your 20 minutes) between Helsinki airport date of arrival. and the Helsinki railway station. The In general, our driver, a fellow student train trip from Helsinki or Tikkurila to appointed by LUT, will meet you at the Lappeenranta takes about 2 hours. place of your arrival in Lappeenranta (the airport, the railway station etc.) and www.vr.fi take you to your apartment where you will meet your tutor. Your tutor’s contact In order to receive a discount on your information will be given to you by bus or train tickets, you should have a e-mail before your departure to Finland.

9 If you live in a LOAS apartment and • Pay the Student Union fee and apply your tenancy agreement starts before for the Finnish student identification or on your arrival, the driver will have card Frank the key to your room and your tenancy • Visit a bank to open an account (with agreement. If your tenancy agreement your tutor) if necessary starts later, you are required to • Pay the rent collect the keys and sign the tenancy • Make a change of address notification agreement at LOAS office. In case you • Get your LUT user account and would like to collect the key from LOAS password from Origo Service Desk yourself, agree on it directly with LOAS. The tutor will help you with practical 4. Life in Finland matters in the beginning of your stay in Lappeenranta, as well as introduce you Finland’s geopolitical location between to the student life. In the Student Union, East and West has always been reflected there is also a secretary of international in the country’s events. With this affairs ([email protected]) who will give you combination of western and eastern information about different activities. influences the Finnish culture has If your study/traineeship period is not developed into something strong and organized by the Student Services the highly individual, just like the Finns arrangements for your arrival may differ themselves. from above. Your contact person at LUT will be able to provide you with more 4.1. The Country details. Independent since 1917, Finland is 3.4. Orientation Program today a pioneering EU member state in many ways. It is a safe and stable Make sure you take part in the welfare state with a functioning orientation program arranged for infrastructure, education system, health international students at the beginning care services and a vibrant cultural life. of each semester. You will receive Our country has also been rated one of important information about practical the least corrupt states in the world and matters and studying at LUT. according to Newsweek in 2010, Finland is the best country to live in. 3.5. Check-List for International Finland is also a country with a Students at LUT strong competitive edge. Finland’s investment in R&D as a percentage • Meet your tutor who will help you with of the GDP is among the highest in the points listed below the World. The International Institute • Attend the orientation program for Management Development has • Register at the university ranked Finland as one of the most

10 11 competitive countries in the World institution that is open for everyone several times. Finland’s strength lies in regardless of age or educational or the fact that its economy is one of the professional background, also offers most technologically advanced in the Finnish lessons for foreigners. See World. The WEF report cites Finland’s more information at: “strong political institutions, a focus on technology, and sound macroeconomic www.ekko.fi management” as some of the reasons for the country’s impressive economic performance. 4.3. Equality

4.2. The Finns There are approximately 2.7 million women and 2.6 million men in Finland Finns have a very strong sense of and equality between them is provided national identity. This is rooted in the in the equality act passed in 1987. country’s history - particularly its Finnish women were first in Europe and honourable wartime achievements and second in the World to be granted the significant sport merits - and is today right to vote in national elections and to nurtured by pride in Finland’s high-tech be electoral candidates in 1906. expertise. Finnish women are among the best Even though it is not possible to talk educated within the EU and more than in general terms of a national character, half of the students in higher education all in all it is fair to say that Finns institutions are women. Most Finnish perhaps give an extreme degree of women have paid employment because space to other people, which can mean efficient maternity leave and child day that the initiative for making friends care systems enable a career and family often falls to the foreigner. However, life to be combined. many have observed that once the ice is The visible rise of women to the broken Finns are open, warm and can highest echelons of political power be relied on. Honesty and dependability really took off in the 1990s. In 1990, are the two characteristics most highly Finland became the first country in the regarded by Finns. World with a female Minister of Defence, English is widely spoken in Finland. in 1994 a woman became the Speaker Of course a few Finnish words and of Parliament and in 2000 the country expressions make an exotic souvenir elected its first female president and to take home with you. Should you prime minister. want to learn more Finnish during your stay, the LUT Language Centre 4.4. Way of Life offers courses in Finnish during the academic year. Adult Education Centre The Finnish way of life reflects the of South Karelia (Etelä-Karjalan democratic principles of the nation. It is Kansalaisopisto), an educational based on equality of all people. Nature

12 plays quite a big role in the Finnish way the atmosphere tends to be informal; of life, as well as sports, arts and sauna. first names are used and people dress Finns have a real passion for casually. sports and their patriotic spirit is aroused in international ice hockey 4.5. Visiting Friends games, skiing competitions, athletics (especially when competing against When invited to visit friends it is polite neighbouring countries) and in motor to be punctual. Finns rarely kiss or sports, in which Finland made a real hug but instead give a firm handshake breakthrough in the late 1990s. Finland while looking each other in the eyes. has also achieved a lot of media Avoiding eye contact is taken as coverage internationally because of rudeness and can even be interpreted organising crazy sports events such as as a sign of dishonesty. People always wife-carrying, boot-throwing, swamp take their shoes off inside their football and mosquito killing World homes. Smoking indoors is very rare Championships or swimming in the ice and forbidden in all public buildings, cold water in the winter. transports etc. The fact that there are 5.4 million Finns usually invite each other Finns and 3.2 million saunas says it over for a cup of coffee or tea. It is a all. The sauna is still an important part great honour to be invited for a dinner, of the Finnish way of life. There are whereas being invited for a sauna is saunas everywhere in Finland and it is more commonplace. In Finland it is customary to go to sauna about once or customary that at the table people twice a week. As a general rule women start eating when everybody has been and men bathe separately, with the served. It is also polite to thank the exception of husbands and wives and person who prepared the meal, so parents and their children. remembering to say “kiitos” after The Finnish way of life is easy-going dinner is very important. and strict formalities are not really observed. People are quite frank and 4.6. Nature and Seasons straightforward. Silences and gaps in the conversation are not generally The Finnish landscape is a blue-green dreaded the way they are in many other mosaic of waterways and forests with countries. In conversation it is polite room to move and wide-open spaces. to wait for the other person to finish The country is among Europe’s largest what s/he is saying before presenting when it comes to land area but one your own point of view, which tends to of the smallest when it comes to slow down the conversational rhythm. population. Roughly 70 % of the land In Finnish the familiar word for you, area is forest and 10 % water. There are ‘sinä’, is used almost universally. The about 200,000 lakes, and the largest older generation tends to use and archipelago in Europe is found in expect the formal you, ‘te’. At work, Finland’s waters.

13 The four clearly defined seasons Christmas is a great family festival are characteristic to Finland. Spring with rich traditions. Santa Claus lives and summer are times of light; in the in Finnish Lapland and he visits many summer nights the sun dips below families personally or simply leaves the horizon for just a couple of hours presents under the Christmas trees. and the night is just a delicate twilight. The spring period from February to April In Lapland, the northernmost part is the time to enjoy outdoor activities of Finland, the midnight sun can be and sports: the sun reappears and experienced during June and July when there is enough snow for different the sun remains above the horizon for winter activities. The arrival of summer the whole time. is marked carnival style with the The night without darkness is traditional students’ and workers’ celebrated towards the end of June festival on May Day (Vappu). with the Midsummer (Juhannus) festivities. Traditionally large bonfires 4.7. Finnish Currency, Standards or are lit and spells are cast to find your Measurements and Time Systems true love. During the summer months many Finns virtually move to their The currency is the euro, which is summer cottages. Towards the end of divided into 100 cents. Unlike in most the summer, during warm and darker euro countries, the coins of 1 and 2 August evenings, crayfish parties are cents are not used in Finland. held. Winter time in Finland is two hours Autumn is the time of harvest, ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. The picking berries and collecting time difference between Eastern US mushrooms. Autumn foliage time and Finnish standard time is seven (ruska) when leaves change colour hours. From the end of March to the dramatically into a sea of bright reds end of September Finnish summer time and golden yellows, presages the is three hours ahead of GMT. Finland arrival of rains or snow is also a part of is, therefore, always one hour ahead of autumn. The darkest time of year is in central European time. November when leaves have fallen and The metric system is used in Finland. rain has not yet turned into snow, which The system for the sizes of clothing and will reflect light. shoes is the same that used in most The northern parts of the country Western European countries. will receive a coat of snow towards the end of October or early November, 4.8. Education while in the south it usually will not happen until early December. Winter Studying and training in Finland is a is also a time of the polar night, when safe but quite an exotic way to acquire the sun will not rise above the horizon academic and professional experience, in the north of the country at all for two as well as to gain personal growth months. while living in a foreign country and

14 another culture. the person is in Finland as a tourist or Education is highly valued in Finland, residing permanently. and the high standard of education A person residing permanently in a forms one of the cornerstones of country that has signed the Geneva or the Finnish national strategy. The Vienna Road Traffic Convention and Finnish education system consists of who holds a national or international preschool education, comprehensive driving licence or an official Finnish school, post-comprehensive general or Swedish translation of a national and vocational education, higher driving licence is entitled to drive education and adult education. The motor vehicles equivalent to those comprehensive school provides a indicated on the non-Finnish licence nine-year education programme provided that the person fulfils the (with a voluntary 10th year) for all Finnish age requirement to drive such school-aged children, beginning at vehicles. The afore-mentioned driving the age of seven. Post-comprehensive licence is valid in Finland for two years education is provided by general upper from the start of the holder’s period secondary schools (approximately of permanent residence in Finland three years, ending in the national provided that the licence is valid and no matriculation examination) and other reason exists for the termination vocational institutions (three years, of its validity. leading to upper secondary vocational The above also applies to driving qualifications). licences issued in Hong Kong, Macao or The Finnish institutions of higher Taiwan under the regulations of the area education are internationally oriented, and international driving licences. and the country’s good reputation in The right to drive is based on the higher education combined with a wide possession of a driving license issued range of courses offered in English to a person living permanently in a attracts an increasing number of country that has signed the Convention. international students. A driving license acquired in such a country during temporary residence 4.9. Driving License (for example as an exchange student) does not entitle the holder to drive in The following text is quoted from the Finland. official website of The Finnish Police: Other driving licences than those “Driving licenses issued in another listed above do not entitle the holder to EU or EEA country and interim driving drive in Finland. licenses issued in the Nordic countries Holders of foreign driving licences entitle the holder to drive motor vehicles who are permanently resident in Finland in Finland equivalent to those indicated must prove that they fulfil the health on the non-Finnish license. The driver requirements when they reach the age must be at least 18 years old. The right laid down in legislation.” to drive is valid regardless of whether

15 More information at www.poliisi.fi → 4.11. Sauna Licenses → Driving licenses Tips for driving in the winter and Sauna is an integral part of Finland. It is about winter tyres at the best place to relax your muscles and www.liikenneturva.fi forget your daily hurries and worries. A sauna can be anything from a room adjacent to a bathroom of a house or 4.10. National Holidays flat to a building of its own. Saunas also come in all sizes, the smallest being Below you find the most important big enough for just two people and the national holidays in Finland during the largest for 40 people. A sauna consists year. Most shops are closed on these of an electric or wood-heated furnace days and there may be some changes covered by several layers of medium- in the public transportation timetables sized stones, and benches that line the or it may not run at all. You should walls of the sauna on several levels remember this especially if arriving in around the furnace. The interior of a Finland on a national holiday. sauna is often made of pinewood treated especially to withstand large changes in New Year’s Day January 1 temperature and humidity. The sauna Epiphany January 6 also had a religious function before Good Friday March or April Christianity came to Finland: it was a (March 25, 2016) place where women gave birth and where Easter Sunday March or April the dead were washed before burial. (March 27, 2016) The temperature in a sauna can vary Easter Monday March or April between 80°C and 100°C and water is (March 28, 2016) thrown onto the stones to increase the First of May May 1 temperature and humidity. Usually only Ascension Day May 5, 2016 family members and really good friends Midsummer Eve Friday at the end of take mixed saunas, whereas public June saunas are never mixed. People swim (June 20, 2015 and before and in between taking a sauna, June 25, 2016) especially in the summer but also Midsummer Day Saturday at the end during the winter. For an extra special of June sauna experience we recommend a (June 20, 2015 and wood-heated sauna located beside a June 25, 2016) lake. No sauna is complete without a All Saints Day October 31, 2015 and “vihta” or “vasta”, which is basically a November 5, 2016 bunch of birch branches tied together. Independence Day December 6 The scented sap of the birch cleans the Christmas Eve December 24 skin and gives the sauna a pleasant Christmas Day December 25 scent. For the full effect, beat yourself Boxing Day December 26 lightly with the “vasta” after first

16 dipping it into a bucket of water. After 4.13. Drugs taking a sauna, it is polite to rinse the wooden bench, fill the bucket and Using, possessing and selling any replenish the wood in a wood-heated drugs are forbidden by law in Finland. furnace. The general atmosphere against all drugs is very strong compared to many 4.12. Alcohol and Smoking other countries. Opinion against drugs is very strong among students. These Finns do not consume more alcohol regulations are controlled strictly by the on average than other Europeans, customs and police. although drinking might be a bit more weekend and bar oriented than 5. Life in Lappeenranta elsewhere. The age limit for purchasing alcohol is 18 years for beer and wines, 5.1. University and 20 years for strong liquors. Wines and liquors are sold only at ALKO In Lappeenranta University of stores and are rather heavily taxed. Technology, as in most Finnish Most restaurants, bars and night clubs universities, lectures, seminars, group impose an age limit on their customers. exercises, independent work and The legal age limit to enter a restaurant exams have traditionally been the main is 18, but for certain nightclubs the study methods. Studying in Finland is limit may be 20 or even 24, so we generally regarded as relatively free suggest you carry an ID with you if you and independent, but you should keep plan to visit a bar. in mind that most of the exercises Finns are strictly against drinking are compulsory. Some students are and driving and therefore, as the surprised at the strong emphasis bars and nightclubs close for the on books as an essential source of night, people queue up at taxi stops. information compared to lectures. Finnish legislation permits a driver Many students find that the relationship a maximum blood alcohol content of between students and teachers in 0,05 %, which is equivalent to one beer Finland is relaxed and informal and during the evening. Driving drunk is a that teachers are easy to approach. punishable crime. Our university has a Language Centre There is also a strict anti-smoking where students may carry out additional law, which forbids smoking in public language studies, which are often buildings, bars, restaurants, working included in degree programmes. places and transports. Some places The Academic year is divided into have special built-in smoking rooms but two semesters. The autumn semester in general the smokers have to smoke runs from September to December and outside. Smoking in private homes is the spring semester from January to also inadvisable. May.

17 5.2. Accommodation boards on which you can find useful information, such as the sauna time The foreign students and trainees tables. generally live in student apartments The rent for a room in a LOAS owned by an organization called apartment depends on the floor area Lappeenranta Student Housing of the room, the age of the building Foundation (LOAS, Lappeenrannan and how recently the building has been Opiskelija-asuntosäätiö). Because renovated. The rent can vary between the number of students applying for 290 and 420 EUR, in addition to which the LOAS housing is big, students are you are required to pay a deposit of 200 advised to apply for housing as soon as euros. The rent for LOAS apartments their stay in Lappeenranta is confirmed. must be paid by the 5th of each month. No mattresses, duvets, pillows, bed The online housing application can linen, towels, curtains or kitchen be found at www.loas.fi utensils are included in the rent. It is recommended that you take a sleeping The flats are composed of two or bag and a pad with you for the first three individual rooms with a common nights. kitchen and a bathroom. Each room is LOAS apartments are not mixed. Male furnished with a bed, a large desk, a and female students can live in the desk lamp, a chair, a bookshelf and a same apartment on request only. Pets wardrobe. The kitchen is fully furnished are allowed in LOAS apartments as long with a kitchen table and chairs and as they do not disturb neighbours. equipped with a refrigerator, cupboards, The following items are NOT provided a sink, an electric cooker and an oven. in a LOAS apartment: The bathroom is fitted with a shower, a • Coat hangers sink and a toilet. • Dishes and cooking utensils The common facilities in LOAS • Cleaning material and toilet paper buildings usually consist of a laundry • Duvets, pillows, bed linen, towels, room equipped with washing machines, mattresses, curtains dryers and an iron and, of course, • A parking space in front of a LOAS saunas, which can be used free of building can be rented for 4 EUR/ charge. On certain days and hours the month. Due to the cold winter saunas are open for all the tenants in conditions in Finland every parking the building, with separate saunas for space has its own timer-controlled men and women. In addition, tenants electric connection for warming the can reserve a sauna for their personal car engine. Continental European cars use once a week. LOAS buildings also do not usually have the required contain additional facilities, such as electric socket and heater that can storage space for each tenant and bike be installed in all regular petrol shelters. In each LOAS building, near fuelled cars. the main entrance, there are bulletin

18 19 5.3 The Cost of Living and Shopping The town marketplace is open all year round during the mornings and offers University education in Finland is funded fresh food and handicrafts. The town by the government through the Ministry market hall is next to the marketplace. of Education so most students enrolled Kiosks like R-kioski are open every day in regular degree studies pay no tuition between 9 and 21 and sell a limited fees. The Student Union charges an variety of foodstuff, such as cheese, annual membership fee for its activities. bread and biscuits, as well as other Students have to pay for their books items such as newspapers, sim cards, and other materials, as well as their stamps and cigarettes. accommodation and living expenses. The There are six canteens in the campus total monthly living expenses of a single area: three in the university building, one student are on average approximately in Saimaa University of Applied Sciences 700 EUR. Do not forget personal and building, one in the Student Union leisure expenses. There are many things building and one in the Technopolis to do and see in Finland, and during Kareltek. Normal lunch costs about your stay you may also want to visit the 2 – 2,50 EUR with the student discount. neighbouring countries. Trainees are required to pay the staff It is possible to buy all the basic price of approximately 3 – 7 EUR. There household necessities, such as soap, are also lactose free and vegetarian shampoo, toilet paper and food in meals available in all canteens. a normal Finnish supermarket. All prices in Finland contain value- The larger supermarkets have an added tax (VAT). Tips are customary excellent selection of products ranging only for hotel and restaurant doormen from clothes to sports equipment. and porters. Restaurant and hotel Supermarkets are usually open between bills always include a service charge. 7 and 21 on weekdays, and between 7 Barbers, hairdressers and taxi drivers and 18 on Saturdays. Opening times do not expect to be tipped. on Sundays vary depending on the supermarket. Supermarkets are 5.4. Health Care generally closed on public holidays. In general, look for the store’s A Finnish student card entitles its private labels like Rainbow, X-tra, holder to free medical treatment from Euro Shopper, Pirkka and Eldorado the Finnish Student Health Service, to find less expensive products in FSHS (YTHS), at all universities in supermarkets. Quality is often as good Finland. FSHS at LUT is located in as with the more expensive brands. building 7, floors 1 and 2. It is open Most grocery stores give a 20% - 50% from Monday to Thursday at 8-15 and discount on products close to their Fridays at 8-14, from September to “best before” date. Look for colourful May. FSHS also provides dental care, as price tags on products. For sales look well as the possibility to see specialists for texts like alennus, ale and sale. for a small fee.

20 drive via Travel Centre (Matkakeskus) For more information about FSHS go where the railway and bus station are to www.fshs.fi situated. The university is the last stop for all buses and therefore hard to Trainees at LUT are entitled to free miss. The buses leave from downtown occupational health care services. every fifteen minutes and a ticket from Appointments are booked through downtown to the university costs 3,00 coordinator at International Services. EUR. On weekdays, midweek holidays When these services are not and weekdays after 5.30 p.m. a single available and you need urgent medical ticket costs 2,00 EUR. The students are assistance the local hospital treats entitled to a bus card of 22 trips that you. The South Karelia Central Hospital costs 35 EUR, a card of 44 trips that in Lappeenranta (Etelä-Karjalan costs 51 EUR or a monthly card that keskussairaala) provides an emergency costs 43 EUR. service during evenings, weekends and A taxi from downtown to the university public holidays. Citizens of EU/EEA costs about 18 EUR. There are taxi stops countries and Switzerland need to show in front of the main post office, at the their European Health Insurance Card railway station and in the market place. (EHIC) or private insurance documents. Tel. 0200 60 400. Citizens of other countries need to show a comprehensive health insurance 5.6. Banking document. In case of an emergency call 112. The banking hours in Finland are at 10- This number will connect you to the 16.30 on weekdays. The most common ambulance, fire department or police. forms of payment in Finland, in addition The emergency number does not to cash, are either bank or credit require an area code and phone call is cards, whereas cheques are not used free of charge. anymore. If you open an account in a Finnish 5.5. Local Transportation bank you can get a card which allows you to withdraw cash from automated There is a fairly good local bus teller machines and pay in various connection from downtown shops and restaurants. The ATMs Lappeenranta to the university. also accept international Visa and Unfortunately most bus drivers speak MasterCard. The easiest way to do English only a little. There is a yellow your banking is via internet. If you are rectangular sign with a picture of a bus staying in Lappeenranta for more than at every bus stop. Buses 1, 3 (during a semester you can make an internet semesters) and 5 drive through the banking agreement in a Finnish bank centre of Lappeenranta to the university when opening an account. Some banks (yliopisto). Most LOAS residences are offer these internet services also in situated near bus stops. Buses 3 and 5 English. It is the cheapest and easiest

21 way to do your banking in Finland 24 5.8. Laundry hours a day. If you have an internet banking The LOAS apartment buildings where option in your home country’s bank foreign students and trainees live offer and can pay your bills that way, it is not shared laundry facilities where washing necessary to open a bank account in machines can be used for free or for a Finland. small fee. There is one self-service laundrette 5.7. Postal Services in Lappeenranta, Pyykkityttö at Suonionkatu 27, and several dry There is one post office (posti) cleaners where clothes can be left for and several postal agencies in cleaning. Lappeenranta. The main post office in the downtown area is open on weekdays 5.9. Cinemas at 9-19 and on Saturdays at 10-14. The closest postal agency to the university is In Finland movies are not generally located in Siwa supermarket in district dubbed but nearly all foreign movies of Uus-Lavola and is open on during are subtitled in Finnish. This way you the supermarket’s opening times. can watch a movie without knowing Stamps can also be bought from kiosks, any Finnish at all. There are two bookstores (including the university cinemas in Lappeenranta; Nuijamies bookstore) and most supermarkets. and Kino-Aula which are both situated Mailboxes are orange or blue and bear downtown. You can buy discount movie the label “posti”. If there is a blue and tickets from the Student Union office an orange mailbox next to each other, at the price of 7 EUR. The Student the post with 1 class stamp goes to Union also has a film club which shows the blue mailbox and post with 2 class some films at the university. Note stamp goes to the orange mailbox. If though, that movies aimed for younger there is only an orange mailbox, both 1 audience (children) are often dubbed in and 2 class posts go in to that one. The Finnish. mail is collected from the boxes in the afternoons once every weekday. 5.10. Public Libraries

More information about postal You can find quite a few books and services at www.posti.fi/english even comics in foreign languages in Lappeenranta public libraries. To be When moving and changing your able to borrow books from libraries address you are required to fill out a you need a library card for which you special form (Notification of change of have to fill out an application form and address) that can be found in all post present your ID. Books, music and DVDs offices. You need it in order to have your can be borrowed free of charge. The mail sent to your new address. Sammontori library has quite a good

22 selection of books, as well as audio- providing services free of charge for video material. You can request books the students at LUT, it gives financial from the main library located in the and administrative support to over 30 town centre. Libraries are usually open clubs and societies covering a wide from 10 am till 7 pm on weekdays. The spectrum of recreational, cultural and opening hours may be shorter during religious activities. The Student Union the summer. also owns the Aalef group that runs There are three main public libraries the bookstore at the university and a in Lappeenranta: student canteen in the student union • The main library, Valtakatu 47 building and one restaurant in the city • Sammonlahti library, Sammontori centre. • Lauritsala library, Hallituskatu 27 Student Union activities are open to all the students at LUT and personal initiative is a greatly valued 6. Student Life characteristic. The Student Union especially welcomes any idea that you 6.1. Student Union as a foreign student or trainee may have to develop the Union, LUT or the The Student Union of Lappeenranta student community as a whole. We University of Technology was founded continuously encourage our foreign in 1969 to unite the students and students and trainees to present promote their academic and personal their own cultures and universities welfare. There are roughly 5,000 to the local students and are grateful student members. Finnish legislation for any positive influence you have requires that every university in on LUT. There are two people in the Finland must have a student union Student Union who are in charge of and that every person studying in the international affairs: the Secretary of university must be a member of the International Affairs and the Member Student Union. This also applies to of the Student Board on International all international students studying Affairs. in Finland for over three months. The Student Union takes care of More information on the Student certain duties provided by Finnish Union can be found at legislation, for example issues www.ltky.fi/en concerning the students’ health care. It also has student representatives in university administration and other administrative bodies. Although the Student Union seeks to promote the welfare of its student members, it also has a business function. In addition to

23 6.2. Student Card shops and meals at certain restaurants. The student card is not accepted If you will be studying at LUT as as an official identity card and it is an undergraduate/postgraduate therefore recommended that you keep (bachelor/master) student for at least your passport or national ID with you three months, you are obliged to join when doing official business. the Student Union. The membership Trainees are not eligible to join fee is 58,50 EUR for one semester and the Student Union and therefore will 117,00 EUR for one academic year. not get the Finnish student card. This payment needs to be executed However, they are entitled to a 50% through a bank transfer. As a member discount on railway and coach tickets. of the Student Union you have the An application form for this can be right to receive a Finnish student card obtained from the Student Services which costs 15.10 EUR and for which after arriving at LUT. you need to provide a digital passport photo. 6.3. University Clubs and The student card is ordered here Associations after you have paid the Student Union membership fee. The card can be paid The students of each department have instantly through an online banking their own student club, a guild. The system or you may print the generated guilds organise parties, excursions and payment slip. It is not possible to different kinds of happenings to unite accomplish the payment in the Student the students of each department. They Union office. Once your payment of also sell clothes with the logo of the Student Union fee (58,50 or 117,00 EUR) guild, badges and songbooks. One of the has been registered, the application will most visible signs of the guilds’ activities be processed. You will be notified when is the overalls that they provide for the card is ready to be picked up from their members. Each guild has different the Student Union office. colour overalls, and it is regarded as the A Finnish student card entitles its “student uniform” at most parties and holder to have lunch at a reduced price in excursions. You can buy overalls from all student canteens in Finland and free your guild. medical treatment at the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS or YTHS in Finnish) More information about guilds can at all the universities in Finland. be found also on the Student Union The Finnish student card also entitles webpage at its holder to a 50 % discount on railway www.ltky.fi/en/content/guilds and coach tickets. Other advantages provided by the student card include There are about 30 clubs at the discounts on concert, theatre, museum university. They all offer students the and exhibition tickets, swimming pool opportunity to have a good time doing entry charges, purchases at various things they are interested in. Most

24 clubs. As an ESN member, students clubs are active during the fall and have the access to overalls, parties spring semesters. You can find more and bunch of other fun activities that information about them on the bulletin are organized throughout the year. boards at the university. ESN Lappeenranta is run by volunteers and definitely welcomes enthusiastic More information about clubs can people to join. For more information be found also on the Student Union about ESN Lappeenranta see fb/com/ webpage at esnlappeenranta. www.ltky.fi/en/content/clubs 6.4. Traditional Events ESN Lappeenranta Lappeenranta offers many possibilities One club is especially worth mentioning to live active student life full of here. LUT has an Erasmus Student traditional events and parties during Network section, called ESN the whole year. Taking part in the events Lappeenranta. “Erasmus Student is a good way to meet new people and Network (ESN) is a non-profit have lots of fun! In the events you can international student organisation. definitely meet Finnish people. Some of Our mission is to represent international the most traditional events are: students, thus provide opportunities Freshmen weeks in the beginning of for cultural understanding and self- the autumn semester are organized to development under the principle help new students to get to know each of Students Helping Students.” Starting other and other university students. from fall 2011, ESN Lappeenranta will This is why there are parties and events have their own blue overalls and will almost every day for the first two definitely stand out from the rest of the weeks. They include for example the

Here is a list of the guilds at LUT:

Guild Department Colour of overalls Armatuuri ry. Energy Technology students white Cluster ry. Information Technology students red Kaplaaki ry. Industrial Engineering and Management students blue KeTek ry. Chemical Technology students black KRK ry. Mechanical Technology students orange Enklaavi ry. Business Administration students neon yellow Sätky ry. Electric Engineering students green Pelletti ry. Environmental Technology students grey

25 beach party with contests and a city campus are available for students after orienteering with fun games. the student has purchased sports pass Sauna evenings are organized every (gym services) or group sports pass Tuesday. Besides going to the sauna you (gyms, sports groups and other welfare can relax and play games there. services). Sitsit (Sitz Party) stands for having All SaLUT’s services and fees can be dinner, singing drinking songs, and found at www.salut.fi/en/ drinking. Another club responsible of sports Finnhits is a traditional 70s style party services is called Parru ry. Parru is and one of the most popular parties of one of Student Union’s clubs and their the year. website is www.parru.info People get dressed in their best at You can practise almost every type of academic balls. A three-course menu sport imaginable in Lappeenranta. Here with drinks is being served and people are some examples: sing traditional drinking songs. Liugur is a snowy winter event where Aerobics & Gym students sled down the hill on funny Huhtiniemi, Syke Gym, Platinum, sledges that can be made of anything Lehmus and LadyLine (females only) from sofas to bathtubs. The strangest sports centres offer gyms and several sledge wins an award. different kinds of aerobic sessions held Wappu is celebrated for over two every day, including Les Mills classes. weeks full of parties and events. It is the During the summer there are outdoor grand finale of the spring semester and aerobic sessions by the harbour for 1 anxiously waited all year long. EUR. • Syke Gym, at Technopolis (Skinnarila), 6.5. Sports Teknologiapuistonkatu, in the city centre Kauppakatu 66 The university and the area around it and Ainonkatu 31. Tel 05-4202 3910, provide great possibilities for sport www.sykegym.fi enthusiasts. SaLUT - Higher Education • Etelä-Karjalan Liikuntakeskus Sports and Welfare Services at LUT (Huhtiniemi), Pelitie 36, tel. (05) 541 and Saimaa University of Applied 9600, www.liikuntakeskus.com Sciences – is responsible of a wide • Lehmus, Valtakatu 51, range of sports and welfare services tel. (05) 544 6900, www.lehmus.fi as well as organizing a variety of demo • Lady Line, Snellmaninkatu 10, classes and events on campus. Activities tel. (05) 541 1340, are designed to promote students’ lappeenranta.ladyline.fi health and create cohesiveness between different training programmes and Athletics higher education institutions. There are The municipal track and field centres also great possibilities to go jogging in close to the harbour can be used free of the campus area. All sports services on charge.

26 27

Badminton, Floor ball, Skiing Basketball, Squash There are many possibilities to go cross- Check the SaLUT bulletin board at the country skiing in Lappeenranta. The university. Here are the addresses of Student Union rents skis to international some other places where these sports students with a small fee. Please can be played: contact Secretary of International Affairs • Huhtiniemi, Pelitie 36, [email protected] for more information. There tel. (05) 541 9600 is also a small downhill skiing centre in • Sammonlahti, Ruskonlahdenkatu 7, Joutseno (30 km from Lappeenranta) tel. 040 1580 520 called Myllymäki. The university downhill skiing club LaSkin organises Ballet, Dance skiing trips to Lapland every winter. For dance lessons, contact Lappeenrannan Tanssiopisto Swimming (Lappeenranta Dance School), During the winter a swimming pool is tel. 040-0854281 open to the public. It is in the downtown area at Pohjolankatu 29, tel. (05) Boxing 616 3020. Outdoor swimming pool in K.O. Club, Koulukatu 21, toimisto@ Myllysaari beach is open all the year koclub.fi, www.koclub.fi round and it is located about 1 kilometre from the harbour. In the summer Equestrian Sports you can enjoy the many beaches in Contact Hubertusseura, ratsastustalli, Lappeenranta. Salpausselänkatu 94, tel. 040 746 5658. www.ltky.fi/en

Ice Hockey, Skating Tennis During the winter there are many For information on tennis courts outdoor skating rinks in Lappeenranta, maintained by the city of Lappeenranta, which can be used free of charge. There call (05) 616 3014; for the courts in is also an indoor skating rink owned by Lauritsala (05) 616 4775. the city at Kisakatu 9, tel. (05) 616 3023. More information on sports can be obtained quite easily. Check out the Martial Arts bulletin boards at the university, For karate, contact Lappeenrannan the webpages of the Student Union Shukokai ry., [email protected], (www.ltky.fi/en) or ask your tutor. The tel. +358 400 557 558. For other martial secretary of international affairs will arts (aikido, judo, taekwondo, hoi jeon also help you on this ([email protected]). moo sool, kick boxing) contact the sports club.

28 7. Finnish Language No Ei Finland is a bilingual country with two Excuse me, sorry Anteeksi official languages, Finnish and Swedish. I’m sorry. Olen The number of Swedish speaking people pahoillani. is about 5%. I don’t understand. En ymmärrä. I don’t speak Finnish. En puhu 7.1. Pronunciation suomea. Do you speak English? Puhutko Finnish pronunciation is quite easy since englantia? each letter in a word is pronounced and How are you? Mitä kuuluu? there is only one way of pronouncing Fine, thank you Kiitos hyvää each letter. When speaking Finnish you Goodbye Näkemiin must remember to always stress the See you later Nähdään first syllable. Many words appear to be Bye Hei hei very long and these are often composed of several separate words. These 8. Useful Addresses and Phone compounds are very common in Finnish Numbers and often replace complete phrases. In Finnish, every letter is pronounced, Emergency number 112 and therefore, a double letter is stressed. In case of an emergency call 112. The meaning of the word depends on the This number will connect you to the length of the vowels and syllables. ambulance, fire department or police. The emergency number does not A as in cAr aamu (morning) require an area code and phone call is E as in tElEphone eilen (yesterday) free of charge. I as in pIn pilvi (cloud) O as in lAw omena (apple) Police U as in pOOl tuuli (wind) The police station is located in Y like the French sUr yleensä downtown at Raatimiehenkatu 22. (usually) There is also a lost property office Ä as in hAt päivä (day) (Löytötavaratoimisto) which is open from Ö as in fUr yö (night) Monday to Friday at 9-12 and 13-16.15.

7.2. Basic Expressions OTHERS

Finland Suomi Cafés Finnish, a Finn suomalainen • Arnolds, Shopping Centre IsoKristiina Finnish (language) suomi • Cafe G Bar, Kareltek Building G Hello, hi Hei, moi, terve (next to the Student Union House) Thank you Kiitos • Coffee House, Armada shopping Here you are Ole hyvä centre, Kauppakatu 29 Yes Kyllä • Majurska, fortress, Kristiinankatu 1

29 Lappeenranta University of Technology P.O. Box 20 / Skinnarilankatu 34, FIN - 53851 Lappeenranta Websites at Uni portal: uni.lut.fi → Studies and Services → Student services Office hours: Mon-Thu at 9.30-15, Fri at 9.30-14

Mr Janne Hokkanen Director for Study and International Affairs Tel. +358 40 9003617 E-mail [email protected]

Ms Virpi Maunuksela Ms Mervi Karhula International Coordinator Secretary for Career Services Tel. +358 40 738 1315 Tel. +358 40 516 4356 E-mail [email protected] E-mail [email protected]

Ms Kaisa Nikku International Coordinator Tel. +358 40 576 2642 E-mail [email protected]

Student Union of Lappeenranta University of Technology Internet www.ltky.fi/en E-mail: [email protected] (Secretary of International Affairs)

• Cafe Aleksandra, Toikankatu 2 Camping Sites • Cafe Aleksanteri, Valtakatu 42 Huhtiniemen Matkailukeskus • Cafe Kristiina, Shopping centre Finnhostel, Kuusimäenkatu 18, IsoKristiina, Kaivokatu 9 tel. (05) 451 5555 • Caffe Violet (Turkish cafe), Kauppakatu 28 Cinemas • Galleria Cafeteria, Galleria shopping • Kino-Aula, Valtakatu 39, centre, Kauppakatu 40 tel. (05) 457 0065 • Picnic, Shopping Centre IsoKristiina • Nuijamies, Valtakatu 39, • Robert’s Coffee, Shopping Centre tel. (05) 457 0066 IsoKristiina www.nuijamies.com

30 Department Stores and Supermarkets Puhakankatu 9–11 (in Prisma), • Anttila, IsoKristiina shopping centre tel. 010 195 100, www.lahitapiola.fi (Brahenkatu 5) • OP Pohjola, Pormestarinkatu 4, • Citymarket, Toikansuontie 4 tel. 0303 0303, www.op.fi • K-Supermarket IsoKristiina, Kaivokatu 9 Liquor Stores (ALKO) • K-Supermarket Sammonlahti, • IsoKristiina, Kaivokatu 9 Korpikunnaankatu 1 • Prisma, Puhakankatu 9–11 • Lidl, Myllymäenkatu 36 • Citymarket, Toikansuontie 4 • Lidl, Pelkolankatu 3 • Lidl, Puhakankatu 1 Night Clubs • Prisma, Puhakankatu 9–11 • Giggling Marlin, Oksasenkatu 2 • Robin Hood, Myllymäenkatu 34 • Ilona, Snellmaninkatu 10 • S-Market IsoKristiina, Kaivokatu 9 • Upside, Valtakatu 34 • S-Market Lappeenranta, Kauppakatu • Old Cock, Valtakatu 54 29-31 (in the city centre) • Wiltsu, Kauppakatu 39 • S-Market Pallo, Satamatie 30 • S-Market Sammonlahti, Orioninkatu 2 Pharmacies (apteekki) • Valintatalo, Kourula, Katajakatu 10 • Lappeenrannan I apteekki, Prisma • Valintatalo, Ratakatu 31 (near the • Lappeenrannan Keskusapteekki, Travel Centre) Kauppakatu 43 • Lappeenrannan Keskusapteekki, Flea markets Sammonlahden sivuapteekki, • Kontti, Kauppakatu 51 Orioninkatu 2, Sammonlahti • Euro-Kirppis, Lentäjäntie 17-19 • Yliopiston Apteekki, Valtakatu 37 • Suomi-Kirppis, Lentäjäntie 17-19 • Kirpputori Vilma’s, Ratakatu 33 Places of Worship • Lutheran Churches: Lappeenranta, Hostels and Hotels Lappee, Lauritsala, Sammontori • citiMOTEL, Kannelkatu 1 • The Orthodox Church, Fortress • Gasthaus Kantolankulma, • Jehovah’s Witnesses, Kantokatu 19 Kimpisenkatu 19 • Methodists, Kiviharjunkatu 3 • Finnhostel, Kuusimäenkatu 18 • Baha’i Community, tel. (05) 452 3342 • Hotel Cumulus, Valtakatu 31 • Catholic mass in the Orthodox Church • Scandic Hotel Patria, Kauppakatu 21 every month’s 3rd Sunday • Sokos Hotel Lappee, Brahenkatu 1 • Catholic Church, Valimontie 1, • Summer Hotel Karelia-Park 45100 Kouvola (open during summer 1.6.-31.8.), Korpraalinkuja 1 Pubs • BIG J’s Bar, Kauppakatu 28 Insurance Companies • Birra, Kauppakatu 27 • LähiTapiola, Oksasenkatu 1 and • Green Apple, Valtakatu 34

31 • Hemingway’s, Valtakatu 31 Taxi • Irish Pub Old Park, Valtakatu 36 • Taxi service, tel. 0200 60 400 • Lucky Monkeys, Valtakatu 42 • Old Cock, Valtakatu 54 The City Theatre • Teerenpeli, Kauppakatu 28 Valtakatu 56-58, tel. (05) 453 1155 • Prinsessa Armada, harbour (in the summer) Tourist Information • Suvi-Saimaa, harbour (in the summer) Valtakatu 37, tel. (05) 667 788, • Kasinoterassi, harbour www.gosaimaa.com/en/ (in the summer) Transportation Restaurants • Lappeenranta airport, www.finavia.fi • Amarillo Lappeenranta, Valtakatu 33 • The central bus station • Casanova, Brahenkatu 1 (Matkakeskus), tel. 0200 4053, • Daddy’s Diner & Grill, www.matkahuolto.fi Shopping Centre IsoKristiina • The railway station (Matkakeskus), • Golden Rax Pizza Buffet, Oksasenkatu 2 tel. 0307 20902, www.vr.fi • Gringos Locos, Snellmaninkatu 10 • The passenger harbour: Karelia Lines, • Hesburger, Prisma, Puhakankatu 9–11 tel. (05) 453 0380, www.karelialines.fi/ • Huviretki, Valtakatu 31 • Kotipizza, Shopping Centre Travel Agencies IsoKristiina • Kilroy Travels Finland, • McDonald’s, Ratakatu 29 tel. 0203 545769, www.kilroy.fi • Olé, Raatimiehenkatu 18 • Matka-Miettinen Saimaa Tours, • Ristorante con Amore, Shopping Kirkkokatu 10, tel. (05) 453 0110 centre Weera, Kauppakatu 39 • Matkapojat, Kauppakatu 40 D, • Rosso, Kauppakatu 29 tel. 010 2323 890 • Tang Capital, Shopping Centre • Matka-Vekka, Valtakatu 27, IsoKristiina tel. 020 1204 330 • Trattoria Casa, Shopping Centre • Pohjolan Matka, Valtakatu 49, IsoKristiina tel. 0201 303 500, • Wanha Makasiini, Satamatie 4 www.pohjolanmatka.fi • Wolkoff, Kauppakatu 26 • Saimaan Liikenne, Ajurinkatu 10, tel. (05) 4317 187 • Saimaan MatkaVerkko, Kipparinkatu 1, tel. (05) 541 0100

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35 Lappeenranta University of Technology

International and Career Services P.O. Box 20 53851 Lappeenranta Finland

www.lut.fi

2015 – 2016