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Being back in the UK, it's hard to believe that the wonderful, crazy, hectic, amazing experience of the MINE IP actually happened. From a purely social aspect of the MINE IP we were by a previous MINE member that we wouldn't expect to, but would make great friends. I remember thinking, 2 weeks... sure we can be social, but great friends are hard to find... I was wrong. Maybe it was because we were thrown together, maybe it was all of the cultural experiences, maybe it was all of the late night socialising that we did in Pori outside of the MINE IP, but great friends I have made, and am looking forward to seeing again.

I didn't really enter into the MINE IP knowing what expectations to have, as the final article of the IP was a student lead conference, there were no set guidelines, and we ultimately made as much or as little work for ourselves as we decided. I think that it's fair to say that others found that an easier concept than others. I thought that Caroline's session on learning styles was really interesting, it highlighted how we had all been taught and examined up to that point, which went some way to explain how everyone's attitudes and approaches differed towards such an informally structured programme.

Even though we worked as a whole group to create the conference, we were split into smaller groups to divide all the work out. 5 groups were created (plus the mentors' group). There were 3 topics that were suggested to cover:
1 - difference in curricula
2 - difference in the role of the nurse
3 - preparation for exchange
I was quite pleased that I was in the group that got the third topic for discussion. As I am on an exchange programme in my final year when I am at university it made me confront come of the anxieties that I had, and gave by talking to others who are considering going on exchange we swapped ideas and gave each other things to think about. We also interviewed students who are currently on exchange, and those that have completed exchanging whilst on a nursing degree and how they feel that it has benefited them. This gave me, personally, a lot of perspective, and put a lot of my nerves to rest. As I am planning to exchange with Samk University, I now know where I will be, and some people that are going to be about, so I feel very fortunate to have experienced the MINE IP in Pori.

The group working wasn't always easy. As my group was covering the third topic we just worked as a group of six. The other four groups though came together to make two big groups to cover the remaining two topics. I think that they had a few more issues with communication than we did. Also, possible, trying to decide who the leaders of the groups are was harder with more people. We found it difficult at times trying to get ideas across as there is such a difference in our mother-tongues. Thankfully I have had a lot of practice talking English, but those from other countries appeared to have difficulties getting their points across at times - google translate really came in handy!

I am really proud of the updates that this years MINE IP group did to the WIKI. It was one of the tools that was created to aid exchange students. This was a part of the project that my group was responsible for. One of the first patches that we had to do was to assess the WIKI page, and there were a load of ideas that came out from peoples evaluations of it. Although time was short, and there were many technological issues that seemed to plague the IP, I feel that each country can be proud of the contributions that went to better the WIKI page:
http://minestudentandmentortoolkits.middlesex.wikispaces.net/

All of the work done by each group, I believe, will better our practice. It's easy to follow the trends, and continue to do what was done before. It is only when something new is shown to you that you begin to question and changes can be made. I hope that this is something that everyone will take from this.

I am so glad that I applied to be part of the once in a lifetime experience that was MINE IP 2012. I don't think that many courses that I will be a part of will be so intense, extreme, sleep depriving, but at the same time to enjoyable, amazing, fantastic and in time looked back so fondly of. Like many of the talks about touched on, the growing use of technology is something that I am happy with. It has allowed us to share and exchange photos and comments. It means that everyone who was involved in MINE really has the potential to stay in contact for life. The use of facebook and blogging means that our memories can be shared and enjoyed by so many other people. The MINE IP is something to look back on and be proud of. The idea that a meeting of 50ish people in a small town in Finland has given us all connections over Europe is an amazing though, and in London we are looking forward to receiving a fellow MINE member from Italy next week as she embarks on her exchange! Fully informed as to what she is stepping into (or at least we hope!)

I really feel that this IP has benefited me in so many ways. It has opened my eyes to the idea that there are so many approaches, that all result in the same goals. My confidence has grown so much, it's crazy. We came back from Pori, and were immediately in practical placements. Prior to the IP, I was always anxious to take the first step when experiencing something new, I introduced myself with confidence and felt like I had found my feet immediately. Confidence is not something that comes easy to most people, and I am so glad that the IP has boosted mine!

It's been said many times already, but in this last blog, I would like to say my thanks to all the MINE students, MINE mentors, MINE coordinators and everyone who was involved! Including the Elves! There are far far far too many people to name, but that doesn't take away how thankfully I think everyone is that you made this all possible.

Cultural Experiences

One of the highlights for me was the cultural experiences. It's very easy to become set in ones' ideas, routines and to simply become set in your own ways. I have found that it is only when you are confronted with something totally different from the norm for you, that you can really appreciate the differences in life. With globalisation, and easy access to everything now with the internet and social media, it's easy to have ideas as to what goes on outside of your world, experiencing them though can be totally different!

All of our meals out were really enjoyable. And the fish wasn't as bad as expected...! I was glad that everyone embraced the differences in diets.... I am quite partial to potatoes and meat anyway, so I was happy! They were all really relaxed times where we could socialise and really get to know each other.

Had someone told me that I would go into a sauna (fine) and then go for a dip in a small section of the sea that had been kept unfrozen (not so fine), and told me that I would then do it for a second time, I would have called them mad!

I went 'swimming' in there TWICE. I say swimming.... lost my footing when in there, so I think that counts!

I think that doing something so crazy will help me to approach new opportunities with an open mind... truth be told, ! actually liked it! Not something to be done every day of the week... sauna maybe! Much easier than rolling in snow anyway. Yes, we did that too!

European Videos and Market Day (Day 2)

I don't think that it would be correct to go straight into the telling everyone that we had fun... we did actually do some work :) (Promise Mum!!!)

Prior to coming to Finland, we were all given a brief to create a digital video about us, our cities and university... and in true MINE style there was very little information given in design or structure! This resulted in all the videos being totally different, and yet all very informative, capturing what it was like to live and work in each country. Focus from each video weighed onto different aspects of daily living, for the Danish video, there was a lot of information about the university and the hospitals, the London lot focused more on what living was like... basically we just wanted and excuse to go sightseeing. And the Finnish video, was... well you could see that Pori is a very small place, and you need to come up with creative ways to amuse yourself here!

The videos were a great way to not only introduce our universities, hospitals and cities,  but it also gave us an idea as to who we were about to spend two weeks with. For this aspect, the videos were a great icebreaker, it automatically gave us something to ask the person sitting next to us, it put a name to a face, that until now we could only really do on Facebook and it lightened the mood, a lot of laughing went on there!

From there, we set up our European Market. We Brits went for cheese and pickle on crackers, marmite (naturally!), loads of cadburys' things, Scottish shortbread, Ale of some description, Victoria sponge, pork pies and probably a few other bits! The point of the Market is not only a social activity, but each country can show off it's best food-y bits... I have to admit, I am not sure that marmite fits into that category, but it had to be done! Each table had something new, and unique that forces us to interact... after a couple of drinks from the Czech table though and we were all great friends... some better than others!

The Market stands also had information about the universities and cities again. London underground tube maps and Maltese fliers seemed to be all over the place, I came back with a goody-bag full of things from the Finnish table... I don't think that I will be out of alcohol hand gel for a while!

Day 1 of MINE!

I hope you're sitting comfortable, so I'll begin :)


Day 1:

I suppose that anticipation hung over all of us, no-one knowing exactly what they had let themselves in for, not only got the MINE Project, but also coming to Finland for 2 weeks, the weather being very different for many of us... I am pleased to say that although it's much snowier and colder here, it's not as wet as what we Brits are accustomed too, quite pleasant really.

After the initial housekeeping bits and bobs that have to be completed, we were given a tour of the local hospital. It didn't take long at all for differences to become very obvious between all the different ways to how each country works and operates. Initially the biggest shocks for me was the patient:nurse ratio, a higher percentage of people on the ward being trained nurses, and the small things, like decorated day rooms with instruments, a variety of seats, and it being a pleasant place to be as opposed to an overflow for nursing notes to be written. Having come to an immediate decision that this simply was a better system than the one I was accustomed to, I thought no more of it, and was essentially in awe, seeing all the best bits... It realised later, when I was talking to a fellow student that the system that I am from is totally different from the one that's been shown off to me. The shear size of population in Pori simply doesn't compare to that of London, (London's population being roughly 95 times larger than that of Pori). Once this had been pointed out to me, it became far more understandable as to why the hospital visited in Pori seemed less full, and less hectic and didn't appear to be running on limited resources... it simply was!

Our first day of MINE ended with a 'naming and gaming' session, put on by students now on ERASMUS in Pori, who were involved with the MINE IP last year in Malta. Up until this point we were beginning to recognise people's faces in relation to their country group... but had had little exchange with one another. It's fascinating how quickly people can work well together once a common goal is put in front of people, and how people from different nationalities with different languages can work well (save a few exceptions!) when barriers like communication is levelled out for everyone... no talking. The whole of the Intensive Programme (IP) is done in English... being one of the UK delegations, I have no problems with this, but for those who aren't so used to speaking constantly in a foreign language, this can be incredibly daunting. I found it really fascinating to see how peoples confidence shifted once that hurdle had been taken away. Hopefully this will remind me to be more mindful of those I am working along side during this IP that I don't build on barriers that may already be there, and use skills that I have acquired to take things further, and to learn off each other better ways to work together.

In Finland At Last...

So, who doesn't like a 4:30am start to their day in London, when it snowed the night before...? Upon waking the snow had turned to slush... Needless to say that I wasn't very impressed, but we made our way down the hill to the bus stop. Said bus didn't turn up, so we waited 20 mins in the dark and cold waiting for the next one to turn up (you will spot a trend here... we had also had no coffee or breakfast at this point, and were rather grouchy!) Normally travel in the UK isn't that bad... but the UK is not used to white stuff falling from the skies, and everything runs to a halt... yes, our connecting train link was cancelled... as was the first replacement train running with a different service... :) Crammed on the train, we eventually made it to Heathrow, where all of the UK managed to find each other (some running a little later than others, but all on time). We make our way to the baggage drop, all having weighed out bags, and ourselves (some a little happier now than others) only to be told... flight is delayed... and you may have problems with the connecting flight... everyone very polite and accepting that mother natures sense of humour is out of our control!

After visiting nearly every shop in Heathrow terminal 3 (yes there are lots!) we make it onto a plane... yipee!!! And have a rather pleasant flight to Helsinki, well, apparently it wasn't too bad, I slept pretty much all the way (thankfully there isn't photographic evidence... I may not be so lucky now on the return flight! Arriving in Helsinki unsurprisingly late, we are told that we will have to wait for the night flight... Several hours later (and a few more mishaps) we get onto a plane, and are on our way to Pori!

Landing 40 minutes-ish later, we practically jump off the plane, we have finally made it! Pori, our home for the next 2 weeks, and are greeted by rather friendly (even though a little tired) faces :) We are kindly shown to our hostel and get set up in our rooms, I am pleased to add they are lovely and warm!

Now, a new horror is realised... it's about 3am Pori time... and we have to be up at 7am... and we haven't unpacked or got sorted for the next day...

WIKI Review and Thoughts About Finland

I have to say that I found the wiki site really interesting (http://minestudentandmentortoolkits.middlesex.wikispaces.net/UK). I liked that there was a lot of information about the countries, the universities and the hospitals, many with maps included which I loved as my sense of directions is appalling, so I can start to study them now! I especially liked the little insights into cultures, mannerisms and what is socially acceptable, these were really interesting, as it's not always something that you initially think of when visiting or moving abroad... language being one of the biggies!

Being a creative person (or at least considering myself one), I would have liked to have seen a bit more colour, and possibly formatted a little differently. I suppose with the wiki site being in English, it's understandable that there are perhaps a few little bits here and there that seem disjointed. This doesn't mean to take anything away from the considerable work that has obviously gone into it. The wiki itself also goes to show how things change and progress.... especially London travel prices, sorry for those who don't know, but once again they have increased.... eeeeek!

We had a meeting earlier in the week about MINE and got a few details about it, and I am really excited, it seems to have come round really quickly, but I can't wait! We have been warned about the size of plane between Helsinki and Pori... it can't be that bad, right?!? My colleagues and I were told about the short film that we have to do about London and us etc... This I am more concerned about, and I might be the one holding the camera! We're trying to decide what are the best bits to show you, and whether the weather will hold off so it doesn't look like we live underwater!

So, I have a mass of work that I should be cracking on with, this is so much more fun though, my inner monologue can run wild! (Hope it doesn't get me into trouble)! And I'll see you all in person soon enough!

x

Social Networking

Having moved countries a few times already, I have found social networking sites, such as Facebook invaluable. I moved from the UK to Germany on my own, aged 18, straight from school, to become an AuPair (the reasoning for me not becoming a paediatric nurse!). Out there I had no connections, and knew no one apart from the families that I worked for. I discovered groups to join and got to know people.

However, now comes a far more dangerous prospect… colleagues and faculty members are contacting me on Facebook! This isn’t to say that I live up to the modern stereotypes of teenage/young Brits of binge drinking and hooliganism, but I enjoy an occasional bit of fancy dress and my dance moves are a little hazardous! Unfortunately, the company that I keep seem to have cameras attached to them!

I am aware that in the near-ish future a time comes that I have to act my age and not a smurf or a reindeer when the intimidating thought of getting a job becomes a reality, but until that time, I think I’ll just have to learn how to limit who has access to my photos! Now to learn how to do that! May just put off for another week, as leaning how to blog is quite enough for now… and I have far far far too many photos!