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2023-2024
Helsinki 2023
Helsinki 2023
November 30th, 2023
Yesterday, a cheerful group from France arrived, consisting of 15 young people and three teachers. They were warmly welcomed by enthusiastic hosts from Hellu, who greeted their guests with open arms. This week is filled with anticipation and excitement as the host families from Hellu extend their hospitality and share the wonders of Finnish lifestyle.
Hier, un groupe joyeux est arrivé de France, composé de 15 jeunes et de trois enseignants. Ils ont été accueillis avec enthousiasme par les hôtes de Hellu, qui les hébergeront pendant une semaine. Cette semaine s'annonce pleine d'attente et d'excitation alors que les familles d'accueil de Hellu offrent leur hospitalité et partagent les merveilles du mode de vie finlandais.
December 2nd, 2023
The collaboration with the students from Embrun, France, kicked off in earnest on Thursday, although the students had already gotten to know each other through communication services for a couple of months. We initially worked on the theme of well-being at school, and afterwards, under the guidance of our counselor Hannele, we visited Oodi. Oodi, celebrating its 5th anniversary next week, is indeed a prime promoter of well-being!
La collaboration avec les étudiants d'Embrun en France a vraiment démarré jeudi, bien que les étudiants se soient déjà rencontrés via des services de communication depuis quelques mois. Nous avons travaillé initialement sur le thème du bien-être à l'école, puis, guidés par Hannele, nous avons visité Oodi. Oodi, qui fête ses cinq ans la semaine prochaine, est vraiment un promoteur du bien-être par excellence !
December 3rd, 2023
After Friday's school session, which included regular lessons as well as project work, we dared to make a somewhat extreme visit to Suomenlinna in rather chilly weather conditions. The Tuomaan Market offered a lovely atmosphere, mulled wine, and cinnamon buns, which thankfully warmed us up nicely.
Après la session scolaire du vendredi, qui comprenait des cours normaux ainsi que des travaux de projet, nous avons osé faire une visite un peu extrême à Suomenlinna dans des conditions météorologiques assez glaciales.
Les marchés de Noël ont offert une atmosphère charmante, du glögi et des brioches à la cannelle, qui ont heureusement bien réchauffé.
December 7th, 2023
Last Monday, the day's initial highlight featured a lecture on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) by the esteemed Research Professor Timo Partonen from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. He graciously shared his time and expertise, and addressed numerous questions from over 150 highly engaged students.
The second highlight was a visit to Löyly, an exceptional sauna located by the Baltic Sea, recognized as one of Time Magazine's "World 100 Greatest Places."
The visitors thoroughly enjoyed their stay, commenting: “I really loved it, as it was very relaxing and life changing”, “I got so much energy for the rest of the day, it was the perfect moment to take a break from my busy daily life full of schoolwork and hobbies”
The sauna is a haven for relaxation, providing an opportunity to connect with others and engage in meaningful conversations. Löyly stands out as a modern and luxurious public sauna with a cozy atmosphere. It boasts three distinct saunas: a smaller, more intimate private sauna that can be booked for events, a smoke-heated sauna, and a larger, more spacious traditional Finnish sauna.
The sauna offers various health benefits, including detoxification, stress management, and relaxation. Following a stress-relieving session in the warmth of the sauna, it's a delightful experience to take a dip in the icy yet invigorating waters of the Baltic Sea. Ice swimming, for instance, contributes to mood enhancement and improved blood circulation. You can also pause your sauna experience by savoring a refreshing drink by the fireplace and engaging in conversation with fellow visitors.
December 8th, 2023
On the last morning, the exchange group focused on project work before enjoying a fun afternoon activity: ice skating at Tapiola Ice Garden. The project work will continue in January when Finnish students, in turn, head to the French Alps to experience student exchange life.
Le dernier matin du groupe d'échange a été consacré au travail sur le projet avant une activité joyeuse l'après-midi : du patin à glace au jardin de glace de Tapiola. Le travail sur le projet se poursuivra en janvier, lorsque les étudiants finlandais se rendront à leur tour dans les Alpes françaises pour goûter à la vie d'étudiant en échange.
Embrun 2024
Embrun 2024
January 25th, 2024
Bonjour! Terveisiä Ranskasta! Greetings from France!
The highlight of our Erasmus+ exchange project is the study trip to the Alps. Some students stay with host families, while others stay at the school's boarding facilities. The first day was short because in France, Wednesdays are either completely free or only last until lunchtime, which may not be ideal since the other days have school until 8 am - 6 pm (!). We explored the village of Embrun (population 6,500), which was an important religious center in medieval times. In addition to the cathedral from the 14th century, the small village had no less than 7 churches. Many of them were destroyed, but fountains were always built in their place. Embrun's small medieval center only expanded in the 1960s when the new artificial lake began to be utilized, and tourism began to flourish: in the summer, activities such as sailing and surfing are available, while in winter, there is skiing and snowboarding. Embrun has the driest and sunniest climate in the area, which is why it has earned the nickname "The Nice of the Alps". Sunglasses are definitely needed.
January 27th, 2024
On Thursday, we had an excursion day to the magnificent landscapes of Vars ski resort. We made our way there on snowshoes. In Vars, the rescue team demonstrated how a dog can locate a person buried under snow. We had the opportunity to try out an amazing six-seater ski lift. Sunglasses were definitely a must for this trip.
Friday was once again a school day with regular classes and project work.
January 29th, 2024
Bonjour!
Each student spent the weekend with their host family. Some of them lived here in Embrun, while others came from farther away. This is why they stay in the school dormitories during the week.
The weekend program included attending the Monte Carlo Rally, which was taking place nearby in Gap, as well as rock climbing, skiing, shopping, and indulging in local delicacies.
* The weekend was spent skiing on the sunny slopes of the Alps and enjoying Fondue Bourguignonne!
* We climbed a mountain.
* We visited Gap, where we went shopping and watched rally cars.
* We went to see the Monte Carlo World Rally and got to see one of Gap's most famous celebrities: Sebastien Ogier.
* We went shopping in Gap and explored Embrun.
* On Saturday, we went skiing in the beautiful landscapes of Les Orres ski resort. In the evening, we enjoyed raclette with the host family's relatives, and it was lovely to join them for dinner.
* We spent the weekend shopping, having coffee with friends, sunbathing, and swimming.
* We visited Marseille to admire the scenery and do some shopping.
* On Saturday, we went for a walk by the lake with the host family. On Sunday, we went skiing.
January 31st, 2024
Bonjour!
On the second day of our excursion, we had the privilege of visiting a prestigious mountain rescue center, which had both helicopter and dog rescue capabilities. In the afternoon, we admired the village of Monêtier, where water flowed everywhere. The Les Grands Bains du Monêtier water park naturally harnesses hot water, which gushes from a source at 44°C. Naturally rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, and minerals, the water helps promote the well-being of the skin, body, and mind. This relaxing visit was a perfect fit for our project's theme, which focuses on physical, mental, and social well-being.
PROJECT WORK:
The effects of the environment on physical, mental, and social well-being.
PROJECT WORK:
The effects of the environment on physical, mental, and social well-being.
How does sauna affect health?
Sauna is very prevelant and important in Finnish culture. (It was inscribed as UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage in 2020.)Saunas have also many health benefits
Health is a “ Complete stage of physical-, mental- and social health not only the absence of diseases infirmity” for the World Health Organisation in 1946.
Health
“Complete stage of physical-, mental- and social health not only the absence of diseases infirmity” - World Health Organization, WHO (1946)
Physical
Better blood circulation
Relaxes muscles
Promotes healthy skin → sheds dead skin cells
Mental
It helps with mood regulation and stress management
Social
Increases social cohesion
1960 Nikita. K made a pact with the Diplomatic Sauna Society
The sauna is a place for relaxation, where you can connect with others and engage in meaningful conversations. Löyly is a modern and luxurious public sauna with a cozy atmosphere. There are three different saunas available, a smaller, more intimate private sauna that can be booked for events, a sauna heated with smoke, as well as a larger, more spacious traditional Finnish sauna.
The sauna overall offers several health benefits, such as detoxification, stress management, and relaxation. After a stress-relieving session in the warmth of the sauna, it is a wonderful experience to take a dip in the icy, but rejuvenating waters of the Baltic sea. Ice swimming helps, for example, by bettering one’s mood and improving blood circulation. You can also take a break from the sauna by enjoying a refreshing drink by the fireplace and chatting with fellow visitors.
The visitors thoroughly enjoyed their stay, commenting: “I really loved it, as it was very relaxing and life-changing”
“I got so much energy for the rest of the day, it was the perfect moment to take a break from my busy daily life full of schoolwork and hobbies”
#sauna #hellu #erasmus #löyly #lifechangingexperience
Interview Mountain Rescuer Jean-Jacques
Interview Mountain Rescuer Jean-Jacques
Interview Mountain Guides
Interview Mountain Guides
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