VOL 22 | ISSUE 01 | 13.09.2019
INSIDER STUDENT MAGAZINE OF XAMK
PROFILE THE DAY OF KNOWLEDGE FASHION TRENDS
SUMIT STUDENT STORY MOVIE REVIEW
EDITORIAL STAFF Anna Ryndina
Lidiia Benkovskaia
Arian Ukaj
Nikita Munenko
Muhammet Cakiroglu
Prakhar Sharma
INSIDER STUDENT MAGAZINE South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences Paraatikenttä 7 45100 Kouvola Editor in Chief: Hugh Clack INSIDER ISSN 1457-1587 Hugh Clack
PHONE +358 44 702 8758 WEBSITE insider.xamk.fi EMAIL insider@xamk.fi
EDITORIAL Welcome, And Welcome back. As a new journey begin, we will always have to say welcome. But before that, in our insider team, we would like to say our goodbyes first. We will have good time with new the people amongst us for sure but we will sure miss the people that we separate our paths with. I would like to thank Polina, Leif, Trang, MarÄła, Lena, Gloria and Elizabeth for their help to the Insider for the last year. Unfortunately, we are losing Long as well but he is helping to the printing for the next two issues we are going to publish. So, a special thank goes to him as well. I wish all of them the best future they could get for their life. The Insider thank you all! With all the goodbye, there is the welcome. The Insider would like to welcome every new student to our school. We will make sure to let them know what is going on around the school and the city as their weekly magazine. We also would like to say welcome back to our teachers, staff and the students. We would like to hope that everyone will have fortunate year as our studies go on.
Liidia is going to tell you about a different holiday, The knowledge day. Take you time to explore a different culture and different holiday experiment. Our new member, Prakhar, is going to give you a profile. The interesting person, Ari Lindeman, explains to us about a help organization to our students for student-led start-ups. Make sure to read it because you will need money. This week is going to be good to entrepreneurs because Anna is giving us insights of an event took place in St. Petersburg. Start-up school event. She has attended to is and she is sharing her experience in there for all of us. Make sure to check our movie review, Nikita has pledged his time to watch a movie for you and he is going to give you his thoughts on it. I hope you enjoy our first issue of the new academic year. Insider is happy to be back. We will be in touch.
In this issue, Our editor in Chief is going to tell you about the Fashion, Trends, and Future. Make sure to check it out and you can be the most fashionable character of the year.
Muhammet Cakiroglu
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PROFILE 1. We would like to know a little about your personal backstory that shaped the way for where you are now. My education background is combination of business and philosophy from Turku in Finland and Tampa in United States respectively. As for my working experience, I’ve been working at Xamk for the last 16 years, mostly as a teacher before moving to the R&D department, as Research Manager, couple of years ago. 2. Can you tell us in brief how the responsible organisations work together to implement this project? So basically, the main goal of these organisations is to promote the student-led start-ups. To make that happen the money grants from Otsakorpi Foundation comes to Xamk and it is delivered through the Patteri ES, which acts like a peer marketing channel. 3. What is this program about and how does it work? This is a micro-financing program which grants money for business development. It offers support for the experimentation not only for the designers but also for creative purposes like market study etc. If you are interested, your business plan would be evaluated. Since it is conducted 3 times in a year, any aspirant with a strong business plan can participate in each round. 4. How successful was this program when it was last conducted 2 years ago and how is it different this time? Last time when it was conducted, we had 46 aspirants out of which 16 were granted 600€ grants on an average. So, 1/3rd of the applicants were successful in getting these grants. This time since the budget is almost 3 times more than the last time, we are looking
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forward to grant entrepreneurs.
even
more
aspiring
5. What is the long term benefit you believe this program has? For the students, I’d say that any creation is valuable, not necessarily immediately but definitely in the long run. It helps the school to promote itself as an entrepreneurial university and the Kymenlaakson region to attract more companies resulting in entrepreneurial growth. 6. What have you learned so far in such a vast working experience? I have learned that move fast but be patient and never give up. Also, working with young people, my heart stays young and my creativity never ends. 7. What are your personal opinions regarding start-ups in the real world? They teach that there is nothing wrong in failing in entrepreneurial environment. At the same time, they challenge the existing companies to bring changes in their business approach. 8. Do you any tips and suggestions for individual entrepreneurs? I can say that never stop believing in yourselves, resource management is very important, connect and network with people from different disciplines. 9. Which businessman inspires you the most? Well, I don’t do this admiring business very much but yeah, I can say my friends Yngve Nyman and Tommi Hautola, have done admirable work. Prakhar Sharma
Ari Lindeman
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FASHION Fashion, Trends, and Future The rise of the Pocket Square In this second article in our new series, we are going to look at the subject of fashion and shed light on an unusual rising trend that is coming back into fashion – the simple pocket square – or is it so simple?
The traditional use for a pocket square, is of course for a man to place it in a jacket breast pocket.
Throughout history, the humble handkerchief (hanky) or pocket square, has been a saviour to many men and women. From wiping brows to drying eyes, blowing your nose or hiding your smile, it has been a comfort to all. But did you know that small pieces of square cloth have also been depicted in ancient artwork showing soldiers and workers covering their heads from the scorching sun? I remember as a child during the long hot summers in the UK [not sure if that is an oxymoron], many people on the beaches and even labourers could be seen with knotted white cotton handkerchiefs on their heads protecting themselves from the suns rays if they didn’t have a hat. Since as early as the 15th century, Europeans started using squares of Asian silk brought back through trade routes and used them as accessories to decorate their outfits. Soon they became useful fashion accessories. Due to their small size, they were easily decorated with lace or threads, and people could have more than one, so the addition of a different handkerchief enabled them to change their look without changing their whole outfit. Due to their non-necessity, they were considered something of a luxurious item, that were not for the common people. Even in the late 19th century, they were still considered as something luxurious, and people would have their initials embroidered onto them and even pass them down the generations as heirlooms. Even in my childhood, gifts of quality cotton handkerchiefs at Christmas or birthdays were always well appreciated. In the early 20th century, silk handkerchiefs were still being used as a fashion accessory, and men would wear them in the breast pockets of their suits, possibly where
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the American term “pocket square” came from. They slowly changed from the basic plain handkerchief to a more elaborate item with rolled and finished edges and started appearing with much more elaborate designs. Hence today we see the handkerchief as something we use to wipe our noses, but a pocket square as a more decorative item. In the mid-20th century, disposable hankies started to grow in popularity as they were considered to be more hygienic, and the humble cotton hanky became something that men put into their top pocket never to be used, unless a woman was in need of a gentleman to dry their tears. Women continued to keep a small handkerchief in their purses and handbags but mainly as an accessory to be used if absolutely necessary – the paper tissue had secured its place. Now we are in the 21st century, and disposable tissues are ubiquitous, what then of the hanky or pocket square? This is the trend that is now making itself seen amongst the younger as well as older generation of men. Men have embraced the fashion trend more now than in recent years and are not afraid to dress up their outfits with a bold and statement-making pocket square. Companies such as Helsinki-based FatCloth, have recognised this trend and have introduced their offering of pocket squares in a vast range of colours and designs to suit all tastes. They will even create custom squares in your design – although at a minimum order of 50 pieces, this would be more applicable to companies as business gifts or for promoting brands. However, there are some clubs and associations that order these for their members, such is their place as a trendy accessory for men of today. There are special collections and seasonal limited editions, so it would seem that the market is certainly there for FatCloth.
FatCloth logo, courtesy FatCloth Ltd.
FatCloth kindly sent Insider a couple of pocket squares for us to sample and review for this article. My first impression upon receiving these at the Insider office was that the packaging is simplistic yet functional. It is described by
FatCloth as “functions as a platform to communicate the product features to who ever [sic] opens the package”. Some nice illustrations show uses for a FatCloth together with a “Certificate of Authenticity”. It is obvious that a lot of thought and attention has going into the packaging. The squares themselves are approximately 30x30cm, are made of microfibre, (80% polyester, 20% polyamide), and are machine washable, so even if you do the unthinkable and blow your nose in it, at least you can get it clean again!
FatCloth pocket squares in their packaging
My only concern was that the material the pocket squares are made from are in essence plastic in another form, and it would be great to see something more environmentally friendly being used, such as from recycled material. FatCloth CEO, Elias Ahola, responded to my comment by explaining that they have not yet found a recycled material that they are happy with, “Our goal is to have the microfibre products made from recycled materials once the quality meets our standards”. Elias also pointed out that FatCloths are hard wearing, have multiple uses, don’t go out of fashion, and therefore have a long life-cycle. It is also good to see that FatCloth is at least collaborating on “upcycling” with another Helsinki-based company, Pure Waste, by producing T-Shirts from 100% recycled materials, in addition they add any pocket squares that don’t match their strict standards or that might be returns. Great to know!
Testing one of the samples sent to Insider this summer, I found it to be soft, supple, absorbent, wrinkle free, fun and colourful, even my sweaty brow during the hot Finnish summer this year seemed to be no match for a FatCloth. I used it for my spectacles, sunglasses, camera lens, iPhone X (a fingerprint magnet), iPad, hand drying (don’t you just hate it when public toilets have run out of towels to dry your hands or the blower is ineffective?), and even to wipe the sapphire crystal of my wristwatch to keep it sparkling. It washed easily, and dried in no time, and was so easy to keep in my pocket, just like a regular cotton hanky. I will still carry a regular cotton hanky or disposable tissues for simply blowing my nose, as I find it hard to demean such a decorative and luxurious item in this way. There is just one small detail, with prices starting at €29.00, some people might think this is a slightly extravagant expenditure for such a humble item, but in my opinion, it is worth it due to the versatility and quality of the product. You might not want to purchase every colour and design that they have – I think I counted around 70 currently on their website – but having a couple of these beautiful squares to choose from as a daily accessory, will certainly brighten up your day, and you will soon wonder what you did without one. Carrying a FatCloth around with you would seem to be the perfect solution to modern life, for men or women, even if you are not wearing a jacket with a breast pocket. So stop using the hem of your T-shirt or tail of your shirt for wiping things – get a FatCloth! Hugh Clack Editor in Chief and white cotton hanky user
Our thanks to CEO of FatCloth, Elias Ahola, for sending us samples of their pocket squares. Check out their website at www.thefatcloth.com to see their selection and order your FatCloth today. See the Insider website to how you can win your own FatCloth as pictured below, and we guarantee that it contains no traces of Editor in Chief sweat, or anything else for that matter! [It is a new, unopened packet, Ed]
Musashi Blue Pocket Square, FatCloth Originals collection
But these pocket squares are more than just decorative fashion accessories, (and much more than simple nose wipes), today’s modern man (and lets not be sexist here, today’s modern woman as well), carry all kinds of items than could benefit sometimes from a quick wipe, such as spectacles, smartphones, etc.
You can win this supurb Säihkyturpa Pocket Square from The Black Line collection of FatCloth. “Säihkyturpa is the creation of Joonas Rinta-Kanto, a Finnish comic writer/illustrator. The famous spirit animal appears in the comic ‘Fok_It’ spreading love to everyone on Mondays through its mystical rainbow-horn.” To be in with a chance to win this luxurious accessory, simply “Like” Insider’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/insiderstudentmagazine) and leave a comment telling us why you would like a Fat Cloth by Monday 30.9.2019. The winner will be selected at random from all entries.
Säihkyturpa Pocket Square, FatCloth Black Line collection
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THE DAY OF KNOWLEDGE Autumn has come! The new school year has begun! Our university good-naturedly opened its doors for Xamk students, teachers, freshmen, guys who came for an exchange!
Photo: Lidiia Benkovskaia
In this regard, she decided to devote the first article to a holiday that is not in Europe, but is celebrated in Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine. It is simply called The Day of Knowledge (1st of September)!
Photo: webpage of school 553
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Knowledge Day is a celebration of the beginning of a new school year, especially for pupils, pupils, students, teachers and teachers. Traditionally, on this day, university schools host solemn rulers, performances and concerts dedicated to the beginning of the school year. Children get presents, balloons! With special solemnity they meet first-graders in schools who cross the school threshold for the first time!
Photo: Ekaterina Podarueva
Short history: The 1st of September is not a random date. The fact is that in Russia the New Year was celebrated on the first day of autumn. It is logical that it was from these dates that the new training cycle began. In addition, when Peter the Great postponed the New Year holidays to January 1 by his decree, it was decided to leave the beginning of studies in order not to break the usual rhythm. The solemn line has a number of its longstanding traditions. (symbols). Here are the most important ones!
Photo: Ekaterina Podarueva
1. In each school, an 11th grade student places a first grader on her shoulder, who gives the first bell that marks the beginning of the school year!
Photo:Tatiana Benkovskaia
Photo: webpage of school 553
2. The eleventh graders to applause at the end of the solemn ruler, see the first graders to their first lesson in their life, they are the first to introduce children to the school!
3. The symbol of The Knowledge Day is an Autumn maple leaf and bell.
Lidiia Benkovskaia
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SUMIT SUMIT International Open Startup School Duration: August 19 – 30, 2019 Location: Russia, Saint Petersburg, ITMO University
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STUDENT STORY H
i! I'm Arian. I study Digital international
business in Kouvola. I came from Kosovo to Finland like four years ago, it was November and it was the typical Finnish weather, missed the sun for like first three weeks. In the beginning, I went to the Finnish language course for about a year, after that, I've been doing a different kind of jobs like a bit of voluntary work, delivering newspapers, restaurant, cleaning but mainly construction. By the time I finished the language course, I could speak a bit of Finnish and easiest way to find a job was to work like a rented worker. People don't usually need a rented worker for too long and that's what I liked. I usually moved to new working sites weekly. First of all that helped me a lot to integrate into Finnish work style, then working with different people just helped me grow up. It was challenging but kinda learnt how to fit and creating new contacts was the best part.
so after one year, I left to join a Finnish company where I'm still working to this day. I realized it's going to take longer time to learn proper Finnish so I just decided to continue studying in English instead. My goal is to speak 'fluent' Finnish by the time I graduate. Being born in Sweden, growing up in Kosovo now living in Finland, International business suits me very well. In the future I'd like to start an international business probably based in Kosovo since there is lower labour cost and then distribute worldwide hopefully, I can find a team that we share common interest and vision since there are many motivated students at XAMK.
What is your story? If you would like to share your story or ideas let's have a coffee and talk about it! Send me an email baruk001@edu.xamk.fi Arian Ukaj
After that, I took a job as a supervisor on a construction site for a guy from Kosovo. In the beginning, we were 3 workers, after a few months we became 25. Being able to see that progress from a leading point of view was an amazing and exhausting experience. I learnt how to manage time and work. Making people work together wasn't an easy task either. But then I overcame the fear of responsibility it just wasn't that interesting anymore. I wasn't growing up and it felt like dealing with circle problems daily
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MOVIE REVIEW Once upon a time in … Hollywood
often drop the f-bomb. Violence is also there, as well as that amount of plot threads that eventually become a fully completed web. This web is, however, quite simple to follow. You also get a lot of laughs throughout the movie. One of the scenes has Bruce Lee in it (it was in the trailer so not a spoiler!), and this was ridiculously. However, Bruce’s daughter said that her father was shown absolutely wrong and it was rude… Who cares? At least now we know that there is Lee’s daughter ter somewhere. somewhere. Music is awesome, and decorations are truly wonderful. Tarantino himself has said that Spahn Ranch is probably the best location that he’s ever recreated.
Quentin Tarantino brings us his 9th movie. He has promised that he would retire after having created ten of them, so this is the second to last chance to see the work of the filmmaking maestro. Besides, the cast is as amazing as it gets. So, the hype was real. Did it live up to expectations? Let’s see.
The only thing that is upsetting is that you really need to know America of those years. Or read many pages of history. There is a feeling that you miss so many jokes and references that it’s not good at all.
The movie takes place in America, 1969. You know, Woodstock, Charles Manson and all that. During the story, we follow Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), a tv show actor who is eager to continue his career as a big-screen actor. We also have Cliff Booth, Rick’s stuntman, played by Brad Pitt. When these guys find out that their new neighbor is Roman Polanski, a famous director, they realize that this is a chance for Dalton to finally make his dream come true. However, Cliff manages to piss off a group of guys, the infamous Manson Family…
All in all, the film is among the best of the director. It is definitely worse that Quentin’s first works but when you compare OUaTiH to his previous one, The Hateful Eight, you can see how good Once Upon a Time is. Nikita Munenko
This film has everything that tells us that it’s Quentin’s work. Tons of monologues and dialogues in which heroes
Studio 123 Kymmenlaksonkatu 1 45700 Kuusankoski 044 3757686 www.studio123.fi STUDIO 1 IL VOVO AT MATERA (S) | 25€ | 1h 57min Tue 17.9 18.00 Sat 21.9 12.00
THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2 (Dub) (7) | 11€ | 1h 26min Mon - Thu 15.10 DOWNTOWN ABBEY (7) | 12€ | 2h 2min Every evening 17.00 (Tue s2), Sat 14.00, 14.15 (s2),17.00, Sun 14.00, 17.00
IT CHAPTER TWO (16) | 13€ | 2h 50min Fri - Mon 19.30 Tue 19.00 (s3) Wed - Thu 19.30
OLEN SUOMALAINEN (12) | 12€ | 1h 53min Fri 14.30, 19.15 Sat 19.15 Sun - Tue 15.00, 19.15
STUDIO 2
TOY STORY 4 (7) | 11€ | 1h 40min Finnish: Sat - Mon, Wed - Thu 17.15 English: Fri 19.15, Sun, Tue 19.00 (s3)
CLAIRE DARLING (7) | 7€ | 1h 34min Tue 13.00
STUDIO 3 DOLOR Y GLORIA (16) | 11€ | 1h 53min Sat - Tue 16.45 ONCE UPON A TIME ... IN HOLLYWOOD (16) | 13€ | 2h 42min Sat, Mon, Wed 19.00 -1€ for over 10€ for students