INSIDER 25.9.2020 | VOL. 23 | ISSUE 3
STUDENT MAGAZINE OF XAMK
Featuring Exchange View Know Yourself Remote Work Tips/Tricks Magazine Review Recipe Movie
STAFF
EDITORIAL
LIDIIA BENKOVSKAIA
JOONATAN BERG
AVE-LIIS KOOBAK
IKRAM BECHARI
MARIAN KEINAN
VLADA POLISHCHUK
EVA MOROVSHCHIK
INSIDER STUDENT MAGAZINE South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences Paraatikenttä 7 45100 Kouvola INSIDER ISSN 1457-1587 Editor in Chief: HUGH CLACK
PHONE +358 44 702 8758 WEBSITE insider.xamk.fi EMAIL insider@xamk.fi 2
EDITORIAL A lot of food in this issue of Insider Good Morning! How is it going? This week was full of events and work. Yesterday was held the «Nordic Business Forum» and students were able to watch the translation. There were 4 main speakers and were also discussed such important topics like: leadership skills after COVID-19, innovations in business and future of work at all. I think that taking part in this kind of events is necessary for students, because learning from the real CEOs and people, that are really good in, what they are doing, is the best way to improve skills and learn something new. One of the main points was, that we need to remake the work from office (an interesting book about this topic is called «Bullshit Jobs» written by David Graeber) and understand, that the amount of working hours doesn’t mean the efficiency. The value of workthat is what now important. Probably it was a great experience and hope, that students enjoyed the conference. By the way, the editorial staff was working hard too and has prepared a lot of interesting articles. Joonatan Berg will tel us about entertainment in Seoul and give tips, where to go for a dinner. Do not read this article, if you are hungry, because pictures of food are really tasty!
Ave-Liis Koobak has been to the cinema last week and she is ready with the movie review. In the article is written about the last Christopher Nolans film called «Tenet». It’s quite hard to catch the storyline but it does not matter, because the film is full of good scenes. People are comparing this move with another Christopher Nolans work «Inception» (highly recommend to listen the soundtrack of it written by Hans Zimmer, it’s stunning). Idea is a little bit simple (time in «Tenet» and idea in «Inception», strange worlds and traveling through space), but the main difference is that «Tenet» has no big message. Just a good blockbuster (with pretty Robert Pattison). Also, interesting thing is an extremely high rating of both movies: «Inception» has 8,8 IMDB and «Tenet» has 7,8 IMDB. That’s all for today. Have a nice rest of the week and enjoy fresh Insider Magazine issue!
Ikram Bechari is writing this week about learning languages and gives some useful advices, how to make this process faster and better at all. So, if you are planning to start learning Finnish or other languages, you must read this article. My (Eva Morovshik) second article in this issue is about cooking. There are some popular myths about eggs, which everybody heard in their life at least ones. Also I’ve opened all secrets about making poached egg and give an example of a delicious morning toast.
Written by Eva Morovshchik 3
EXCHANGE VIEW Seoul Free Time: Where to Go? Hello, it’s me again, Joonatan writing articles all the way from Seoul, South Korea! This time I’ll explain what you can do on your free time if you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of Seoul with nothing to do (though I think that would be impossible haha). If you’re studying in South Korea it’s important to remember that the semesters a very different from the ones in Finland. In Korea, a semester takes about 3.5 months and it’s very intense, but this also means that the breaks between semesters are very long! I’ll start off with a few restaurants which I absolutely love. I do want to remind any reader that if you’re a vegetarian or just don’t eat meat in general, Korea is not really the best place to stay for a long period of time. Vegan restaurants are a rarity and can cost a lot depending on where they are located!
Korean Barbecue Korean Barbecue is something special. The whole idea is that the restaurant provides the meat, but you get to decide how you want it grilled. You cut up and grill the food on a grill that’s located in the middle of the table. Side dishes and anything else can be ordered or you can bring them to the table from salad bar kind of set-up. The atmosphere that a Korean BBQ creates is (in my opinion) absolutely unlike anything else. To get the full experience, I recommend going to Korean BBQs with at least three other people! Jjimdak restaurants The name sounds strange, but roughly translated to “Braised Chicken”. This stuff is absolute comfort food for anyone who loves eating chicken. They mix a pan with all kinds of stuff like dumplings, noodles, sliced onion and then they add this interesting soy sauce to it which just makes it taste heavenly. If there is an option to add cheese on top
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of it, do it! The cheese is like a cherry on top to an already delicious meal. As with the previous one and most Korean restaurants in general, go with a group. A lot of restaurants have a group price instead of an individual one so it will generally be cheaper if you stick with a group! Well that’s enough restaurants, time to actually go "Fragments"- series of somewhere and I have two recommendations: Temples/Palaces
paintings
Korea used to be ruled by a dynasty and it really shows if you visit any of the temples or palaces around the city. The unique and beautiful architecture and wide courtyards, these places don’t fail to impress! The main one in the middle of Seoul is known as the 경복궁 (Gyeongbokgung Palace) which was the main royal palace during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897). Unfortunately in Korea Google Maps doesn’t really help, but they have their own app called KakaoMaps, so if you ever visit remember to download that!
PC Bang Now this recommendation comes straight from my heart. If you love playing games, this place is for you. PC Bangs are technically PC Cafes, but instead of it being a chill place where you check your email and drink a warm cup of coffee PC Bangs are all about just playing games. These places are everywhere in Seoul (There are 3 a short walk away from the university dorms) and are exclusive to South Korea. These places serve food and drinks as well, so you never really need to move if you were playing. Also, the prices per hour are dirt cheap. If you have any kind of interest in playing games, you can’t go wrong with a PC Bang. And that’s about that! I hope you enjoyed these recommendations and as always stay safe and healthy everyone! Written and photos by Joonatan Berg
KNOW YOURSELF Be positive! In the modern world, humor is an important element in communicating with people, and nowadays it becomes even more essential in various fields of human activity than before. Today we will try to understand the reason for this trend. How does laughter affect a person?
Humor and fun have many advantages. They promote health, both personal and organizational. Humor draws people's attention and helps them remember information better. It strengthens relationships between people, helps resolve conflicts, reduces stress, increases motivation, and facilitates negotiation. Also, in some business situations, a good joke will serve as a distraction to resist various kinds of manipulations.
Scientists say that laughter has health benefits and it is boosting the immune system and even reducing overeating and raising pain thresholds. There is also a newer treatment method called "humor therapy", which uses laughter to help people heal faster.
In the same case, if you are a leader, but a sense of humor is not your cup of tea, but you want to reduce tension in your team, a simple smile will help to do it.
Humor can help fight stress, and laughter relieves tension both physically and emotionally.
Humor is an important part of effective interpersonal communication if it used reasonable and in the case. It is very easy to lose control here, which will lead to negative results, especially in multicultural communication. Each culture has very different approaches to humor. Although most of the jokes include elements of absurdity, suddenness, we should not forget that what you will find funny may be inappropriate to others.
Humor in teams Using humor during the team-building phase is an unobtrusive way to build strong relationships. A positive response to a joke encourages other team members to joke as well, speeding up the socialization process. Humor emphasizes understanding between team members and creates a sense of equality, unity and camaraderie. Humor in business
Humor in multicultural communication
I hope this article was able to underline the importance of humor, and that in the future, it will become a part of your life.
Unfortunately, some people find it difficult to have fun in the workplace. Many people fail to see the connection between work and joy. However, it can be introduced gradually, and eventually, it will become part of the work or even the culture of the organization. A business environment that allows for a little fun or enjoyment can attract highly skilled people, help a team become efficient faster, and achieve objectives.
Written by Vlada Polishchuk 5
REMOTE WORK
Forced remote working/studying – a blessing in disguise? For the last 6 months, many people around the world have been forced into working or studying from home. As was explained in a recent webinar with Jason Fried on remote working, this is very different from normal remote working or online studying that has been around for many years, or that we might be used to. Planning remote working practices or online education is a whole other scenario from being forced into it. The Corona crisis has meant that many businesses, where possible, have had to ask - or directed in most cases - their employees to work from home. As for students, education is being provided online through various virtual portals such as Zoom, MS Teams, Moodle learning platforms, etc. For many this has meant an abrupt and somewhat painful or difficult progression into the virtual environment and all of the challenges therein. Many businesses have lost the tentative control they nominally had over employees at the workplace, where “being in the office” usually meant work was done in a controlled and supervised environment, and that comings and goings were monitored. The shift to a virtual landscape of occasional meetings and “getting the work done”, puts the employee in control, of what, when and how, that work is carried out – within the constraint of deadlines, etc. This is no bad thing, as it can result in more creativity and a shift in responsibility, allowing the employee more freedom in decision making related to their work. However, one must also consider the work-life balance, as moving
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the office to the home can have a dramatic impact on the rest of the family. Can we really turn our homes into remote offices/classrooms, with each member of the family unit having to establish their own physical working space on a daily basis? One would argue this is already the case in many homes, with boundaries being drawn on “own time and space”. There have also been reports of less work being carried out, late starts and early finishes, and even a rise in alcohol consumption during the working day. This could all of course have a detrimental effect on business operations. Indeed, in a recent news report, the Chairman of Netflix has been quoted as saying there are no benefits for having employees working from home and that creativity suffers, although he is also said to have gone on explaining that their employees may in future continue to work partly from home. However negative the picture may have been painted, many other global companies seem to have really embraced the forced conditions, and intend to continue, even encourage, working from home for employees as things seem to have worked out better for them. I wonder what shift we might see in corporate headquarters? We are certainly seeing less pollution of the environment through the reduction of commuter traffic in many cities, with much less congestion. Are our cities
going to slowly become greener places? That would certainly be a blessing. In addition to this, more and more people have started taking exercise – ironically, for many it was the lockdowns that forced them out to exercise, as it was the only excuse to be outside – and many people have taken up cycling or started using bicycles more due to the reduction and restrictions in public transport – that’s no bad thing either. What of students and forced studying online, for example in higher education? It seems those students continuing their already started studies are hardest hit, missing the social life that comes with being a student, and no longer meeting up with friends on campus. On top of this, they suddenly might have to quickly learn new systems and software, and get used to an unfamiliar way of studying. This puts extra pressure with having to learn not only a new subject, but possibly also a totally new system such as for dealing with assignments, exams and accessing reading material. Added to that the demands for a stable and efficient Internet connection for live sessions, let alone a quiet place to study, and suddenly studying remotely seems a less than promising future. On the other hand, from my experience, is seems that first year students have fully embraced the current situation, as for them this is all new and so the attitude is “this is the ways things are done”.
It would seem then, that we need to think of this current forced change in our work and study lives, to be a chance to re-asses where, how, and when we work or study. We should be ready to embrace these kinds of changes as often they lead to new creativity and innovation. We must also remember that this is, hopefully, a temporary situation, but one we can learn a lot from. We are already seeing the traditional working place being abandoned in favour of something more relaxed with just as much – if not more – efficiency at work. It’s not a perfect situation at the moment, and we don’t necessarily have perfect solutions, but surely this could be used as a wake-up call for us to shake off traditional ways of doing things, embrace new technology, and move on to new and innovative ways of working for the future. So could forced remote working really be a blessing in disguise?
Hugh Clack Editor in Chief
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TIPS/TRICKS
Tips for learning new languages Are you about to start learning a new language? Well, here are some great tips to bear in mind to make your learning journeys quick and more straightforward. Before learning any language, you should prepare yourself and your mind that it may be hard for you to nail it from the beginning. Keep in mind that learning a new language could be a challenging process if you set unrealistic objectives. Also, every single language has its hard parts to assimilate and understand as a foreign language, bear that in mind. Motivation First things first, look on the web and go through numerous blogs to gather information about the language you will be learning and its culture. If you are a foody person, look for famous dishes in the country. If you like music, take a look on youtube and see what you can find. These small activities can give you a motivation dose and make you eager about learning a new language.
So, number one is to be super motivated about learning a new language. Suppose you feel that you are not ready yet don’t think about starting the whole thing. You will drop everything sooner or later, and you will be quite disappointed. However, the question here is, how can you keep motivated? Realistic objectives and perseverance, the answer is that simple. Strategy Setting a learning strategy is extremely helpful because you don’t get lost while having it. In other words, you will know what to do and where to start. For instance, you should find out if you will meet your final result using the strategy that you have chosen. Let’s say reaching B2 level in English within 12 months if you will be learning two days a week or maybe more than that. You should decide whether you need a teacher or you can handle it on your own. Good resources Always search for excellent and free resources. For example, there are plenty of free of charge applications that offer well-structured lessons, and you can access whenever you want. So don’t be concerned if you overthink about money. The main advantage of using an application is that you can always have it with you. Have fun and enjoy your journey Watching movies & series, listening to the radio and the music in the language you are learning is always really useful and fun. It makes you learn without really making an effort on the learning. Adding a couple of hours or maybe more of these activities in your planner might be entertaining.
Written and photos by Ikram Bechari 8
MAGAZINE REVIEW Essence magazine The essence is a fashion, culture, lifestyle, and entertainment-focused magazine. The first issue was published in 1970. It was the first magazine geared towards African American women and this was one of the reasons it gained popularity. The magazine encourages African American women to improve their lifestyle and gives guidelines on how to level up financially and socially. The magazine also discusses the social issues African American women face. For example, in 2005 they launched combat against the misogyny African American face in the hip hop world. Michelle Obama has appeared in the magazine cover where she discussed her life growing up as a black woman in America. Harper’s Bazaar magazine Harper’s Bazaar magazine is a women’s fashion magazine. The first issue came out in 1867 in New York. The magazine is published with a theme and a slogan with a focus on fashion for women. In harper’s bazaar magazine, you can find casual and high-end fashion tips. The magazine was first
geared towards to upper and middle-class women but later became popularized by other classes. The magazine is published 9 times a year and many celebrities have features on the cover. Covers and the pictures are always beautifully shot and leave you in awe. Vogue magazine Vogue magazine is one of the world's most famous fashion magazine. It is published monthly and comes with several different languages each country having its press. Vogues Italia is the most known one, and the vogue headquarters are in New York. The magazine discusses the latest fashion, beauty, living, culture, and runway. Vogue magazine comes with many pages and largehigh-quality pictures. It is easy to ready and has many interesting features. Top models such as Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell have appeared multiple times on the cover.
Written by Marian Keinan
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RECIPE
Best morning start with eggs Eating eggs for breakfast is an old tradition coming from ancient civilizations. In our days eggs are excellent option for everyday morning, because they are tasty and provide you power for hours ahead. The main point of eating eggs is that they consist of many important elements, like high-quality protein, vitamin B and D, natural fat, selenium and zinc. Unfortunately, many people think that putting eggs into everyday diet is bad, because of containing a lot of cholesterol. This myth came after the statement from National Healthcare Institute of USA in 1985 (they said that eating more than 2 eggs per week will reflect badly on health), but several years ago came out the research, where was said, that it is totally safe to eat couple of eggs on regular base. My favorite type of cooking eggs is poached egg. Now I am going to open all my secrets about this dish and give an example of serving. Well-cooked poached egg is an excellent addition for the great variety of dishes: salads, toasts, bowls and many other options. The most important component of poached egg is yolk: it should be a little bit raw and slowly flowing out after snicking. Here is a small instruction ÂŤHow to make good poached eggÂť: Firstly, take a small pan and fill it with water. Then leave it on the cooker and wait until the water will start boiling. After that stir in hot water 1 big spoon of apple vinegar and a pinch of salt. Make a funnel with corolla or fork and drop the fresh egg out in the middle of the funnel. If you want a perfect poached egg, set the timer for three and a half minutes. When the time will be expired, take it out with a big spoon and left on a piece of paper (to runoff all extra water). 10
Egg is ready, next step is toast! I will highly recommend to make an avocado toast because this breakfast is balanced and tasty. Here are the ingredients of my favorite toast: fresh and already toasted bread, cottage goat cheese, rucola, thin sliced avocado, poached egg and a little bit of balsamic. Have a nice day and try to start your next free morning with this delicious recipe.
Written and photo by Eva Morovshchik
STUDIO 123 Kymenlaaksonkatu 1 45700 Kuusankoski 044 375 3686 www.studio123.fi
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MOVIE Tenet Director and writer Christopher Nolan Leading cast: John David Washington, Robert Pattison, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh The organization Tenet is trying to prevent the 3rd world war. The name and events point to a Latin palindrome that is also called the magic square. R O T A S O P E R A T E N E T A R E P O S A T O R
SATO R AREPO TENET OPERA R OTAS
Every single name in this square will come clear when you see the movie. The main character has to fight for the whole worlds survival with only a one word “Tenet”. The future has figured out a way to send items back to the past. One of the first things you see with this technology is a reversed bullet. It doesn’t fly forward, but instead it flus back into the the gun. The main character never tells his name, he is always known as the Protagonist. At first, it’s really hard to get the hold of the story, especially if you don’t really deal with a lot of action movies with their own mind twisting features. The movie tips it’s toes into some physics and challenges the way you view time. I personally liked the movie first thinking it was going to be awful. It was confusing too but in the end it all tied together and made sense, you just really have to hold on to the end to really understand, but many sources say that even then it might be hard to grasp what you just saw. I would recommend the movie if you like a little action and some new twist to learn about.
Written by Ave-Liis Koobak 11