From www.pohjalainen.fi (quickly translated by the 1380 GSE chair)

Katrina Hanenberg, Rynn Kneebone, John Hoover, Amy Mann and Teresa Fontana are visiting Ostrobothnia via the Rotary exchange program. The team especially remembers the winter swimming. Photo: Minna Hirvelä

Trying to find the Conan’s image of Finland

Finns are not quiet and inward-looking people. American group study exchange team found Finnish very transparent and social.

Conan O'Brian, the well-known talk show host made a special documentary trip to Finland and millions of Americans saw the way of life of a distant country.
- We learned a lot from Conan, said Rynn Kneebone.
- We came here with an open mind. We had expected that Finns are quiet, but now we know that it is not the case. This trip has already given a lot, Kneebone adds.

She is a member of four newly graduated students’ team, which is getting acquainted with Finnish culture, business and education. The team of four is working in different business sectors.

Kneebone, specialized in fashion marketing business.
- I have been following Finnish fashion and tried to learn the job.
In Vaasa, I paid attention to the fact that people wear quite colorlessly but really well at the same time, same way as in New York, Kneebone compares.

Kneebone and Amy Mann have followed the Finnish hotel and restaurant sector. Mann, who studied Event Marketing in New York, believes that the tourism industry in Finland operates the same way as in the United States.
- I was actually quite surprised that how little the differences are. These hotels, where we have visited, act in from the marketing point of view very much the same way as in the United States, Mann says.

Jealousy in Education

Group Study Exchange belongs to activities of Rotary International. The group is lead in Finland by Mr. John Hoover, who is a member of Madison Rotary Club in New Jersey.

After the one month visit in Finland, John Hoover will receive a similar Finnish team, which arrives in the U.S. the end of April. Rotary Group Study Exchange is for young professionals 25 to 40 years of age.

From this visit Hoover raises the issue of the level of education in Finland and the Finnish creativity.
- We can not be more than jealous to Finns because of their education level. In addition, the Finns
are creative people. That we have learned, says Hoover.

Also Kneebone and Katrina Hanenberg raise the Finnish education to a high value.
- It is really a good thing, when everyone can be offered a free training. In Finland it can also be offered to foreigners. It is also wonderful to graduate without a huge student loan bills, they say.

Ostrobothnia tour will continue very busy. Easter was spent in Vaasa, but on Monday the direction is Ähtäri. Graduate program also includes visits to Seinäjoki, Kauhajoki and Jurva.

John Hoover believes that this visit will improve their image of Finland.
- Finland's events do not affect U.S. and therefore news from Finland is not often in headlines. Finland is a safe country and there are not many negative news to tell the world about Finland.

Kneebone finds a positive side:
- In the United States we see only news when a bomb exploded somewhere. In Finland, the newspapers tell also positive news, Kneebone notes