Foreign students' information package for everyday life

Quick links:
goSaimaa.fi
City of Lappeenranta

A Accomodation
B Bank
Bars, restaurants etc.
Berries, mushrooms etc.
Buses
C Café
Church in Lappeenranta
Computer facilities
E Emergency (fire brigade, ambulance, police)
F Food and eating
Food vocabulary
H Hairdressing
Health care
I International Office
International Tutors
L Library
M Movies
N Newspapers
O Orthodox church
P Pharmacy
Photo
Post Office
R Radio
Railways
S Shops
Smoking, alcohol, drugs
Saimaa University of Applied Sciences
Sports
Student Union
T Taxi
Telephone calls
Tourist Information

Accommodation

• Foreign students live in different places with different rules of accommodation. Please read through carefully the accommodation instructions and try to follow them. If there are some regulations that you do not understand, please ask your international tutor or the international office staff to explain.
• All the tenancy agreements of the exchange students are concluded by the international office. If you will have any questions concerning your accommodation, please contact Mari Keskinen 040 741 8842 / International office.
• The most frequent housing problem is noisy behaviour at night time. You should not make any noise after 22 o´clock in the evening and keep quiet till 7 o’clock in the morning. This may sound very early to you, but keep in mind that Finns start their workday at 8 (some people even at 5 or 6) in the morning.
• Another frequent problem is waste. Please pay attention, where you put your waste bags and how you sort the waste (biological / glass / paper / mixed waste).
• See also www.soa.fi and then click “International”. In this address you will find the Net Guide on International Student Housing, which gives you an overview on intercultural student housing and what you could do to avoid conflict situations.
• See also www.loas.fi to find out more information about living and accommodation in student accommodation in Lappeenranta.

Banks

• In the centre of Lappeenranta there are different banks, e.g.:
- Sampo at Kauppakatu 32
- Nordea at Valtakatu 33
- Etelä-Karjalan Osuuspankki at Pormestarinkatu 4
- Etelä-Karjalan Säästöpankki at Valtakatu 32
• Banks are usually open 10:00-16:30
• There is a queuing system in most banks. Take a number from the machine and wait for your turn.
• For money exchange banks charge about 5 € / operation.
• To open a bank account you need a passport (EU citizens ID-card) and a certificate that you are studying at Saimaa University of Applied Sciences. Different banks have different rules for opening an account. Please ask your tutor for help.

Bars, Restaurants etc.

• Restaurants and bars require the minimum age of 18 years, but some restaurants have their own age limits higher than that.
• When going out together everybody usually pays his/her own drinks.
• Gigglin Marlin, Oksasenkatu 2
- age limit: 18 years (We-Thu), 20 years (Fri), 22 years (Sat)
• Wiltsu, Kauppakatu 39
- age limit: 18 years
• The Old Park – Irish Pub, Valtakatu 36
- age limit: 20 years
• Pub Olteri, Kaivokatu 7
- age limit: 18/20 years
• Billykid, Valtakatu 36
- age limit: 18/20 years
• Birra, Kauppakatu 27
- age limit: 20 years
• Totem, Raatimiehenkatu 17
- age limit: 18 years
• Pub ld Cock, Valtakatu 54
-age limit: 18/20
• Hemingways Bar, Valtakatu 31
-age limit: 20
• Night club DIVA, Snellmanninkatu 10
- age limit: 18 years
• Lucky Monkeys, Valtakatu 42
- age limit: 18 years
• Pub 55, Raatimiehenkatu 13
- age limit: 18 years
• Iltatähti, Ostosraitti 2
- age limit: 18 years

Berries, Mushrooms etc.

• There exits so called “public right of access” in Finland. It means that nature belongs to everybody, but this right also means certain obligations to those walking in the nature.
• You are allowed to walk in forests and other places (even privately owned), but you are not allowed to enter anyone´s yard or garden.
• You are allowed to pick berries and mushrooms in any forest.
• You are not allowed to cut trees or branches of trees and you are never allowed to make fire on another person´s land.

Buses

• There are local buses in Lappeenranta , but compared with big cities they go rather seldom. There are routes 1-6 and route 9
• You can find the timetables of the local buses on the site of Lappeenranta , www.lappeenranta.fi. On the upper left side of the main page you should click “Palvelut” (=Services), then on the left side “JOUKKOLIIKENNE” (= public transportation), then on the left side “Aikataulut” (=timetables) and then in the middle of the next page “Paikallisliikenne” (Local transportation) and there you have the list of the routes and when you click the route, you will get its timetables.
• Two Finnish words that may be necessary when interpreting the routes:
- Keskuspuisto = Central Park (at Koulukatu near the pedestrian street)
- Matkakeskus = Railway / Bus station
• You can buy bus timetable booklet from Matkahuolto at Bus station (costs 0,50€)
• One bus ticket costs 2,90€.

Café

• Following coffee houses are located in the centre:
- Café Kristiina and Arnold 's Donuts at the shopping centre Iso-Kristiina
- Café Galleria at Koulukatu 15
- Café Weera at Kauppakatu 39
- Café Sara at Koulukatu 5-7
- Coffee House at Kauppakatu 29-31
- Café Majurska at Fortress
- Cafeteria at shopping centre Galleria
- Gospel Cafè, Kauppakatu 33

Computer facilities

Instructions for use of computer facilities at Saimaa University of Applied Sciences
Saimaa University of Applied Sciences offers to its students and staff flexible and well-equipped access to computer facilities and internet. This is possible only in case, if all the users follow the underlying instructions and take care of their personal responsibility.
• Every student will get his own username and password, which should never be given to other people. Every student is responsible for the use under his username and password. You should never use other person´s username and password.
• The system is meant for studying, research work, information search and reasonable use of e-mail. Other activities are forbidden.
• Every student should delete after use his own files from computers which are in the classrooms or other public premises.
• Installation of own programs is strictly forbidden.
• If you wish to switch your own computer to the network of Saimaa University of Applied Sciences, you should first get the permission from the computing centre and you should follow instructions given by the computer specialist of the unit.

Emergency

• In case of fire, serious accidents etc. you can call the emergency centre from all telephones free of charge by dialling 112
• You should tell your name, where you are calling from and what has happened. Listen to the instructions given and follow them. You should hang up only, when the person on the other end of the line, says that you can do it.
• Police station is at Villimiehenkatu 2

The evangelical-lutheran parishes of lappeenranta

• The evangelical-lutheran parishes of Lappeenranta offer mental support and different kinds of leisure activities for students (foreign and Finnish) to help students to feel at home in Lappeenranta
- International evenings
- Discussion groups
- Tours
- International Services
• The meeting place Kotilo (translated into English “Gastropod”) is located in the unit of home economics of Saimaa University of Applied Sciences, at Armilankatu 42
• Pastor Minna Jaakkola is available, if you want to discuss about your problems
Tel. 0400 789 390, e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• More detailed information about these activities and their schedule you can find in the leaflet of the evangelical-lutheran parishes
• Gospel Cafè, Kauppakatu 33

Food and Eating

• There is a dining room at school, where you can have lunch. A lunch costs 2-3 €.
• Breakfast in Finland usually means bread and butter, cheese, perhaps porridge, juice, some milk products and certainly coffee (Finns drink lots of coffee).
• At lunch and dinner people usually have only the main course. The main course is usually made of fish, chicken or meat and served with potatoes, pasta or rice and some vegetables or salad
• Typical Finnish food is also a casserole made of different ingredients (e.g. cabbage, carrots, meat and pasta, fish)
• A particular Finnish habit is drinking milk or sour milk with meals.
• You can also buy non- or low-lactose milk products. These products are marked with the word HYLA. If you have stomach problems and you do not know the reason, you could try to exclude milk products or use HYLA products.
• People eat out quite seldom. There are two reasons: eating in proper restaurants is quite expensive and on the other hand people with families hold home cooking in high regard.
• There are several fast-food places in Lappeenranta, here are some addresses in the centre:
- Kotipizza at Lavolankatu 10
- Altun Kebab & Pizza at Valtakatu 46
- Barut Kebab & Pizza at Valtakatu 54
- Helin Kebab & Pizza at Kauppakatu 65
- Välimeren Kebab at Kauppakatu 35
- McDonald´s at Ratakatu 29
- Hesburger at Puhakankatu 9-11 (at supermarket Prisma)
- Golden RAX Pizzabuffet at Oksasenkatu 2
- Subway, Valtakatu 34
- Rosso, Kauppakatu 29-31
• There are also some ethnic restaurants in Lappeenranta:
- Spanish restaurant Olè at Raatimiehenkatu 18
- Greek restaurant Tassos at Valtakatu 41
- Chinese restaurant Wing wah Palace at Valtakatu 30A
- Chinese restaurant Hua Shan at Brahenkatu 3 B
- Thai restaurant Golden Thai at Snellmannin 5

Food vocabulary

Hairdressing

• Usually you have to book a time for haircutting for some days or a week earlier.
• Hairdressers´ are usually open from Monday to Friday 9:00-17:00 and on Saturdays 9:00-13:00.

• Examples of hairdressers:
Hairdresser Sarianna, Oksasenkatu 8
Hairdresser Hairstore, Valtakatu 36
South Karelia Vocational School, hairdresser students; Pohjolankatu 12

Health care

In case of illness:
• The Finnish system is that only emergency cases are taken care of at evening and night time and weekends. If it is possible to wait till next workday morning, it should be done.
• If it is daytime, contact the nurse at the institute.
• The nurse for business and technology students of Saimaa University of Applied Sciences is Ulla-Maija Pulliainen. Her office is in the faculty of technology and business administration (Pohjolankatu 23) and she will help you from Monday to Friday.
• The nurse for crafts and design, home economics and social work&health care students is Paula Tuuva. Her office is on the first floor of the faculty of social welfare and health care, Valto Käkelän katu 3.
• The nurse will see, what she can do for you and if a doctor is needed, she will book a time for you at the medical centre of your region and explain, what you should do next.
• If you need urgent medical help during weekends or evening time and you cannot wait till next morning, you can visit the hospital emergency room at Valto Käkelän katu 1 at the Central Hospital of South Carelia.
• If you wish, you can always in all cases of illness call first International Office (Mari Keskinen, tel. 040 741 8842 during office hours 8-16) or your tutor and ask them to help you in contacting the medical staff and in explaining, what is your problem. (Neither tutors nor international office engage themselves to 24 hours emergency service, but you can try to call them, IF they will be available.)
• If you have a medical insurance of your own, you will pay the doctor and then get the money back from your insurance company.

International office

International office staff will help you in questions concerning your accommodation, everyday problems and if you do not know, who would be the correct person, do not hesitate to contact the international office.
Manager, International Office
Seppo Pellinen
Tel. +358 400 252 900
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Student Affairs Officer
Mari Keskinen
Tel. +358 40 741 8842
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tietäjänkatu 3
55120 Imatra
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
International office is located also at Kimpisen kampus, Pohjolankatu 23, Lappeenranta. Office in Lappeenranta is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 till 15 o’clock.

International tutors

• The student union SAIKO has organized a network of international tutors.
• International tutors are ordinary Finnish students, who just want to get new experiences and who are internationally orientated. Tutors have studied at Saimaa University of Applied Sciences at least one year before they became international tutors so that they know, how to help foreign students. International tutoring is voluntary, but when they have entered the network, they have bindingly promised to fulfil certain operations with foreign students (e.g. meeting at the railway station, orientation in accommodation, every day life, first days at school etc.). These operations are co-ordinated by the international office of Saimaa University of Applied Sciences.
• How much foreign students have contacts with their tutors depends on both sides. If you wish more information or you have questions or suggestions, do not hesitate to contact your tutor! Finns are sometimes shy and reserved and if a foreigner does not take an active role, Finns think that the foreigner wants to be left in peace.
• For more information about tutors and tutoring send email to:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Library

• In almost every unit of Saimaa University of Applied Sciences there is a library, which can be used by students free of charge. Librarians can help you in finding needed information or books.
• You can also visit the town library. The main library is at Valtakatu 47 and its opening hours are Mon-Fri 10-20, Sat 10-15.
• There is also possibility to read newspapers and other magazines. (also open Sun 12-15)
•You can get a library card and then take also books home. Ask the library staff, how you can get a card.
• There is also free Internet access.

Movies

• In Lappeenranta there are following cinemas:
- Kino-Aula, Valtakatu 39
- Nuijamies, Valtakatu 39
• Movies are in the original language with Finnish subtitles.
• A ticket costs about 9 €
• See also www.nuijamies.fi

Newspapers

• The local newspaper is called Etelä-Saimaa. You can read it for instance in all libraries. Even if it is in Finnish, you can find some useful information in it, when somebody has first shown you, on which pages you should look for the information.
• There is information about exhibitions and different activities that take place in Lappeenranta and also movie programs and advertisements of different shops.

Orthodox church

• There is also an orthodox church in Lappeenranta at Kristiinankatu (in the fortress district)

Pharmacy

• Pharmacies in Lappeenranta are at following addresses:
- At the shopping centre Prisma, Puhakankatu 9 (open Mon-Fri 9-21, Sat 9-18)
- At the shopping centre Iso-Kristiina, Brahenkatu 3 (Mon-Fri 8.30-19, Sat 8.30-15)
- Valtakatu 37 (every day 8-22)
- Kauppakäytävä 6 (in the district of Lauritsala)
• In pharmacies you can buy over-the-counter medicines, but many of the medicines are sold only on doctor´s prescription
• Medicines in Finland are quite expensive

Photo

• You can have your photos developed at photo shops, e.g.:
- Anttila at shopping centre Iso-Kristiina
- Brahen Kuva at Shopping centre Iso-Kristiina
- Kuvari at Valtakatu 50
- Helios at Kirkkokatu 10

Post office

• The main post office at Pormestarinkatu 1 is open Mon-Fri 9-20, Sat 10-14
• If you get a notice that you have received a parcel, you should pick it from the main post office
• More information www.posti.fi

Radio

- YleX FM 90,9 MHz
- NRJ FM 96,5 MHz
- Voice FM 102,7 MHz
- Nova FM 103,7 MHz
- Sputnik FM 102,1 MHz

Railways

• The easiest way to get to other towns in Finland is by train.
• Student discount is 50 %
• To get a discount you should fill in a form with your tutor (it is in Finnish and in Swedish only – that is why you will need your tutor´s help), get it signed and stamped at the office of the faculty and then you should go with this form and one passport photo to the railway station, where they will make a VR student card for you. They will charge you for the card about 6 €. Have your VR card made before you plan to travel somewhere, because it always takes some time.
• The timetables and rates you will find at www.vr.fi You can also buy your ticket from website.

Shops

• Supermarkets are usually open Mon-Fri 9-21 and Sat 9-18, some of the markets are open also at Sundays 12-21
• Special shops are usually open Mon-Fri 9-17 (or 18) and Sat 9-15
• There are following shopping centres, where you can find different specialised shops:
- * Iso-Kristiina at Brahenkatu 3
- * Weera at Kauppakatu 39
- * Opri at Koulukatu 5-7
- * Armada at Koulukatu 29
- * Galleria at Kauppakatu 40

• There are some small groceries and some big supermarkets. In supermarkets there are not only food, but also all kinds of products.
• Here are addresses of some big supermarkets:
- Euromarket at Kaakkoiskaari 22
- Citymarket at Toikansuontie 4
- Prisma at Puhakankatu 9-11
• In Myllymäki district in Lappeenranta for example: Family Center, Lidl, furniture stores and domestic appliance stores.

• Your tutor will be glad to help you in orientating in shopping.

Smoking, alcohol, drugs

• Smoking is forbidden in most buildings, also in student flats. There are special smoking rooms or outside smoking areas. Smoking is also forbidden in restaurants and bars.
• Cigarettes are not sold to young people (under 18)
• Beer is sold in supermarkets between 9-21, but it can be sold only to persons older than 18
• Other alcohol beverages are sold in special shops called Alko. The age limit for buying wine and alcohol beverages (max 21%) is 18 years and for spirits 20 years.
• Alkos are located Kaivokatu 9 (Iso-Kristiina), Kaakkoiskaari 22 (Euromarket) and Puhakankatu 9-11 (Prisma)
• Possession and use of any kinds of drugs is illegal.

Saimaa University of Applied Sciences

There are 5 faculties at Saimaa University of Applied Sciences.
• Faculty of Business Administration:
- Lappeenranta Unit: Kimpisen kampus; Pohjolankatu 23
• Faculty of Technology:
- Lappeenranta Unit: Kimpisen kampus; Pohjolankatu 23
- Imatra Unit: Linnalan kampus; Koulukatu 5 B and Tietäjänkatu 3
• Faculty of Health Care and Social Services
- Unit in Lappeenranta: Kahilanniemen kampus; Valto Käkelän katu 3
• Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality
- Unit of Tourism in Imatra: Linnalan kampus; Tietäjänkatu 3
• Faculty of Fine Arts and Design:
- Unit of Fine Arts in Imatra: Itä-Vuoksen kampus; Kanavakatu 6
- Unit of Crafts and Design in Lappeenranta: Armilankatu 40
• Central administration and Rector´s office are in Lappeenranta at Pohjolankatu 23

Sports

• Fitness centre and swimming pool of the town Lappeenranta
- at Pohjolankatu 29 and at Luukkaankatu 51 (Lauritsala)
- Ticket office (Pohjolankatu) is open Mon-Thur: 6.00 – 20.00, Fri: 12.00 –19.00, Saturday: 11.00-17.00,Sunday: 10.00 – 16.00 (closed in the summer)
- Ticket office in Lauritsala is open Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri: 6.00 – 20.00, Wed: 12.00 – 19.00, Sat: 12.00 – 17.00, Sun: 10.00 – 17.00
- Entrance fee to swimming for students is 2,10 € (a card for ten times costs 20,00 €); if you wish to attend also the fitness centre, additional fee is 1 €
• There is also a bowling hall at Pohjolankatu 29
• Private fitness services (www-pages are mainly in Finnish, but there are also photos, prices etc. which can be understood without Finnish language)
- South Carelia Sport Centre (Etelä-Karjalan Liikuntakeskus, www.liikuntakeskus.com ) at Pelitie 36
(fitness centre, aerobics, solarium, sauna); tel. (05) 541 9600
- Kunto-Lady (for women; www.kuntolady.fi ) at Koulukatu 22, tel. (05) 5412 606
• Downhill skiing and snowboarding at Myllymäki, Myllymäentie 83 (town Joutseno)

Student union

• Students of Saimaa University of Applied Sciences have organized their own student union called in abbreviation SAIKO (Kimpisen kampus; Pohjolankatu 23)
• The international co-ordinator of SAIKO can be reached by e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• SAIKO organizes some leisure activities for foreign students (trips, evenings, sports etc.). If you have any suggestions, what kind of activities could be interesting (but not too expensive!), please share your ideas with SAIKO by e-mail; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Taxi

• The telephone number of taxi is (05) 106 400

Telephone calls

• When calling from Finland you have to dial first the international prefix 990 or 999 or 994 or 99500 or 00 (different operators), then dial the country code ( Russia 7, Germany 49, China 86 etc.), then the area code and the telephone number.
• If you make a call to Lappeenranta district, you can just dial the telephone number without area code. If you make a call to some other town of Finland , you should at first dial the area code, e.g. Helsinki 09. If you call to a mobile phone, you should always dial at first the mobile operator code (040 or 050 or some other codes).
• Area code of Lappeenranta is 05, Helsinki 09.
• If you wish to have a Finnish mobile phone, you had better discuss with your tutor, because different operators have different limitations for foreigners (deposit sums, prepaid systems etc.) You can buy pre-paid system from R-kioski.

Tourist information

• Tourist information of the town Lappeenranta is located at Maakuntagalleria, Kauppakatu 40 D, tel. 667 788, e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or
home page www.lappeenranta.fi or www.gosaimaa.fi
• Tourist information of the town Imatra at Heikinkatu 1, tel. (05) 235 2330, e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or home page www.imatra.fi or www.gosaimaa.fi
• A worth seeing sight are Imatra rapids. There will be rapid shows:
- every day at 18 o’clock till 21 August
- 25 December at 21 o’clock
- 31 December at 24 o’clock
- The show lasts about 20 minutes and it is accentuated with music and the evening shows are illumined with Ekku Peltomäki light show.