Opening Ceremony

The academic year started solemnly on Monday 7th with an Opening Ceremony in the huge hall of the university. The professors proceeded into the hall while the Ylioppilaskunnan Soittajat (students orchestra) were playing the Andante festivo by -of course- Sibelius (the most famous Finnish composer). Three speeches were given about the university reform in Finland (this year there is a big change in the university politics to more independence), the connection of tutkimus ja opetus (research and teaching) and democracy in universities. Between the speeches more music was played.
In the afternoon there was the Opening Carnival - no carneval like in Venice, but plenty of students organisations were presenting themselves. There are e.g. political groups, associations of students from the different regions of Finland and groups for the departments. I joined Limes and Resonanssi, which organize parties, games, orientation rallyes, sauna events for physics students. Addionally I got my ESN card (Erasmus Student Network) so that I can take part in their trips for example to Lapland and St Petersburg.
Later free wine and pizza were offered in the university main building. Furthermore some chamber music was performed. I asked 3 students with violin cases (in Finnish :-) ) if their orchestra needed still violists. Yes, they do,so I will have my audition as an entrance exam for Ylioppilaskunnan Soittajat on Tuesday. Let's see...