A student was knitting in yesterday's lecture at the University of Helsinki. Mind you, she was listening to the lecture. And the lecturer was fine about it. Most Finnish students don't take notes in this course, while my Italian friend and I write frantically. It seems to me to be a cultural thing.
I had heard about the atmosphere in Finnish schools being more relaxed, and this is often singled out as one the keys to their success. Yet, I couldn't stop looking at her knitting. It made me feel relaxed.
I started taking fewer notes, and in my next class (Finnish) I hardly took any notes. I immediately felt the difference. This was the first Finnish class that I actually enjoyed (since they started three weeks ago). I felt that I learnt so much.
On my way home, I made the first acquaintances at my university accommodation, after weeks of lonely existence there, and we agreed to go out next Wednesday.
Such a nice day!