The most important thing I have learnt from this tour in Northern Europe is to live greenly. Throughout the tour, I have been introduced to the environmental protection and sustainable development in Finland and Sweden. The way Finnish and Swedish adapt “green” into their daily lives is impeccable. First of all, most lavatories in Finland provide reusable towels, instead of paper rolls, for hand dry. Recycling bins for glass, papers, plastics, and even fluorescent tubes and batteries are in almost every supermarket. Money is in return for recycling; for example, one plastic bottle can be traded for 0.2 euro. Furthermore, separating food wastes is required in almost every restaurant. Diners are expected to separate food wastes into bio-wastes and mixed wastes after their meal. I am so amazed of how they develop a sustainable city and learn to protect our environment through daily lives. Thanks to HKCC and the Education Bureau for granting me a Reach-out Award and this amazing opportunity!
I gained an impressive experience during the ICE Tour to Finland and Sweden. I am surprised that Finnish and Swedish have strong environmental awareness and natural conservation. For instance, the streets are clean without any rubbish, and Finland's forest coverage rate is as high as 70%. In order to protect their natural ecology, they also research sustainable development ideas and adopt feasible purification technology. When I visited Lappeenranta University of Technology, the local students were highly zeal to share with us school activities, including electric cars, solar panels or environment facilities. I admire the spirit of Lappeenranta University of Technology as it is committed to building sustainable future in which the young generations can continue thriving in a clean and green environment. In this study tour, I would like to thank Chammy, Sylvia, and all tour guides who provided a perfect study tour for us to visit many wonderful cities.
首先，我感到很高興和榮幸可以參與這次爲期十四天的芬蘭和瑞典的遊學團，是次遊學團使我獲益良多。我最喜歡的是在Lappeenranta的日子，這個城市非常漂亮，特別是那個離我們酒店不遠的那個湖泊。人們可以在那個草原上唱歌跳舞，坐在兩旁的椅子更可以悠閑地喝飲料，談天，享受生活。在黃昏時，太陽落山了天空出現一個夢幻的天色，令我十分陶醉。芬蘭人們更十分支持環保的活動，在街道上，很少找到垃圾桶，意味著垃圾的製造也會更少;在餐廳裏，人們會自覺地把吃完的食物分類，例如:餐具,食物殘渣,餐紙等等;在超級市場裏，有一部自動回收瓶子的機器，只要把瓶子回收就會有獎勵，這鼓勵了人們做回收活動，當然我也參與其中。加上，我們到訪了Lappeenranta的理工大學，這個綠色校園有不少環保設施例如:太陽能板，電動汽車等等。另外，學校裏也有不少窗口，讓自然光進入室内。不少同學也會騎單車上學，不但可以做運動，更可以令城市減少廢氣。這城市滲透著的環保文化令我知道即使一個小小的行動，也可以為環保出一分力。另外，芬蘭擁有那一望無際的天空，平日在香港，一棟棟的高樓大廈遮擋著藍天，而芬蘭的樓宇一般都比香港矮，大概只有七層樓，一舉頭就可以看見藍天白雲，令我心曠神怡。
乘搭郵輪到瑞典後，我發現芬蘭和瑞典的人也很喜歡使用單車作交通工具。馬路上也有很多方便單車的設施系統，例如停泊單車的欄杆，單車專用徑等等，行人們與單車駕駛者十分配合也很安全。另外，在Hammarby這個城市，環境非常優美，每一棟樓都會有自己一套的垃圾回收系統。經過導遊的介紹，我知道了當地居民會先把垃圾分類，再扔到垃圾桶裏，垃圾會被吸到地底内的大垃圾桶，然後再被利用，到了特定時間就會被收走。居住在這個城市内，不但可以為環保出一分力，更可以欣賞美麗的環境，真希望居住在這個生態城市内。
經過這次遊學團，我對芬蘭和瑞典的認識加深了，對廢物分類也有更進一步認識。回到香港後，我也嘗試把垃圾分類，為環保出一分力。最後，我很感謝Chammy，她帶給我們許多的歡樂。還有，隨團領隊Ellie，為我們設計了那麽好的行程，當地的導遊們，詳細地介紹了芬蘭和瑞典更感謝同行的同學們。
