One year in Finland

This last Blog entry should be used to sum up the whole time here in Finland a bit and to give this whole Blog a suitable ending. Therefore, I have to say that before I came to Finland, I was pretty skeptical about what I should expect from that year abroad. The year developed totally different from what I expected to happen. Everything went pretty well for me and I am very thankful for all the nice people I met, all the nice activities I was able to attend and every minute I could spend in this fantastic country. Finland just overwhelmed me with pretty much everything it offered to me. So I think it is time for me to give something back and this is a big THANK YOU. A thank you that goes out to all the people that made my stay so special, for example, my teachers, my classmates, my roommates, my international and Finnish friends and especially my tutor. This time here will be forever in my head and in my heart. It was for me so far the best time in my life and has influen...

When I am thinking back to my time before Finland, I could never imagine going to Sauna with my friends just for fun. It was for me something that just older people do and nothing really interesting for me and I think also not interesting for any of my friends. But Finland changed us. Now that I am used to Sauna, I am always planning my Sauna times like I am planning my meals or my laundry times. It is a fixed part of my week and day plans. Here in Finland I learned how relaxing a Sauna with friends can be after a long school day especially during the wintertime. The heat warms up the whole body and the time with friends and sometimes a cool drink in the Sauna helps to relax and calm down. For me Sauna is a routine that I don’t want to miss anymore and what I really want to establish as well in my day planning at home. It helps me to have some minutes just for me, calm down and after that focus on the main things again.

In Turku there are some good opportunities to party during the week and on the weekends to meet other people and especially other students. Although the main party day is Thursday, it is also possible to go out on Tuesdays or Wednesdays and have a good time. Marilyn and Vegas: In the centre of Turku you will find the clubs Marilyn and Vegas right next to each other. Here parties with different mottos take place almost daily during the week. But you can also go partying here on weekends, but then in normal clothes and not in student overalls. The prices are good, especially during the happy hour for students, so most parties are well attended. Heidi’s Bier Bar: Heidi's beer bar is located directly at the central marketplace. Here you can also go out and party during the week and on weekends. With an appropriate student card, you can get shots for only one Euro. There are different areas. In one area you can sit together and have a drink, then there is a beer garden and...

Tornio is a city in the north of Finland with 21,875 inhabitants. It is part of the Lapland region and is located right on the border with Sweden at the mouth of the Tornionjoki River in the Gulf of Bothnia. Tornio forms a twin city with Haparanda on the Swedish side. In my opinion, one should always combine a stay in Tornio with a trip across the border to Sweden. The border is close and entry is easy. In Sweden, the prices are cheaper than in Finland. Tornio was for me and my friends the ideal place to stay overnight and served and afterwards as the starting point of our Lapland road trip.

Tallinn, the capital of Estonia is situated on the Baltic Sea and is the cultural centre of the country. The most famous sights are the cobblestone old town surrounded by a city wall with numerous cafés and shops and the 15th century defence tower Kiek in de Kök. Tallinn's historic town hall square is dominated by the Gothic town hall with a 64-meter-high tower, which was built in the 13th century. The Nikolaikirche, a 13th-century landmark, displays ecclesiastical art. Tallinn is best reached by ferry from Helsinki. The journey to the port of Helsinki is easy by train or bus. There you change to the ferries of Eckeröline, Viking Line or Tallink Silja. In a little more than 2 hours you can reach Tallinn and can walk directly from the port in a few minutes to the old town and spend a great day. In the evening you can take the ferry to Helsinki or stay overnight in Tallinn. Tallinn is known and loved by students especially because of its easy accessibility, the beautiful ...

Lapland is Finland's most northern region, bordering Sweden, Norway, Russia and the Baltic Sea. It is sparsely populated and known for its subarctic wilderness, ski resorts and natural phenomena such as the midnight sun and northern lights. The capital Rovaniemi is the gateway to the region. Lapland is also the settlement area of the Sami people, which extends far into neighbouring countries. Lapland offers many different activities for travellers. Husky Ride: A husky tour is an excellent way to experience the arctic wilderness. There is something primeval about crossing a snow-covered landscape on a dog sled. Snowmobile Tours: On a snowmobile tour in Finland, the route takes you through the beautiful wilderness of the far north. With the snowmobile you will drive at a speed of up to 80km/h through forests and over frozen lakes in beautiful Finnish Lapland. A feeling of pure freedom. Skiing: There are about 75 winter sports areas in Finland. They are mostly sm...

Helsinki is the Finnish capital in the south of the country, situated on a peninsula on the Gulf of Finland. It is very easy to reach. There is the possibility to arrive by bus (e.g. Onnibus) or by train. Things you can do in Helsinki Suomenlinna: Outside Helsinki, one of the largest sea fortresses in the world, Suomenlinna, is located on six interconnected islands. It is worth knowing that the sea fortress is actually on the UNESCO World Heritage List and that it was built in the 18th century when Finland was part of Sweden. To get to this admirable sea fortress, there are ferry boats that depart from Helsinki city centre. Explore the city centre of Helsinki: Most major European cities have a historic district where the old architecture has been preserved for several centuries. Helsinki also has a historic district, but what is unique about it is that it has been mixed with new buildings, so there is also new and modern architecture. There is more new than old in Helsi...

The Archipelago area is a part of the Baltic Sea off the southwest coast of Finland. The Archipelago Sea lies between the mainland Finland and the Åland archipelago, bordered by the Gulf of Finland to the south and the Gulf of Bothnia to the north. The sea area is interspersed with thousands of archipelagos and cliffs. It is difficult to estimate the number of islands in the Archipelago Sea, because most of them are just small rocks. Estimates range from 20,000 to 50,000 islands. Especially during the summertime, the archipelago is a good destination for one day or even a weekend trip. The little islands offer beautiful scenery and a good possibility to cool down by jumping to the water of the Baltic sea. For people who visit Turku and the surrounding area, the archipelago is definitely a must-visit spot. Maybe one more hint for people who are planning to go to Sweden by ferry one day. Take a look out of the window when you leave Turku. The hight of the ferries offers a...

The next stop on my tour around Turku was Kaarina. Kaarina is a city in southwest Finland with 32,738 inhabitants. It is located on the Baltic Sea coast in the immediate vicinity of the city of Turku. Kaarina is a nice city that does not offer too many touristic places. For me, the nicest was the wooden church in the center. Kaarina is the ideal starting point for trips to the archipelago. We used Kaarina for the starting and endpoints of our trips to the archipelago. Föli is offering connections to between Turku and Kaarina pretty frequently. Another activity that can be done in Kaarina is Frisbee Golf. There is a free Frisbee Golf area where you can go without booking anything. Just go there with your friends and discs and enjoy an active time outside in beautiful nature.