After being in Finland for almost a month now, I have finally found the motivation to start writing about it. Until I head back to Montana, this will be quite an adventure.
Twenty seven hours was a brutal amount of time to travel. We left Missoula at 6:30 a.m. and until we got to Jyvaskyla, it was sit-and-stress about moving forward-and sit again. The train ride from Helsinki to Jyvaskyla was definitely not amusing, poor Ian was throwing up and we hadn’t learned “WC” means “Wash Closet” which is the bathroom. Little plastic bags did the trick.
Finally, we get to our destination! It’s raining, which now after living here, is no surprise. It is more surprising to have sunshine. That’s an adjustment from beautiful Montana. Aside from the rain, I fell in love with Finland instantly. It is clean, the people are open, and everyone is down to party.
Meeting people has been amazing. It is so easy to meet anyone from any given country; mostly Spain, France, and particularly Germany. The Germans and Finns strongly like each other. There are only six Americans, including Ian and myself. Stephen and Jason, from Oregon, have been awesome guys to talk with. A girl from Belgium practiced her slang with us, her practicing consisted of “white nigger.” From my American standpoint, this is hysterical. Absolutely hilarious. She loved making everyone laugh, probably because she is quite good at it.
Now, the sauna (sa-oon-a). Oh how I love the sauna! Such a Finn at heart. Sitting and cleansing the body. Many exchange students go in their swimsuits, that doesn’t quite capture the ‘curing’ part of the sauna. All Finns go naked, and I love it. Everybody is so open with their bodies, why wouldn’t they be? We’re all given the same parts aren’t we?
Lastly, I will encourage anybody who wants to take a year off or do something so rad to come to Finland. Everyone is laid-back, school is easy, and life is good here. Definitely the best place I could have chosen.
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