A year in Helsinki…

by Chloe Bolton, University of Helsinki, Finland

As I write this, I’m filled with a mix of emotions. It’s hard to believe that a year ago, I had freshly arrived in Helsinki, and had not met all the lovely people I now call my friends. What a lucky girl I was, there’s not much I wouldn’t give to do it all over again. The year that has passed feels both fleeting and monumental, filled with experiences that have shaped me in ways I didn’t anticipate. Now, as I reflect on my time here, it feels like the perfect moment to write about what this year has meant to me.

I can confidently say that Helsinki is not a destination on everyone’s bucket list. It’s not what first comes to mind as a year abroad destination for most. But I guarantee that if you have an open mind you’ll love it. Typical stereotypes may include cold, short days, living in the dark and perhaps being lonely. Now yes, indeed it gets dark way too early and it is very very cold in the winter but I think there is a certain beauty to embrace in these seemingly negative aspects. 

In some ways, I think you find a form of enjoyment, a novelty if you will in it all. The fact that it comes with an expiration date means you try to make the most out of it before it ends and try to get everything you can from it. 

There were practical things, of course—learning to navigate a new city, grappling with a language that seemed impenetrable at first (there is no way to fully learn it), and figuring out how to layer up against the biting cold. But there were also subtler, more personal lessons. I learned the power of solitude, how to find joy in small moments of stillness, and how to appreciate silence—something that seems to be woven into the fabric of Finnish life.

If there’s one thing that will stay with me, it’s the Finnish concept of sisu (may have got a ‘sisu; tattoo). There’s no direct translation, but it is described as perseverance in the face of adversity, an inner strength that pushes you forward when things get tough. Indeed, in Helsinki and Finland in general I saw sisu everywhere—in the way people continued their lives during the harshest winter months, in the dedication to outdoor activities even when the temperature dropped below freezing, and in the quiet, steady determination that seems to define this country.

Of course, I can’t write about my year in Finland without talking about the seasons, which have defined much of my experience. Winter in Helsinki is as cold and dark as you might imagine. The days are short—sometimes just a few hours of daylight—and the cold seeps into your bones. But there’s also a quiet beauty to it. The snow transforms the city into a serene, almost magical place, muffling the sounds of daily life and making everything seem still. There were days when it felt like the sun barely rose, and it was easy to feel a sense of isolation, but there was also something comforting about the deep quiet of a winter evening. Someone once said to me that winter’s challenge is summer’s reward, and I couldn’t agree more.

Helsinki in the summer is the polar opposite of winter. The days are impossibly long, with the sun barely setting, and the city comes alive. People flock to outdoor terraces, parks are filled with picnickers, and there’s a collective sense of celebration in the air. It’s as if the entire country is making up for the lost sunlight of winter. 

Having now left Helsinki, I can safely say that it forces you to see the world through a different lens, to adapt to unfamiliar situations, and to find comfort in the unknown. This year has given me a new perspective on life, on what it means to slow down and appreciate the moment. I’ve learned to embrace stillness, to appreciate the beauty in quiet moments, and to value experiences over things. 

As I close this chapter of my life, I know that Helsinki will always hold a special place in my heart. This city, with its quiet resilience and understated charm, has taught me more than I ever expected. I’ll miss the crisp winter air, the long summer nights, and the calm rhythm of life here. But more than that, I’ll carry with me the lessons I’ve learned—about myself, about resilience, and about the beauty of embracing the unknown. Until we meet again, kiitos Helsinki, for everything.