by Ria Mair, University of Helsinki, Finland 1. Animal Law I was excited to study this module since it was a specific area of law that I had not come across at the University of Manchester. ‘Animal law’ covered the main theories and approaches of animal law; local, regional and international regulation; and future prospects. There were many political aspects to this course, following the increase in practices such as animal testing and environmental issues like climate change. A lot of the theories regarding animal rights are linked to human rights, such as the topic of ‘sentience’, discussing where the line is drawn between beings, or the capabilities approach, which…

By Ria Mair, University of Helsinki, Finland Initial thoughts… Before I arrived in Helsinki, I did not know what to expect.  After scouring social media to gain insight into student life in Helsinki, it seemed student life would be fairly tame and somewhat dull, as there was not much content online.  However, after speaking to a former University of Helsinki student who was on exchange from Manchester, it was the opposite for her, so I felt unsure.  As well as this, Finland, and most Nordics for that matter, are not depicted much in media, so I had a limited schema, one I would build from diving into the deep end…

By Ria Mair, University of Helsinki, Finland Learning about different cultures Through my social circle, I learned a lot about different cultures during my year abroad.  In the first semester, my friendship group consisted of people from various countries, and so we hosted a ‘bring your own dish night’.  I had the opportunity of trying French quiche, Dutch ‘Poffertjes’ and even a New Zealand ‘mousetrap’. Beyond food, I became aware of other cultural differences.  For example, when listening to music with my friends, I was introduced to different genres, and now I have a more broadened taste in the arts.  I learned about different structures of language, as my French…

By Ria Mair, University of Helsinki, Finland The Lofoten Islands, a beautiful archipelago located above the Arctic Circle in Norway, was the most breathtaking and fulfilling trip of my study abroad in Helsinki… The Cabin in Kabelvaag My home for the trip was a cosy little cabin right by the sea, which was perfect for a trip of long and exhausting hikes.  I shared the place with my good friend from the University of Helsinki, and three other exchange students that I did not know – my little family for the next week!  Showering, cooking and resting in the cottage became the prize after each day of physically pushing ourselves…

By Ria Mair, University of Helsinki, Finland Sushi Buffet Something all tourists should do when visiting Helsinki is try a sushi buffet.  There are several dotted around the city, and all are delicious.  With fresh seafood from the Baltic Sea, and plenty of vegetarian options, it is the perfect tourist spot.  The nature of Finland is that the country is very trusting, and sushi buffets are an excellent depiction of that: you can trust that everyone will be respectful and tidy up after themselves.  Although many things in Helsinki can be expensive, in comparison to the UK, sushi is one thing that is loads more affordable in Finland – and…

By Ria Mair, University of Helsinki, Finland Walks + Hikes Around Helsinki, there are plenty of scenic walks to go on. My favourite one was from the harbour by the Market Hall, and then along the rocky coast until the beach. During Winter, along this walk, you would come across outdoor ice-skating rinks and Christmas lights.  I preferred Helsinki in Summer, watching the sunset from the coast, watching people play volleyball at the beach and seeing more happy faces about. Just outside Helsinki, in Vantaa, was Nuuksio Park – an expansive hiking spot.  When friends and family from home came to visit me, I always took them to Nuuksio, an…

By Ria Mair, University of Helsinki, Finland A must-do trip while studying at the University of Helsinki is to visit the beautiful northernmost region of Finland, Lapland. Experiencing the expansive snowy landscapes, Arctic wildlife, and cosiness of my cabin made the trip once in a lifetime, filled with joyful memories. 17 hours travelling… The journey there is one I’ll never forget. 17 long hours, tucked up in my thermals amongst a busy coach full of excited exchange students, waiting for the hours to pass and reach Lapland. Along the way, we made several stops at service stations, which all had that functional Nordic feel. Every station came with a massive…