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I spent a week with no sunlight: A December to Remember
By Chloe Bolton, University of Helsinki, Finland I went on an ESN trip to Northern Finnish Lapland, what an experience. Now just to state, you don’t have to go with ESN, you go via train and rent a car there, get a cabin and plan your own activities. I chose to go with ESN as it’s an organised package rip, meaning you’ve got little room for error and can’t get lost or stuck on your own in the freezing cold (which is always a bonus). I will add that the ESN trip was a lovely way to meet people on exchange in Finland that don’t do law or go to…
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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.
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A day trip to Tallinn: What to do and see!
by Chloe Bolton, University of Helsinki, Finland Here’s a fun fact: the closest capital to Helsinki is Tallinn (Estonia). The two are closely linked via the many ferries that go from Finland to Estonia daily. Most of Helsinki’s ports will have a couple ferries going to Tallinn which means you’ve got plenty of choice when it comes to times and prices!
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Exams all year round? What’s up with the differences between UH and UOM
by Chloe Bolton, University of Helsinki, Finland Okay, so forget everything you’ve learned about exam season over the past two years, and get ready for exam year. Lucky for you, the grades you get here don’t count towards your final degree, so don’t stress, all you need is a pass. Unlucky for me, I’m doing better here than I was in Manchester.
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Seeing the Northern Lights in Finland!
By Chloe Bolton, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland It truly is a breath-taking experience. You can see them all year round in Helsinki if you’re lucky, but if it’s a must on your bucket list it is worth going up North to Oulu or anywhere in Lapland. I was lucky enough to see the northern lights a few times this year in Finnish Lapland (December), in Oulu (February) and in Helsinki (May), but a lot of people saw them from Helsinki in September. If you are on the lookout you should be able to see them more often than that!To stay alert I would recommend the Aurora app, it’ll notify…
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Where to take your friends in Helsinki – impressing 101
By Chloé Bolton, University of Helsinki, Finland Now I love Helsinki, I find the lifestyle amazing and the university has everything you need. But as a tourist and with visitors I found myself a little stuck the first time I had someone come over – it’s quite small and not the most tourist attractive destination. This being said, over the past six months I’ve curated a little bucket list of the sights, places and activities your friends or family would probably want to do.
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My first impressions of Helsinki!
by Chloe Bolton, University of Helsinki, Finland My first two weeks in Helsinki. What a whirlwind. As you’d probably expect with any destination you’re going to, the first two weeks will be somewhat chaotic, but in an amazing way. From meeting a whole bunch of people from all corners of Europe to figuring out how the student registration system works, moving into a new flat, getting to grips with the Finnish language and taking in the beauty of the city – you will love it. As things are slowly settling down and classes are starting, I thought I could talk you through what you might expect and experience when moving…
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Things I wish I knew before moving to Finland
by Amber Musgrove-Benford (University of Helsinki, Finland)
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A (relatively) comprehensive list of the best things I have done since moving to Helsinki
by Amber Musgrove-Benford (University of Helsinki, Finland) With only just over a fortnight left before I move back to the UK after nine or so months in Finland, I thought I would look back at the top things I have done whilst living in Helsinki – and hopefully give you some ideas of what can be done while studying at UoH.
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Helsinki: 10 things on a budget
By Amber Musgrove-Benford (University of Helsinki, Finland) Explore the Architecture From Nordic minimalism to neoclassicism and even Byzantine-Russian, Helsinki is formed by an amalgamation of architectural styles, which can be seen on a (free!) walk around the city. Try Senate Square and its star, Helsingin tuomiokirkko, designed by Carl Ludvig Engel for neoclassicism, and Lasipalatsi (“Glass Palace”), along with other buildings designed for the 1952 Olympic Games, for modernism. The capital also houses the largest concentration of Art Nouveau buildings in Northern Europe!
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Academic Culture in Finland
Amber Musgrove-Benford (University of Helsinki, Finland) Unsurprisingly, university systems – the lectures, examination formats et cetera – differ throughout the world, and Finland is no exception. It was one thing I immediately noticed and found myself having to adapt to at the beginning of my first Semester in Helsinki.
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Coping with the Cold in Finland
by Amber Musgrove-Benford (University of Helsinki, Finland) After a fortnight of the temperature persistently staying below -8°C, reaching eye-watering lows of -14°C (the Weather App helpfully told me this translated into “feels like -24°C”) and the Baltic Sea beginning to freeze over, I feel the time has come to impart some tips on how to stay warm during the Finnish winter. 1. A good coat goes a long way Most of my peers, me included, arrived in Finland with no “big coat.” Not only does this save on suitcase space when you first leave your home country, but it allows you to buy a coat suited to Finnish winter. A…
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
