Adjusting to a new student life abroad hasn’t been easy. As I mentioned in my previous post, some organizational “rearrangement” at the university caused a good deal of confusion and stress when it came time for course selection. Making it even harder to just relax, settle in, and find that new day-to-day routine that would help calm the nerves that come with being thrust into a new environment.
I must admit, I was a little nervous about meeting new people. For those that know me back home, my demeanor is quite similar to that of the common Finnish stereotype (which is completely bogus by the way!): calm, reserved, introverted, but friendly once we open up to you. So leaving behind my great group of fellow Huskies and heading to the great unknown of Helsinki was a little bit intimidating. I’m glad to report my worries were all for not!
The group of exchange students I’m studying with have been so easy to get along with, and help me make me feel right home so early on. Many of us live in the same apartment complex the university leases out to exchange students, about a half hour walk from campus. So not only do I see many of the same faces every day in class, we often meet up in the mornings to walk over to the university together. It’s been great to get to know so many new people from backgrounds so different than my own. Since we are all students in the Teacher Education program, much of our conversations have revolved around our educational backgrounds and our first experiences with this “world famous” Finnish education system. It has been fascinating to compare and contrast, my own educational background, what I’m currently learning in the classroom, and the experiences of my fellow exchange students.
Outside the classroom, I’ve already taken a few adventures with a group of the exchange students I’ve grown closer with. The first weekend, we decided to be a little adventurous and travel outside Helsinki and going hiking in Finland’s beautiful Nuuksio National Park. We’ve participated in events around campus, partied, and even have planned trips together to Tallin, St. Petersburg, and Lapland in northern Finland.
While my abroad experience is still in its infancy, it has been an incredible one so far. I’m thankful for being able to share it with such a great group of fellow exchange students, and new friends. I can’t wait for the new adventures that lie ahead.
