Most people have a favorite museum, church, monument, or other landmark they like to escape to in their study abroad cities. Helsinki is no exception when it comes to charming sites: beautiful monuments, numerous museums, an impressive Senate Square, and even lovely design district lined with cute little cafes. But my favorite spot is often the beaten path, or more accurately is the beaten path.
As I mentioned in previous blogs, I’m an avid runner. Not only is it a great way for me to get in my exercise, but it when I’m out on a run I can truly just shut off my mind and enjoy that little bit of time for myself. One of the my favorite aspects of Helsinki is the expansive system of running and biking trails. Right near my apartment I can pick up the birch tree lined, paved paths and take those all the way into forest, where the pavement gives way to dirt paths, tree roots, and rock. Just a few steps outside the main hustle and bustle of the city, and you’re completely immersed in nature. I can’t say I’ve ever been the super outdoorsy type, but there is something about just the sounds of foot steps against the trail and the fresh air that has been particularly relaxing and a great de-stressor during this abroad experience.
Unfortunately, I can’t spend all my time out on the trails, and there’s this “school” thing I have to go to every now and then. Thankfully, not all my time has been spent sitting in a lecture hall. We’ve gotten the opportunity to take multiple visits to local schools to see the Finnish education system in action. One of my favorite school visits so far was to a secondary school just outside Helsinki. The school served as both an English-based international school and also a traditional Finnish-based instructional track. The school tugged at my heartstrings because they placed a great emphasis on my favorite subject, math! They offered an impressive list of courses you typically only see at the college level. It was neat to see how each school used their autonomy and freedom to design their own curriculum in different ways, especially when that freedom was used to promote interest in math!
As my course work comes to a close, hopefully I’ll be able to get out more and truly see all that Helsinki has to offer. Although I have now already been here for two months, I still feel like there is so much still to do and see!
