The best education systems in the world, sauna, expensive and cold weather. These are the terms that jumped out at me while researching information about the Republic of Finland. I didn't know many friends or acquaintances who had visited Finland (or at least Sweden or Norway), so I didn't even have anyone to ask. This was also one of the reasons why I finally decided to go to Finland as part of the ERASMUS program, I thought that I might not see Scandinavia again in my life, and at the same time, I was attracted by the high level of universities. In my case, it was Aalto University, which ranks somewhere around two hundred in the ranking of universities (the year 2022-2023).
Regarding studies, it was very positive that all Master courses were only in English. So, as international students, we did not have separate classes because the Finns also had classes only in English. I also really liked the system, where the students "form" their grades in the given course by completing various tasks already during the semester. The exam period only lasted a week and did not determine the student's performance as much, so it was much less stressful. There are many more things I could pick up on education (student associations, campus, canteens, metro to school, teachers' approach to students...), so I soon believed Finns are very good at education. For the sake of interest, I will mention that in elementary schools, children also learn, for example, how to lead a debate, work together, etc.
Picture 1 - Norwegian city Tromsø
Almost everyone knows that saunas are popular in Finland. When I found out that we have a sauna in the dorm, that there is a sauna on the campus, or even in the parliament, I realized that the sauna is much more popular than I thought. I really liked the sauna and the subsequent hardening. The Finns explained to us the clearly defined rules to follow - people must not argue in the sauna, only the person sitting in the upper row can pour water into the stove, etc. The sauna culture is different from ours; the Finns go to the sauna with a can of beer, talk, and have fun. Therefore, it was not unusual to be at student parties, where half of the people danced, and the other half took a sauna in the next room. Interestingly, a sauna is the only Finnish word that has been adopted unchanged into Czech, English, and many other languages.
Picture 2 - Stockholm
As far as the financial side is concerned, the dormitory cost me €410 per month. The grant from the ERASMUS program was approximately €2,100. So I paid €1,640 just for the dorm. On the other hand, lunches and sometimes dinners in the canteen cost €2.7, which was very cheap for Finland. Since I traveled a lot (in addition to Finland, I also visited Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia), I spent a lot more than the grant provided, but that was purely my decision.
Even before I left, a lot of people warned me about the cold weather (most of these people had never been to Scandinavia). So I was again surprised that in September and October, the outside temperature was quite similar to that in the Czech Republic. November and December were already colder, but at least there was snow, and many public areas were turned into ice rinks.
During my stay, I also visited Lapland (the northern region of Finland), where I experienced the coldest outdoor temperature of -27°C. Looking beyond the Arctic Circle was an unforgettable experience. I'm not sure if I'll ever get a chance to experience it again.
Picture 3 - Lapland
A study trip is not only about studying and traveling but also about getting to know new people and other cultures. I dare say that thanks to ERASMUS, I now have friends all over Europe.
Picture 4 - National park Nuuksio with friends