After finding out I was placed in Helsinki I was ecstatic!..and a little nervous! Finland is known for its heavy winters and winter darkness, but it's also known for its amazing summers and midnight sun. To put it shortly: Finland is intense.
I like to travel fairly often and decided to visit my prospective IEP schools this past summer. Helsinki was so full of life and the people were so happy it was amazing! The nature was lush, the days were never-ending, it was perfect. Seeing Helsinki in the summer was great and showed me what I had to look forward to in 2020!
Flash back to October. After getting my placement I rushed into overdrive and found some tips that I was so happy I learned before arriving. Here's a list of the most important things:
Clothing
Winters in Helsinki are fairly mild compared to the rest of Finland, with average temperatures between 20-30F during winter. Snow gear is not necessary for everyday life, and if you don't already own anything just buy gear at thrift shops (UFF and Helsingin Sportti-Divari). Snow gear takes up a lot of space when packing and is overkill in the city. Purchasing one to two sets of thermal underwear is a must! With these as a base layer, you can wear normal clothes even on the coldest days (and for normal I don't mean shorts and a t-shirt). Layering is a must, and wool will be your best friend when it comes to this. One wool sweater is the equivalent of three cotton ones, so even if it's more expensive just get a couple of good quality pieces. Buy one good pair of waterproof boots, a scarf, some thin wool-lined gloves, and a heavy waterproof jacket and you will be set for winter in Helsinki!
Winter Preparation
It's commonly known that Finnish winters are dark, but the famous darkness only really lasts from December to the beginning of February. Coming from sunny Los Angeles it will be a bit of a transition to get used to Finnish winter, but I found two game-changing solutions. Now for this first one..don't laugh, it's going to sound like I'm joking but this has been the #1 best decision I made when packing for Helsinki. Get a SAD lamp! They are high-lumen lamps that totally helped me acclimate to Finland, and truly make a difference if you're a photosensitive California native. Also, take vitamin D supplements daily. The sun is a major source of vitamin D, and during winter it's hard to get enough on our own. People in Finland often get the blues during this time of year but these two things help keep me shining!
Housing
Make sure to apply for HOAS housing (student housing service run by the state) IMMEDIATELY after getting placed in Helsinki, or as soon as the website allows which was October 1st this year. Student housing is highly competitive in Helsinki partly because of the great locations they offer and because of the extremely low prices. The applications are no-strings-attached so if you're on the fence about studying abroad just do it and deny the offer later. There are other options available if you don't get an offer through HOAS, but they are much more expensive. Just FYI: I got an apartment in Kamppi and it was the best location/decision!
Financial Things
Everything in Finland is paid for by card. Make sure to get a card without foreign transaction fees and you will be good to go, no need to get a Finnish bank account or pull out thousands in Euros. A lot of things in Finland can be done with a Finnish bank account, but it is a huge hassle to get one and is not worth it unless you plan to stay longterm.
Food/Drink
The cost of food in Helsinki is pretty much the same as Los Angeles so forget about all of the people yelling about how expensive Finland is. There are a lot of great restaurants in the city and almost all food is under 18EUR so there's no need to feel like you have to cook at home all of the time. One thing about Finland that is kind of outrageous is the cost of alcohol! The state runs a monopoly (similar to Canada and Sweden) and pushes the costs to over two times what you would expect in Los Angeles. Drinks at bars and clubs are cheaper but don't expect to be saving money on this.
Lifestyle
Finns are really unique. Popular culture sometimes states that they are quiet and cold, but this really isn't true! They are often a little shy but are so so fun when you get to know them better. Finns also love Americans and especially people from Los Angeles, so you won't have a hard time meeting new people. Aalto has an entire club that plans and orchestrates various events for exchange students, and it is really so awesome! This was a great way for me to bond with other exchange students as well as get to know more Finnish students from Aalto. The club is very popular so their events are a great way to meet new people. For those music lovers out there: Helsinki is in love with Techno and House, but there are many events (found on Facebook) that cater to other music tastes. Heavy metal is also a thing here so if that's your thing then you are in luck!
These things totally helped me prepare for Helsinki and it has been such an amazing experience so far! If you're thinking of choosing Helsinki for IEP, I completely recommend it. Stay tuned for other blogs covering the best times in Finland!