Week 20: 17th May – 23rd May

Personal and Cultural Development

The Finnish summer has officially arrived and what a summer it is! Turku looks completely different. The first time I walked into town admiring the views, I was awe-struck by how something as simplistic as leaves on trees could fascinate me. My eyes were roaming all around me, I was barely looking where I was going, and of course I had to pause at times to take some photos so that I wouldn’t be relying on my memory to capture the beauty of nature that I was seeing. I couldn’t believe this was the same place that I had arrived at back in January when it was minus 30 degrees, now boasting a sweltering +30 degrees! As well as the temperature, the hours of daylight have also drastically changed. I am back to having almost no concept of time, like I did back in winter when we were lucky to have 2 hours of daylight. Now, there is at least 18 hours of daylight and night time isn’t even what I would call dark. Finland is full of extremes, but that has made my experience here so much more interesting.

On Saturday, I was taken on a surprise journey to enjoy my last weekend in Finland. We returned to Naantali, where we had gone in February to Moominworld. What a contrast that lay before me! I was fascinated by summer in Turku, but Naantali took my breath away!

<< Naantali,
February 2010                                              

It was totally different from the last time we were in Naantali. Then, it was covered in snow, and now I have a new appreciation for the small, pretty town. It was beautiful – sitting watching the water so tranquil, peaceful, calm and quiet was the perfect way to spend a lovely summer’s day.

<< Naantali,
May 2010 

This will be my last blog entry because I don’t have long left and the rest of my time will be spent tying up loose ends and saying goodbyes. All that remains is my final reflection on my Erasmus experience that will no doubt be full of positives about this life-changing time I’ve had here, the only sadness being caused by leaving some of the most amazing people I’ve ever met.