Last modified 15.3.2011 at 13:20

Bye Bye Finland

Text and photo: Susanna Siironen

It feels like it was just a few days ago when Jurgita and Lina came to Finland. But now three months have gone and the girls are heading back to Lithuania. We chatted with the girls when they had been here for one month. How did the rest of their trip go? And what do they think about Finland now?

Jurgita is trying snowshoes on. In Finland Lina and Jurgita may try some exotic sports.

Lina Urbaite and Jurgita Kardokaite came to Finland in the beginning of this year. Lina and Jurgita are studying physiotherapy in their home country Lithuania and they came to Oulu to do their practical training. In three months the girls got to know Finland's culture and travelled all over Finland.

- We were travelling a lot for the rest of the time of our exchange. We have visited Kemi, Rovaniemi, Helsinki, Stockholm and few other small cities, girls tell.

Girls were also doing a lot of sports during their exchange. They tried for example skiing and Nordic walking.

Even though the girls have enjoyed their time in Finland, going back to Lithuania is not depressing.

- We both missed our families, friends, and we had a lot of things to do for our university in Lithuania, so going back home was not a shock for us. We liked our exchange in Finland very much but in the end we have been counting days and hours, Lina says.

Shy people and difficult language

During the exchange Lina and Jurgita met lots of Finnish people. They think that Finnish people are shy. So when you come to Finland you should remember this.

- Don't be shy because Finns usually are. It is not difficult to be on good terms with Finnish people but they are not used to hug a person they don't know, so it's to better bring your smile instead of kisses or hugs here, Lina says.

Lina and Jurgita advise new exchange students to be ready to learn one of the most difficult languages in the world.

- The only problem in our exchange was the language. We have noticed that not all Finns speak English, so we have tried to learn the Finnish language. It was extraordinarily difficult!

In Finland it is traditional to go to the sauna if that is possible. Lina and Jurgita also get to know this tradition. And they like it!

- Sauna on every Sunday was a very good experience, we will really miss it, Jurgita says.

Educational experience

Lina (third from the left) and Jurgita (fourth from the left) got many new friends during their exchange.

Girls say that exchange has opened their eyes.

- We realised that we really like travelling. It was so great that we could find time and money for that!

Living in a foreign country can be a very educational experience. You learn a lot about the country where you are living in and first of all you learn more about yourself.

- Firstly I have learnt to be more self-confident. This exchange was a nice and useful experience. I have learnt to combine studies and travelling. I still can.t evaluate all the best things I have got in Finland because there were so many of them, but I know that I will definitely use the things I have learnt in Finland during the rest of my life, Lina tells.