Erasmus in Kuopio, Finland

  The Finnish lakes Upon arriving in Kuopio in January, we witnessed something we had never seen before: all the lakes were completely frozen, with a layer of ice on the surface exceeding one meter, allowing us to move across them without fear. However, it was not immediately possible to skate on them because a thick layer of snow covered the lakes. We could engage in cross-country skiing or some passages were cleared for cars. Cross coutry skiing on a lake in Kuopio Around the beginning ebruary, some lakes were cleared, allowing us to skate on them, such as during the Kuopio skating marathon that we participated in.   Snowmobile on a frozen lake It was also possible to swim in them, in specially maintained holes with motors churning the water to prevent it from refreezing. It's an experience worth trying to swim in a lake at 0°C. Hole to swim in the lake Just before our departure, we witnessed the melting of this layer of ice, making walks on the lakes quite frightening. We ...

Easter in Finland   Easter, known as "Pääsiäinen" in Finnish, is celebrated in Finland much like it is in many other Christian-majority countries .   Palm Sunday Seven weeks before Easter, Finland observes Palm Sunday , known as "Palmusunnuntai."  It marks the start of Holy Week, blending religious observance with cultural traditions. Many may engage in fasting as a form of spiritual preparation for Easter. Meanwhile, others take advantage of the remaining snow by enjoying downhill skiing, embracing the outdoor activities that come with the arrival of spring.   Virpominen Virpominen is a Finnish Easter tradition similar to the custom of "trick-or-treating" during Halloween in some other countries. It takes place on Palm Sunday, which is the Sunday before Easter Sunday. During Virpominen, children dress up as Easter witches or "virpojat" (palm twig boys) and go from door to door in their neighborhoods, carrying decorated branches of willow twigs a...

The overalls What is an overall? When we walk around Finnish cities, we may come across students wearing a colourful jumpsuit full of patches, but what's the point?  Color :  Wearing an overall is a popular tradition in Finland. Each colour represents a course of study, allowing you to stand out from the others and recognise people studying the same course as you. Yellow: engineering students Pink: business students Blue: exchange students Purple: medical students etc... In our case, we had the choice between yellow and blue as we are exchange students but also engineers. But in the end we decided to go for yellow! Patches :  The overall is decorated with patches that have a special meaning and can be decorated in a variety of ways. There are patches for every occasion: trips: patches were given to us when we went on holiday with the school's student organisation (Lapland, Norway, Stockholm...) parties: the student organisation often organises events in bars or activities...

  The northern lights   During our Erasmus in Finland, we were lucky enough to see the northern lights. In Kuopio or Lapland, we were able to see these magnificent lights in the sky.   Sciences The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are a natural phenomenon characterized by colorful displays of light that illuminate the night sky, predominantly in polar regions. They occur when charged particles emitted by the sun, known as solar wind, interact with the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere. These collisions create vibrant curtains, arcs, or bands of light, with colors ranging from green and red to blue and purple. The Northern Lights are most commonly observed near the Earth's magnetic poles and are a mesmerizing natural spectacle sought after by travelers worldwide.   Find northern lights Start by checking aurora forecasts and space weather reports to gauge the likelihood of activity in your region. Consider joining guided tours led by exp...

Ice hockey in Kuopio Ice hockey is more than a simple sport in Finland, it is a true hobby which is part of the Finnish culture. In Kuopio, at the Olvi Areena we have the chance to attend to many exciting ice hockey games. Olvi Areena : The matches take place in Kuopio town centre in a 5,200-capacity ice rink dating back to 1979.  It's a great place to watch hockey matches. Kalpa :  Kuopio's ice hockey team is Kalpa (Kalevan Pallo), which was founded in 1929 and has around twenty players, including one French player, Hugo Gallet. The team has a very high standard, playing in the Liiga since 2005 and finishing 7th out of 16 in this year's rankings.  We had the opportunity to see 3 of the team's matches during this championship, one against Helisnki, another against Tampere and the last against Lahti. The last match of the season took place on 9 March 2024! Tickets :  Ticket prices are very affordable, ranging from 6 euros to 30 euros. We used to take the free places f...

  Tampere   With a group of friends, I went to Tampere for a weekend. Located about 170 kilometers north of Helsinki, Tampere offers a blend of natural beauty and cultural charm that's both inviting and accessible.   History of the city Tampere's past is closely tied to its industrial roots. Once a bustling center of factories and mills, the city now preserves its industrial heritage through museums like the Vapriikki Museum. Here, visitors can explore artifacts and exhibits detailing the city's industrial past. Beyond its industrial history, Tampere boasts a thriving cultural scene. The city's theaters, galleries, and cultural centers offer a range of performances and exhibitions, providing insights into its rich cultural tapestry. Tampere's transformation began in the early 19th century with the onset of the Industrial Revolution. The city's numerous rapids along the Tammerkoski River provided abundant hydropower, which was harnessed to drive the m...

 Today we're going to discover one of our favorite and best-known activities in Finland: ice skating .  Ice tracks with the town of Kuopio at sunset Ice skating in Finland : Ice skating is very popular in Finland. During the winter (October-April), there are ice rinks in every town. Many Finnish schools even have their own rinks. So it's easy to skate in winter.  You can also skate on frozen lakes. However, the lakes are covered in snow, so machines are needed to remove the snow. In Kuopio, from January to March, there are large circuits maintained on the ice.  When we came to Finland, we bought ice skates for the first week. So every week we go ice-skating on Lake Kuopio.  Kuopio Ice marathon : The town of Kuopio is well known in Finland in winter for hosting the Finland Ice Marathon. It's a race organized every year on Lake Kuopio. This year, it takes place on February 24, 2024. That's why the ice tracks are maintained and open to the public every day.  I...

    Finnish roads Despite Finland's harsh winters and snowy roads, the country has very few accidents. Several reasons explain this.  First, Finland spends a lot on roads, ensuring they're well-maintained by clearing snow and seeding the ground with specific gravel to deal with snow and ice. Also, Finnish drivers receive tough training, especially on driving safely in winter. They learn things like keeping a safe distance, driving at the right speed, and handling icy roads.                                                                  Gravel on the ground Moreover, Finland strictly enforces traffic laws and gives big fines for breaking them, which makes drivers follow the rules. They also use advanced technology like road sensors and weather forecasts to give drivers real-time info, helping them drive bette...

  Finnish specialities We've been in Finland for over a month now, so we've had the chance to try a number of Finnish specialities.  Karjalanpiirakka : We started by tasting one of the savoury specialities called Karjalanpiirakka (Karelian pies) made with grapes. We tasted the rice pies and the potato pies.  Korvapuusti : The other specialities we tried were sweet pastries including korvapuusti, a cinnamon-based cake flavoured with cardamom. This cake is one of our favourites, and we eat it very often. Runebergintorttu : This speciality is a cylinder-shaped pastry topped with raspberry jam and a crown of icing. The pastry is made from almonds and dipped in rum, cognac or liqueur. On top, there is a raspberry jam-based filling with icing. This is a very sweet cake with a high almond content. Pepparkakor : It's a dry cake that means "pepper biscuits". These Christmas biscuits also contain cinnamon and cardamom.  Kaurakeksi : These small circle-shaped biscuits are ma...

  Kuopio tower Nestled in the heart of the picturesque city of Kuopio, Finland, stands proudly an iconic architectural symbol: the Kuopio Tower. Towering over the landscape with its sleek silhouette, this tower offers more than just spectacular panoramic views; it embodies the dynamic and modern spirit of the region.   The Kuopio Tower, also known as the "Puijo Tower," is a modern landmark, a testament to Finland's architectural evolution. Designed by architect Helmer Stenros, it was completed in 1963 and boasts an impressive height of 75 meters. Its minimalist yet elegant design gives it a remarkable presence in Kuopio's urban skyline.   Description of the view Step aboard the panoramic elevator and be whisked away to the heights of the Kuopio Tower. Once at the top, you'll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the city and its surroundings. The shimmering lakes, lush forests, and characteristic red rooftops of Kuopio stretch as far as the eye can se...

University of Savonia The school : The school is one of the largest in Finland, with a number of different streams, including business, medicine and engineering. The school is divided into 6 floors and 3 buildings, with lots of computer rooms and large classrooms.  For us, getting into the school went really well, we were immediately shown around the school and shown how the dedicated areas worked and how the classes went.  The courses : For our first week of lessons, the teachers introduced themselves and told us what the lessons were going to be like and how we were going to be graded throughout the semester. A typical week here consists of our 6 chosen subjects (Mathematics, Physics, Business to Business, Project Management, Material Management and Finnish).  For the classes, you have to turn up 5 minutes beforehand with a badge to open the door to the room, so students who aren't registered for the class can't get in. Often the classes last 1.5 hours, with group proje...

 During our first week in Finland, we witnessed an exceptional phenomenon: a cold snap. The cold snap welcomed us to the country for 1 week. What better way to experience this magical phenomenon for the first time in Finland ?  What is a cold snap in Finland ? A cold snap is a prolonged period of abnormally low temperatures, often accompanied by severe winter weather conditions, leading to impacts on the environment, infrastructure and daily life. In January 2024, Finland is facing an intense cold snap with temperatures well below the seasonal average, resulting in severe winter conditions and the need for enhanced measures to cope with low temperatures. The cold snap originated in northern Russia and spread to Scandinavia (Sweden, Finland, Norway) before reaching France in mid-January. Temperatures ranged from -30°C to -35°C in Scandinavia, with a record of -43°C in Sweden. The cold snap lasted a week in Finlande before returning to seasonal temperatures. Temperature map of n...

 Helsinki by night We left France on the 3rd of January 2024, and we arrived in Helsinki at 11:00 pm. Our train to Kuopio was scheduled for the 4th at 6:00 am. We had to kill time. Initially, we wanted to stay at the train station, but it was too cold. Therefore, we decided to move to a McDonald's that was open all night. However, eager to start our experience as soon as possible, an idea came to our minds: exploring Helsinki by night. We left McDonald's at 2:00 am. Our first impression was, "How could it be so cold?" In fact, at that moment, it was -20°C. Moreover, we were alone outside, which might be normal at that time, but we were in the center of the capital and near the train station. Even though the conditions were not the best, we were too excited, so we started walking in the city. What made us more confident was all the lights outside—streetlamps, shops, Christmas decorations—all of them were turned on. It was so bright outside, perhaps also because of the ...

  Helsinki Central Station      On our journey to Kuopio, we passed through Helsinki Central Station. Helsinki Central Station stands as a symbol of architectural prowess and efficient transportation in the heart of the Finnish capital. Completed in 1919, this iconic landmark has not only served as a gateway to the city but has also become a meeting point, cultural hub, and a testament to Finland's commitment to innovation.   Helsinki Central Station is the main station for commuter and long-distance trains in Helsinki, Finland. The station is used by around 400,000 people a day, including some 200,000 passengers. It is the terminus of all Helsinki's commuter trains.   Architecture & design      Designed by renowned architect Eliel Saarinen, the Helsinki Central Railway Station boasts a blend of various architectural styles, including Art Nouveau and National Romanticism. The distinctive granite exterior, clock tower, and statuesqu...