Erasmus in Kuopio, Finland

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...

 Travel from Marseille to Kuopio Hi everyone, we are 5 exchange students who went to Finland for our Erasmus and we created this blog to tell you everything about our semester in Finalnd starting with our long travel from the south of France !                                                                                     Map about our trip Departure - Marseille:  We left Marseille Saint Charles station at 12 noon on Tuesday 02 January 2024. We found ourselves with our big suitcases for a new 5-month experience in Finland. We're off to Paris for our next stop.                                                             ...