Francisca Gomes
With a tiny little soul, I decided with 15 years old that I wanted to study abroad. I wanted to open my mind, learn a new language, being able to experience the world with a new perspective and mindset. With 15 years old I didn’t know for sure that those were my goals, but somehow I always had the feeling of running away from the noise beautiful streets of Lisbon.
Finally, with 17 years old I pursue my dream and I applied to study in Finland, more exactly Seinajoki. Every time I get bombed with the question ‘’Why Seinajoki?’’ Honestly, there was not exactly a rational explanation, a deep study or careful research before making this choice. It was made purely with my gut while ordering my University Choices one day before submitting the application.
After all the process I get accepted!! A bunch of emotions invaded my body: happiness, anxiety, curiosity.
What I didn’t know was that my journey has just started and with that a lot of challenges ahead.
First Week in Finland
My first week in one word: strange
Everything felt new straight from a movie where I was a little alien inside a human’s world.
I get to know my classmates, they were super cool and not very talkative yet, the weather reminds me of the fall typically shown in Japanese movies. The colors, the warmness, everything seemed so different. The people would start quick and fast interactions with me but nothing that would last for long, which was when I started feeling weird about myself, maybe my social skills are not as good as I thought.
Later one we had an amazing presentation when I found out that my skills might not be so bad, I get to know the people in Finland are not as talkative and loud as Portuguese people and maybe that was the reason why every conversation wouldn’t last more than 5 minutes. (Now that I look back I joke a lot about myself at that time, can you imagine an 18 years old girl coming from Portugal trying to interact in this amazingly quiet and silent Nordic country?)
My advice for everyone who struggles in the adaption: EMBRACE BEING A FIRST-TIME LEARNER.
‘’WE HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BEING IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, as first-time learners WILLING TO ACCEPT CHALLENGES AS WELL AS MISTAKES.’’
After a year in Finland
A lot changed in a year. As a person, I understood that I needed to step up into a conversation with no fears to look awkward (I’m surely aware of how awkward I might have looked and how many people I made blush in order to start my conversations).
I loved the cold winter, the amazing dance of the Northern Lights, the vibrant colors of my university and how good everything feels after a year here.
I understood that friendships take time, especially in Finland a well-known nation for trust. Well, in the end, what good things in life are fast? Sunflowers take from 80 to 120 days to grow, and I guess my sunflowers (amazing friends) took approximately the same.
Life was far from perfect, but it was a well-lived time, I experienced the most Finnish activities: sauna, ice-swimming, ice-fishing, hiking, playing football or adventure myself dancing in the dancefloors of KARMA/Ilona, in some dance floor you would find me.
And again If you struggle with free yourself I leave you one more quote (this lead me to sing karaoke in the most awful ways):
“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth.”
My life now ( After almost 2 years)
Did the life I pictured with 15 years old became real? Hell no.
Is it as good as I thought it would be? It’s as good as I want it to be.
2 years passed, a lot of people, a lot of goodbyes and a lot of love fulfils all my memories. I’m truly grateful for ran away from the busy, stressful but beautiful streets from Portugal and hide myself in the city of the Space.
I would recommend everyone to go away from your typical life once in your lifetime, it’s unfortunately still an underrated experience. But it’s not only about go, It’s about going with your heart and mind open, ready to be out of your comfort zone, to cry because you miss your mum’s hug but to smile because you see the sun after 10 dark days. It’s about choosing a life where people come first, where love comes first and where yourself comes first.
Still afraid to go abroad? Don’t think a lot just go, adventure is worthwhile!
Love,
Frann