As a former PT-student and current HTI-student, there is no way to avoid knowing at least something about the correlation between daylight, circadian rhythms, and well-being, making me extra cautious about these issues. Then there was also something about the Nobel prize and fruitflies and this peculiar circadian rhythm. In short, all different signals to look further into my coping strategy for Finnish winter.

Luckily, University of Tampere organized a special evening for international students with the theme ‘How to survive a polar night’. They gave us some helpful tips, as well as a bunch of reflectors to be worn during the dark days, in order to avoid getting hit by a car. Apparently, University of Tampere and the Finnish government are very concerned about our safety and well-being.

This gentle attentiveness can be seen in other aspects of student life as well. Although Finland is a Nordic country with higher prices (read: mainly for alcohol), students can often make use of discounts. For example, lunch at the university restaurant is subsidized, making it possible to have big plate of warm food for only 2,60 euros.

Another discount is given on trains and long-distance buses, which is why I have been traveling like crazy since I’ve been here. An additional benefit: if you take the boat to Sweden or Estonia, you can buy tax-free alcohol (so take an extra empty suitcase with you to fill up with bottles on the boat).

Then there is the fact that the Finnish academic year is way shorter than in the Netherlands. I finish all my courses in the first week of December, making it possible for me to travel to Lapland before I go back to our (not so) cold country.

So, let winter arrive! Until now, I have had a lot of fun here, and the opportunities to see different places are great if you are a student here. I am looking forward to the rest of my time here, but if I miss daylight too much, there’s always the possibility to book a student-discounted Ryanair flight to Spain.