Never would I have ever thought that I would leave my life behind at 15 to spend a year in Finland. I didn’t know a thing about it, I cant say why i chose to come here, but something about it spoke to me. I lived in a tiny little place called Eurajoki on the southwest coast. I went to a school with 150 finns who were too scared to talk to me. I came home everyday with a headache after concentrating on the insanely difficult language, just trying to understand atleast one word. I felt a bit shy and uncomfortable living with strangers. But it didn’t matter because everything was new and exciting and I loved it. Summer lasted one week. Fall came and everything changed instantaneously; not only my surroundings, but myself. Those months were really unforgettable. I met people in that time that will forever be in my life. I traveled all over the country. I understood more finnish everyday. I think I expected the holidays to bring some sort of homesickness, but instead it was exactly the opposite. Specifically Christmas day and the days that surrounded it, were the most at home I’ve felt in my whole life. But now I can’t say its always been perfect. A bit after the New Year’s I felt some depression. The darkness was a bad thing for me. The sun set at 3 in the afternoon and didn’t rise until 10 the next day. An important part of my exchange year left and I felt extremely lonely. Still I never felt a homesickness for the US. And it wasn’t until March that things completely turned around. I moved to a new city, Rauma, and into the most incredible family. I was really happy at school. I can’t even explain how much of a difference it made when the sun began to shine for a longer time. I had really solid friendships and spent almost everyday in the city going on adventures. That was when I saw the beauty again in this country, and with the return of spring, came my spirit. May rolled around and my parents came to visit me for a week. I loved seeing them, but I had a hard time dealing with the conflicting emotions of excitement and anger at them being here, a place they didn’t belong. I knew then I wasn’t ready to return. I ‘graduated’ from lukio and I nearly cried giving my speech, the first realization this was all coming to an end. The very next day I left to travel Europe for 3 weeks. The bond myself and everyone on that trip made together was something really special. That is what this year was to me: the people I met, who are the truest of friends, or rather family. Family...it’s something that, even as this year comes to close, will last forever. When I returned to Finland the sun decided to never set (the midnight sun). I remember particularly walking home at 2am and watching the sunset over the river (and then rise again). That moment in particular I realized how in love I was with this place. I could go on forever about this year. But, long story short, this year was something I can’t explain to someone that wasn’t there. It was a one of a kind experience I’ll never have again. But im so happy it will always be a part of me. Im leaving now, and its heart breaking. But at the end of the day, im truly satisfied and finally accepting the fact it is time to return to the states. Tomorrow night I will be back in Ohio, in my own bed at last, and im happy.
I love you, Finland, my home. Thank you for this.
Lauren
