This time, my blog isn’t gonna be about travel. Instead, it focuses on the way I survived at the new city I’m living in…

For those who know us, you probably have heard about me studying abroad. Today, I would like to share my own experience, during my first 7 days in Finland.

Before you read:

1/ This is not some guiding tips – just somewhat I’ve actually been through 😉 

2/ I also do not represent any brand or language center, so you can believe in the authenticity of this article. However, please bare in mind that each person has his/her unique background and living habits.

3/ Our travel blogs are still coming out as usual, so don’t worry 😉

Getting to Finland

For travelling to Finland, I chose Finnair. For being a student, I was given an extra checked baggage. I brought lots of stuffs actually (2 checked suitcases of 25kg each, one backpack, an ukulele and a small suitcase as carry-on luggage). As the result, I’ve got almost everything I need to start settling down.

There’s an important note, that if your checked baggage exceed 25kg, you will be fined (100e/kg). So arrange your stuffs properly okay?

I transited at Singapore for 4 hours, then flew to Helsinki (Hel) in a 12-hour flight. When I arrived, it was 6:20am, August 24th at Finland.

Hel’s station

When processing at the immigration counter, you need to show your passport, Resident Permit card, and answer some basic questions. In my case, I was found somehow fishy, and was taken to the private area. There, they asked me to fill in a question form. After that, I was good to go. My advice: be friendly and chill when that special procedure takes place 😉

Getting to Lappeenranta

Lappeenranta (Lapp) is 200km from Hel. To get there, I took VR with the price of 28e. If you book the ticket two weeks in advance, the price will be half. After I arrived, the housing company has closed, so I came to stay with my friends until the following monday.

My friends’ apartment, near the downtown

Getting to the market

In that weekend, I began to explore this new city of mine. The first thing is its markets.

In Lapp, markets and supermarkets don’t have much differences. In the picture stands Prisma, the biggest market in Lapp
A stall in Prisma
Next to Prisma is Lidl – normally, different markets stand next to each other, for their competitiveness is weak

Beside Prisma and Lidl, near my current palce has K and S markets, with smaller size, but have everything I need. In markets, there usually is an Apteekki (Finn’s pharmacy). They even have gas station, key repairing store…In general, should you need anything, go to the markets.

The downtown

On the same weekend, we hung out in the downtown

The downtown usually has more people on saturdays than sundays, for most people prefer chilling at home. Stores also close on sundays
In the center stands this Lutherian church (Lappeen Marian kirkko)
The city’s park – in fact it’s a cemetery
However, there is no sorrow to be seen. People comes here to have a walk, or to enjoy the view
Apart from the park stands this shopping mall
Like everywhere else in the world, this mall focuses on luxury goods
At the city dock, there was a fair when us arrived. Lots of things like concert, drama, food&drink…
Knights in their traditional uniforms – the significance of the fair

Well, that’s pretty everything you can see. Being a small city, Lapp doesn’t have much attractions.

The old city hall
If you have been to Lapp, you wouldn’t forget this funny figure at the roundabout near downtown

Moving to my new place

On Monday morning, I started to move into my new house.

In Lapp, the housing company for students is called LOAS. Before going to Lapp, I’d booked the accommodation in advance. On that day, I came to LOAS, signed the contract, took the key, and got home. My flat has two bedrooms, means that I will live with one more guy in the flat.

The building where I live. there are about 10 more Vietnamese, all are very friendly

So the guy who lives in the same flat has graduated from his Master. When entering the flat, I was shocked by how messy it was.

Kitchen – a small part of all this mess

I took me almost half a day to clean up everything. My flatmate later apologized and explained that since LOAS did not inform him about when I arrived, he didn’t prepare.

The kitchen – after I cleaned it

A brief about my school

In Lapp there are two tertiary schools – LUT (Lappeenranta University of Technology) and Saimaa UAS (Saimaa University of Applied Sciences – my school). Those two sticks together by all means.

My school at a distance 
From my school, all I need is to pass this lube and I’ll be inside LUT. Some of my subjects are also taught in LUT

I will have a whole article about my school so we shall move on from this point.

My current life

It’s been 6 days since I moved in, and things are going on smoothly.

Eat&Drink: I cook meals myself.

Laundry: At the basement there is the laundry room. All I need is to reserve a time to use the washing machine.

Market: S-market and K-market is 1km from my flat. I go there once a week. 15-20e per week is enough for me.

Stuffs: Except for a SIM card and a router, I don’t need to buy anymore stuffs, since I have prepared almost everything necessary before going to Finland.

Neighbor: My flatmate has different timetable, so we don’t talk much. Since the previous incident, he has been much discreet and clean.

My room

Transport: it takes me about 10′ to walk to school. If I want to go to the downtown, simply take the bus number 1,3 or 5.

My way to school

Sport: I attend the school’s gym everyday.

My school’s gym

The end

Since my life condition today fits well with my personality, so currently I’m doing well here in Lapp, Finland.

Khanh Tr.