Study Abroad

Our first student to venture to the University of Turku in Finland!

August 19, 2012

I finally arrived after about 20 hours of traveling by Air, Train and Bus! My student tutor Sam has been extremely helpful in assisting me on practical matters like taking me around the city and even to Ikea to help me shop for basic apartment furnishings. I am going to meet the international office staff tomorrow and get all of my necessary paperwork. The city is beautiful and the people are extra friendly, (knowing basic Finnish phrases doesn't hurt either).

Your Turku Guinea Pig :-)

John B.

August 21, 2012

My meeting with the international office couldn't have went more smoothly, Tarija was extremely nice and straight to the point. It is kinda weird getting used to the many hours of daylight although I have been told that in the coming months the sun won't be sticking around very much. Last night the sun was up until like 9 or so but I haven't had much trouble getting to sleep with the jet lag and all. I have only met one other American so far and she happens to be from Texas believe it or not. Tomorrow I have agreed to accompany Sampo (Sam ironic huh) my student tutor to the bus station to meet another American who also happens to be from Texas, and help show him around town. The student tutor assigned to me Sam has been extremely courteous and we have taken daily walks around the city.

John with Anne, the student from Turku who studied at SHSU for the Fall 2011 semester, and "broke the ice" with the exchange agreement between SHSU and Turku.