Hi, my name is Pablo, and I’m going to talk to you about my stay in Orivesi. 

 

I arrived the 21st of october in my host family, where I could meet my host parents and host sister and brother. My host sister let me stay in her room which was really nice of her. They immediately made me feel at home. 

 

Two days later was my fist day of school in orivesi where I met Louanne, the exchange student who stayed here before me. She kindly introduced me to the school, teacher and friends so I wasn’t alone when she left at the end of the week. I really got along with them, and they made sure that i was feeling included. Eventually they’d ask me if I wanted to hang out with them which was really nice and fun. 

 

I also could meet Jenni, who was kind enough to propose me many activities such as trips to Tampere, Unesco workshops and then a trip to Germany, she really helped making this trip an enjoyable experience. 

 

As I said previously, I went many times to Tampere. I really loved this town, myself being a city person, going to that city which is the second biggest city of Finland was really fun. I would do shopping there, visiting important places such as cathedrals or market places and making friends from estonia and italia who were involved in those trips to tampere. 

 

I also had the chance to go to Flensburg, Germany to participate in a baltic sea Unesco projet, I met many people there who eventually became my friends, one of theme is even going to visit me next summer. About the baltic sea projet, It was a really interesting project, gathering all ages people from countries all over the baltic sea such as Finns, germans, Estonians, danish… the aim of that project was to make us reflect about how could we create a more sustainable future, physically, environmentally and mentally. 

 

However, there still was some inconsistencies, the major one being the darkness. I stayed in Finland during the most dark period of the year which honestly affected me. I also asked locals how they feel about that darkness and cold, they told me that it was depressing even for them, and I learned that unfortunately, this darkness and cold generate many suicides and depression among Finns. 

 

I also noticed some cultural differences such as the cold culture. what i mean by that is that before going out you have to prepare whereas where I live, I take the weather for granted cause chances are the weather will not harm me but here you have to prepare, and make sure that you have enough clothes on otherwise you’ll be freezing. for the first time in my life, I experienced real coldness. I wouldn’t feel my hands nose and ears anymore. But weirdly the cold also made me feel stronger — I would have a better skin and a better immune system.

 

Overall, this trip was a really great opportunity for me to reflect on myself and break the every day pattern. I had the privilege to get to know when you culture new people and new habits. I would say that this trip change me in Undescribable way. I feel different and changed, but I wouldn’t know how to describe that. even if I do miss my family, friends and habits, I will really miss my friends here because I have made some pretty strong friendships that I will certainly not forget. I’m really looking forward to see them again maybe this summer or when they’re available.

Lue Pablon haastattelu ranskalaiskoulun kotisivuilla: 
https://legt.likes.org/2023/12/21/temoignage-de-pablo-ramos-sur-son-experience-erasmus-en-finlande/