My life felt like a game: go to college, graduate, and find a job. But the pandemic hit, and I had to stop because of circumstances. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, so I did a series of “side quests”, I worked at a call centre, and I even became a caregiver. Life was predictable, with the unchanging routine every morning.
For a change of pace, my mother recommended applying through an agency and following her and my siblings to Finland. I applied to agency after agency, and eventually I found one that even helped me get accepted at SAMK as an international student. Finally, I was off.
Seeing Finland from a plane was beautiful; forests were everywhere. When I landed, it felt like a new beginning!
I arrived during the summer, but it was surprisingly cold, and everywhere I looked, it was very clean. The people loved the silence. The buildings and museums were picturesque. The food was delicious, and I tried some things that I hadn´t tried before. The transportation was different too; everything was always right on time and organised.
The days flew by, and before I knew it, school started. I was nervous about moving to a new country; the thought of it worried me. My mind was filled with ‘what ifs’: What would people be like? Will I be able to adjust? Will people like me?
Surprisingly, everything was different. SAMK was very welcoming; the school organised fun events and activities for international students. This made it easier for us to adjust and interact with other students too.
Overall, Finland has been amazing, and SAMK has given me the best opportunity to change my life. So far, I haven’t “unlocked” all the places and characters. But I am happy that my life is finally moving forward, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Text and pictures: Ericka Reyes, International Tourism Management student