Before I moved here to study at SAMK, my head was full of stereotypes about Finland. I expected a beautiful but ”frozen” country where people never talk and the sun never shines. But there is a huge difference between reading about a culture on Google and actually falling — literally — into it.
The Grocery Store Incident
I’ll never forget one of my first days in Finland. I went to the nearby K-Market and as I was reaching the cashier, I slipped on the floor and fell hard. My bags and all my stuff went flying everywhere. I remember the loud thud of my milk pocket hitting the floor and the sound of my coins rolling everywhere. In my home country, if this happens, ten people immediately run to you, grab your arms, and start asking a hundred questions.
But in that moment in Finland, everything went silent. For a second, I felt so embarrassed. I looked up, and nobody was touching me or rushing me. The cashier just calmly asked, ”Are you okay?” and waited for my answer. I was mortified. But also, strangely, I felt safe.
At first, I thought, ”Why is no one helping me?” But then I realized something beautiful. They weren’t being cold or indifferent; they were giving me space to get up with my own dignity. They were worried—I could see it in their eyes—but they respected my personal boundaries so much that they didn’t want to invade my space unless I really needed it. That was my first real lesson: Finnish respect isn’t about being distant; it’s about a deep, quiet kind of care.
The University Reality
I expected SAMK to be very strict and formal. It’s the opposite. Calling professors by their first names was so strange for me at first, but it makes the atmosphere so much better. The focus is on practical learning, not just memorizing books. And the coffee culture! I’ve learned that in Finland, coffee is the fuel for everything.
Surviving the Dark
People warned me: ”You won’t see the sun for months!” Yes, it gets dark around 4 PM in the winter, which was not a shock and you learn to adapt. The city of Pori looks so cozy with all the lights. You just put on a warm jacket, grab a coffee, and keep going.
My Takeaway
Finland is a place where you are allowed to be yourself. If you fall, they’ll give you the space to stand up on your own, but they are there if you truly need a hand.
To me, that’s much more valuable than any loud or fake friendliness. Finland is a place that teaches you to be independent and respectful at the same time.
Text and picture: Azadeh Shoraka, International Tourism Management student