Helsinki School of Economics (AALTO UNIVERSITY)

These stays are a great experience to visit countries and to meet different people. In Finland for exemple, Russia, Estonia, Sweden, Lapland are places easy to go and fantastic. There are people from all over the world to meet and to learn from, Europe of course but from North and South America as well.

Of course, you should try to enjoy all the travels organized by the students: St Petersburg and Stockholm. But it is really easy to travel around Estonia, Tallin is beautiful ... Going to Lapland remain expensive if you don't rent a cottage for ten... Also, if you come from France, like I do , try to train yourself to respect the queuing system, and try to remember not to cross the street when it is not allowed!! You will be so rude in Finland otherwise!! I'd like to add that I have a lot of respect for the Finnish nation, for the honesty (one of the most amazing thing for me: I forgot my wallet in the compuer lab for a day, and it was still there in the evening!!!) and the respect of the "rules necessary to live togehter"... Last, but not least, i ve neen fascinated with the nature...According to me, there was something between nature and the Finns, that, unfortunately, i won't be able to understand fully one day.

I discovered a culture different from mine and it was a great experience. indeed, I became a sauna addict! I visited a country I didn't know which is very beautiful: I went to Lapland and saw reindeers. I also went to St Petersburg with the university and i visited Stockolm, Copenhaguen, Bergen and Tallin myself. I also spent a week-end with other exchange students in the Lakeland. All these trips were amazing

Half a year is enough to stay in Helsinki/Finland, unless you meet wonderful friends as I did (other exchnage students). Finnish people and culture is very alcohol oriented: every single possibility is used to get drunk.

Don´t be afraid about the weather in the winter! It rarely rains, so the cold is "dry" and it feels different. You will survive it without any trouble! Travel: Cruise to Stockholm , Tallinn in Estonia (ferries every day: departure at 8 in the morning and return at 22.), St Pertersburg, and to stay in Finland: Lapland.

A trip to Tallinn is a must. It is just 80 km away and it is so different from Helsinki. It takes a time to get used to Helsinki as it is such a modern city, and if you come from an city as Vienna,....I was very disappointed in the beginning, but I loved it in the end.