When Finland Surprises you 

Vol 28, Issue 17, 28th February 2026 

This article will be a little shorter than the others because the week before the holidays was a bit calmer. However, something absolutely crazy happened. Are you ready?

I met the Alexander Stubb, the President of Finland!

He held a public meeting in a shopping mall, and after his speech he stayed to talk with people and take pictures with anyone who wanted one. Of course, I took the opportunity to take a picture with him. He was very kind and friendly.

What surprised me the most was how calm and respectful the atmosphere was. People asked questions, and President Stubb answered them openly. It was interesting to see a president so close to his citizens, listening to them and interacting directly with the community.

Hockey Night in Tampere

Another highlight of the week was attending a hockey game in Tampere, in the biggest arena in the country.

When we opened the doors of the stadium, the atmosphere was incredible. It honestly felt like an NBA game. The crowd, the music, the lights — everyone was completely focused on the match.

The energy was amazing… but unfortunately, Tampere lost the game. OMG!

Weekend in Helsinki

After that, we spent a weekend in Helsinki.

While we were there, we attended a Red Bull snowboarding event where athletes performed impressive jumps and tricks. Some of them even did backflips! It was amazing to watch. The event took place right in front of the famous Helsinki Cathedral, which made the setting even more spectacular.

However, it also showed how dangerous this sport can be — one participant had an accident and had to be taken to the emergency services.

Later that night, we went to a party, which was very fun. The next day, I visited a second-hand shop to buy some clothes. I always enjoy discovering vintage and unique pieces.

IDEA Day at XAMK

To finish this article, I would like to mention IDEA Day, an event organized by South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences.

The event was divided into two parts. The first was a presentation by Tommi Talasto, who talked about scaling a business and how to build a strong company.

The second part focused on IDEA Day activities. One of the concepts we explored was Ikigai, a Japanese idea that helps people find meaning and direction in their professional life. It can be a useful tool when thinking about entrepreneurship or future career paths.

To conclude this magazine, I would like to say that every country can offer many surprises. Even if they are sometimes hidden, you will eventually discover them and enjoy them more than you expect. Thank you for following my journey!