A French Student in Finland : New Life, New Culture, New Stories

Vol 28, issue 01, 12 September 2025

Living abroad… A dream, a passion I’ve had since I was a child. Leaving behind familiar routines, diving into a new culture, discovering another school system, meeting people from all over the world, starting again from scratch… This is the enriching experience I’ve been waiting for so long—and I’m finally about to live it.

Yes, I kept my promise : I’ve just unpacked my bags in Kouvola, in this wonderful country called Finland. I come from France, a place very different in terms of culture, architecture, and education. I can’t wait to share with you my discoveries, my cultural shocks, the little and big differences between French and Finnish people… and many other surprises.

My name is Anna Harran. After two years of studying business and management in my hometown of Rouen, I’ve just started my third year of a bachelor’s degree. My goal is to continue with a master’s in international business. Being able to study here, at Xamk, in that very field, is an invaluable opportunity. Passionate about reading, I was lucky enough to intern at a regional newspaper in France : joining The Insider is therefore a real honor and an exciting new adventure for me !

Traveling has Always been one of my biggest passions : from Africa to the United States, through Asia and Europe, I’ve always aimed to discover as many countries as possible to broaden my worldview and nurture my open-mindedness.

So, during my Erasmus, I’ll take you along with me : across Finland, sometimes alone, sometimes with friends, and even to neighboring countries, to explore Nordic culture in greater depth.

I’m very excited to live and share this exceptional adventure with you !