First Impressions of Finland: Amélie, a French Student in Kouvola

Vol,28, Issue 05, 10 October 2025

Originally from the southeast of France, Amélie is a business game student who chose to spend a semester at Xamk, the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences. After a few weeks in Kouvola, she shares with us her first impressions and her perspective on student life in this Nordic country.

Her first impressions
“Upon arrival, I was struck by the omnipresent nature,” she recalls. “Even around the cities, there are only forests, lakes, and typical Scandinavian-style houses. On the train from Helsinki to Kouvola, I watched a landscape pass by that felt almost unreal.” A peaceful, green atmosphere—quite different from the Mediterranean rhythm she was used to.

Cultural Differences
Some Finnish habits caught her attention right away. “When I cross the street, every car stops immediately!” she laughs. “And the pedestrian lights make a sound all over the city.” Another surprise: “Bars are often very calm, nothing like in France where they’re always crowded and noisy.”

Between Culture Shock and Open-mindedness
While she admits that Kouvola isn’t the liveliest city for students, Amélie focuses on the positive aspects of her stay. “It’s really enriching to speak English every day with people from different countries. The classes, all in English, have a completely different approach to learning compared to France.”

Everyday Life: Between Curiosity and Adaptation
The young Frenchwoman is still amazed by some clever details of daily life: “The dish racks built into the cupboards are such a smart idea!” But not everything has been ideal: “Student housing is often not very clean and poorly equipped. And the sun rises so early—with no shutters—it’s hard to get used to at first.” She laughs: “And it’s already cold in September, like winter back home!”

Academic and Social Life
Academically, her experience has been a bit disappointing: “I don’t have many classes, and I rarely see Finnish students.” Fortunately, the exchange student community has made up for it. “Other international students are really open and welcoming—we spend a lot of time together.”

Despite a few frustrations, Amélie keeps smiling: “It’s a unique experience, and the other students have been incredibly kind. Finland offers a completely different way of seeing the world—an experience I’ll never forget.”