The snow … my first Finnish winter.  

Vol 28, Issue 18, 13^th of March 2026 

I was lucky enough to experience a real winter. Before leaving for my Erasmus exchange, the climate was my biggest fear. Not seeing the sun, the temperatures, the nights, that’s what worried me. It was the first time I’d ever traveled and lived for an entire season in a country with such a climate. I’m used to sunshine and high temperatures, sunbathing on the beach, or cooling off in the sea. My favorite season is summer. Winter in France is gray, depressing, and rainy. The atmosphere isn’t exactly vibrant. That’s why I was apprehensive about the Finnish winter before coming. Adding the extreme cold, snow, and lack of sunshine to the already challenging winter seemed daunting. Furthermore, during my first few months in Finland, when summer still lingered, everyone living in Kouvola, my professors and students alike, told me that winter was harsh, which didn’t exactly inspire confidence. 

Little by little, the snowflakes began to fall and the temperature dropped. Winter was settling in. And we discovered everything we’d been waiting for: snow. Our way of life changes as it arrives. We no longer take bikes but buses, we go into the snow during saunas, we have snowball fights, and so on. And eventually, we get used to it, and this way of life becomes enjoyable. 

What also struck me was the unique light of the Finnish winter. The days are short, it’s true, but the snow reflects the light in an incredible way. Even when the sun is low or absent, everything remains luminous thanks to the white of the snow. The landscapes become almost unreal, like something out of a postcard. Frozen lakes, snow-covered trees, silent paths… everything seems calmer. 

I realized that winter here isn’t really something you endure. Finns carry on with their activities, go out, walk in the snow, play sports, or simply enjoy the scenery. The snow doesn’t slow life down; it’s simply part of everyday life. 

Now that winter is drawing to a close and the snow is starting to melt, I realize that this period wasn’t as difficult as I imagined, quite the opposite. The mood during this winter season is nothing like that of France. Rain is replaced by snow; everything is white and soothing. This first Nordic winter will remain a very special memory of my Erasmus exchange. A season that, ultimately, became one of the most memorable experiences of my stay. I’ll probably miss this time in the coming years back in France.