Fulbright Finland Arrival Orientation

After arriving back from Berlin, I had a weekend to rest and then I was off to Helsinki for the Fulbright Finland Arrival Orientation. Unlike my visit to Germany, this week was meticulously planned. I’ll write about each day since all of them were packed with activities.

Note: Most of the pictures below were taken by Fulbright Finland so this will serve as a blanket photo credit.

Day 1

In the morning I took a two-hour train from Lappeenranta with two other Fulbright grantees. Upon arrival we stowed our luggage at the hotel and walked across the street to get breakfast at an indoor marketplace. Then we met the rest of the grantees and traveled 40 minutes by bus to a place called Villa Hvittorp, a castle-like, lakeside villa. After months of anticipation, I was finally able to connect names and faces. There are 47 grantees total, though not all were present since some begin their projects in January. We all briefly introduced ourselves to the group and were warmly welcomed by the Fulbright Finland team. We learned about the program’s history and how Finland is particularly special when it comes to Fulbright.

After World War I, Finland was the only country to pay back its loans to the United States. Impressed, in 1949 Congress reinvested these loan payments into exchanges that enabled Finns to come study, research, and train in the United States. Unbeknownst to me, Finland was actually pretty poor in the 1950s, so these exchanges were an invaluable way for Finns to gain access to education. Fast forward to 2016, Fulbright Finland was established as a not-for-profit organization. Finland is the only Fulbright country with this designation, which speaks to its commitment to grow and continue the Finnish-American exchanges.

From Past to Present- The Fulbright Program in Finland

For lunch and dinner we ate a typical Finnish buffet at the villa’s cafeteria. Just by introducing myself at the beginning of the program, I already made some valuable connections, and we continued the conversation while eating. One person works at the Bioenergy Association of Finland and offered me the opportunity to come visit sometime, maybe even give a talk. Another was happy to hear that I was learning to crochet and gave me 3 balls of yarn. To end the day, we spent time at the sauna and lake. This Finnish pastime will never get old.

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Day 2

The next day was filled with information. We learned about the different Fulbright activities happening during our grant, citizen services, and higher education in Finland. Notably the students were able to participate in a panel about student life with past grantees, which I found relatable and useful. Though I had already been looking forward to my time in Finland (and experiencing it), the day piqued my excitement for the rest of the program. In the evening we went to the U.S. Embassy to celebrate a double anniversary: the 70 years of Fulbright Finland and 100 years of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Finland. It was an excellent way to network with Fulbright alumni, Finns, and Americans alike. Afterward some of us changed into more comfortable clothes and headed to a nearby restaurant for a bite to eat. This was definitely a unique way to spend my 24th birthday!

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Day 3

On day 3 we learned more about culture and history. First we took a two-hour site seeing bus tour through the city. Then a local high school teacher presented us with “10,000 Years of Finnish History in 40 Minutes,” during which I learned the events that shaped Finland into the country it is today. And the next few hours we were able to explore the Ateneum art museum both through a guided tour and independently. Finally, we traveled to Sibelius high school, where some of the students performed for us and we met with alumni, including our Fulbright buddies.

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Day 4

On the last day we had a mix of presentations on the Finnish economy, intercultural communication, and language. As if Fulbright Finland hadn’t already given us enough (stipends, welcome packages, travel reimbursement, etc), at the ending ceremony they gifted us with two more items: a paper copy of The Kalevala– Finland’s national epic- and a Museum Card- enabling us to visit nearly 300 museums in Finland. I am astounded by Fulbright Finland’s generosity and commitment in ensuring that we have the best experience possible while also making sure we have the tools to gain an understanding of the country’s rich history and culture. Before heading home I was able to take advantage of the Museum Card for the first time and visit the Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden. The orientation was a great official start to my Fulbright grant!

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