As of today I’ve been home due to COVID-19 for two months. Though I have a flight back on June 8th, at this point I have no idea if I’ll be able to return. According to Finnish guidelines I can return since I have a residence permit, but my flight may still be cancelled. A …
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Coronavirus While Abroad
It seems like a lifetime ago since I was riding husky sleighs in Northern Finland, admiring majestic cathedrals in St. Petersburg, and sunbathing at a thermal bath in Budapest. Since then, life has drastically changed. A month ago from today, I came back home to the US. The culprit? Coronavirus. Being in Finland, where there …
Traveling to Lapland
Travel route from Lappeenranta, Finland to Bugøynes, Norway Photo credit: Google Maps On the first day of the last quarter, I set out on another adventure. This time to Lapland. Lapland is the northern-most region of Finland, known for its subzero temperatures, mounds of snow, ski resorts, and lesser known for its indigenous Sámi people. …
Thanksgiving in Helsinki
This year was my first Thanksgiving away from home. Luckily I didn’t have to face it alone. Fulbright Finland sponsored a two-day Thanksgiving event in Helsinki that was the perfect way to hamper feelings of sadness on this day that is so significant to my own family. Photos courtesy of Fulbright Finland. Upon arriving to …
Traveling to St. Petersburg
Just a few days after returning from Budapest, I set off again. This time to St. Petersburg, Russia. To be honest, I was a little anxious about going, thinking about the the history, stories I have heard, the current political climate, and relations with the United States- though I fully recognize someone could think this …
Traveling to Budapest
8:14 The time I woke up. 24 minutes until departure Though I don’t recall ever sleeping through an alarm, I did just that the morning of my trip. Panicked and confused, I jumped out of bed and scrambled to get ready enough to leave and order a taxi. 8:25 The time I darted from my …
American Voices Seminar
Each year for the past 27 years, Fulbright Finland has hosted an event called American Voices Seminar at the University of Turku, 330km west of Lappeenranta. This year’s was on October 11th and 12th. The purpose is to share our perspectives of American society and culture to the university’s North American Studies program. During orientation …
Traveling to Tallinn
At the end of September, I traveled to Tallinn, Estonia with my friend and fellow Fulbrighter, Erica. We took a 3-hour bus from Lappeenranta to Helsinki and then a 2.5-hour ferry across the Baltic Sea to Tallinn. Upon arrival we were picked up by Erica’s former boss, Carl, and his co-worker. Throughout the weekend we …
Beginning My Master’s Degree at LUT
The moment has finally arrived. The reason why I’m in Finland has begun: pursuing my master’s degree in Bioenergy Systems. As a recap, I will be studying this two-year degree at Lappeenranta University of Technology. The program consists of three semesters of courses and a semester-long research thesis. Here I’ll gain an expertise in the …
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 …
Fulbright Adventures in Finland 