A Lethbridge College student spent a semester in Finland as part of a study abroad exchange program.
Tanya Ivey, an accounting student, spent a semester last year in Kajaani, Finland.
Her trip did not start off smoothly. Ivey had mixed up her dates and told the school in Kajaani she was to be going to that she would be arriving on Sept. 1 when it would actually be Sept. 2.
When she didn’t arrive at the train station in Kajaani on the day she said she would, no one came looking for her or even tried to contact her.
“This still bothers me to this day because as soon as I didn’t show up at the train station when I was supposed to alarm bells should have been ringing all over Finland and Canada,” Ivey said.
“Anything could have happened to me travelling internationally for two days, and yet not even an email was sent to ask me where I was.”
After one hour of waiting, Ivey tried to take a taxi to the university she’d be staying at.
The taxi driver did not speak English and took her to the wrong school. There she found someone who understood she was an exchange student and they sent her to the right place.
“If there was one recommendation I could make, it would be to have someone in better control and contact with arriving students . . . anything could have happened to me.”
Ivey had many other experiences that made the trip worthwhile.
While overseas, Ivey took language classes. Her favourite part of these classes was the people.
“Definitely the best part of the exchange was the friends I made. It was a great experience to have – to be able to say I did this but if not for the friends I made I would have considered it a waste,” Ivey said.
Ivey even received a pair of Hello Kitty slippers as part of a Secret Santa exchange. She believes that the slippers are one of the most thoughtful gifts she has received and still wears them one year later.
While in Finland, Ivey also went on a 12 km hike to a cabin where a big party was held for the exchange students. Ivey almost didn’t attend due to the cost, 80 euros. She did attend, however and on this trip made the majority of her friends.
“The view was amazing and it was a really fun hike. Afterwards we went back to the cottage, where we realized, belatedly, that we had no alcohol. Luckily, there was a man who went around to the cottages and sold them liquor. So we bought from him and proceeded to have a really great night.”
Ivey and the friends she made are planning a reunion in 2012.