Moi Moi! It’s Nolan, one of the Canadians from the 2025 Hart House Finnish Exchange. While I am back in Toronto now, I’m still thinking about all the amazing memories from my three months in Helsinki. It feels like yesterday that I was walking around Esplanadi Park, eating Fazer chocolate, and commuting to and from work. The beauty of Helsinki and its deep connection to nature is something I will never forget.
During my time in Helsinki, I worked at Löyly, a restaurant and sauna in the southern part of the city near Munkkisaari. Most mornings I would prep as much food as I could before the restaurant opened at noon. Once the rush started, I worked the hot side of the kitchen, cooking everything from reindeer stew to steak. As the summer weather improved, the restaurant became busier and busier, and I grew very comfortable in my role. The kitchen was fast-paced but fun, and I really enjoyed getting to know my coworkers. While many of them weren’t Finnish, I did connect with a few of the front-of-house staff who were. My typical hours were 9–3, which left me plenty of time in the afternoons to explore Helsinki or catch up on some rest!
Aside from working, I made it my mission to travel as much as possible. Starting with our road trip, I was able to see more of life in Finland outside Helsinki. I especially loved the nights we spent at different cottages, which felt like quintessential Finnish experiences. Once I settled into my job, I began taking short weekend trips thanks to some travel hacking and cheap flights. I started with Romania, exploring Bucharest and Transylvania. After that, I visited Georgia and Armenia, which turned out to be one of my favourite trips, as I got to experience the unique cultures of the Caucasus. Later I traveled through the Baltic countries, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Serbia. I also had friends visit me from Toronto for a week, which gave me the chance to play tour guide around Helsinki—taking them to places I had come to know and love, like Suomenlinna and Kaivopuisto. Near the end of the summer, I squeezed in one final trip through Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, Italy, and the Czech Republic, where I reunited with a few of the Canadians for a weekend in Prague.
Overall, my summer in Finland is one I will never forget. I’ll miss being able to go to the sauna so often, living so close to the sea, and spending time in such a beautiful city as Helsinki. I’m grateful to the Finns for being such great hosts, for planning such a wonderful road trip, and for making this summer truly incredible.