Elio’s Journals

September 30, 2026

Syksy alkaa

Syyskuu/September 

My second month in Finland has given me the time to settle in and grow more comfortable. I've been going out to spend time with friends and I'm starting to get more familiar with Lahti! I have been using the city bus a lot, and I even got to ride the train for the first time.

I got to visit my friend from school, Sonja. She invited me to her house and I got to play with her cats! Her mom was really kind and gave us cookies and soda, I found it a bit funny. Once I had to leave, she even offered to drive me home. While Finns are often seen as very reserved, a lot of them are incredibly friendly and welcoming!

I have been eating a lot of amazing baked goods here. One of my favorites that I've tried is Voisilmäpulla, which translates to "butter eye bun". Oh, and of course, Finnish candies! Grocery stores, buffets, and even movie theaters have huge candy aisles.

The shops here are also pretty nice. It is very easy to find affordable clothes at thrift stores, I even got to buy my first wool sweater! As it grows colder, wearing layers and wool has become something I greatly appreciate.

This month I got to visit some other exchange students in Jyväskylä for a Pride festival. It was really nice to explore the city! We went to Kirkkopuisto, Lounaispuisto, and we also got to see the city hall. I love exploring all of the different cities here and seeing what they have to offer. 

The next weekend I had a Rotary district camp in Tampere. We played games, did crafts, and prepared presentations. We also went on a scavenger hunt in the forest, looking for Rotary themed reflectors that the Rotex members had hidden for us. I got to spend a lot of time with my friends and speaking with past exchange students. It was a lot of fun and I'm so grateful for all of the Rotex and Rotarians who organize these events.