Samantha Takes France: FINLAND!

So I've been here in Finland for about three days, and the town of Tampere already feels very familiar. I was nervous to get here although normally the prospect of taking an airplane to a foreign city and making my way via public transport to wherever I try to go seems totally easy, in Finland the language barrier was really intimidating. The realization that the only Finnish words I knew were "moi" (hello), "kiitos" (thank you) and "Juolupukki" (Santa Claus) hit me as I boarded my plane... "This will be an adventure!" I thought to myself. And an adventure it has been.

Leevi reminded me that basically everyone in Finland speaks English, but after all the time I've spent in France (where my teachers discouraged us from speaking English to locals, as doing was was like an invitation to be treated rudely or ripped off), I was hesitant and embarassed to open my mouth. Thus, I hit up the Tourist Info Desk (because it’s their JOB to help foreigners! So they can’t laugh at me!) to figure out where to board my bus. As Leevi promised, it was easy enough, but as everyone around me chattered in a language that I felt I had no hope of deciphering, I still felt isolated.
Luckily, staying with Leevi has made me feel much less isolated. He has been a wonderful host, and we have explored the city of Tampere, which is quite industrial - lots of dark red brick and towers at the factories, as well as met his friends who have been quite welcoming.