I moved to Kirkonommi just out of college to be an au pair. It was my first time out of the United States, my first time living so fully alone, and definitely the first time I didn’t have a support system in place. I learned so much about myself from the experience, and I was very fortunate to do so in such an incredibly beautiful country surrounded by such warm-hearted people.

I went on to live in Kuopio for a year while I did my first MSc, and it only confirmed what I learned in Kirkonommi—Finland is breathtakingly beautiful, and exacting…and the Finnish people are wonderful. I would highly recommend a visit to anyone.