I (Amelie Kößer) spent three weeks, from 1 April to 22 April, at the Finnish school Kimpisen Lukio in Lappeenranta. During this time I attended various lessons and learnt a great deal about the school system and school life in Finland. I also took part in many German lessons and was able to tell the pupils something about Germany and Schwäbisch Hall. The biggest differences to German schools were lifts in every school building, free school lunches and a later start to lessons (8 o’clock). The Finnish state places great importance on ensuring that everyone receives an education, regardless of how much money the parents earn.
During my visit I saw a lot of Lappeenranta, including the architecture of the houses, which is really beautiful. There is also a Schwäbisch Hall Park next to the university. It is small, but offers a lovely view of Lake Saimaa, the largest lake in Finland. I also visited the Kummakivi stone with my host family. It is two hours from Lappeenranta. What makes the stone special is that it has been balancing on top of another stone for around 11,000 years. My last weekend was spent in Helsinki, where I had an exclusive guided tour from relatives of my exchange partner. Helsinki is a beautiful city with a great deal to discover.
My conclusion from my exchange is that it is well worth doing: I have become even more confident about travelling alone and being on my own. My English also improved, and I made new friends. That was not difficult, as everyone at the school and in the host family was super friendly. That is why I can only recommend that you also do an exchange and have this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
