Back in Finland
Jessica at the University of Helsinki library. She’s been rocking the beret lately… I’m growing to appreciate it.
I’m back in Finland as of last week. I was surprised to find that it was slightly easier to say goodbye in November than in September. The fear of the unknown left me. Everything about this experience was a question mark a few months ago.
That is not to say it was easy to leave my family and friends in New England a few weeks before the holidays. I broke down and cried a few minutes after I arrived. I didn’t know that I had to, but it felt incredible. Jessica hugged me and we cried together.
…
Last Friday, we checked out Jessica’s new office together. She’s been cleaning and adding her touch to the place. It’s come a long way from the mess of binders, papers, and dust that she texted a picture of a couple of weeks ago.
While we were there, I received notice that my residence permit was approved. I’m now a legal resident of Finland with the right to work! I’m glad it happened in her office because that space will define a piece of Jessica’s experience in Finland. It’s nice to be part of it.
We ate lunch in the University of Helsinki student cafeteria and walked to the library. Some wrong turns took us to the bookstore, Tiedekulma, instead. Tiedekulma is a formidable building with modern Nordic architecture — clean concrete lines intercepted by unfinished pine.
One of the huge skylights cut into the roof of Tiedekulma.
Inside, the building was hushed. Students sat in tall wooden chairs and tapped at their keyboards. I walked through the cafe and stood transfixed in the stage room. The low overhead of the cafe opened into a vaulted ceiling with three massive skylights that filled the room with natural light.
That is one of my favorite parts about living in Helsinki. Every so often, we come across a building that looks like its straight from the set of a high-budget science fiction movie.
Our next stop, the university library, was much different from Tiedekulma but just as futuristic. Bright white paint highlights the gigantic swooping curves of each floor as you walk in. Walk to the end of the atrium and a wide spiral staircase weaves its way up into ever quieter floors and other light-filled nooks. It is a magical space, and I plan to return.
The atrium of the Helsinki University library courtesy of Architectural Review.
Overall, my return to Helsinki has been pleasant. The unexpected wave of emotion that hit me immediately after I arrived was a welcome sign that I’m a thinking, feeling person living through an entirely novel experience. Now, it’s on to the next challenge: my new job.