Erasmus Experience in Pori, Finland by Kaylen

Why did you choose to go to Pori, Finland?

Mostly because of all of the countries we were given the option of going, Finland was the cheapest cold weather (which I like) country. I was assigned Pori By my university, the other option being Kajaani.

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

My placement here is three months. I received roughly 800€ before arriving for the whole time period and will receive 150€ more when I go back to Scotland.

What is the student lifestyle like in Pori?

Very present! There are constantly student events and parties being organised and all of the Finnish students are very welcoming to the exchange students. There are also many exchange students, so there is a real sense of community. There's always something to do!

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Would you recommend the city and the University of Pori to other students?

Pori cannot be considered a beautiful city, as it's very industrial. There are a few nice areas though and the countryside is very close (as long as you have a bicycle). SAMK is a good university, very modern although it's quite small. The international team are very helpful and are very proactive in helping students. Currently SAMK is moving to a brand new campus, although I will be finished my exchange before it is complete.

What is the food like?

Finnish food on the whole is very good, with a few exceptions. However, there are very few good restaurants in Pori.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Pori?

No, but the deposit was 500€.

How much does it cost to live in Pori?

My accommodation is about 270€ per month. Food and living costs, probably about 60-70€ per week, assuming that alcohol is included in food costs! (alcohol in Finland is very expensive!)

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

The university does offer language courses however these are often at inconvenient times and I was unable to finish them due to my placement shifts at the hospital. However, I was able to pick up quite a lot of the language, although it was not easy. Finnish is a very tough language. However you will reach a point where things just begin to make sense, much like when you are learning any language. Immersion is the best way to learn - Finnish people will appreciate your attempts, even if they are bad.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Pori from your city?

I assume you mean my home city of Aberdeen, Scotland. Myself and the other students took a flight from Aberdeen to London, then to Helsinki, and then took the bus from Helsinki to Pori. The buses in Finland are very good (onnibus.com) and cheap.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Pori?

There are several nightclubs - Bar Kino, Cabaret, Soma are all good. Amarillo is a bar/restaurant which serves very cheap drinks on Wednesday (student night). It is very popular. I would also recommend Saikku - the student house. It is a BYOB type of place, but still good for student events.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Pori?

Amarillo is a very good Mexican restaurant. Sakura Sushi is good for Chinese and Japanese. Hesburger is basically McDonald's. There is an amazing pancake house in Puuvilla, a shopping centre down beside the river. There isn't really anywhere else affordable.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Kokemäenjoki is a beautiful river. There is a big church, and Pori is home to the only mausoleum in Finland, built by a builder for his dead 12 year old daughter a few hundred years ago. There's not really anywhere else. Tampere (a city not far from Pori) has much more cultural sites.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Pori in the future?

Buy a bicycle, and tie it up with as many locks as you can afford! You definitely need a bike to get around Pori as the public transport is awful. Bike theft is also extremely common and the police don't care at all, so it's entirely your responsibility to look after it! I unfortunately had mine stolen after a visit to Stockholm, so learn from my mistake and use more than one lock!