Feedback from Lappeenranta exchange students

Elio, Venezuela

It is quite difficult to summarise the experience I had living here in Lappeenranta, mainly because it was a big unknown and quite different from my own culture and climate. Being quite honest, I came to Lappeenranta almost by randomness, not because I didn’t want to, but because I wasn’t really planning to. This year was so memorable that I started keeping a diary just to be able to remember each day, there were many days that I really didn’t want to forget. Coming from Venezuela, I was expecting not to enjoy winter, missing the sun, hating the cold, and being annoyed by the 100-degree sauna and the coldness of the Nordic people. 

But it was completely the opposite, I saw snow for the first time, I swam in the frozen lake, I went to the Artic circle, I learned how to ski and ice skate, I was in a cruise for first time inmy life, I travelled around the Baltic countries, I realised that Finns are way more friendly that you can read on the internet and way more friendly thanpeople from countries where they are supposed to be kind and charismatics, I did and try many other things that probably I cannot remember at the moment ofwriting this. Also, I met a tremendous amount of people from all over the world with different cultures, backgrounds and religious, and I realised that even insmall countries where they do not share any Hispanic, nor even roman heritage, there is people with my same cultural humor, friendliness, values and sameamount of neurons as me. Lappeenranta and Finland are an experience that must be tried, because you will come expecting nothing from here, just grey days and thick snow, and you will end up the year wearing overalls and a cap, looking like a sailor’s hat. 

ESN Lappeenranta was really helpful and fun, all of them were amazing. Trust me, they will help you with anything you need and will show you why LUT is the best university in the whole country and why Skinarila is a free state, apart from Finland. 

“When you are going to Ithaca, do not expect that the travel would be short but long, stop in every port and smell the perfume of every ebony, don’t be scared of cyclops and leviathans, they are just in your head. When you arrive in Ithaca, and you find it poor and simple, remember, Ithaca owes you nothing; on the contrary, you owe Ithaca this marvellous journey”

Lappeenranta is my Ithaca.

Kilian, Germany

Skinnarilla is a special place. The university and its inhabitants welcome everyone with open arms and make sure that everyone is well looked after. I immediately felt at home. This is to a large extent due to the efforts of ESN Lappeenranta which tries to make all exchange students get to know each other and Finnish culture. I joined their ranks and had a lot of fun helping with the events and other exchange students get the most out of their exchange.

Since the campus is located outside of town, it is like its own little town, also known as Skinnarilla Free State. All the events, organised by the student guilds and associations, quickly made me feel part of the community. Every day, I enjoyed the all-you-can-eat buffet for less than three euros, which came as a welcome surprise. And the saunas. There are so many around campus, and there is nothing better than going into the freezing lake after a hot sauna in winter. I just love it and there are so many opportunities. 

Every season has its own charm. Having arrived in the summer, I enjoyed the good weather outside. Come snow and winter, cross-country skiing and the famous Lapland trip are great ways to explore what Finland has to offer. And come springtime, there is “Wappu”, celebrating the first of May. A whole month of events every day leading up to the grand finale, and it is a lot of fun. 

Sonia, South Korea

It’s been such an exciting and fun experience, and extending my exchange for two semesters was one of the best decisions I made. I’m really happy that I had the opportunity to experience Finnish student culture and make some good friends. Huge thanks to everyone from the ESN members for making the events run smoothly. I’d really like to visit Finland again someday!

Gosia, Poland

Visiting Lappeenranta was the best five months of my life. Finland quickly became my second home and a place I will definitely return to. I experienced a cold, white, and breathtaking winter you usually only see in pictures, but I also fell in love with the Finnish spring, full of greenery, life, and joy. The student community in Finland is unlike any other, it’s easy to feel included and have a great time. I met many incredible people and made a lot of friends. They made me feel welcome everywhere I went, and each day brought a new, wonderful experience. The Lappeenranta ESN created a safe and welcoming space for me and many others, organizing plenty of fun events and trips. It was hard to feel bored, every week, there was something to look forward to. Thanks to the trip to Lapland, I tried activities I had never heard of before. I fulfilled my dream of seeing the northern lights and skating on a frozen lake, which made me feel like a character from Disney’s Frozen. And the Finnish sauna… I miss it every single day.

Matisse, France

On May 30th, I officially closed one of the most unforgettable chapters of my academic and personal life! My Erasmus travel to Finland.

For the past 5 months, I have had the incredible opportunity to study at LUT University in Lappeenranta as part of my program at ESCE International Business School.

What made this experience so special? I connected with amazing people from all over the world, building friendships and a professional network that spans across every continent. I deepened my expertise in international business through different courses.

I challenged myself by studying entirely in English, and the progress I’ve made in language fluency is something I’m truly proud of.

I even explored new interests through wine tasting courses at LAB University, which added a fun and unexpected dimension to my travel experience.

I also got the choice to visit a bit of Sweden 🇸🇪 and Norway 🇳🇴

Finland gave me the chance to experience its natural beauty, from peaceful frozen lakes to the magical Northern Lights; every moment was a reminder of how special this country is.

A huge thank you to LUT University for welcoming me, and to ESCE International Business School for making this exchange possible.

These five months were intense, enriching, and unforgettable. I come back with new skills, a global network, and a heart full of memories.

I hope to meet as soon as possible all the people I met there.

Thank you for creating all of this!