A Taste of Finland in the Midwest - Finland

Back home in Finland, this time of year always hits differently for me. The days get shorter and shorter until it feels like the sun just gives up. That’s when coffee becomes basically a way of life. Finns drink more coffee than anyone else in the world, and honestly, it makes sense. When it’s dark almost 24/7, you need something to keep you going. And when I say we drink coffee… we drink coffee. No fancy creamers or seasonal lattes. I once got a surprised look for saying I like it plain, and I thought it was hilarious. 

And then there’s the sauna, probably our best invention. Everyone has one. It doesn’t matter if you live in a tiny apartment or out in the middle of nowhere; there’s always a sauna. It’s not anything luxurious, just essential. 

I love the transition time from autumn to winter because that’s when Finland starts to glow again, literally. Candles in every window, and the city gets decorated with all of the beautiful Christmas lights. 

Now, halfway through my first semester living on campus in Iowa, it’s been an adjustment. The unexpected heat wave has finally started to fade. We’re slowly getting the fall weather I’m used to. It all almost feels familiar, or maybe it’s just homesickness trying to convince me