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Salo, Finland
MAY 4th
Today was the big travel day—the start of our Erasmus adventure in Finland!
7:00 AM: Wake Up in Helsinki! We were all up early, buzzing with a mix of nerves and excitement.
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM: Journey and Helsinki Visit We left for the central station and, after our flight, arrived in the Helsinki area. We took time to have breakfast (9:00 AM) and explore the city centre and the port area of the capital for a few hours. It was a great first glimpse of Finland—everything is so clean and organized!
4:00 PM: Journey to Salo We left Helsinki by bus and train, heading for our final destination.
6:00 PM: Salo and Meeting Our Hosts! We finally arrived in Salo in the late afternoon. This was the moment we'd all been waiting for! We met our host families for the first time. There were big smiles, a few awkward hellos, and lots of excitement as we were introduced to the people we'll be staying with all week.
We are exhausted from the journey, but so happy to finally be here. Time to settle in and get ready for a full week of Finnish school life! Bona nit!
MAY 5th, MONDAY
Getting into the Salo Rhythm
Hola, Diari!
It's only our second day in Salo, but we're quickly settling into the routine and the calm Finnish school atmosphere.
8:15 – 9:30 AM: Morning Class We attended our first lesson (Maths, English, etc.) with our hosts. The quiet, focused students are still striking! We're picking up a few Finnish words like kiitos (thank you).
9:45 – 11:00 AM: Follow-up Session (Musta Aukko) We met Eevi, Eli, Gert, and Lassi again in the Musta Aukko classroom. They answered our questions about the Finnish education system, especially the freedom students have in choosing subjects, which is very different from our structured Batxillerat.
11:00 AM – 2:30 PM: Lessons and Lunch We joined more classes (Physics, Art, Geography). The absolute highlight was, as always, LUNCH! We had creamy soup and rye bread in the school kitchen—a proper, free, warm meal. We loved swapping host family stories during the break.
6:00 PM: Group Dinner (Istanbul) We met the whole group again at Restaurant Istanbul in Salo centre. It was a great chance to relax and discuss the cultural differences, from the necessity of warm layers to the huge amount of coffee the Finns drink! It’s great being on this adventure together, representing Balaguer.
We are tired but so happy to be fully immersed in this incredible Erasmus experience. Fins demà!
May 6th: Hiking in Teijo National Park
Today was an amazing change of pace—pure Finnish nature and adventure!
9:45 – 11:00 AM: Morning Lesson We attended one final class before the trip, but we were all too excited about the excursion to focus completely!
11:00 – 11:30 AM: Quick School Lunch We ate quickly at school to fuel up for the afternoon hike.
12:00 PM: Departure to Teijo! We hopped on the bus and headed straight for Teijo National Park. The views of the lakes and forests were stunning.
12:30 – 4:30 PM: Hiking & Campfire Picnic! The main event! We hiked beautiful trails and were so glad we wore warm clothing, as the air was fresh and cold. The best part was the picnic break by a campfire. We roasted sausages (makkara!) and enjoyed a truly authentic, peaceful Finnish experience in nature. We spent four hours exploring and breathing the clean air.
4:30 – 5:00 PM: Back to School We arrived back in Salo tired but full of positive energy after a memorable and freezing afternoon in the wilderness. This trip is definitely teaching us about Finnish culture beyond the classroom!
May 7: Ice, Culture, and Baking!
Today was a whirlwind of new experiences!
8:15 – 9:45 AM: Skating Fun! We started the day at the Salo Ice Hockey Hall. Most of us had never skated on proper ice before! We borrowed skates and spent an hour falling, laughing, and eventually gliding (a little bit) on the ice. It was cold, exhilarating, and definitely a memorable start!
10:00 – 12:00 PM: Salo Town Tour Annika took us on a walk through the Salo town centre. We saw the main sights, learned a little history, and enjoyed seeing the local shops and architecture.
12:00 – 1:00 PM: Lunch and Break. Back to school for our quick, delicious lunch, followed by a short break.
1:00 – 3:00 PM: Finnish Culture & Baking. We had a fun quiz/show about Finnish culture. We learned so many new things about their traditions! Afterward, we went to the school kitchen for a baking session. We made some traditional Finnish treats, and the school smelled amazing.
Evening: We spent the evening relaxing with our host families.
May 8: Sauna, Lake, and Art!
A full day dedicated to Finnish nature and relaxation—we loved it!
8:15 – 11:00 AM: Music & Class We started with a fun Music lesson in classroom Riffi, followed by another regular class with our hosts until 11:00 AM.
11:00 – 11:30 AM: School Lunch We ate quickly, ready for the trip!
12:00 PM: LeiriSalo Adventure! We departed for LeiriSalo, an amazing spot by an inland lake on Kemiönsaari island. The afternoon was packed:
Land Art: We got creative using natural materials from the forest.
Sauna & Swimming: The highlight! We experienced a traditional Finnish sauna, followed by a quick, very cold dip in the lake. It was shocking, but invigorating!
May 9: Final Day & Goodbye!
Our last day here was bittersweet.
8:15 – 9:30 AM: Morning Class A final lesson with our hosts. It felt strange knowing it was the last time in these classrooms.
9:45 – 11:00 AM: Church and Hill Tour. We visited Uskela Church and had a guided tour from the school priest, Ville Väänänen. It was beautiful and interesting. Afterward, we walked up Uskelanmäki Hill through the "School Forest."
11:15 – 1:00 PM: Lunch and Farewell Class. One last lesson followed by our final, beloved school lunch. We spent the time saying meaningful goodbyes to our new Finnish friends.
1:00 PM: Departure 😢 We said emotional goodbyes at the school parking lot singuing "És l'hora dels adeus" and departed by bus for Helsinki-Vantaa airport.
This Erasmus trip to Salo has been an experience we will never forget. We are leaving with so many memories, new knowledge, and lifelong friendships. Adéu, Finlàndia!
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