This journey has given me more than just education, it’s given me unforgettable experiences and prepared me for my future.

Hei! I’m Kavindi, a third-year nursing student at Lapland University of Applied Sciences, Kemi. My journey from Sri Lanka to the Arctic Circle has been an amazing adventure.

I worked as a registered nurse in my home country, but I wanted more. So, I came to Finland to gain more knowledge and international exposure from one of the world’s best education systems. I also wanted to get experience from Finland’s healthcare system, which is among the best globally.

Coming from Sri Lanka’s warm weather to Lapland was a big change! Now I’ve experienced everything from -30°C in winter to +30°C in summer. First, I lived in Kemi, the City of Snowman and then moved to Rovaniemi, the hometown of Santa Claus. Yes, I really live on the Arctic Circle!

What I love most is how the seasons change everything here. Spring brings fresh green colors, summer turns everything colorful and vibrant, autumn paints the landscape in shades of yellow and gold and winter covers it all in pure white. Summer has bright days that never end and winter brings long dark days. But the darkness has its own beauty. I’ve seen the Northern Lights dancing in the sky, something I never imagined I’d experience. And I often see reindeer and hares around!

Life here is calmer and more relaxed than what I was used to, but I really enjoy it. It gives me time to focus on my studies and learn about Finnish culture and language. The nursing studies at Lapland UAS are excellent. The courses are practical and well organized, which prepares us well for real work. I’ve done internships in both Kemi and Rovaniemi, which have taught me so much. The teachers are genuinely friendly, helpful and truly care about our success. When I am thousands of kilometers away from home, that approachability and support means everything.

Learning Finnish has been my biggest challenge. In nursing, we need to communicate well with patients and that means speaking Finnish. During my internships, I sometimes struggled to express myself, which was challenging. But every nurse and staff member I worked with was so supportive. They helped me practice, encouraged me and never made me feel bad about making mistakes. They turned my struggle into confidence.

After I graduate, I hope to contribute to Finland’s healthcare system and keep learning and growing as a skilled nurse. The experience I’m gaining here, combined with what I learned in Sri Lanka, is preparing me for a career I’m really excited about. If you’re thinking about studying nursing at Lapland UAS, go for it! Yes, there will be challenges learning the language, adapting to the extreme weather and being away from home. But you’ll also get to live in the world’s happiest country, study in one of the best education systems and witness the Northern Lights under the Arctic sky! This journey has given me more than just education, it’s given me unforgettable experiences and prepared me for my future. I’m grateful every day for choosing Lapland UAS.

Kavindi Dewanarayana Nursing Student, Lapland UAS