Pieta Kupiainen is a 24-year-old Geography major who recently packed her bags and changed her address to Rotterdam. Here she tells us about the differences between life in Netherlands and Finland, and why she would recommend moving abroad to all of us.
You are currently writing your master’s thesis but moved recently to Rotterdam, Netherlands. How did you come up with such a move?
I did it for love. I simply followed my boyfriend to Rotterdam. He started his bachelor studies in Rotterdam University in September and I couldn’t bear the thought of living apart from him. So I figured that it doesn’t really matter where I write my master’s thesis, I’m going to have to do it independently anyway. My professor told me it was completely fine and that I can get tutoring for my thesis via email. I just organized everything, a flat for me here and subtenant for my studio in Helsinki and I was ready to go.
How has it been like so far? Have you enjoyed your time abroad?
I have really enjoyed my time here. I love this city and it already feels like home. Rotterdam is very modern and full of interesting architecture and skyscrapers. I have a nice apartment with great housemates and I’ve met a lot of people through my boyfriend. We don’t share an address, because he has to live in a student residence for the first year, but we live close to each other and we see each other every day.
Have you noticed any significant differences between living in the Netherlands and Finland?
Yes I have! The first thing are the cycling paths! Seriously, they’re awesome! I’m still amazed how smoothly I can cycle everywhere. There are no long distances in the city, because it is densely built, there are no hills and cars respect cyclists. And Rotterdam has approximately the same population as Helsinki. I bought a bike on the third day I was here and haven’t used public transportation since.
Other thing worth mentioning would be architecture. Traditional Dutch houses are narrow from the outside and inside. One has to get used to narrow staircases. And obviously they speak Dutch here and I don’t, but one can manage with English everywhere. Anyway, I’m still planning on taking up Dutch language lessons soon.
Have you managed to write your master’s thesis or have you put all your energy into exploring your new hometown?
The first two weeks I spent exploring the city and hanging out with my boyfriend, because we hadn’t seen each other in 5 weeks, since he moved here earlier. After that I started to work on my thesis. I go to the city library 5 days a week to study. I work by myself during the days and see my friends in the evening. I have made some progress already and independent studying actually suits me pretty well.
What are your plans for the future? Are you coming back to Finland or do you have some other plans?
Right now I couldn’t be happier to be here and I’m planning to stay, for an indefinite time. I have to finish my thesis and do an internship so that I can get my diploma and I’m planning to achieve that in 2015. After that I’m going to search for a job here. I could easily imagine myself living here permanently, but I want to explore different countries before settling anywhere. And you never know what’s going to happen, the only thing that is sure is that plans always change. I was never planning to move to the Netherlands, but then things just went this way and I felt spontaneous enough to try this. I was actually looking for an internship in Asia, but then my focus shifted a little bit and now I’m just looking for it here.
Would you recommend moving abroad to other students at our university?
I couldn’t recommend it more. You can be happily living your whole life where you are now, without ever knowing what it’s like to live elsewhere, or you can travel and find places that you like even more, or less, but it is going to be worth it anyway. Then you’ve at least explored more than just one option. Moving to Rotterdam is probably the craziest and the best thing I’ve done in my life so far.