After more time living in Seinäjoki, I feel like I’m slowly getting to understand life here better and connecting more with the Finnish culture. Every week I discover something new, be it a place, a tradition or just small things about daily life here.
One of the most special experiences I’ve got to live was participating as a volunteer in the Vappu celebration, both the small celebration for the City Hall employees and the big picnic, which reunited hundreds of people from the town. Being able to collaborate in something this special for the Finnish people made this experience one of the best memories I’ll take back to Spain.
Before coming here I didn’t know much about Vappu, but now I understand why it is such a long awaited date. It’s celebrated on May 1 and it mixes with Worker’s Day, but it has a very special atmosphere here. In Finland it also symbolizes the arrival of spring and the end of the coldest and darkest months of the year. The city is filled with music, students with their traditional white hats, outdoor meetings and a very happy atmosphere that can be felt everywhere.
Being part of this celebration allowed me to better understand how Finns experience this day: it is not only a party, but also an occasion to meet with friends, enjoy the atmosphere and celebrate together the beginning of a new season.
Volunteering during Vappu also allowed me to learn more about how these types of events are organized and feel part of the community, even if it was only for a day. Also, I was very lucky because the weather was incredible and that made the picnic and all the activities even more special.
I feel that experiences like this are what really make an exchange in another country truly unforgettable. Beyond visiting new places, the best thing is learning local traditions, meeting people and experiencing moments that you probably would never have experienced otherwise.