Living in Finland: saunas and housing

Once you find out that Finns have their own word for the steam in a sauna (löyly), you know they are taking this seriously. Nowadays, there are even still Finns, that were born inside a sauna.

One important thing, if not the most important you need to know about Finland is their beloved “sauna culture”. Finland has more saunas per capita than cars and own the biggest number of saunas in the world. In almost every single house/building a sauna is integrated.

Most Finns visit a sauna at least once a week, to relax and to clean their bodies and minds. A fun part, however, is also to have a little BBQ in the sauna. You can for example put sausages or potatoes in tin foil and put them on the hot stone until they are ready to eat. With the BBQ (or also without), Finns like to, although it is not recommended, drink alcohol in the sauna.

Another fun part about a visit to the finish sauna is vihta, which is branches of birch tied together, with which you beat your body as a massage and for softer skin, with a nice smell as a side effect. If you want you can also add some special “perfumes” to the water that you throw on the hot stones, so the air gets a nice smell as well. Another health aspect is the cooling down in-between the returns to sauna. If around, people like to jump into a nearby lake or take a cold shower, which helps the body to increase circulation.

An important thing to mention is the nudity in finish saunas. The sauna should be visited naked, with only a towel to sit on. This applies also to foreigners, as some Finns feel uncomfortable if they sit naked in-between people in bathing suits. Remember that there are usually either two separate saunas or men and women get different times in which they can visit the saunas, so you don´t have to be so afraid of presenting your birth robe. Usually only when going with the family, men and women visit the sauna together.

Student's apartments in Kevätkumpu, immersed in nature

As people have always been super surprised when I told them that we had a sauna in the student housing, I want to tell you a bit more about that today.

In Porvoo there are two official student housing opportunities: in Kevätkumpu (where I lived) and Kruunu (5 minutes from campus).

The one in Kevätkumpu is a bit further away from campus and the city center (about 3km), so most people that live there use a bicycle to get around. However, the rent in these apartments are a lot cheaper (depending on two-room or three-room apartment, under 400€ per person, including water, electricity, Wi-Fi, laundry and sauna three times a week).

Kruunu student's apartments

In Kruunu you must pay an extra 10€ per month, if you want to visit the sauna once a week, additionally to a rent of 450€-500€ without water and electricity.

Although the exchange students are accommodated in Kevätkumpu, the atmosphere in Kruunu is a bit nicer, as there are only students living (in Kevätkumpu is also a building for seasonal workers and other people).

I personally got lucky and am living now with one of my classmates and one of my tutors in a private apartment between Kruunu and campus for just a bit less than the Kevätkumpu-rent.

“Not how long, but how well you have lived is the main thing.”

- Seneca

-Lotte