Sanne and Fleur on internship in Finland
Sanne, a fourth-year student, and Fleur, a third-year student from the Laboratory Analyst programme, did a special internship at the University of Oulu in Finland.They worked at the Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and learned a lot about their field, and about themselves.
Working in Oulu
Their workdays usually started at 9:00 AM and ended around 5:00 PM, with set breaks for coffee and lunch.
Sanne joined a research group that worked with mice and studied things like glucose and lactose levels.
It was fascinating to see how precise everything had to be.
Fleur noticed how different the work environment was compared to the Netherlands:
It was really a different way of learning.
Slower work pace
In Finland, the work pace is more relaxed.
Sanne and Fleur:
They really take their time especially for coffee breaks but theyre still very focused and careful with their work.
Life in Finland
They rented an apartment together via Airbnb, close to the city centre, the train station, and the university.
Public transport was great: well-organised and always on time, they say.
In spring, Oulu really came to life. They even visited Lapland with their families
Such a fun and special experience!
No major culture shocks when it came to food though they did try reindeer meat and the famous Finnish sweet bread pulla.
And Lidl had lots of products we also have in the Netherlands!
Learning to work independently
Both students became more independent, improved their English, and developed intercultural skills.
You really learn how to adapt to a new culture and a different work environment.
Would they recommend it?
Absolutely!
An international internship is a unique experience. You learn a lot about your profession but even more about yourself.