Helsinki was our home for two years, for Hugo and me at least. Rob left Belgium already in 2011, which means he lived almost three years in Helsinki. He lived in an apartment with a very difficult street name. Noa lived only one year in Helsinki before she decided to go to boarding school in Reading UK for her IB program. 

Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is a vibrant seaside city of beautiful islands and great green parks.

Design,architecture,culture and shopping are all great exploration angles and large parks, forests, lakes and the coastline with numerous islands, it make certain there's no shortage of natural presence.

We lived in the design district, we rented our apartment from the Design Museum. The second day, in the middle of unpacking our neighbours from the 6th floor came with a big bowl with savoury snacks, to welcome us in Finland. This is not a usual gesture in Finland. There lived 7 students on the top floor, so the floor above us. In the building next to us and at the back housed in total about 25 students. They organised a Christmas event in the week prior to Christmas. This was held on the third floor of building B, so we went. I can stil remember this evening and telling myself what a very special experience we had that night. There was a role-play, singing, a quiz, someone on a guitar and afterwards a buffet in the kitchen.