Life as an economic intern in Turku, Finland
Adventures abroad: Work, culture, and hockey
Moving into Finland as a 20-year-old economic intern from Slovenia has been an exciting experience! I’m working in Turku for Nova Talent, and it’s been amazing to grow professionally and learn about Finnish culture and daily life.
One of the main reasons I chose Finland for my internships was to understand how the country achieves such high economic standards. I’ve already noticed some interesting differences compared to Slovenia. For example, everything here seems more automated. Most gas stations are self-service, and they only take payment cards. It’s not just gas stations- even buying ticket for public transports is automated, as you can’t purchase it directly from a person. Its super-efficient, and I think Slovenia could learn a lot from this approach.
Speaking of cards, Finnish people barely use cash- they pay for almost everything with cards. This has taught me how important it is to budget and manage my money more carefully.
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Finland feels incredibly safe—I’ve never once felt uneasy here. Drivers are very cautious, often stopping earlier than what I’m used to, which makes getting around stress-free.
Cycling in Turku has been a standout experience. I bike everywhere, and the city’s infrastructure makes it convenient and accessible, even during winter. Thanks to the winter tires provided by Nova Talent, biking in snowy conditions is not only comfortable but also practical. The roads are cleared quickly, even after morning snowfall, ensuring they remain safe for cycling. It’s an efficient, eco-friendly, and affordable way to get around—perfect for anyone, especially young professionals like me, making the most of their time in Finland.
At work, my role involves helping to build and maintain relationships with Finnish companies and European partners. It’s been such a good learning experience, and I’ve already gained so much knowledge about how things work in the Finnish business world.
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The cost of living in Finland is higher than in Slovenia, but it’s been a great lesson in how to handle my finances.
For example:
-A monthly buss pass in Finland costs 60€, double the 30€ in Slovenia
-A pint of beer at a bar in Finland is 7€, in Slovenija, its just 3€
-A decent bottle of wine costs about 13€ in Finland, while in Slovenia, its only 4€
-Fitness membership in Finland costs around 40€, compared to 25-35 in Slovenia
This has me rethink how I spend my money and prioritize what really matters. Despite this, everything about my experience has been so positive.
I also had the chance to experience a hockey match at a massive arena called Gatorade Center, which can hold up to 11820 people. The match took place on January 15, 2025, between home team TPS Turku and KalPa. It was an intense game and TSP Turku won 3:2 in overtime!
The whole experience was awesome. The audio in the arena was super good, and during the mid-breaks, they kept the crowd entertained- even if you don’t speak Finnish, its impossible not to enjoy it. The lights didn’t just stay on the ice- they covered the entire arena. When the home team scored, the whole place came alive.
I even got the picture with the home team’s mascot, Jore, which was a fun bonus. It was also surprising to me that the arena was much warmer compared to the freezing weather outside, it made the whole experience more enjoyable.
If you’re in Turku during hockey season, don’t miss the chance to experience a game at the Gatorade Center. It’s an unforgettable experience, and who knows when you’ll get the opportunity to enjoy something like that again? You won’t regret it!
To top it all off, I placed a bet on the home team to win, so it wasn’t just an amazing experience-it turned out to be a profitable one too!
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