Day 1: A Test of Endurance - Our Unforgettable Trek from Toronto to Joensuu

When Travel Tests More Than Just Your Patience

There's a wise saying among travellers: "The best way to test a relationship is to plan a trip together." It's a simple truth. Travel can stretch your patience, test your endurance, and deepen bonds in unexpected ways. It can bring out both the best and the worst in us.

Our epic 27-hour journey from Toronto to Joensuu was the ultimate test. Between the 11 hours in the air, another 11 hours in limbo during our layovers, and a final 5-hour train ride, our adventure morphed into a gruelling test of both mental and physical endurance. Yet, through this experience, our team found new strengths and a surprising testament to our collective resilience.

From Excitement to Exhaustion—And Back Again

Watching our team's mood shift from excitement to exhaustion was like watching a slow-motion transformation. The journey started with laughter and smiles, but soon, as fatigue set in, those smiles gave way to weary sighs for rest. 

Travelling across borders is rarely fun. It demands that you adapt to new cultural norms and carefully navigate complex logistics. Every country presents its own set of challenges, and Finland was no exception. Our initial leg of the journey, from Toronto to Joensuu, underscored a critical need for better planning and coordination—especially highlighted by our chaotic arrival in Helsinki. The amount of confusion, stress and dilemma we had to go through was like composing a symphony that would make anyone insane (I had never seen someone look so dead as the look on Evan's face)

In these challenging moments, however, we truly got to know each other. Despite the fatigue and occasional frustrations, our collective challenges fostered a great amount of closeness. The shared exhaustion was the source of our coming together, and I think I found that's what's going to make this trip an amazing experience - seeing all of us come together and make some amazing memories.

First Impressions on Finnish Sustainability

Of course, as this agenda was always the priority of this trip, I wanted to touch on some key moments where I found Finland's dedication to sustainability:

• Nature-Inspired Infrastructure: The design of Finnish Airports and public spaces, which integrate natural elements, isn't just visually appealing—it's a commitment to environmental respect.
• Inclusivity and Mobility: Helsinki's transportation (HSL) excels in accessibility. Their public transport is not only frequent and well-designed but also caters to everyone with thoughtful features like child-friendly zones and quiet spaces, promoting a broader social sustainability.
• Proactive Waste Management: The Finnish approach to recycling and waste is rigorous. They use deposit schemes and strict penalties for non-compliance to maintain high recycling rates - which is something we could adapt as Canadians.
• Commitment to Reducing Plastic: Observing minimal plastic use was eye-opening. Wooden hotel key fobs were a small yet profound testament to Finland's environmental commitment.
• Simplicity in Comfort: Our accommodations' minimalistic yet utterly comfortable nature was a stark contrast to the often overly technological Canadian style. This simplicity underscores that environmental sustainability sometimes means sacrificing a bit of tech for greater environmental benefit.

Epilogue: Beyond Just a Journey

As the exhaustion hits me, I end my first day thinking about what happened today and realize that if we made it here after all the delays, jetlags, and eyebags we accumulated, I think we'll manage to work things out together throughout our time in Finland. I look forward to more experiences and insights as we dive deeper into the educational and cultural experiences that Finland has to offer.

- Vanne Solo