I bought a bus card that will give me unlimited bus rides, so it is a cheap and easy way to go from one place to another. I like taking the bus because I can read my book while I travel. Finns are a little different than Americans when it comes to taking the bus, though. They really value their personal space, so even when there is a seat available, many Finns will stand rather than sit next to someone they do not know.
If you want to travel outside of Oulu, you have three options: the bus, a train, or a plane. Taking a bus or a plane is an experience similar to one you would find in the United States, but I have really enjoyed taking the train. For shorter trips, I like going to the dining car to buy a hot meal, and watching the birch and pine tree forests fly by. On longer overnight trips, I think it is really fun to get a whole compartment to myself. Each compartment has a tiny sink and mirror, and a set of bunk beds. The bunk beds even come with seatbelts!
I love living close enough to walk to my university, and I enjoy having some time to myself each morning and night to think. It is such a peaceful time, and I love the smell of the pine trees I walk past. It smells a little bit like Christmas, or summer camp to me.
Sometimes when I am taking the bus in Oulu, I feel a bit awkward because I know that Finns are particular about their space. I try to respect this fact. However, I have also learned that feeling awkward can be part of traveling, and part of learning something new. If you never take chances, you never learn anything! I also like how efficent the finnish bus system is.
