Finland has a reputation for being a difficult place to live. Since the growing season is short and the soil can be very sandy, farming is often difficult. This has not stopped the Finns, though!
During the summer, many Finns enjoy picking and eating the plentiful berries and mushrooms in the forests. On the longest day of summer, in June, the sun only sets for about two hours, from midnight until two in the morning. During the summer, I often stayed up late at night, woke up early in the morning and felt like I had slept for hours, all because the sun was so high and bright in the sky. It is easy to feel energetic when the sun is so beautiful and bright! During the summer, Finns seem to be outside as much as possible. We even had a univesity meeting that was moved outside so that we could enjoy the August sun!
In the winter, the exact opposite happens. On the shortest day of the year the sun only rises mid-morning, and it stays up for about two and a half hours. It is only November, but already I am having a difficult time waking up in the morning. The sun only rises around eight or nine in the morning, and with the cold, rainy weather it is more difficult to feel energetic.
With no snow on the ground, it can be very dreary outside! My Finnish friends have talked about how beautiful the winter will be, in December and January. They told me that, once the snow falls, it lights up the ground with its sparkle. I cannot wait to see it!
