Earlier I shared with you how my first year of adult life went by in Halinen. The story continues in the Student Village in Turku, with further struggles and victories.
So, I moved to the eastern Student Village in Turku, to the flat provided by Turku Student Village Foundation (TYS) many years ago. My studies were going well, I was spending long days at the university, partying once in awhile in the Center of Turku, coming back home to sleep. Weekends were for cleaning up, cooking and slouching on the couch. Maybe, a jog along the River Aura. What else is there to become an adult?
“Student Village is probably the most international part of Turku, with people coming from all around the world and finding each other.”
Taking health seriously
When my medicine bag, carefully crafted by my mom, started to get thin, and my Russian prescriptions ended, I needed to figure out how to take care of myself. The Nummenmäki pharmacy appeared to be quite close - right on the corner of Hämeentie and Keskikatu. However, when you are having a flu, nothing is close enough. So, as a hot tip, I would recommend to stock up on some Finrexin (or equivalent).
“When you are having a flu, nothing is close enough”
In cases, where self-medication didn’t help, I turned to doctors. Luckily, student healthcare services (FSHS or YTHS in Finnish) was in the neighborhood. I say “luckily”, because if FSHS was any further, I would’ve probably quietly perished from some disease in my four walls, being too lazy to get out. Instead, I was doing regular check-ups, like an adult! (Please, ignore the fact that my mom still calls my Russian dentist to make my appointments. This is the only adult thing I cannot handle to this day.)
Postal struggles, or “when shopping online, you might still have to carry it”
Nowadays, everything, from paying bills to filing taxes, could eventually be done online. The only thing that couldn’t be handled online and still poses some inconvenience to me, is receiving big packages from the post office.
“Student Village belongs to Kupittaa’s post office area, which means that to get my mom’s cookies I had to endure an hour worth of bus trips”
Student Village in Turku belongs to Kupittaa’s post office area, which means that to get my mom’s cookies or books from Amazon I had to take an hour and a half walk to Kupittaa Citymarket and back (or an hour worth of bus trips). Apart from this minor nuisance, I was happy in Student Village. Years went by.
Six years in Student Village East: a love story
I have lived in Student Village ever since, changing flats and relationship statuses. This neighborhood is very dear to me. Majority of my friends have lived here too: some have had their first ever flat here, some have planted a garden, some have even raised their children (Student Village has a conveniently located daycare). In addition, Student Village is probbly the most international part of Turku, with people coming from all around the world and finding each other.
I am now at a new stage of my life: two years after graduation, I am employed by the University of Turku, doing my PhD and being part of developing Know Your Hoods. A lot of practicalities of adult life are figured out by now, but it’s not the main thing about adulting. Living in this neighborhood for six years, I still learn new things. For example, I just recently found out that Student Village East has its own tenants committee, which organizes events, has common room spaces and even lends some board games (similar organisation exists for Student Village West).
“You can reshape the neighborhood together with your community to make it something new, and to reflect who you are, or who you strive to be.”
What is even more important, I finally started to learn things about myself, my interests, and who I want to be as a part of this neighborhood. It is not easy to know what is right for you right away. You can search for a place to support your existing needs and interests, or be open for change, exploration and growth. Or, maybe even reshape the neighborhood together with your community to make it something new, and to reflect who you are, or who you strive to be.
The winds of change
I feel that the time to move on is getting closer, the winds of change are blowing, and soon it will be time to search for a new neighborhood to live and develop in. Actually, Know Your Hoods, the very service we are developing, shall help me with this. So, come along and rediscover Turku with me!
-Katerina
P.S. Get to know the Student Village better by checking out its neighborhood page. Or search for the area, where you can live and continue to become an adult through our search engine for neighborhoods!
