Friends. I went to Finland.

Helsinki Skyline

I had the incredible opportunity to spend the last ten days in Helsinki, Finland. And by opportunity, I mean that I paid for a trip through Bookbag Tours. Nonetheless, this is one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life. I’m so glad I took the plunge a year ago and decided to go on this trip.

First things first. I heard of Bookbag Tours through a good old fashioned Google search. I had the travel bug and was looking to see if I could find any travel geared towards teachers. I was also hoping to find a teacher discount along the way. Enter Bookbag Tours. Only a few years old, I did some research and looked up photos and stories from the previous summer’s trips. I saw a lot of happy teachers, cool places, and friendships forged. After checking the bank account several times, I clicked deposit just under a year before I would leave for Finland. I was 100% nervous about going on my own, but was settled by the fact that I would be traveling with other teachers. You know, people who are trusted with children all day long.

I just got home. I’m jet lagged and confused about what meal I should be eating and I can’t get over how happy I am that I traveled to Finland with 25 strangers. It’s hard to sum up what I learned, saw, and experienced in Finland. Not only did I get to tour the beautiful city of Helsinki, but part of the trip was Professional Development. More than one person questioned if I wanted to spend 3 days of my trip in a learning environment. “Don’t you want that time to see more of the country?” But when you put 26 educators in a room together, learning is our jam. Top that with being able to learn about one of the top educational systems in the world IN that country by experts in the field? Sign me up.

I have a lot to say about Finland and I plan on writing a few separate posts about my experience. For now, let me just say that if there’s a risk you want to take, take it. You might just end up in Finland with 25 new friends and a suitcase full of birch souvenirs. Worth it.

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