Aino-Mari Kiianmies
Home country: Finland
Program: Exchange
Finland’s Aino-Mari Kiianmies says she has enjoyed learning more about the Sunshine Coast since arriving at USC as an exchange student.
“I didn’t know much about the Sunshine Coast before I came here, but the name sounded nice—especially during the darkest and coldest wintertime in Finland!” she says.
“I had always wanted to come to Australia, see its nature, beaches and try surfing.”
Aino-Mari lives at Varsity Apartments, one of the student accommodation complexes located next to the USC campus.
“The facilities are awesome, especially the double bed. In Finland it’s not usual to have one if you stay alone,” she says.
“I have flatmates from Switzerland and Australia and for me this is really a new experience because I have always lived alone.”
Aino-Mari feels the size of USC is another reason why she has enjoyed her overseas study experience.
“I like the University because it’s quite small, just like my home university,” she says.
“People really know each other and the teachers remember your name—I really like that. The Library is also cool.”
Aino-Mari says many students in Finland would love to study at USC.
“Finns love warm weather and I think that almost every teenager there dreams to travel to Australia,” she says.