By Ishita N, Year 10 Journalist Leader

Over the spring half term, some of the Year 10s got to go on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Finland so we spoke to Emma to find out what the highlights were.

What was your favourite activity to do in Finland?

Cross-country skiing, it was so fun. Although it was hard to grasp at first and there were many falls, it was fun to persevere. I also enjoyed the team-building activities, especially the navigation exercise.

What did you learn about Finnish culture?

We learned a lot about Finnish culture, especially things to do with nature. We learned about the different types of lichen and how it’s illegal to pick lichen off trees or collect it unless you own the land. 

What was the hardest activity to do?

The hardest activity was quinzee (similar to an igloo) building because it required so much back and arm strength and digging out the quinzees was difficult because we had to make sure they didn’t collapse and that we didn’t dig too much snow out.

Did you learn any new skills that could help you in the future, or just for fun?

I learned fire-building, wood chopping and how to make kindling.

Are reindeer friendly?

Yes, the reindeer were really friendly. Even though they weren’t domesticated, they were still friendly and docile. 

If you had to give one piece of advice to yourself before you went to Finland to prepare yourself, what would it be?

Bring foot warmers.

What was similar to your expectations of the trip and what was different?

Although it was still very cold, it was warmer than I thought it would be, especially while doing the exercises. The accommodation was also much nicer than I expected as we were told to bring sleeping bags and travel towels, however everything was provided for us. The cross-country skiing and snowshoeing lived up to my expectations and were very fun and enjoyable.

Which teachers got most involved with the activities?

All the teachers got involved in the activities. Ms Drummond and Ms Weir both joined in, even with the sledging and both of them were very encouraging and enthusiastic!

Thank you Emma for letting me interview you! You can see more photos on our Instagram here.