Cross-country skiing, sauna and mämmi – The Finland experience

Aqsens team cross-country skiing in Turku.

Aqsens Health’s Ghana team from the NMIMR reflect on their time in Finland.

Aqsens Health’s Ghana team – Sebastian, Jasmine and Elizabeth – completed their six week training and certification program in Finland at the end of March. For them, the weeks in Finland were filled with both theoretical and laboratory training, as well as sightseeing and experiencing the Finnish working culture and way of life. 

Authentic Finnish experiences

There are many things that are different between Ghana and Finland, but one of the most drastic changes for the team between the two countries was definitely the weather. During their six week stay in Finland they got to experience bright winter days with a few minus degrees in February as well as warmer and sunny spring days in March. 

They also saw the type of weather Finns often hate the most – rainy and gray days with wet slush covering the pavement. Weather-wise the team got to experience the beginnings of Finnish spring in full effect. Sebastian was fond of the cooler weather while Jasmine and Elizabeth admitted to missing the warm Ghanaian sun.

The bright winter days in February meant that the team had the possibility to try some of the very popular winter-time activities like cross-country skiing, sauna and swimming in the frozen sea. 

“I will definitely miss skiing,” says Sebastian who ventured out to try out the skis a couple of times. 

“Yes, I will miss skiing too, it was fun,” Jasmine agrees. 

The team also enjoyed the sauna several times at their accommodation, and towards the end of their stay they had the chance to combine sauna and swimming when the whole team went out to the island of Kakskerta in the Turku archipelago and enjoyed a traditional sauna and swam in the frozen sea. Aqsens Health’s Turku team was very impressed with the whole Ghana team who all took several dips in the freezing sea water. 

In addition to the different winter-time activities, the fast-approaching Easter also of course meant that the Ghana team couldn’t possibly return home without tasting a few traditional spring time delicacies.

They got to experience Turku Technology Properties’ traditional Shrove Tuesday pea soup and laskiaispulla on an amazing sunny winter Tuesday. The Aqsens Turku team also made sure they tried mämmi, a traditional Finnish Easter-time dessert made from water, rye flour, and powdered malted rye. Mämmi often splits the opinion even among Finns, but the Ghana team was unanimous – they thought mämmi with cream was delicious. 

About the Finnish people and working life in Finland

This training program was the first time Sebastian, Jasmine and Elizabeth traveled outside of Ghana. The little over a month they had to familiarize themselves with the Finnish people, culture and working life went by quickly.  

“Finnish people all seem so efficient. And walk fast,” Elizabeth says. 

“I think the Finnish language also seems energetic,” Jasmine adds. 

In addition to the Finnish people, the team also had to adapt to Aqsens Health’s working culture. 

“I really enjoyed the working atmosphere here at Aqsens. I find the research very interesting, and I enjoyed having the chance to explore. The training has been very efficient and we've learned quite a lot,” Elizabeth says. 

“I like the fact that we got a chance to explore and do things on our own. And in the end you get to understand the concepts better, that’s the most important part,” Jasmine continues. 

“It was also nice having only a short walk to the office. In Accra the commute takes quite a bit longer,” Sebastian adds. 

Looking forward to continued collaboration

The Ghana team’s training and certification program was a first for Aqsens as well – this was the first official training and certification program arranged for external research partners. In the future as our operations expand, the training and certification program will become a regular part of Aqsens Health’s operations. 

It was quite a drastic change from their daily lives in Ghana, but the Ghana team enjoyed their time in Turku. Now the malaria season in Ghana is fast approaching, and it’s time for them to continue the malaria research collaboration with NMIMR through Aqsens Health’s Ghana subsidiary. 

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