Submitted by Kevin Whyte

Bio: My name is Kevin Whyte and I'm in my fourth year studying business communication as my major, with a minor in international relations, at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont.
 
My story: Last year, I was accepted to study at the University of Tampere in Tampere, Finland, which is about a two-hour drive north of Helsinki by train. I left for my eight-month adventure in mid-August, flying from Toronto to Reykjavik, Iceland, and then onward to Helsinki. Little did I know that Iceland would cause me so much trouble eight months down the road.
    
Since arriving here, I've had the opportunity to travel to many different countries in Europe without having any delays on any flights. I was lucky, I suppose.

Eventually, all that luck caught up with me when, last Thursday, officials began closing airspace across the continent.

I was hopeful that my flight on Monday, April 19, would be cleared to go. I was due to fly from Helsinki to London-Heathrow and then on to Toronto.

On Sunday evening, my flight was cancelled and I was forced to rebook, paying double the original price. This time, I booked a flight from Helsinki to Amsterdam and then on to Toronto.

Unfortunately, the Helsinki airport is not flying into areas that are still affected, such as Amsterdam, despite the fact that some flights are leaving Amsterdam.

Why did I rebook right away? Because I've been reading stories of how people have been told that the next available flights in some places aren't until May. So I'll take what I can get as soon as I can.

Parties planned

It also doesn't help that the volcano decided that Monday was a good time to spew out more ash and send it toward the continent once again.

My friends and family have been anxiously awaiting my arrival. We had dinners and homecoming parties already planned, all of which had to be put on hold.
 
Right now, I have my dorm room for another 10 days before I have to move out. I'm one of the lucky ones that have a place to stay. But if my flight on Friday gets cancelled, then I'll start to be in some trouble.

Life as a student means little money to survive. And being in Finland, probably the most expensive country I've ever been in, doesn't help the situation.

There are no hostels in Tampere and hotels are upwards of 100 euros per night. I can stay with my friends, but many of them are due to leave soon, too, and will be kicked out of their rooms as well.

Adding to the need to get home, I'm due to start my summer job on May 2 and, with the seven-hour time difference between Finland and Hamilton, I may need some time to adjust.

The reactions here in Finland are most likely the same as everywhere else in the world: confusion, frustration and a curiosity to know when this chaos will end.

Everyone I've talked to thus far has sided with the decision to close the airspace. Furthermore, the realization that going home later this week may not be possible is setting in for some of the other exchange students.

Reality sinks in

Everyone thought that this was going to be something that would clear up by last Friday or Saturday. Now here we are (on Tuesday), with many flights still being cancelled and airport closures are to be expected for at least the next few days.

Reality is setting in and the mood is becoming more worrisome than anything.
Knowing that I may have to take an alternative route home, I've been looking into many different options. Whether it's taking a bus to Helsinki, then a ferry to Estonia and then a train to southern Europe and flying from there, or taking a boat across the ocean, or even flying around the world the other way, stopping in Beijing, Tokyo and Vancouver before touching down in Toronto, all options are being explored.

My time is running out and my fingers are crossed.

The local airport in Tampere is rumoured to be closed until Thursday, meaning the Helsinki airport will likely follow suit. Because of the closure of airports, I have friends that I met here who are stranded back in their home countries and have exams and homework to hand in this week here in Finland.

One of them is from Manchester, England. He took a trip home last week, thinking he would be back in Finland by the weekend. Now he is stuck at home with all of his belongings still in Finland and he doesn't know how to get his things before his lease is up.
And another friend, who is in Paris, started taking the two- to three-day journey on trains, buses and ferries just to get back to Finland.

I sincerely hope that my situation does not become as dire as many other people's, but from the looks of it, I'm bound to have one unforgettable trip home. Whenever that may be.