Yukon University welcomed two north2north exchange students for fall 2024 semester
The University of the Arctic’s (UArctic) north2north mobility program offers students, faculty and staff exchange opportunities with participating institutions across the north.
Yukon University (YukonU) is a member of the program and welcomed two students for the fall 2024 semester – Juuso Korhonen, Energy Engineering at Savonia University of Applied Sciences, and Amandus Gustafsson, Masters of Swedish and General Literature, Stockholm University.
Though they come from different countries, the pair have become fast friends in the four months since arriving in the Yukon. They explored the land by long distance trail running and spent a good chunk of their time outdoors. “I really enjoy the nature here,” says Korhonen. “We’ve been running so much – like pretty much every trail around the university.”
Gustafsson prefers reading over running, but he follows Korhonen’s training program, which has them hitting the trails nearly four to six times a week. They’ve since expanded their training beyond the university trails and have traveled to Grey Mountain and even the Carcross Desert. “These are touristy destinations, but in terms of the natural world, it’s very dramatic to me,” says Gustafsson, adding that it’s not really possible to experience the ‘wilderness’ in Sweden because of the population size. “But here, sometimes a beaver crosses your path, or a fox. Earlier in the fall, we were more watchful of bears. So, just that very concrete presence of having to be aware outside, all these things put me into contact with nature.”
Both Korhonen and Gustafsson share an appreciation for the natural world even though their programs of study differ. Korhonen’s academic background is more science focused with courses like geography, the natural history of the North, and fish and wildlife health – while Gustafsson’s studies centre comparative literature and Indigenous Governance.
Gustafsson believes nature writing will find its way into his thesis, and his lessons in Indigenous Governance will inform his future studies. “My idea is to apply for a PhD program,” he says. “In my mind, it wouldn't be farfetched to pitch a project where I can incorporate some of these perspectives within the field of comparative studies between Northern cultures.”
When asked why they chose the Yukon to study, Korhonen knew he wanted to visit the territory since he was a kid. He first heard of the Yukon in Don Rosa’s comic book series Uncle Scrooge when Scrooge McDuck strikes gold in Dawson City during the Gold Rush. When the opportunity rose for him to study at YukonU, Korhonen said it was an easy decision. “It's just been sticking in my head that I want to be here,” he says. “So, it was really nice to see the actual places where [George Carmack, Dawson Charlie, and Skookum Jim] struck gold."
Besides fulfilling his childhood dream, Korhonen says the people at the university are helpful and talkative compared to what he’s used to in Finland. “Finns don't talk as much, but here people just come up to you and start the conversation,” he says, adding that he likes the small class sizes and one-on-one time with faculty. "I can have an actual conversation in the classroom, and I can pretty much name every teacher that works here,” he says. “So, if you're lagging on your studies, you can talk to your teacher or go to the Academic Support Centre. It’s easy to keep your studies going.”
“I think this is a special part of the world, too,” says Gustafsson. “I was mostly looking for places that had a connection to nature, like nature theory and nature writing. This place is very different from where I come from, but I still find things to connect with. If you come from a northern place, you will find some sort of kinship here.”
