Finland through the eyes of our colleagues who moved here from abroad
Extreme weather conditions, lots of personal space, great work-life balance and strange sauna culture – we interviewed five colleagues who have moved to Finland from abroad and asked them to share their views on the happiest country in the world.
At Finnair, we’re privileged to have colleagues from various backgrounds and from all around the world from around 60 nationalities. We asked five of our international team members, Paul, Aki, Aaron, Hugo and Daniela, to share their biggest surprises and favourite things and views about living and working in Finland.
Friendly people, weird sauna customs and strange weather
Paul Kengne, Cloud Architect at Finnair, is originally from Cameroon but has already been living in Finland for 14 years. Even after 14 years, Paul mentions that Finns’ modesty never ceases to amaze him and that the level of humility he’s encountered, both professionally and personally, is something he finds rather unique.
For the others, the northern weather has been full of surprises. Aki Nakatake, Japanese cabin crew member based in Finland, has fallen in love with the Finnish summers and their long daylight hours: “Finnish summers are absolutely beautiful – sometimes the sun barely sets. But on the flip side, the winter darkness was quite shocking in my first year.” Now, after almost seven years in Finland, Aki has got more used to the dark winters.
Aki Nakatake has found similarities between Finnish and Japanese cultures.
Daniela Oria, Design Lead at Finnair, comes from a small town in Northern Italy. After living in Finland for 25 years, the Finnish seasons are something that keep still astonishing her: “The change of light throughout the year always amazes me. November is dark, but then every summer I can’t stop admiring the bright evenings and the amazing long sunsets they bring with them.”
Aaron McGarvey, our Head of Network Strategy and Development, originates from Australia and has been living in Finland for six and half years now. Hugo Requena Huerta, a Finnair cabin crew member, comes from Spain and has been in Finland for the past seven years. Both Aaron and Hugo mention that they’ve actually enjoyed the colder and darker weather more than they thought they would.
Hugo Requena Huerta has adapted well to the Finnish winters and nowadays enjoys when it snows.
Aaron also adds that before moving to Finland, he had been warned that it could be difficult to make friends with Finns. However, this turned out to be untrue: “I’ve found it surprising that this has not been the case, and that the friends you do make are very genuine.”
When asking about the weirdest Finnish custom, Aki tells: “Finns are very serious about personal space! It’s funny to see people naturally keeping a distance from each other, and they aren’t really into small talk either. As a Japanese person, I actually relate to this because we also value personal space. That’s one of the reasons I feel quite at home in Finland.”
For Paul and Hugo, the Finnish sauna traditions have been something to get used to. “Enjoying a sauna completely naked with colleagues or strangers is still to me the most amusing and unusual Finnish tradition. It took me years to adapt to it,” Paul says.
Favourite Finnish things and manners
Getting used to a new country and its different ways of being and doing can take some time. At the same time, you might also find your new favourite things and customs.
For Aki, the Finnish sauna culture is one of her favourite things in Finland, and she says she’s fully embraced it. Having her own sauna at home and being able to step into the warm steam after a cold winter evening or a long day at work is something she truly appreciates. “It’s not just about relaxing – it’s a place to unwind, clear your mind, and even socialise in a calm setting. I also love the Finnish tradition of alternating between a hot sauna and an icy winter swim. It sounded extreme at first, but after trying it, I fell in love with the refreshing feeling.”
Aki Natatake has found the joy of ice swimming.
According to Paul, one of the best aspects of living in Finland is the easy access to nature where one can do personal reflection in quiet surroundings as well as practice ‘everyone’s rights.’ This means that in Finland, you can, for instance, camp temporarily in areas where access is allowed, pick wild berries and mushrooms, and swim and go boating.
Also Daniela finds the closeness of nature one of her favourite things in Finland: “I love the fact that in Finland nature is always literally around the corner, no matter where you live. We work and live in the capital area, and still have squirrels, foxes and even deer visiting our garden!”
Daniela Ora loves the closeness of nature in Finland.
Besides nature, our team members appreciate how well Finnish society functions and how easy life is in Finland. Hugo says: “The best thing about living in Finland is the peace you get, nobody disturbs you, and everyone respects your privacy. Also, the feeling that everything always works.” These are also some of the things Hugo would love to bring to Spain.
If Daniela could bring some of the Finnish culture and customs to Italy, she mentions two things: the Finnish school system and the deep respect for the individual. “The Finnish school system and atmosphere goes beyond focusing on performance and competitiveness and instead gives students plenty of opportunities to grow and develop,” she thanks.
Aki, on the other hand, would love to bring the Finnish coffee culture back to her home country Japan. She says it’s more than just drinking coffee – it’s all about spending time with family, friends and colleagues. “I love having coffee with my colleagues on board, and enjoying ‘pulla’ (a Finnish sweet bun) makes it even better!” she rejoices.
Paul Kengne enjoys the peace and quiet of Finnish nature.
Work culture that supports individuality
When asked about the work culture in Finland, our interviewees mention trust, respect, equality, collaboration and independence. Everyone’s opinions are valued, while employees are also given their own space. In addition, work-life balance, appreciation for one’s free time, as well as long holidays are something that get preached.
Daniela, who has the most experience of the Finnish working life, says the aspect that has struck her the most has only become clear to her after getting married and having children. Since Finnish society is built on independence, the work culture supports families in managing their family logistics without having to rely heavily on babysitters or grandparents.
“At work, it is commonly accepted that there are school and family routines that need to be taken care of, and it is okay to leave the office or stop working at a specific time to take care of them. Compared to many other cultures, including the Italian one, this really is not a given, and I think is rather crucial for a healthy work-life balance,” Daniela says.
“I also think the work culture overall is very welcoming for young people that are at the start of their careers, and there are plenty of opportunities that encourage internships and trainings also at a young age,” she adds.
Daniela Oria moved to Finland in 2000 and has lived and worked in Finland already for 25 years.
Some tips for visiting or moving to Finland
Are you thinking of visiting Finland or even relocating here? We asked our team members to share their best tips.
Aaron says: “Explore the country and not just Helsinki, as the more rural areas of Finland are spectacular and offer diverse scenery and activities depending on the season. Also, bring a jacket in summer, and an even bigger one in winter.”
Aki notes that Finland has one of the cleanest tap waters in the world, so instead of wasting money on bottled water, carry a reusable bottle and fill it up anywhere.
“Are you a newcomer to Finland? Welcome to the land of wellness! Here is my best tip for you: Be yourself, be authentic and be open to trying, learning and embracing the unique customs you will encounter. The rest will be fun, and you’ll make some unforgettable memories!” Paul says.
Lastly, Hugo reminds you to be patient, as like any new place, also Finland requires time to settle. “You need to be very open-minded to accept the weather conditions, and a change of culture and society. Give it a try and learn Finnish – even though it’s hard, it’s not impossible,” says Hugo. “Overall, I am very happy to live here, and proud to call Finland my home!”
We hope to see you here soon!
Looking for more Finland inspiration? See our Blue Wings stories Our top 10 reasons to visit Finland, Typical Finnish things you should try and Places to see in Finland.