Small-town magic
Photo: Outi Törmälä
Futsal star Neide Oliveira moved from São Paulo, Brazil to Imatra, Finland to make the most of her sport with like-minded people.
“I am a shy person but I’m open to the world. I like to experience different cultures and meet new people.
Futsal is my passion. I share tips and thoughts about the sport on social media and have over half a million followers. In 2022, the chairperson of River Vuoksi Futsal Club contacted me and invited me to Imatra, southeastern Finland to play and work for the team. I knew that the Finns were rated the happiest nation, but I also knew about the snow and cold weather during winter. After I gave it some thought, I felt the need to go and see what Finland is all about. It was the right decision for me. Here I can put my passion into making women’s futsal better known.
I live in Imatra, where the population is around 26,000. I literally live in the forest, and I’ve realised that I don’t need much to be happy. When I open the door, there are trees and fresh air. I am so grateful for that. I’ve also made new friends. To relax, I read books or write about my travels. Once a week I disconnect my phone, and sometimes I go to the nearby lake and just sit there. I am so happy I moved here, because I’m connected to nature. In São Paulo there were a lot more people, traffic and noise.
Finland can be cold and dark during wintertime, but people make the most of every day by going for a walk, spending time in nature or going to the sauna. I have learned that happiness doesn’t come by looking. It comes by living.”
Two sides of being
Photo: Outi Törmälä
Vietnamese startup cofounder Jarvis Luong discovered that even running a business can be less stressful.
“I moved to Finland in 2016 to study computer science, and three years ago I cofounded Reactron Technologies. There are two sides to me. One stems from my Asian background, which puts a lot of emphasis on education and professional achievements. I’m always on the way to the next goal.
The other side of me, the personal one, is influenced by Finland. It means that I’m fully content with the current situation. I can sleep until eight or nine and enjoy a slow morning before I start working. I can travel when I want, and I have a loving life partner. I’m happy with my life as it is.
Back home in Hanoi, Vietnam, I followed social media and trends a lot more, which made me often feel like I was missing out. When I had time off, I would usually spend a whole day in a shopping centre with my friends. In Finland, my life is calmer than it was before. I like going on road trips with a group of five friends.
I have visited many remote places, such as Kuusamo [in the northeast] and Kilpisjärvi [in the far northwest of Finland]. We just relax and enjoy a sauna or play board games. I feel peace in nature because I don’t have to think about anything.
Work here is relaxed because people are honest. As a matter of fact, this work environment makes me always feel ready for a new challenge.”
Creative comeback
Photo: Outi Törmälä
Author Mintie Das has travelled the world, but Finland is the place where her creativity blossomed.
“I was born in India and have lived all over the world. When I was two years old my mother died in a car accident, and my father took me and my brother to the US and raised us as universal citizens. We came to Finland when I was 13, and it ended up being life-changing. I’d never felt such a sense of community before, like I belong.
I love the Finns’ ability to laugh at themselves, and their humble but no-nonsense culture. Here it’s about simple things such as a walk in nature. Happiness is not forced, but true contentment.
I had a successful career in PR in the US, but 13 years ago I divorced, and moved back to Finland to see if it was as good as I remembered. My passion is writing, and here I met amazing editors through work. I learned the art of creative writing and found my voice.
It is a privilege to live here. Education, public transportation, free healthcare, all of these things work. Finns may not approach you, but I have approached everyone and made many friends that way. I also met my husband, a musician, here.
When you move to a new country you can be an outsider or let the culture shape you. When I came to Finland, I started questioning my own values and embraced my creative side. I always say that my heart is Indian, my spirit is American and my soul is Finnish.”
Discovering sisu
Photo: Outi Törmälä
Living in Finland has made Peruvian Vanessa Cueva Pastor De Valtonen more open-minded.
“I will graduate from nursing school next year. Back home in Lima, Peru, I studied dentistry and was very stressed. I was prepared to be under a lot of pressure here too, but studying is more relaxed, and the flexible schedule has allowed me to work part-time in a hospital.
When I moved here four years ago, it was winter and I couldn’t go outside for more than five minutes because it was so cold. By now, I have adapted to the weather and I go running outside even when it’s very cold. My favourite place is Lapland during winter – it’s amazing how silent and peaceful it is. I think the Finns are happy because of the quality of life, security and gender equality – everyone has the same opportunities. There is also a lot of nature, the work-life balance is good and you get paid vacations. All of those things contribute to happiness.
Living here has changed me in many ways. People are relaxed and always straightforward. I like that attitude. My partner is from Finland and we live in the capital city, Helsinki. The Finns love coffee and I’ve learned to enjoy it too. I often spend time with my friends in coffee shops or walking around the city, but I’ve also learned to appreciate time just by myself.
Living here has made me more open-minded. I find that people can be who they are. I’ve learned the importance of recycling and discovered sisu, the attitude of not giving up. I no longer let minor upsets get me down.”
By Laura Iisalo, ThisisFINLAND Magazine 2024
