One day before leaving from my home country…
The suitcases were waiting for being closed with a lot of goods in it, some of them were trying to get rid of that suitcase as if they did not want to leave. Every corner of the house was with full of memories as if they were crying behind me.
This messy house was the reflection of my mind, thoughts, memories, relatives, friends, habits… On the other hand, my messy mind had another side with a bright light such as my dreams, my future, my expectations, my family, safety, values, happiness… I decided to come to this white country months ago, but I did not know that leaving from my routine make me this upset.
I pushed myself to focus on my expectations to change my mood because I was moving to the happiest country in the world. I started to think about my dreams in this happiest country. I knew that my children would be happy and grow in peace. If a child comes to Finland as a tourist but had to stay there a bit longer, then s/he has right to go to a public school easily. Even reminding this respectful attitude towards the children was enough to make me relaxed. In this country parents do not have to think much on their children’s education. The education system of the country is shaping them according to capabilities of children.
Although I tried to focus on the positive sides of my moving, I could not stop myself thinking on some challenging situations such as language barriers of my children at school. They did not know any Finnish word, and I wondered how they would communicate with their teachers or friends, what if they would not be happy about moving.
In addition, my studies at the university would directly start and I was worried about not being able to be successful at the age of forties. I knew that Finland is one of the universities that there is no limitation on age of studying so that I tried to be calm down and just go on what I want.
Being in stress free environment, reaching my goals step by step by within my pace, having new knowledge that I have never heard before, meeting new people canalized me feeling excited and increased my curiosity for the university life. With this messy mind and full of emotion and information, I managed to close all suitcases to start my path.
First Wink
Finland welcomed me with an amazing view and surprizing weather that I did not get used to in my home country. The temperature was in minus degrees, and it was snowing. When I reached Pori, the streets were full of lights after Christmas.
The city was not noisy even though it was Saturday evening. It was not surprising because I had already known that Pori is only crowded and noisy in the summer times and Finnish people care about the silence except from the ice hockey matches.
Before coming to Finland, I searched that Finnish people also care trust more than anything, but while during looking for a flat and renting it, I understand that reliance is a lifestyle here and it could not be understandable by reading from any source. I could not believe when the estate agent gave me the four keys of the houses and let me go to see the houses on my own; or I could not believe when my landlord let us to live in the house without any payment because of the bank issues.
On the following days the weather continued to surprise me. I saw the minus twenty-two degrees and walked over the frozen river for the first time in my life. Don’t worry! I was not directly on the ice; there were bridges over the river. But, for a Mediterranean person, the feeling was amazing even in the middle of the bridge over a frozen river.
One week later our arrival to the city, my children started to school. Surprisingly, there were not paper issues, waiting for the official registrations or else. They just started their school with an e-mail, and they came back from the school with a big smile on their faces.
I was anxious about the language barriers, but it was not like I though. Here everybody knows English except from some of the elderly people. My children use English to communicate with their friends, and I felt relaxed about it. Everyday, they share something interesting for them after school and the desire of going to school can be seen from their eyes. Reality about the education life for my children is beyond my expectations.
On the other hand, I started my courses with a nice welcome at the university. The university foresaw the possible challenging situations for the international students and took precautions for them. They were well prepared with student mentors in the orientation days. They were so kind and helpful like professionals.
Meeting new people, learning new things, being occupied with something that I like made me younger and more energetic. I have a lot of friends from all over the world with different ages. I never give up pushing myself for taking one step more to the front and I think Finland is the correct place to make my dreams come true in my own pace.
Text and photos: Eda Guvenc, International Tourism Management student