ROCKS AND ROOTS -  Finding home as a foreign Finn

Most of us spend their entire lives looking for a place they belong. 

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Some are lucky enough to know what "home" is - born and raised  into a culture, they get to grow their roots from birth and thrive where they were planted. Or at least have a clear answer to “Where are you from?”

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Privileged to be born with two languages, my mother did her best to pass on her cultural identity:

 

“Remember, girls: No matter how well you speak German, you are Finnish!” 

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Maybe it was this narrative that kept Germany at an arms’ length from feeling like home. Even after a lifetime spent in the country, I never felt like I belonged. There was a missing puzzle piece in my cultural identity shaped like a woman with one arm.

 

However, moving to the cold, dark North never felt like an option. Until it did: I fell in love.

 

With my partner first, then with my creativity and finally with nature. 

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Some call it growing up, others settling down. My dreams changed into ours: A house of our own, at the water with enough space for a dog.

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In the beginning of 2022, fate knocked on our door. It was a message from my cousin renting out her beautiful home for a very affordable price. Some opportunities come once in a lifetime, so we took the leap of faith. In four months, we deconstructed our lives in the center of Utrecht to fit our new Hyundai Tucson, and moved to rural Finland. 

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Between rocks and roots, we are now trying to build a life and find a home here.

 

This is where you come in: If you're curious why Finland is not Europe, how sauna saves lives and what a foreign Finn is, follow along.