KOLUMNI
My Life in Finland:
Suomi on nyt kotini
GROWING UP in the United States, I never imagined I
would ever live anywhere else. It’s pretty ingrained
in the subconscious of most Americans that the
USA is “the greatest country in the world,” which
is perhaps why so many friends and family were
shocked when I announced I would be moving to
Finland after getting married, instead of my wife
moving to the States.
Sanni and I first connected in 2006 on a pen pal
website. Right away, we had chemistry—although
not romantic at first. We found it easy to talk to one
another about absolutely anything. We never expected
we’d meet in person, which may be why we
felt so comfortable opening up to a person on the
other side of the world; someone who would listen
and never passed judgement. We could always be
our true selves
Over the years, Sanni and I managed to keep in
touch, but it wasn’t until 2014 when we reignited our
initial spark. After confessing our mutual affections,
our valued friendship quickly became a heartfelt romance.
Before long, we were talking about getting
married, and in March of 2016, we eloped to Ireland.
Then, following an amazing honeymoon, we both
flew back to our respective countries.
We talked a lot about where we should live together,
ultimately deciding that it would best for me
to move to Finland. We wanted to start a family and
agreed it would be easier to do so in Finland than
in the US, but it would also allow me the opportunity
to learn more about Sanni’s homeland and the
culture which raised her.
In December of 2016, I relocated to Pori, having
only visited briefly twice before. In an instant,
I went from living alone to living with a wife and
dog, from having a steady job to having no job or
any prospects—all while immersed in a new country,
an unfamiliar culture, and a language I could
barely understand. It was indeed a bit overwhelming,
but despite all of these challenges, I remained
positive and hopeful.
Every day presented new opportunities and experiences.
Soon I was meeting new people and making
friends. After surviving my first Finnish winter,
I had learned to ski, began learning Finnish, and
even lost about 10 kg from the general increase in
activity. By summer, I had found a job. We visited
the kesämökki, picked berries, and attended outdoor
festivals. By the time my first year in Finland
ended, I had been to several different parts of the
country from Helsinki to Saariselkä. And since then,
so many other wonderful things have happened,
including the birth of our son in 2020.
I consider myself very fortunate. The people I
have met in Finland have been so welcoming and
accommodating. It minimized the culture shock and
helped me to feel right at home in this new land.
I moved here for love, but it turns out that the Finnish
lifestyle suits me. I feel more free here, more
connected with nature, healthier, and just happier
overall. The US will always be my first home, but I
am also proud to say, “Suomi on nyt kotini.”
Matthew Bowen is an American living in Pori, Finland with his wife, Sanni, their son, Edvin, and their dog, Pipo.
You can follow their journey on Matthew’s Facebook blog, My Life in Finland (www.facebook.com/MattinFinland/).
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