The Nordic Charm Brings Me to Tampere

By: Fargo Bcn From my home native land, in Cordillera, to Vancouver, Barcelona, Paris, and then to Tampere, I look back today with a grateful heart as I celebrate life with my 11 years of residence in Finland. The Nordic countries have always fascinated me when I spent Christmas here in 2011. Until I got a job offer from Helsinki, I immediately moved to Finland.

ENKKU Teaching staff poses after the graduation. (SY 2015-16)

Coming to Finland to work made me fall in love with the city of Tampere, where I worked at the English School of Tampere. Four years have been an excellent teaching experience in my early years in Finland. But as I lived longer in this country, I realized that I needed to love the cold weather and embrace not only the culture of the people but also to learn the complex language. One of the exciting parts of enrolling in the Finnish language course is doing on-the-job training. It has been a wonderful experience to carry out public services and perform voluntary work for the benefit of the immigrants. It's also an opportunity to apply my public relations knowledge in mass media, which I immensely love and enjoy. .

As I completed my work training, I realized it's a challenge in Finland if you don't speak the language. Two interpreters and two social workers in the worksite are always needed twice a week to meet the customer's needs. The importance of work assistance is visible every day. Volunteering in community service offers an avenue to help and influence local people and immigrants alike. The information drive helps the team with the following tasks: serving community cafe. Assisting the immigrant in filling in the forms needed in everyday matters, medical examinations, social services, etc. These few tasks need to be carried out daily as required.

Talk about the love of nature:

I am a country person, and whatever occurs in the busyness of city life, that does not prevent me from unwinding on weekends and at any given time that I'm free. I always want to explore the nearby regions. Yes, Finland is naturally such a complex and diverse country that it is difficult to describe in a single word – except perhaps "contrast." From the breathtaking beauty of the archipelago of the south to the mystical shimmering of the Aurora Borealis lighting up the skies in the north, Finland presents a rare natural paradise to charm and soothe the soul. Wildlife, islands, and forests are untouched and reserved.

For a person like me who loves nature, Finland is a haven of peace, beauty, and breathtaking nature. It's a safe place which allows everyone (Finns and visitors alike) to roam the countryside. With this right comes responsibility, and Finns are careful not to intrude or disturb the natural environment or other people's property. Respect for the environment is a high regard that is seldom seen elsewhere. Finns have a special relationship with nature and the natural world in which they live. With all these, one can easily fall in love with this country. That's the reason why I decided to stay.