The main purpose of this project is to write about my personal experience of being an immigrant woman in Finland. By writing, I can deal with my thoughts and emotions, but also educate the readers on what life in Finland is like for someone from abroad.
And why salmiakki life?
Salmiakki or salty liquorice is a very Finnish confectionery and the explosion of tastes, especially for foreigners 🙂 Although it might taste strange at the beginning, there are ways to get used to it.
And this is exactly how life in Finland is (at least for me). Some things might feel strange and some others will immediately become your obsessions, like little pieces of salmiakki in the milk chocolate 🙂
Welcome!
Latest on My Salmiakki Life
Active migrants – ideal that only few support
Being a migrant and being active in the society around you should not be something surprising or worth admiration. In reality, sometimes you become a hero because of it, and sometimes you become a “punching bag” for people who take out their own frustration on you. These are, of course, two extremes, while the middle…
In between
People navigate life abroad in different ways. Some enthusiastically immerse themselves in the new society, culture, and experiences, while others prefer to remain within the known and familiar. After nearly 10 years in Finland, I have noticed that I still find myself in the space “in between.” I wonder if—and when—this will change. I don’t…
The Bookworm’s favourites – Finn, Swede, and Czech met on my Christmas reading list
I am usually a fast reader. When a book is interesting and the writer’s style appealing, it is no surprise to finish the book in a day. During the just-ended Christmas, I finished three books that I can only recommend to other readers – one by a Finnish, one by a Swedish, and one by…
Fought for vs. Given: a short story of two Independence Days
Some time has passed since December 6, Finland’s Independence Day. Even now, after living in Finland for some time, it still surprises me how important this day is to all people, both Finns and internationals. This year, I spent the whole afternoon at the Multicultural Independence Day event organised by Moniheli’s member associations. The event…
Traditions
The 1st of November is considered a special day (not only) in Slovakia. While in many countries, people celebrate Halloween the night before, for us, it is a sadder day. We remember our loved one who passed away. The cemeteries are usually full of people who decorate the tombs and light the candles. ​For me,…
What if something happened to us?
Since becoming a parent, I have noticed the biggest shift in my emotional world. The new role has brought unlimited love and gentleness, but also a somewhat invisible but permanently present fear. Not exactly the one that my child would scratch their knees or fall from a bike. These are normal parts of childhood, and…
Finnish citizenship – when the heart must catch up with the brain
After nine years in Finland, one language test, several hundred euros in payment, and 13 months of waiting, we were granted Finnish citizenship. More specifically, our children and I got the citizenship. My husband, the force behind us moving abroad, still does not speak Finnish 🙂 My decision to apply for citizenship was a rational…
Summer in your home country
When you live abroad, holidays become very stereotypical. If you are the lucky one with the financial resources and the possibility to travel, you spend your holidays most likely in your home country, visiting your family. But can we, in such a case, talk about holidays? My “wandering shoes” have been tickling me since the…
I was in love with Finland before meeting my Finnish wife
Matias Tuxen’s expat story begins in his home country, Argentina, while writing a bachelor’s thesis on bullying and cyberbullying. Getting inspired by the good examples from Finland on dealing with these social phenomena, he starts admiring the Nordic country. Soon after, he meets his wife-to-be, who is Finnish. Matias gets into learning the language and…