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 know about you, but I read Slovak newspapers daily. I still know all the political parties and government ministers, as well as most members of parliament. I try to watch new Slovak or Czech movies when I can. I follow Slovak sports and cheer for our athletes. I look out for new Slovak books and buy them whenever possible, and I can even keep up with local celebrities to some extent.
Honestly, I am not able to do almost any of these in Finland.
I do not follow politics so much here, but I know the biggest parties and some people in government. Mostly, I am following the party I am not even interested in voting for. The only reason for that is their clear anti-migration sentiment. I literally know zero Finnish celebrities. I know, though, some athletes. Plus, I visit Finnish movies, theatre performances and concerts quite regularly.
“In between” has something to do with navigating the physical spaces, too. When I am in my home town, or in Bratislava, and someone says, e.g. let’s meet on “Mierko”, I know exactly what they mean, even when using slang and nicknames for some of the places.
No clue about these in Finland. I just know that Stadi = Helsinki. I am not able to truly remember all the areas in Tuusula, or to remember the streets’ names in the close neighbourhood. It feels very strange, as I knew by the name most of the streets in Bratislava – at least I recognised in which part of the city the street is located.
“In between” is also the reality of maintaining contacts with both countries. Being able to continue the conversation as it was left a year ago with your friends in Slovakia, but also being able to show interest in your new acquaintances in Finland.
I admire people who can involve themselves in anything new and, in some ways, burn bridges with what was. I also admire those operating “in between”. Especially, if “in between” is a willful choice of an individual, which allows being connected with different people, in different spaces.
Unfortunately, sometimes the new society or the old one does not give you much choice but to stay “in between”. Nonetheless, that is another story for another time.
