Aileen dared to leap into the unknown

– and found a new home and peace in Finland

From the Philippines to Spain and then onward to Finland – Aileen Formentra Salmeti left the sun behind but found something even more valuable in return: a safe everyday life, a well-functioning society, and a future for her daughter.

Aileen Formentra Salmeti, originally from the Philippines, became interested in Finland while living in Spain. She had never lived in a cold country and wanted to experience what it would feel like, as well as see Finnish nature. She saw an announcement on the EURES website stating that the Savas Foundation was looking for employees in Finland. At first, Aileen thought it was a summer job, but it turned out to be a permanent position.

“Initially, I hesitated, but my Spanish husband and I talked it through and searched for information about Finland. We have a 13-year-old daughter, and I decided to move here with her when I learned that Finland has one of the best education systems in the world. For my husband, it’s too cold here, so he stayed in Spain,” Aileen says.

Aileen had studied practical nursing in Spain and had worked in an assisted living facility for the elderly. She completed the additional training she needed through an apprenticeship and received a position at the Savas Foundation.

“I’m happy in Finland, and my daughter enjoys it too. We visit Spain a couple of times a year,” Aileen says.

Winter was a wonderful experience

The snow reached up to their knees when Aileen and her daughter arrived in Finland in March 2024. Their new home country was quiet and dark. Compared with sunny Barcelona, Finland felt like a completely different world. It felt heavy at first, but their first real winter together turned out to be a wonderful experience.

“We built snowmen and threw boiling water into the air to watch it freeze, like we had seen in videos,” Aileen recalls.

Eventually, however, the darkness became difficult and made her feel low. Going to the swimming hall and skiing helped her cope with the long dark season. In her free time, Aileen also makes her own video blogs. She has also learned to love the sauna, although at first it felt so hot that she thought she couldn’t breathe in there.

“I’m proud that I have dared to try so many new things – winter sports, fishing, and even catching crayfish,” Aileen says happily.

Finns need time to warm up

For talkative Aileen, getting used to Finnish quietness and reserve has been a bit challenging. It took a while to earn trust, but now there is a good team spirit at her workplace. She laughs when she remembers the welcome event: people who had moved to Finland from elsewhere were talking, laughing and hugging, whereas the Finns were very calm and composed – they only shook hands.

“In Spain I was used to greeting everyone, and at first I said ‘hi!’ to everyone on the street. People just looked at me strangely, and my daughter told me to stop doing that. Now I’m quieter myself, although at work my colleagues still say I have too much energy. Finns also don’t always understand my jokes, so I stopped joking at work,” Aileen laughs.

She adds that now that she understands the language better and has earned people’s trust, she has started talking and laughing more with her Finnish colleagues.

“Finns are really friendly and funny when you get to know them, but mealtimes still feel strange. Finns eat in silence and only laugh if something is truly funny – then they go quiet again. At first, the silence felt so odd that I wondered if I should say something, but Finns just need time to warm up – and maybe a bit of sauna and a couple of drinks, and they become different people,” Aileen adds.

A Good country to live in

At first, Aileen found the Finnish language the hardest part – it brought challenges. Even after six months of studying, spoken Finnish sounded completely different from the textbooks. But she learned little by little and can now communicate well in Finnish. She reminds others that language is the key to everything here.

“I recommend to everyone moving to Finland that you should take language studies seriously. At first, some clients at Savas didn’t want me to help them. Now they like me a lot and enjoy chatting, even though my Finnish isn’t perfect,” Aileen says.

For Aileen, one of Finland’s best qualities is safety – you can walk alone at night and still feel calm.

“It’s wonderful that I can leave my daughter at home without worry. It’s also incredible that the water is so clean you can drink it straight from the tap. In Spain and the Philippines, that wasn’t possible,” Aileen says.

She now also understands why all Northern Europeans love sunbathing in the South – after a long period of darkness, sunshine feels amazing.

Moving to Finland was the right decision for Aileen. She has learned a lot, become more independent, and gained a new perspective on life. Finland is safe, education and healthcare work well, and although taxation is high, you can see it in the services.

“This is a good country to live in – as long as you accept the silence and learn the language,” Aileen concludes.

Text: Minna Akiola

Photos: Aileen Salmeti