The family García moved to Finland

Last year on November the family García moved to Espoo in Finland. The family was looking forward for the life in Finland since they were fed up with their life in Spain. They had visited Finland on August few years ago to escape the summer heat in Madrid and enjoyed their vacation in nice Finnish summer weather. Especially they liked the less crowded streets, long bright evenings and riding by bicycle around the neigbourhoods.

- Arriving to Finland on November was a big shock. The days were so short and evenings dark that I felt depressed. Tells the father Rodrigo.

The family Pérez decided to live in Suurpelto in order to have calm environment and live nearby International school of Espoo where their children can study in English. 

- Our children and we parents haven't made any Finnish friends because we are living in a bubble of foreigners and communicate in English or in Spanish. Explains Rodrigo. 

- There are not proper restaurants in the neighborhood to enjoy a good dinner. How is it possible that there are not several options like in Madrid. When we invited friends over to have dinner at 10 p. m.. Neighbours complained and called the police because there should be silence when we have dinner time. Our social life is non existent compared to Spain. Adds the mom Maria. 

The winter with snow and cold weather was a new experience and a big surprise how snow didn't create a chaos in traffic and streets were cleaned from snow. 

- After seeing the snow chaos in Madrid it was a positive surprise how everything worked normally but I didn't get used to the cold and it felt like the winter is never ending. Tells Maria. 

The family García confirmed that they haven't adapted to the Finnish society as they haven't learned the Finnish language, nor made any Finnish friends. They are not following the topics discussed in Finnish politics. They have tried the sauna in their apartment only two times during the year. 

- We miss our friends and family in Spain. Says the family García. 

This story was inspired by my blog post ten years ago about Finnish family in Spain.