In April 2024, our little family – me, my husband, and our daughter, Rebecca – arrived in Helsinki, Finland, ready to begin a brand-new chapter in our lives.
Before moving here, we had been living and working in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for almost 10 years. Dubai gave us so much… our careers, lifelong friendships, and unforgettable memories… but deep inside, we knew it wasn’t where we wanted to spend the rest of our lives.
Moving to Finland wasn’t an easy decision. It took months of praying, thinking, discussing, and weighing the pros and cons before we finally decided to take the leap.
Why Finland?
To be honest, Finland was never part of our plan, not even a lifelong dream nor a choice. Looking back now, I believe it was one of those unexpected blessings that God placed in our path at exactly the right time.
Working in healthcare gave us several opportunities to migrate to different countries. For nearly four years, we tried applying for Canada through different pathways… student visas, work permits, and permanent residency opportunities. Unfortunately, every application was refused.
We also explored opportunities in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, but nothing worked out.
Little did we know that Finland was quietly waiting for us.
How It All Started
In 2023, I came across a Facebook advertisement from Silkkitie (formerly Silkroad Recruitment), a recruitment agency in Finland looking for healthcare professionals. At first, I honestly thought it was a scam! 😅
Click here for Silkkitie's Facebook account
Still, I decided there was no harm in asking for more information. I submitted my application to see if I was even qualified. To my surprise, I was accepted even though I didn’t have recent hospital experience.
Then reality hit me. Working in Finland meant learning the Finnish language, one of the most challenging languages in the world. I spent almost a month asking myself the same questions over and over.
“Can I really do this?”
“Can I actually learn another language?”
At that time, I was working in an office in Dubai. Although I had a stable job with a good salary, I couldn’t picture myself staying there forever. Every Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) knows that life abroad often comes with uncertainty. No matter how comfortable life becomes, there’s always the feeling that one day, you’ll eventually have to move on.
That’s when I realized something.
I wanted to grow.
I wanted to challenge myself.
I wanted to return to my nursing profession.
I wanted a better future for my family.
So I asked myself…
Why not become a nurse again?
That simple question changed everything.
I enrolled in Silkkitie’s free online Finnish language course through NLRC and officially started my journey toward Finland.
(I’ll be writing another blog post soon about my Finnish language journey, so stay tuned!)
What Job Was I Offered?
One of the biggest reasons I accepted the offer was because our family could migrate together.
Leaving my husband and daughter behind was never an option.
Silkkitie offered me a position as a Nursing Assistant under a Family Recruitment Program, which allows qualified employees to move to Finland together with their immediate family. That made the decision much easier.
Did I Really Need to Learn Finnish?
Yes, absolutely.
Although many people in Finland speak English, Finnish remains the primary language in workplaces, especially in healthcare.
Learning a new language is never easy, and Finnish is no exception. But if I wanted to work and integrate into Finnish society, learning the language wasn’t just important, but it was necessary.
Learning Finnish While Working Full-Time
One of the biggest challenges was studying while working full-time in Dubai. Thankfully, the Finnish language course provided by Silkkitie was completely free.
If I remember correctly, we had around 30 learning modules to complete before reaching Level A2.1, the language level required by employers.
Every week, we attended online Zoom classes where we had to answer our teacher’s questions entirely in Finnish. Those sessions were honestly nerve-racking! But they helped build our confidence in speaking the language.
At the same time, we were also processing our Finnish residence permits, which took around two months to be approved.
Life became incredibly busy.
During the day, I worked. In the evenings, I studied.
I memorized vocabulary, listened to Finnish songs almost every day, and even watched Finnish movies and TV series whenever I could.
Slowly but surely, everything started coming together. And after months of studying, I successfully completed the course and officially moved forward with our migration.
Saying Goodbye to Dubai
Dubai will always hold a special place in our hearts. ❤️
It’s where…
We learned patience and sacrifice.
We met people from all over the world and embraced different cultures.
We got married in 2018.
Our daughter Rebecca was born in 2022.
We found lifelong friends who became family.
We bought our first car, Ms. Red.
We later welcomed another car, Ms. Spark into our little family.
Dubai gave us so many beautiful memories.
But we also knew that nothing lasts forever.
Even though I had a stable career…
Even though my husband loved his job and worked with amazing colleagues…
We both knew it was time to start a new chapter.
Taken at Umm Suqeim Beach, near Burj Al Arab, Dubai.
Why We Have Decided to Pursue Finland?
There were many reasons.
First, we wanted to find out for ourselves if Finland really was…
The happiest country in the world,
Home to one of the best education systems,
One of the safest places to raise a family,
A country with good career opportunities,
Known for its excellent healthcare system,
And honestly…
After almost ten years in the desert, we were excited to experience something completely different.
The snow.
The four seasons.
The northern lights.
The nature.
A slower pace of life.
And, it all sounded like a wonderful adventure.
April 14, 2024, we finally arrive. This was taken outside the Helsinki Airport.
Were We Confident About Moving?
Not at all. We had countless second thoughts before leaving Dubai, and even after arriving in Finland.
Everything was new.
A new country.
A new language.
A new workplace.
New colleagues.
New rules.
New weather.
A completely different way of life.
It was exciting… But also scary.
Like many families who migrate, we experienced what people often call “the fear of the unknown.”
Even so, we chose to move forward with faith instead of fear.
We knew the road ahead wouldn’t always be easy, but we trusted that God had a purpose for bringing us here.
As long as we have Him, and each other, we believe we’ll overcome every challenge that comes our way.
And now, our Finnish journey begins…
already enjoying our ‘first snow’.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."
— Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)
What an incredible and beautiful journey it has been. Every milestone, every challenge, and every success has contributed to a story of resilience, growth, and hope. It is a journey that will always be remembered with gratitude and pride.
It’s so amazing that you were able to make the transition relatively easily. It can be very difficult to relocate like that.
I imagine learning the language must have been the hardest part. The older we get, the harder it is to learn a language. Kids have the easiest time, and someone my age would have the hardest time.
Wow, what a brave and interesting move. Finland happens to be home to the most happy people on earth–as you point out–and there is a whole book about it if I recall correctly. I think it sounds like a wonderful move and I wish you all the best there!
Wow, that’s such a big move! We are about to move from one state to another within the US, but we are moving back to my hometown, so it isn’t as scary. We don’t need to learn a new language and the weather is similar to where we currently live. Leaving friends will be hard, but as you said, we have to grow as well, and this is a great opportunity for a high school program for my boys.
What an inspiring journey for your family! Moving from Dubai after nearly ten years and starting over in Finland must have brought so many emotions, especially while learning a new language and returning to the nursing profession. I love that you shared both the excitement and the uncertainty that came with such a major change.
It is always tough to leave a place you love. I am glad you embraced Finland and am impressed you learned the language. I know it’s not easy.
Oh wow, it sounds like you and your family have had quite the adventure. Finding a job in an industry you know in a foreign country sounds like it was hard but fortunately you lucked out.
Honestly, this is SUCH a cool story, and I’m so glad that life led you to beautiful Helsinki! I went years ago, in my early 20s, and it was such a fantastic city with such kind people. I truly understood why Finland is the happiest place on earth, and I hope you’re feeling that, too!
I really enjoyed reading about the journey from Dubai to Finland. Moving between countries takes so much courage, and the personal side of adapting to a new home made this especially interesting.
What a great journey you have been on! It is tough to start over, especially in a new country! I applaud you for doing that, especially with a young child. I just picked up and moved across the US, and that was a huge change for me. I can’t imagine adjusting with a language difference and more.
Yeah, having everything new, from the weather to the employees and the job itself, is one thing, but having to learn a whole new language on top of it is something else!
The family recruitment track through Silkkitie is what made the move possible after the Canada applications stalled. Hitting A2.1 while still working full-time in Dubai is the part that sounds hardest…. thanks for your sharing
What a beautiful story on your move to Finland. It brings back memories of my move to the USA. Migration is never easy but, thankfully, you have your family and your faith.
Yesterday, I was thinking about some personal struggle and this verse came to mind. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)
God is good.