In April 2024, we moved from Dubai to Finland, and that decision changed our lives in ways we could never have imagined.
We left behind the noise, traffic, tall buildings, bright lights, busy roads, crowded places, and the fast-paced lifestyle we had known for many years. In exchange, we arrived in a country that felt almost like the complete opposite.
From a bustling city to a peaceful town.
From crowded streets to quiet roads.
From the constant movement of city life to the gentle rhythm of nature.
At first, everything felt unfamiliar. We weren’t completely sure what the future would look like. We had questions, worries, and plenty of things to adjust to. Moving to another country is never a small decision, especially when it means leaving behind family, friends, familiar food, familiar surroundings, and a life you have already built.
But somehow, we took that leap of faith.
And today, when I look back, I can’t help but believe that this move was one of the blessings God placed in our path.
So, after settling in Finland, what exactly do we like about living here?
Our New Home: Kuhmo, Finland
When we arrived in Finland, we moved straight to Kuhmo, a peaceful town in Northeastern Finland.
Compared with Dubai, Kuhmo felt incredibly quiet.
There were no massive shopping malls around every corner. There was no endless traffic jam. There were no crowds rushing from one place to another.
Even Sundays felt completely different.
Many shops were closed, with only some grocery stores and essential services available. At first, this felt unusual to us because we were used to living in a place where shopping, dining, and entertainment could continue late into the evening.
But eventually, we started appreciating it.
The slower pace encouraged us to slow down too.
Instead of thinking about where to go shopping every weekend, we began thinking about where to go for a walk.
Instead of spending hours inside a mall, we could simply go outside and enjoy the surroundings.
And that became one of the first things we truly loved about Finland.
1. We Love the Peace and Quiet
One of the biggest differences we noticed was the quietness.
There is something special about walking outside and realizing that you don’t need to compete with noise everywhere you go.
Sometimes, during our weekend walks, we hear almost nothing except:
The wind.
The leaves moving through the trees.
Birds chirping.
Children laughing somewhere in the distance.
Families talking as they walk together.
The occasional sound of a passing car.
And that’s it.
No constant horns.
No endless traffic.
No overwhelming crowd.
Just quiet.
Of course, Finland isn’t silent all the time. There are busy places, busy days, and plenty of city life in larger areas. But compared with the environment we were used to in Dubai, the difference was very noticeable.
And I think our minds needed that change.
2. We Love Being Close to Nature
If there’s one word that immediately comes to mind when I think about Finland, it’s nature.
Nature is everywhere.
Lakes.
Forests.
Trees.
Walking paths.
Open spaces.
Wildlife.
Fresh air.
Beautiful skies.
And every season brings something different.
Our favorite thing to do on weekends is simply go outside.
Sometimes we walk beside the lake.
Sometimes we explore a nearby path.
Sometimes we take pictures.
Sometimes we just sit and look at the scenery.
There doesn’t have to be a special destination.
The walk itself can already be the destination.
As someone who spent almost a decade in Dubai, where the scenery was very different, this closeness to nature has been one of the biggest changes I have appreciated.
3. The Fresh Air Feels Amazing
Another thing we appreciate is the feeling of being outdoors.
Whenever we go for a walk, especially near the lake or among the trees, there’s a sense of freshness that is difficult to explain.
Maybe it’s the quiet.
Maybe it’s the trees.
Maybe it’s simply being away from traffic and crowded roads.
Whatever the reason, stepping outside after a long day can feel like pressing a reset button.
At work, I can feel exhausted.
Studying while working can be exhausting too.
There are deadlines, responsibilities, and plenty of things to think about.
But sometimes, after work, all I need is a simple walk.
A few minutes outside.
A little fresh air.
A view of the trees.
The sound of birds.
And suddenly, my mind feels lighter.
4. We Love the Beauty of the Changing Seasons
Coming from a place like Dubai, where the climate is generally hot for much of the year, experiencing Finland’s seasons has been fascinating.
We get to see the landscape change throughout the year.
Summer brings greenery, long days, lakeside walks, and beautiful outdoor scenery.
Autumn transforms the surroundings with colorful leaves.
Winter brings snow, cold temperatures, and an entirely different atmosphere.
And then spring slowly brings everything back to life.
Every season feels like a new chapter.
Sometimes I think that is another reason Finland never feels completely boring.
There is always something different to see.
5. We Love the Feeling of Safety
Another reason we appreciate living here is the sense of safety and peace of mind we feel in our everyday surroundings.
Moving far away from our home country meant that we had to think seriously about where we wanted to build our future.
Our families and relatives are still in the Philippines.
That distance can sometimes be difficult.
But having a place where we can work, study, raise our family, and build a future gives us comfort.
No place is perfect, of course, and every country has its own challenges.
But for us, Finland has given us a feeling that this could truly become our second home.
And who knows?
Perhaps this is where we will spend many more years of our lives.
6. We Appreciate the Kindness We Have Experienced
Moving to a new country as an immigrant can be intimidating.
There are cultural differences.
There are different ways of communicating.
And, of course, there is the language.
But one of the things we have appreciated most is the kindness we have received from people around us.
Our coworkers have been kind.
Our neighbors have been considerate.
People have helped us even when our Finnish wasn’t always perfect.
Sometimes a smile was enough.
Sometimes a simple gesture of help was enough.
There were moments when we struggled to understand something, but people were patient with us.
That means a lot when you’re living somewhere far away from home.
We are also aware that everyone’s experience can be different, and there can certainly be challenges as an immigrant. But our personal experiences so far have given us many reasons to feel grateful.
7. Finland Has Given Us the Opportunity to Learn
Another thing we appreciate is the opportunity to continue learning and growing.
For us, moving to Finland was not only about changing where we live.
It was also about building a different future.
We have had to learn new systems, new routines, new cultural practices, and, of course, a new language.
Finnish has definitely been one of the biggest challenges.
It can feel like starting all over again.
Words that seem simple in English can suddenly become difficult to pronounce, understand, or remember.
But every new word we learn feels like a small victory.
And perhaps that’s what moving abroad teaches you.
You become comfortable being uncomfortable.
You learn to ask questions.
You learn to make mistakes.
And you learn to try again.
8. We Appreciate the Environment for Raising Our Children
As parents, we naturally think about our children’s future.
We want our little one to grow up in an environment where she can learn, explore, play, and develop her own identity.
The calm surroundings, outdoor spaces, and opportunities to experience nature are things we genuinely appreciate.
We love seeing children play outside.
We love seeing families walking together.
We love the idea of our little one growing up with access to nature instead of knowing only busy roads and city buildings.
Of course, every education system has its strengths and challenges, and our daughters will have their own experiences as they grow.
But as parents, we’re grateful to have the opportunity to explore this new chapter with them.
9. We Love the Simple Weekend Walks
One of our favorite things about our life here is something incredibly simple:
Our Sunday walk.
There doesn’t have to be a plan.
We don’t need to spend money.
We don’t have to drive somewhere far away.
Sometimes, we simply walk beside the lake.
We talk.
We take pictures.
Our little one explores.
We watch the trees.
We listen to birds.
Sometimes we stop and simply look around.
And that’s when I realize that happiness doesn’t always have to be complicated.
Sometimes, happiness is a quiet afternoon with your family.
Sometimes, it’s breathing fresh air together.
Sometimes, it’s just being present.
10. Finland Has Changed the Way I See Life
Perhaps this is the biggest change of all.
Living in Dubai taught us many things.
It taught us to work hard.
It taught us ambition.
It taught us resilience.
It taught us how to survive in a fast-paced environment.
But Finland has been teaching us something different:
How to slow down.
How to appreciate silence.
How to enjoy nature.
How to notice small things.
How to rest.
How to breathe.
How to be present.
And maybe that’s exactly what we needed at this stage of our lives.
“Sometimes the most beautiful life is the one you never planned.”
Life Isn’t Perfect, But We Are Grateful
Of course, Finland isn’t perfect.
There are things we miss.
We miss our families in the Philippines.
We miss Filipino food sometimes.
We miss familiar places.
The language can be difficult.
Working while studying can be exhausting.
Adapting to a new culture takes time.
And there are days when we still feel like outsiders.
But that’s part of migration.
Every new country comes with both beautiful experiences and difficult lessons.
What matters is learning how to appreciate the good while patiently working through the challenges.
What We Hope for the Future
We have now been in Finland for more than two years, and we still have so much to learn.
We hope to adapt even more.
We hope to improve our Finnish.
We hope to build deeper connections with our community.
We hope to continue growing professionally and personally.
And most importantly, we hope to give our little family a peaceful and meaningful life.
We don’t know what the future holds.
Maybe we’ll stay here for many years.
Maybe our journey will take us somewhere else.
We don’t know.
But for now, we’re grateful for where we are.
We’re grateful for the opportunity.
We’re grateful for the people we’ve met.
We’re grateful for the lessons.
And we’re grateful for this peaceful little place we now call home.
A Reflection From Our Sunday Walk
This article is actually a reflection of my thoughts while my family and I were taking one of our Sunday walks beside the lake.
There was nothing particularly extraordinary happening.
We were simply walking.
But perhaps that’s what the serenity of Finland does to me.
It gives my mind room to breathe.
Room to think.
Room to appreciate.
Room to be grateful.
In the middle of such a quiet and beautiful environment, my thoughts become clearer.
I start thinking about how different our life is now compared with the life we once had.
A few years ago, we were living in Dubai and never imagined that we would eventually settle in Finland.
Now we’re here.
Walking beside a lake.
Breathing fresh air.
Watching our kids grow.
Building a new life.
And hoping that this peaceful chapter continues for many years to come.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
— Jeremiah 29:11
Final Thoughts
When we first moved to Finland, we didn’t know exactly what we were getting into.
We knew we were leaving behind a life we had spent many years building.
We knew we were moving far away from our families.
We knew the language would be difficult.
We knew there would be challenges.
But we also knew that sometimes, a new chapter requires us to step outside everything familiar.
And now, when I look at our life here, I can’t help but smile.
We discovered things we didn’t know we needed.
Peace.
Nature.
Quiet.
Fresh air.
Simple weekends.
Family time.
A slower pace.
And a new perspective on what happiness can look like.
Maybe this is why we like Finland so much.
Not because everything is perfect.
Not because life here is always easy.
But because this country has given us space to breathe, grow, learn, and appreciate the simple things.
And maybe, somewhere between the trees, the lake, the quiet roads, and our little Sunday walks, we are slowly discovering what home means to us.
This is the life we never imagined in the past.
And now that we’re living it, we’re hoping and praying that this beautiful chapter continues.
There is still so much of Finland for us to discover… and we can’t wait to share it with you. ❤️
Our Finland travel stories will be coming soon, including the beautiful places we’ve visited, the experiences we’ve had, and of course, more of Kuhmo, our first home in Finland.
Welcome to our journey in Finland. ❤️
From Dubai to Finland: Our Adventure in Migration
Leaving Dubai: A Bittersweet Goodbye
A Taste of Home: Our Filipino Summer Gathering in Kuhmo
Learning Finnish: One Word at a Time
Our Daughter’s Daycare Journey in Finland
- Moving to Finland: Why It Wasn’t Part of Our Original Plan
- Places to Visit in Kuhmo: A Summer Day at Roukonpuro Beach (Roukonpuron ranta)
- Places to Visit in Kuhmo: Discovering Local Nature and Everyday Beauty
- Places to Visit in Kuhmo: A Peaceful Afternoon by Lentiira River (Lentiiranjoki)
- Places to Visit in Kuhmo: Pajakkakoski Rapids
- Simple Blueberry Cheesecake Recipe
