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Writer's pictureAustin MacDonald

Remembering my First Day in Finland - One Year Later


Landing in Finland for the First Time - 10 November 2023


On 10 November 2023, at 11:18, Finnair 20, OH-LWI, an Airbus A350-900, landed at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. It was now my first day in Finland. I had officially arrived in Finland for the first time.

The flight was all night, I hadn’t slept a moment on the flight; I was too excited—and a little nervous. But the three hours I spent watching the northern lights over Canada from the plane helped calm me. Visiting Finland had been a dream for man years, a dream that finally came true. I started learning Finnish in 2020 during the pandemic, already hooked on Finnish music thanks to Instagram stories from my favorite Dallas Stars players: Roope Hintz, Miro Heiskanen, Jani Hakanpää, Esa Lindell.


Flying to Finland - Finnair 20 - DFW - HEL - 10.11.2023


This was my first trip to Finland and Europe, my first real experience of a foreign country (Moving from Canada to the U.S. didn’t quite count, as there was no real culture shock). I’d done my homework on Finland, though; I had a friend to meet up with, a plan for every part of my trip, and I even knew where all the local stores, restaurants, parks, and parking spots were. I’d be there a full month, and I felt confident I’d love it. But there was still that worry.. what if I’d idealized Finland too much? What if it didn’t live up to my hopes?


After landing, I walked through Helsinki Airport toward passport control. It was so quiet, clean, and calm, with bird and nature sounds softly playing in the background. Even in the airport, the air smelled fresh. Passport control was a breeze, and soon I had my bags and rental car keys.


Stepping outside felt like coming home. It was a cold, gray, rainy day, much like home in Nova Scotia. The air had this crisp, fresh scent I couldn’t quite describe. I got in the rental, punched in directions to my apartment in Kirkkonummi, and turned on Radio SuomiPop. For the first time, I was listening to Finnish radio while actually in Finland.


The drive to Kirkkonummi was perfectly ordinary but memorable for me. A bit of rain, light traffic, gray skies. Driving by familiar signs and stores I’d heard about felt surreal; I’d spent years absorbing Finnish media, so it was like being in a place I’d known only through stories. The bustling Helsinki metro area soon gave way to the forests and fields of Kirkkonummi, the winding roads lined with trees, and it felt so much like Canada and my home province Nova Scotia. It was eerie in a very good way, here I was technically in a foreign country that doesn't feel at all foreign to me. It truly felt like home.

At my apartment, I was able to get the keys from a code in an email, no awkward interactions needed, very Finnish. After unpacking, I immediately went for a walk in the nearby forest. I felt like I was home. The tall trees, the peace and quiet. The year leading up to this had been tough, my dad had been seriously ill, and I spent long hours in hospitals where I witnessed too much loss. But here, in that quiet forest, I felt peace. It was as if nature said, “You’ve been through so much, here’s your reward.”


Kirkkonummi Forest


I lost track of time, wandering the forest for hours. Eventually, I remembered I needed food and headed to Prisma Kirkkonummi. This massive store was full, but inside, it was calm. People respected each other’s personal space; no one pushed or intruded. I strolled the aisles, noticing how well I could understand the signs. It was a bit of a surprise—I hadn’t realized how much Finnish I actually knew.


At the checkout, I instinctively chose Finnish. It went smoothly, although I wondered what an “S-Etukortti” was (I’d soon find out). Then I called my dad back home to tell him I’d arrived. It was a call I’d dreamed of making for years. “Isä, olen täällä maailman toisella puolen” I said, direct line from the famous Haloo Helsinki song “maailman toisella puolen“. He laughed, asked for English, and I explained the meaning to him. I felt like an astronaut calling Earth after landing on the moon. My dad was proud and excited, just as I was.



Later, I drove to Helsinki’s Market Square, feeling like I was in a dream. Here I was, in Finland, a place I’d dreamed of, studied, and where I’d learned the language. I knew now it hadn’t all been for nothing, even getting a nice welcome by my favorite Liiga team, Ilves! That night, I had the best sleep of my life, though I was up early to visit my first friend in Finland, in Turku.


I was home. My Finnish adventure had begun.


Now, a year later, I look back in amazement. If you’d told me then how my year would unfold, I wouldn’t have believed it. I’d spent years learning the language of a country I’d never visited… imagine if I’d arrived and not liked it 😬. Luckily, that wasn’t the case.


Everything led me here, to my first visit to Finland, and now my life as a resident. I realized, even after years living in the southern U.S. for university, my Pohjoinen DNA was unchangeable. There’s a special bond between Canada and Finland; living in the north shapes us both. When it gets dark in winter, we learn to create our own light, often through humor as dark as our coffee and mustamakkara, but it’s what gets us through it. When you survive the darkness, like the year before I came here, you learn to value the light and make your own. My first Finnish midsummer captured this, as do my favorite Finnish song by Olli Halonen: Pohjola, Suomen Kesä, and Synnytty saunomaan, lyrics and meaning I reference often.



I can’t thank the people of Finland enough. I owe so much to you all. It’s a privilege to call this country home and you all neighbors, even if I hide in my apartment until the coast is clear of all neighbors before going outside 😂😅 (I do this because we're the same and I know it's what you'd want).


At times, I worry people think I’m just a broken record, always saying how much I love it here, but I mean every word. My dad taught me to never leave things unsaid, and I live by that, sharing my gratitude for Finland and every Finn who made this year special, who lifted me up after I lost my dad. I’m here today because of you all. I kept going because of your support. I even started my own company here in Finland, creating Finnish jobs thanks to all of you.


There aren’t enough words to convey my gratitude, so I’ll continue to show it every day. I’ll show my appreciation by continuing to learn the language, by contributing however I can, and by treating every one of you like family. Finland, thank you for welcoming me home. I'l finish with my favorite part of my favorite song, Pohjola by Olli Halonen.


Me Suomen kesää manaillaan, ja talven pimeyttä kiroillaan.

Mut silti aina etelänmatkoilta kotiin palataan.

Meille rujo on kaunista, niinkuin sisu, sauna ja Popeda.

Ja tää on pala taivasta, tai ehkä ollaan hulluja

Ku asutaan Suomessa


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