After swapping Paris for Helsinki, expat partner Lucas Matusic hopes to enter the local workforce. In the meantime, he has been tackling a tricky new language and getting a feel for his new home.
Depths of winter
“My partner and I first travelled to Finland in January for our ‘look and see’ trip. It was rather dark and grey at the time. I was a bit worried! But when we next returned, the snow came and everything looked more beautiful,” says Lucas. “Of course, it was freezing outside but our apartment has triple-glazing windows so we were very warm inside! Still I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw some Finns cutting into the ice and plunging into the sea after a sauna!”
Search for work
“My background is HR and there are work opportunities here in Helsinki. However, as I don’t speak Finnish, I’m focused on major / international companies and there’s a lot of competition. In Finnish culture, up to 80% of jobs might not be advertised as they use their own networks. I have also been learning Finnish, which is very distinct. Only Estonian and Hungarian (also Uralic languages) are comparable. It’s quite challenging but I am trying my best!”
Natural beauty
“Helsinki is surrounded by nature. There’s a huge central park, which is basically a forest in the city. We’re also right by the sea. So the landscapes are very impressive. I love jogging and it’s a great environment for runners. On weekends, we like to explore the country. We have visited the south of the country as well as Åland Islands between Finland and Sweden. It’s part of Finland but everyone there speaks Swedish!”
Summertime has arrived
“When summer arrived, there was an incredible transformation. The weather was beautiful and suddenly everything was blooming. People were everywhere. Sailing on the sea. Walking around. Eating outside. It was like Paris! The long days took some getting used to. At home we have thick curtains to keep the light out at nighttime. But still, your brain is thinking: It’s 11pm – why is it so bright?!” says Lucas. “My partner has a nice work-life balance and arrives home at 4 or 5 pm. We have got used to some of the Finnish customs like taking a sauna – I discovered that there is one sauna for every two people in Finland, and sure enough, we have one in our apartment!”
Photo: Lucas (right) and his partner in Finland
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