Adele Asuncion: Finding your place from a new city
“There is a running joke about people moving to Finland either for love or to work for Nokia. I moved to Helsinki from London for love, but, funnily enough, I ended up working at Nokia later on too.”
Adele
Local Helsinkian
Space for freedom
Adele Asuncion grew up in Los Angeles but moved to Finland for love. In Helsinki, she found a space for freedom.
“When I first arrived, I felt lonely and missed my friends a lot. I was used to the diversity and liveliness of London and felt a bit of an outsider. Eventually, I got the courage to take Finnish classes and started making new friends.
Nowadays, I love Helsinki! The size of the city is just right, and nature is so close, which is a must for me. To mention some of Finland’s pleasant surprises, the air is incredibly clean, and you can drink water straight from the tap!”
A car? No need in Helsinki
“I grew up in Los Angeles, a city designed for cars, where public transport was unreliable. At 16, I felt pressured to get a driver’s licence so my parents wouldn’t have to drive me everywhere.
In Helsinki, everything is different. If I need to get from A to B quickly, I take the train or bus. For a more scenic route, I hop on a tram. Public transportation here is amazing and I can get anywhere with ease! Delays and cancellations are very rare, so I almost never have to replan my route.”
Helsinki Way
Life-Work Balance
Where the woods meet the waves
“What I love about Helsinki is its balance of greenery, the sea, and thoughtful urban planning. It means a lot to me. In just a few minutes, I can bike or walk to the sea, or head the other way and find myself in Central Park.
The amount of forests in Finland is something I’m very proud of. I’ve been growing mushrooms since the late nineties and through this hobby, I found an interest in identifying and picking mushrooms. The forests in Helsinki – like Sipoonkorpi, one of my favourites – makes it possible to find edible mushrooms right in the wild!”
A city for everyone
“Helsinki is a great choice if you want to live close to nature in a city that truly cares about its people. Yes, in Finland, you need to embrace the cold and dark months – but that only makes the moment when nature wakes up even more special. New experiments pop up all the time and may also fade away, but there’s a mindset here that values fresh ideas and new experiences here.
Even if you’re just visiting, the city is stunning, especially in the summer. In just half a day, you can go island hopping, forage, and enjoy excellent food at great restaurants. No matter your interests, Helsinki has something for everyone.”
