I interviewed my Ukrainian friend Tetiyana. Here are her experiences and thoughts of living in Finland:
"Integration into any society includes several aspects, some of which are the most significant, namely social, economic and cultural. Based solely on my experience, I cannot say that I was dealt with by any specialized organizations in this regard upon my arrival in the country, and such support, in my opinion, is very much needed by people, who have just arrived in new country. It is very important, that people, who came here, without a single acquaintance, have and feel the support and protection of a new for them country, not to feel abandoned.
I can say that in terms of economic integration, it is very difficult here, because for a person who has just arrived, without knowledge of the language and even if you know English, it's difficult to find a job. Diplomas of high education institutions in my country are not considered valid here, and therefore people with high education and no knowledge of the Finnish language are forced to work in any jobs, that do not require knowledge of the language, and this is mostly physical work. Based on my experience, I can say that even with knowledge of English, I could not find a job. Therefore, living in Finland, I work for a foreign company, where I can use English, so my economic integration into Finnish society can be considered a failure.
With social integration, it is easier, again, when you know the Finnish language. I was lucky that most of my friends and acquaintances here speak English well, so I was able to socialize to some extent, make friends and spend time with them in various activities. However, I want to note that as I began to meet more Finns, I realized that the society here is quite closed.
Cultural integration in my case was successful because my partner is Finnish and I am familiar with all customs and traditions or almost all. I appreciate the thrifty attitude of the Finns to nature and I'm starting to like the cult of the sauna and a little bit of hockey, under the influence of my partner, of course.
Religious integration, which is part of cultural integration, is possible in my case, because I am an Orthodox Christian and there are churches and communities of my religion in Finland.
Economic integration was difficult for me because for half a year I tried to find a job here, but without knowing the Finnish language I couldn't, so I started looking for alternative options.
Cultural integration was easy. Getting to know new cultures of different countries is always interesting and informative.
I still feel like a guest in Finland. I cannot say that I have fully integrated into this society and therefore do not feel like a part of it."
This was Tetiyana's story. On my opinion, the best measures to support the integration of different immigrants are the ones that the community or the municipality can offer. With this I mean the integration services that the employment offices offer. In the initial integration services, the client is guided and advised, an initial assessment is carried out, an integration plan is created, and the client is directed to integration training. The goal of the integration training is to develop functional Finnish language skills and to acquire sufficient knowledge about Finnish society.Throughout my experiences, I have consistently demonstrated my ability to adapt, respect, and accept other cultures in various settings. One notable example was during my work with a multicultural team on an international project. In this context, I had to quickly adapt to different communication styles, such as the indirect approach used by some team members from high-context cultures. By applying the principles of Cultural Intelligence (CQ), I learned to adjust my expectations and communication methods, ensuring smoother collaboration and a shared understanding of project goals.
When working with colleagues from India, for instance, I embraced their formal business practices, such as greeting protocols. Understanding these customs, rooted in respect and hierarchy, was essential to building trust and maintaining harmonious relationships. This experience highlighted the importance of Cultural Relativism, allowing me to appreciate cultural practices without judgment, even when they differed significantly from my own.
Overall, my experiences have not only strengthened my adaptability but also enhanced my cultural sensitivity, allowing me to effectively navigate and thrive in diverse, multicultural environments.