For this interview, I had a conversation with a 34-year old migrant from Bangladesh who has resided in Finland for the last seven years. To maintain their confidentiality, I shall call them “Rahim.” Rahim came to Finland with the intent of pursuing higher studies, and then later chose to stay permanently because of job prospects and quality of life.
Integration into Finnish Society
Rahim told me that integrating into Finnish society was at once difficult and
rewarding. In the beginning, language was the main issue. People do speak
English, but most social and professional interactions require one to speak
Finnish. To solve this problem, Rahim took language classes, went to language
cafés, and made local friends who helped him practice speaking Finnish. This
certainly made him feel more connected to the society and had better prospects
of employment, which is why he believes placing emphasis on language was very
helpful.
Acquiring knowledge about Finnish culture and practices was another crucial
element of integration. While Rahim observed that he acclimated to the social
distancing norm of Finland quite well, my home country tends to be more social
and active. Adopting Finnish culture was challenging at first, but he
eventually learned to appreciate the country’s work-life balance and
environmental conservation effort.
Challenges and Ease of Integration
Integration into Finnish society was particularly difficult for him with regard to employment. For someone holding a Finnish university degree, getting a job is next to impossible without professional contacts and knowledge of the Finnish language. To overcome this, he attended numerous networking and internship opportunities which eventually landed him a job in IT. What struck him, however, was the quality of public services including education and health care as well as integration and language training for immigrants.
Home Sweet Home in Finland
When posed the question of whether he feels at home in Finland, Rahim had a
rather mixed response. While appreciating the safety, stability, and
opportunities that Finland offers, he sometimes feels nostalgic for the warmth
of the culture and family seeping out of his home country. Throughout the
years, he has built a support network with his international and Finnish
friends which makes him feel more at home.
Best Measures to Support Integration
Based on Rahim’s experience, the most effective ways to support immigrant integration include:
1.
Language Training: Finnish courses with more contacts are available and focus
on intensive delivery.
2. Employment Support: Best practices for mentoring and networking available to
immigrants are further developed.
3. Cultural Exchange Initiatives: Greater efforts are made to organize events
in the regions for local community members and immigrants to promote mutual
understanding.
4. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications: Making the procedures to acknowledge
foreign earned degrees and professional competencies more user-friendly.
Effects of Integration on Identity
Integration has changed Rahim’s identity. Although he is still strongly
connected to his Bangladeshi identity, he enjoys Finnish customs like sauna
culture and is always on time, which reflects Finnish culture. In his view,
successful integration is not about losing one’s cultural identity, but about
the ability to merge both cultures’ best features.
My Thoughts
A Rahim's story summarizes the hardship and success immigrants face in trying
to fit into a Finnish society. Although there are obstacles, a combination of
individual drive, community help, and government benefit is able to extend a
helping hand to numerous people. Finland is highly liberal, and that implies
that, with more work directed towards policy formulation, the integration
system can be improved so that immigrants are made to feel at home as opposed
to outsiders.
This interview showed me yet again how flexible and respectful a person should
be in a modern globalized world. The true integration lies when both migrants
and natives collaborate to create a society where multiculturalism is the norm
rather than the exception..