A PLACE WHERE THE EXOTIC AND GOOD FEELINGS LAST

Back in 2018 my Spanish husband and I were sitting in the living room of our old stone house in Tarragona, Spain. We had just decided to move to Finland. I was both excited and terrified at the same time. What if my Spanish family would not like living in the bleak North? Was it worth throwing away everything we had built for ourselves in Spain and starting over? What if they found the language, the cold weather and the cultural differences simply unbearable?

As a Finn, I naturally knew more or less what I was getting into. During my international career as a circus artist, I had also lived in 15 different countries and had come to appreciate Finland as a good place to live. But would it be just as good for a foreigner?

The city we would move to was ultimately chosen by chance. We received job offers from several cities. My husband asked me which of them gave us the best chances of seeing the northern lights. Kuopio was the northernmost option, so we ended up choosing it. Our child was happy simply knowing that there would be playdough in Kuopio too. We did not have any previous ties to the city, nor any family living there.

So, how did we adapt to our new home? Now, looking back at our life, we did experience a lot of challenges and difficult moments during adaptation, but nothing that the support network in Kuopio could not guide us through. I remember how on our child’s first day in daycare a cheerful childcare worker said: “Don't worry, we’ll teach her Finnish and Savonian! Last year we taught a Chinese kid as well.” My husband’s language studies were in the hands of Kompassi and the Coaching Centre (Valmennuskeskus). And the people of Kuopio.

I genuinely feel that the locals possess some kind of magic. This magic is used to cultivate vitality and achieve things together, casually and with style. Here, everyone is invited to do things together. You don't have to be born in Savo, or even in Finland, to be welcomed as a Savonian person.

I myself was given the honour of directing the Kuopio Dance Festival, my husband is pursuing his long-term dream by studying at the Emergency Services Academy Finland, and our daughter is in the music class of Haapaniemi School. It was fortunate that, of all the places in the world, we ended up here!

For a foreigner, Kuopio is truly exotic. The clean nature and snowy winters with numerous win- ter sports opportunities are inviting. We’ve also managed to see the northern lights we were hoping for. Cross-country skiing and skating have given us a lot of joy, wonder and laughter.

As a circus artist I also perform as a fire artist. This photo was taken at the Joy and Light event in Savilahti, Kuopio.

In the summer, the lakes and the nightless nights are magical. Have you ever thought about the fact that a lot of Spaniards have never swum in a lake, only in the sea? Lively events and rich cultural life invite everyone to join in. Some of the everyday wonders include houses that are warm inside in the winter, children who can walk to school alone and official matters that are handled without corruption.

Every opportunity is open in Kuopio. Every day has that sense of feel-good exotic. And that is the kind of exotic and good feelings that last, year after year.

Salima Peippo Executive Director of Kuopio Dance Festival Cultural producer and entrepreneur Award-winning international circus artist Winner of the Spanish Pole Sport Championship Citizen of the world and local of Kuopio