Kaisa, Rovaniemi, Finland
Our girl from the North! Family-oriented, sunny and a real action-woman! This girl loves to sing in a choir and has lately turned into knitting-maniac!
Read her story and get inspired: she and her husband changed their life overnight!
STORY
“It was spring 2008 when I was working as a ski instructor in Eastern Lapland, Salla. I had worked there since 1999, one or two weeks at a time. This time I had my three youngest children with me. The oldest one was already at school, so she stayed at home, in Haukipudas, where we lived, with my husband. They were going to join us later when schools were off for winter-holiday.
Something had changed in ski resort, and not for the better. I mentioned that briefly to my boss who also seemed to be quite unhappy about the situation, but we did not discuss more about that.
Some days later I was in the office when my boss all suddenly asked me: “Could you see yourselves living permanently in Salla?”. He was offering me opportunity to work as ski-school manager! Me!? I was so surprised! I hadn’t ever thought about that and I needed to discuss with my husband.
I called Jarkko and he got so excited: he was ready to resign in that very moment! I tried to be cooler and listed all the facts why we shouldn’t move: own house, nice jobs, friends, relatives and so on. But Jarkko felt so sure about this: we should move in August, so that children could start school year in Salla. I was still hesitating, but bit by bit, my head turned and so in August 2008 we moved to Salla.
First we lived in our summer cottage: 50 square meters and 6 people. We even had a caravan parked in our backyard for my parents as they visited us often: we did not have any safety net in Salla, so if we needed babysitter, my parents drove over 300km to help. I will always be grateful to them for the help during that period!
The deal was to stay in Salla for a year. But after 6 months we bought a plot next to Salla-mountain and in May 2009 construction of our house began. We joked that one year turned into a life sentence!
In the end we lived there for 11 years: kids became teenagers, we made lots of good friends, our safety net strengthened. After living in Salla for 11 years, work took us to Rovaniemi, but a piece of my heart was left in Salla. The hardest part was to leave good friends behind. Luckily true friends stay in your life no matter where you go.
I have always encouraged others to be brave and try something new if they feel that life today doesn’t feel good and right. I remember how back then, in 2008, our decision was questioned and maybe even envied. For us it was the most perfect and right thing to do and I am still so proud of us that we had guts to do it!”.
**
Meet Kaisa, 46, originally from Haukipudas, Finland, today living in Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland and hometown of Santa Claus.
Kaisa has been married to Jarkko for 22 years and they have 4 children: 3 girls and 1 boy. Aino (21) lives in Haukipudas, Viivi (19) is fresh high school graduated, this year is Helmi’s (15) last one and Hiski’s (13) first one at the secondary school.
Summer 2019 Kaisa graduated as a teacher in University of Lapland in Rovaniemi, but hasn’t got the job as class teacher yet: she has been working with children as a preschool teacher for 2 years.
Kaisa and Mirka met in Salla in 2010 when Mirka worked there for 3 months. Mirka had always dreamed about working in Lapland at least for a short period and do something totally different than her job of that time. So, in 2010 she packed her car and drove 800 km towards Northwest to Finnish Lapland. Kaisa and Mirka became friends and as Mirka says: “ When I left Helsinki to stay and work in Salla, I did not know anybody there and I was thinking that it will be a lonely winter full of work and enjoying Lapland’s nature by myself. Nothing bad about that. But the opposite happened: I got to know a lot of wonderful people, especially Kaisa and her family. They all welcomed me into their everyday life and showed the ENERMOUS hospitality. It was definitely other than a lonely winter!”
Kaisa’s travel gem in Finland:
“Wildness of Eastern Lapland is stunning! There is lots to do both in summer and in winter. Check for more info at Salla and VisitLapland.
EVERYDAY LIFE
In a normal Tuesday Kaisa wakes up and before getting up, she takes a moment to surf and check what is happening in social media. Normally house is already empty: Jarkko has left earlier, so are children. She gets dressed and ready, brushes teeth and walks 5 minutes to the preschool where she works. Usually she has breakfast at work together with children.
Kaisa says that Tuesday is her favorite day of the week: it’s time for the choir rehearsal! Since 2017 she sings in Pop Up Popforia-Music school’s choir. In Salla 2010 Kaisa manage to talk also Mirka into joining the local choir!
After choir, Kaisa concentrates on another dear hoppy: knitting. During the last years she has become a true knitting-maniac: there must always be some piece to work!
Tuesday, as many other weekdays, is a sauna-day! And after sauna, around 11pm, off to bed. “By that time Jarkko has already been sleeping at least for an hour – we have completely different sleep rhythm,” laughs Kaisa.
The worst in everyday life is cooking: Kaisa is not that keen on cooking and she is so happy that girls have taken responsibility in kitchen and so the very best in everyday routines is to have whole family around the table to have dinner together. Some days it’s hard because of the children’s hobbies, but at least as often as possible. Kaisa says: “Me and Jarkko have manage to raise quite cool kids with whom it’s nice to spend time. I think kids feel the same!”.
Smooth everyday life is wonderful. Of course, living under the same roof with two teenagers might add a bit of drama into everyday life, but mostly life is quite nice. When things are ok at home, it gives energy. Spending time with her good friends is also something that she appreciates a lot.
Stressful she finds incompleteness: untaken decisions, unfinished situations are unpleasant. Kaisa’s family lives in the house from the 60’s and never-ending renovation and works cause stress even if she tries hard to consider that as a long-term project and not something that needs to be finished by tomorrow.
Kaisa likes doing things outdoors: in the summer she loves orienteering and in the winter she skis. And after years she has also restarted to go to the gym. This year she has found a new hobby: furniture restoration. “It is something completely out of my comfort zone and I think that is the exact reason why I find it so fascinating!”.
When need for a treat, her choice is red wine and cheese. She often goes for a massage but does not really consider that as pampering as, because of the stuck muscles, it is more pain than love.
Although face in the mirror does not always please her, with age she has learnt to be gentle to herself: “it is what it is, and I am very happy to live with it! I am mainly satisfied with what I see and talk nicely to myself!”.
DREAMS & FEARS, PAST & FUTURE
What are your dreams?
“I dream about working as a teacher. I studied during my adult years and really hope that I’m not too old to start a new career.”
What is your worst fear?
“Something bad happening to my family, children or Jarkko.”
What has been the greatest global invention of your time?
“The most wonderful invention is internet that has expanded the world and brought everything so close to everyone.”
Where would you donate your time/money to?
“I like to volunteer my time: for my children and their hobbies, but often just for enjoying good company and doing something beneficial for others. If I could, I would donate money to support work for youth mental health.”
Has the position of girls/women changed during your lifetime?
“Yes, at least in Finland is has. But there are lot of countries where things have not improved. There are more women in high positions in business world and politics which is positive, but still there are many issues like gender pay gap! Maybe one day we all get paid equally despite our gender.”
If you could, what advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?
“Hold on to your dreams and keep working hard for them!”
Where will you be in 10 years?
“Living with Jarkko, maybe still in Rovaniemi. We are grandparents and I work as teacher.”
What would you say to a woman of your age who lives across the world?
“Enjoy life as it is! There is always something great and valuable in every day.”
How about Christmas and its traditions? When living in Salla, Kaisa used to work through Christmas days and it was her mother who prepared, baked and cooked Christmas for them! So Kaisa hasn’t got yet a chance to create own, special traditions. Nevertheless, the most important things are to spend time with loved ones, enjoying Christmassy atmosphere and peaceful moments. And of course, good food and joy of giving belongs to Christmas.
QUICK ONES
Drink: water
Favorite food: Slavic chicken pot pie
Delicacy: chocolate
Restaurant/Café: Kiela in Salla
Spice: cinnamon
Feeling: happiness
Music: Finnish pop
Scent: clean laundry
Travel destination: Africa
Book: Where the crawdads sing by Delia Owens
Movie: Notting Hill by Roger Michell
Favorite public holiday: Epiphany, (Kaisa’s and Jarkko’s wedding anniversary)
Artist/band: Sunrise Avenue
Evening routine: Checking that front door is locked
Favorite piece of clothing: tunic
Animal: dog
Scenery: mountains in Lapland
Sport: orienteering
Motto: “Live and let live”