Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Moving to Finland is often about fulfilling a dream: landscapes of lakes, endless forests, safety, efficient public services, high-level education. But behind the postcard image, many foreigners quickly discover another reality: the silence, the reserved nature of the locals, night falling at 3 p.m. in winter, the impossibly difficult language to pronounce… All of this can awaken powerful homesickness.
Research indicates that between 20% and 90% of expatriates feel more or less intense homesickness during their first year abroad. It is a normal reaction to a massive shift in one’s environment, not a whim or a weakness. In Finland, this feeling can be intensified by the climate, the culture of discretion, the language barrier, and the distance from loved ones.
This article brings together elements from numerous studies, testimonials, and Finnish resources to propose a concrete approach: understanding what you’re experiencing, using local codes to your advantage, building a social network, surviving winter, seeking help when needed, and, above all, not breaking the connection with your family despite the kilometers.
Understanding Homesickness and Culture Shock in Finland
Homesickness, sometimes described as a form of “grief” for one’s past life, often mixes with what is called culture shock. Several models, like the “W” curve or Rhinesmith’s ten stages, describe this passage through phases: initial euphoria, crisis, adjustment, and then, sometimes, a new crisis before more stable integration.
In Finland, certain cultural specificities make these stages particularly pronounced.
Finnish Particularities That Can Be Disruptive
The country strongly values equality, individual freedom, discretion, and punctuality. Communication is direct, without embellishment, and silence is considered a normal part of conversation, not an awkwardness to be filled. On the bus or subway, no one will spontaneously start a conversation, although Finns are generally very helpful when asked for assistance.
For harmonious integration, it is important to adopt certain common social practices: removing your shoes when entering someone’s home, avoiding unannounced visits, shaking hands even with children in formal contexts, moderating displays of emotion in public, and scrupulously respecting agreed-upon times for appointments.
Finally, the importance of nature and the sauna can be surprising. There are approximately 3 million saunas for 5.5 million inhabitants; going nude (often in gender-separated sessions) is the norm. Activities like berry picking or weekends at the cottage (mökki) mark the rhythm of the year.
For a newcomer already vulnerable from being far from family, this cultural gap can amplify feelings of loneliness, especially when compounded by the long, dark winter, differences in food, or the difficulty of creating connections.
When Homesickness Manifests
Available data converges: homesickness often appears in the first few weeks, then can peak a few months later, when the “honeymoon period” ends. In Finland, this second wave frequently hits in the middle of winter, when daylight plummets.
The manifestations are emotional, physical, and behavioral:
– sadness, irritability, nostalgia, feeling “out of place”;
– sleep disturbances, fatigue, headaches, changes in appetite, vague pains;
– tendency to withdraw, avoid social outings, spend a lot of time on social media watching life “back there”.
These symptoms are exacerbated during the year-end holidays, birthdays, major family gatherings, or in the event of illness or death of a loved one back home.
Understanding that this experience is normal – and even expected – is a first step to avoid feeling guilty and to dare to ask for support.
Leveraging Finnish Culture to Feel Less Alone
Rather than seeing differences as obstacles, it is possible to use them to build a new form of comfort. The key: accept local codes while creating spaces that reflect you.
Learning to Decode the Finnish Communication Style
At first glance, Finns may seem cold. In reality, they prioritize honesty and consistency between words and actions. Promises are taken seriously, verbal agreements carry weight, invitations are not given lightly. This can be disconcerting for someone from a culture of verbal friendliness, but it is also a fantastic foundation for trust.
A few useful reference points:
In this context, silence is not a sign of rejection but a time for reflection. Compliments are infrequent but always sincere. Communication and bonding happen less through light conversation (“small talk”) and more through sharing common activities, like sports, sauna, hiking, or community involvement.
Accepting this style allows one to interpret apparent withdrawal less as hostility and better appreciate the loyalty and faithfulness that often characterize long-term Finnish friendships.
Getting Comfortable with Sauna, Meals, and Visits
The sauna is both a wellness ritual and a social space. Refusing an invitation without a valid reason can be perceived as a slight affront. One typically goes nude, but wearing a towel, especially in mixed or public places, is also acceptable. You sit on a small towel, shower before and after, and sometimes have a beer afterward, never inside.
Meals include two hot meals daily, lunch around 11–12 a.m. and dinner in the late afternoon. Coffee is consumed throughout the day. When invited, it’s customary to bring a small gift (flowers, wine, coffee) and remove your shoes at the entrance.
These seemingly minor elements become anchors: understanding how things “work” reduces the feeling of being out of sync and strengthens the sense of control, which helps push back homesickness.
Building a Social Network in Finland to Ease Homesickness
Of all the strategies for living better far from home, the most decisive remains creating a local circle. In Finland, this is not only an emotional issue: between 70% and 80% of jobs are never advertised and are found through networks. In other words, making friends and acquaintances is also preparing for your professional future.
Adopting a Finnish Approach to “Networking”
Networking culture in Finland values strong ties rather than a quantity of superficial contacts. It prioritizes trust, reciprocity, concrete help, and it’s understood that this takes time.
Several tools conceptualize this approach:
– Work on your “story” (who you are, what you’re looking for), your “strategy” (where and how to meet the right people), and your “structure” (how to maintain contacts);
– Use the AIR model: ask for Advice, seek Insights, offer Recommendations, then possibly ask for Referrals.
The important thing is not to arrive demanding a job, but offering a useful exchange: a perspective, a skill, a shared experience.
Advice for a spontaneous application
Where to Meet People: Clubs, Associations, Events
Finland offers a multitude of places and formats for creating connections, even if it’s not obvious at first glance. Major urban centers like Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, or Oulu have a dense ecosystem of clubs and communities for foreigners.
Here is, for example, an overview of some active structures:
| Resource Type | Name / Location | What it offers to combat homesickness |
|---|---|---|
| International Association | IESAF (International English Speakers’ Association of Finland) | Regular events (quizzes, parties, family outings), community of 8,500 English speakers, excellent antidote to loneliness. |
| Expat Network | InterNations Helsinki | Networking parties, themed activities, meetings between expatriates. |
| Women’s Community | International Women Community (Turku) | Discussion groups, clubs (reading, moms & kids), support among international women. |
| Professional Network | International Working Women of Finland | Community of over 8,700 active women, career and integration support. |
| Forums & Mutual Aid | Finland Forum | Large online community (tens of thousands of members) for asking questions and exchanging. |
| Cultural Centers | Caisa (Helsinki) | Concerts, festivals, exhibitions, singing competitions: a place to meet other culture enthusiasts. |
These structures allow you to break isolation without pressure: you can participate in a pub quiz, discuss food from your home country in a “A Taste of Home” group, or get involved in an international knitting club.
Hobby Clubs, Sports, and Co-working: Making Friends by Doing Something
Finns often bond through activities. This is excellent news for those suffering from homesickness: the activity serves as a pretext, reducing the awkwardness of “small talk.”
Among the most promising possibilities: new technologies, sustainable development, e-commerce, and personalized health.
To meet people in Finland, numerous activities are accessible. Team sports like football, floorball, ice hockey, volleyball, running, or cross-country skiing are very popular. For quieter hobbies, you can join a yoga club (Helsinki has over thirty), participate in hikes or canoe outings. Chess circles, like Shakkiareena in Helsinki or via the federation Shakkiliitto, are also an option. Creative activities are not left behind, with pottery workshops, cooking classes, or theater groups like the Finn Brit Players that welcome English speakers. Finally, for professional networking, co-working spaces like Maria 01, Mesta Coworking, or Sofia Helsinki bring together entrepreneurs, freelancers, and employees.
Without necessarily seeking athletic performance, these regular settings create familiarity: you see the same faces every week, you share efforts, laugh together, and gradually, these faces become a new circle of belonging.
Friendship Programs and Peer Groups: Not Staying Alone with Your Questions
Several cities have implemented programs to connect locals and newcomers. This is the case, for example, of International House Helsinki, which coordinates a Friend Program for people settled in the capital and its region. This program has several components:
Discover key initiatives to meet locals, practice Finnish, and integrate into Finnish society through social and cultural activities.
A community organizing social meetups, cultural exchanges, workshops, and volunteer activities to create connections.
A program that groups residents and newcomers in small activity circles to foster exchanges and integration.
A local volunteer is paired with a newcomer for about six months of individual meetings and support.
This type of program provides exactly what expatriates often lack: a reference person to ask practical questions to, to practice Finnish with, to discover a Christmas market with, to dare to go to a public sauna with.
In other cities, similar initiatives exist: in Turku, a Friendship Programme links international students and residents, and the International Women Community offers regular meetups for women settling there.
The Role of Online Networks
Digital platforms play a dual function: they help find events, and they offer asynchronous emotional support when feeling down.
In Finland, several tools are particularly useful:
| Platform | Main Usefulness for a Homesick Newcomer |
|---|---|
| Facebook Groups | Finding shared apartments, mom groups, communities by language, free events, volunteer opportunities. |
| Meetup.com | Spotting themed meetups (languages, hiking, tech, coffee), e.g., “Helsinki Social Meetup” or “Café Lingua.” |
| Building a professional network, spotting job fairs, following local companies. | |
| Boo, Bumble BFF | Meeting friends based on interests or personality compatibility. |
| Eventbrite, Stadissa, official city portals | Calendars of cultural events, festivals, markets, public saunas. |
Beyond the practical aspect, joining groups where others share the same difficulties (housing, language, paperwork, blues) helps normalize one’s feelings and feel less alone.
Surviving Winter and “Kaamos”: Protecting Your Mental Health
The Finnish climate is a powerful amplifier of homesickness. In the north of the country, beyond the Arctic Circle, the polar night (kaamos) can last up to 50 days, with the sun absent between late November and mid-January. Even in Helsinki, in the heart of winter, daylight can be limited to just 4 or 5 hours of gray day.
This deprivation of light disrupts the biological clock, increases the production of melatonin (the sleep hormone), and decreases serotonin (related to mood). This imbalance promotes fatigue, irritability, and, for some, a specific disorder: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Recognizing Seasonal Affective Disorder
In Finland, it is estimated that about 12% of the population suffers from SAD, and about 85% feel a notable effect of the seasons on their energy, sleep, and appetite. Typical symptoms include:
– marked drop in energy, difficulty getting up in the morning;
– persistent depressive mood, loss of interest in usual activities;
– tendency to eat more, especially carbohydrates, with weight gain (frequently 2 to 5 kg per winter);
– sleep disturbances (insomnia or hypersomnia), difficulty concentrating.
In Finland, the phenomenon of “kaamos-depression,” linked to the lack of light in winter, can reinforce and be reinforced by homesickness in an already vulnerable newcomer.
Validated Strategies: Light, Movement, Routine
Finnish researchers and clinicians agree on a winning trio to mitigate the effects of winter:
1. Light therapy. Sit every morning, for 20 minutes to 2 hours, in front of a specific lamp emitting about 10,000 lux – up to 20 times more than standard domestic lighting. Ideally: use it before noon, at breakfast or during work, without looking directly at the light. The investment (€70 to €400) can, in some diagnosed cases, be partially reimbursed.
2. Exposure to real daylight. Even at -15°C, going out every day, even for just 20 minutes, is beneficial. Natural light, especially reflected by snow, stimulates blue-sensitive cells in the retina, which send a “wake-up” signal to the brain. Walking, cross-country skiing, skating, or simply walking to the Oodi library in Helsinki improves mood.
Regular physical activity, like indoor sports or walking, is recommended as a natural antidepressant by researchers.
To this, add simple measures: vitamin D supplements, stable sleep routine (fixed bedtime and wake-up time), balanced diet, sufficient hydration.
Adopting the Nordic Mentality: Embracing Rather Than Enduring
Nordic psychologists speak of the importance of “embracing winter” rather than fighting it. This involves several attitudes:
– seeing winter as one season among others, with its own pleasures (snow, sledding, lights, Christmas markets);
– cultivating “hygge”: candles, blankets, hot drinks, soft music, game or movie nights;
– multiplying small coffee breaks (“fika”) with colleagues or friends, even outside, well bundled up;
– trying, if desired and without pressure, local practices like cold dips followed by sauna, which figures like President Alexander Stubb recommend for well-being.
Many Finns themselves admit to suffering from the winter blues. Knowing you’re not alone in counting the days until spring returns helps put things in perspective.
Relying on Mental Health Services in Finland
When homesickness, seasonal depression, or integration stress become too heavy, it’s essential to remember that a solid system of mental health services exists in Finland – even if its functioning may seem opaque at first.
The Entry Point: The Local Health Center
In case of persistent anxiety, lasting sadness, severe sleep disturbances, or suicidal thoughts, the first step is to call or go to your terveysasema (health center). In many municipalities, these centers have:
– psychiatric nurses;
– psychologists;
– sometimes psychiatrists, or, failing that, the possibility of referral to specialized services.
For people under 23, an assessment must be carried out within six weeks of a professional’s referral, and appropriate treatment must be initiated within three months. A specific therapy guarantee for young people aims to strengthen compliance with these deadlines.
Student Services and Crisis Lines
University and college students benefit from the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS), which offers consultations with nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists. Exchange students, depending on the case, should turn to their neighborhood health center.
In parallel, anonymous and free helplines operate nationwide, including:
| Service | Contact | Languages / Specifics |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Emergency | 112 | For imminent emergency situations. |
| Medical Helpline | 116 117 | Medical advice before going to the emergency room. |
| MIELI Crisis Helpline | 09 2525 0111 (FI), 09 2525 0113 (EN at specific hours) | 24/7 help, psychological support in several languages. |
| SOS Crisis Centers | Helsinki, Kuopio, Seinäjoki | Free interviews, no medical referral needed. |
Many NGOs operate around these structures: Nyyti ry for student mental health, FinFami for relatives of people with psychological distress, or associations specialized in addictions or eating disorders.
Specialized structures like MIELI Without Borders, Global Clinic, and the Refugee Advice Centre offer adapted support, taking into account potential trauma, to people who have arrived as refugees or asylum seekers.
When to Ask for Help
It is advisable to consult if: you have persistent or worrying symptoms, you have been exposed to a contagious disease, you feel intense pain without explanation, you are in an emotional or psychological crisis situation.
– sadness or anxiety lasts for several weeks without improvement;
– sleep and appetite are severely disrupted;
– work or studies become difficult to continue;
– the desire to return home “at all costs” becomes obsessive;
– suicidal thoughts appear.
In these situations, homesickness is no longer just temporary nostalgia, but a signal that psychological or medical support is necessary. In Finland, mood disorders are common: between 4% and 9% of the population suffers, at some point, from major depression, and 10 to 20% will experience it in their lifetime. In other words, asking for help is commonplace, not exceptional.
Staying Connected to Family Without Blocking Integration
Homesickness is fueled by distance from loved ones. Yet, thanks to current technology, it has never been easier to maintain ties. Used well, these tools reduce loneliness and support mental health; used compulsively, however, they can prevent local anchoring.
The Psychological Importance of Family Connection
Studies on international students show that 67% cite missing family as their primary difficulty, but that 72% declare themselves more satisfied with their experience abroad when they communicate regularly with their loved ones. A long-distance family relationship that is maintained:
– reduces anxiety and the feeling of abandonment;
– maintains a sense of identity continuity;
– serves as a resource in case of a setback (academic failure, discrimination, culture shock);
– partly protects against the risk of depression (data shows that about 15.6% of migrants experience a depressive episode, especially when family ties are strained).
For Finnish children living abroad, maintaining regular contact with their grandparents and cousins still in Finland helps build a more balanced and less conflicted so-called ‘third culture’ identity.
Tools and Rituals That Really Work
Rather than being in contact randomly, setting up a few simple rituals helps find a balance:
– schedule a weekly video call (Skype, WhatsApp, FaceTime, Google Meet, Zoom) at a fixed time, adapted to time zones;
– create a family group on WhatsApp or Telegram to exchange daily photos, recipes, anecdotes;
– use shared albums (Google Photos, iCloud) so loved ones can see your new life (snowy landscapes, Christmas market, first sauna, etc.);
– sometimes send real letters or postcards from your Finnish town, with a few handwritten lines;
– share moments remotely, for example by watching the same movie via Teleparty, or cooking a family recipe together on video.
Adopt practices that maintain the connection with your family without anchoring you in the past. These gestures show that you haven’t forgotten them, while allowing them to discover and share your life in your host country.
Managing Over-Connection
Being glued to your phone can, paradoxically, feed homesickness: you see a constant stream of photos of friends “back home,” missed family celebrations, videos of sunsets from your hometown. This disconnect fuels FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out).
A few useful safeguards:
– limit time spent on social media, especially on content from “back there”;
– prioritize direct exchanges (calls, private messages) over passive consumption of feeds;
– establish screen-free time slots, to leave room for local encounters;
– accept not seeing or sharing everything: it is normal for your life to differ from that of your loved ones.
The goal is not to cut ties, but to avoid them becoming a permanent refuge that prevents building a new foundation in Finland.
Finding Meaning in the Finnish Experience: Work, Studies, Engagement
Homesickness is often more intense when one feels like they are “enduring” their presence in Finland: a trailing spouse without a job, an isolated student, a discouraged job seeker. Conversely, the more one perceives meaning in their local life, the more bearable moments of nostalgia are.
Getting Involved in Studies or Career
For students, the Finnish education system favors group work, projects, and participation. This creates opportunities for interaction: preparing a presentation together, sitting next to a classmate in tutorials, suggesting coffee after class.
For professionals, developing your professional network is crucial. This involves proactive use of LinkedIn (contacting experts, sharing analyses, participating in events), frequenting co‑working spaces, and attending fairs (like the Nordic Business Forum) or sectoral events. These actions strengthen the feeling of belonging to a professional community.
Furthermore, many structures support the integration of international talent: The Shortcut organizes free workshops on job searching or entrepreneurship, Integrify helps IT profiles access the job market, programs like Talent Turku or DigiMESH create bridges between companies and foreigners.
Getting Involved as a Volunteer
Volunteering is one of the most powerful ways to create connections and feel useful. InfoFinland and portals like Fingo or the Facebook group “Volunteer Finland” list numerous opportunities:
To integrate into a new country, volunteering is an excellent initiative. It can take various forms, such as academic support or youth mentoring, allowing you to share your skills. Participating in environmental campaigns contributes to the community while discovering local issues. Helping out at cultural or sporting events offers direct contact with local life. Finally, accompanying other newcomers, sometimes even more lost, creates bonds of solidarity while consolidating your own integration experience.
This type of engagement reverses the perspective: you no longer come just to “consume” Finland, but to contribute to it. This nourishes self-esteem and eases the guilt sometimes associated with leaving one’s family or country.
Accepting That Homesickness Is Part of the Journey
All available sources emphasize one point: homesickness is generally temporary. Most people see their symptoms decrease between the first and sixth week, although waves of nostalgia can resurface occasionally.
In Finland, these waves often synchronize with certain milestones:
– first complete winter (especially around November-December);
– first major holidays without family (Christmas, New Year, National Holidays);
– exam periods or work overload;
– significant family events back home (birth, marriage, death).
Rather than trying to completely eradicate these feelings, it is more realistic to tame them: accept their presence and learn to coexist with them to better manage them.
– by naming them (“today, homesickness is strong”);
– by talking about them to someone (friend, spouse, therapist, peer group);
– by activating your “safety nets” (routines, light exposure outing, phone call to family, evening with friends);
– by reminding yourself of the reasons for your presence in Finland (study project, career opportunity, relationship, quest for adventure).
It happens that the feeling of not finding one’s place in a new country persists, even after several years. Some people thus decide to return home or move on after a decade, due to a lack of integration or support. This return or new departure is not a failure, but a choice consistent with self-knowledge.
Meanwhile, it remains possible to make these years in Finland a time of intense personal growth: learning to love silence, developing “sisu” (that blend of courage and perseverance specific to Finnish culture), discovering one’s limits and resources.
In Summary: Transforming Nostalgia into Anchoring
Managing homesickness in Finland is neither about “forcing yourself to be positive” nor taking refuge in an expatriate bubble. Research, experiences, and local resources show the importance of a multi-level approach:
For successful integration in Finland, it is crucial to adopt a proactive approach. First, you must learn about the local culture to better understand it and suffer it less. Second, it’s important to actively build your social network via clubs, associations, friendship programs, sports activities, or co‑working spaces. Third, you must protect your mental health, especially during harsh winters, by ensuring light exposure, movement, maintaining routines, and, if necessary, resorting to health services. Fourth, it is essential to maintain strong family ties while ensuring they don’t hinder rooting in the new local life. Finally, you must engage in activities that give meaning to your presence, whether through studies, work, volunteering, or personal projects.
Homesickness may never completely disappear. It will return in waves, sometimes unexpectedly, triggered by a familiar cooking smell, a song, laughter heard in a familiar language. But surrounded by new friendships, tamed winter rituals, a network of mutual aid, it will gradually cease to be a paralyzing pain and become what it is at its core: proof that you come from somewhere, and that you are now capable of living between several worlds.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
