Kuopio Surprised a World Traveler

Inabat Seytnazarova, who has lived in several countries, has found a home for her family in Kuopio. Integration training and a new job helped her settle into this new country, which may even become her home for life.

Seytnazarova playfully describes herself as a perpetual immigrant, as she has already lived in six countries. Originally from Uzbekistan, she has also lived in India, Iran, the Philippines, and the United States. Her last home with her husband was in Fort Collins, Colorado.

When her husband was offered a research position at the University of Eastern Finland in 2018, they faced yet another move to a completely new culture. Moving to Finland felt exciting to Seytnazarova. She was expecting her first child, and the idea of moving to a new culture seemed challenging. However, she started learning Finnish through an online course and tried to maintain a positive mindset, believing that the move would ultimately be a good thing.

“We’re used to traveling, so we’re brave and handle challenges as they come. We were particularly excited about Finland when we heard at the Los Angeles Embassy that Santa Claus lives in Finland, in Korvatunturi. That felt like a fun idea,” Seytnazarova recalls.

Their daughter was only 2.5 months old when they moved to Kuopio. It was August, and the temperature was +30 degrees Celsius. The idea of freezing cold Finland vanished as soon as they arrived at the airport. The first impression was good. One of the first things Seytnazarova noticed was the silence. After living in America, the calm was almost tangible. She was also pleasantly surprised by the number of trees and lakes.

“It was perhaps a bit surprising that on the bus, no one sat next to each other. Everyone left an empty seat so they didn’t have to sit right beside someone,” Seytnazarova laughs.

In the first year, Seytnazarova felt lonely, as she was at home a lot with her baby, and her Finnish language skills were still limited. But once she attended an integration training program, she learned a lot about the culture, the language, and the people. After that, integrating into Finnish life felt easier.

Seytnazarova is highly educated. She holds a master’s degree in English and a doctorate in development and communication. In 2020, she received a call from the TE Office (employment services). She was offered a job as an integration specialist at the North Savo TE Office. She went for an interview and got the job.

“With the job, I finally felt useful. I realized that my life’s purpose is to give people hope that they can learn Finnish, integrate here, and find work. Just like I did.”

Currently, Seytnazarova works as an immigration advisor in Kuopio’s employment services. During the summer, she has run a summer café at Kuopio’s market square. Although her family initially thought they would only stay in Kuopio for a short time, they have now fully settled into the city. Their 6-year-old daughter especially loves Kuopio and never wants to move away.

Her husband swims in the icy waters two to three times a week, and their daughter attends violin and dance lessons. Inabat enjoys going to the gym and loves that everything she needs is nearby.

“Kuopio has surprised me. It has the feel of a city, but also nature, events, and culture—something for everyone. Although we’re used to moving often, I don’t think we’ll ever move away from Finland again. This is now our home.”

Text: Akiola-Media Oy / Niina Linna

Photos: Inabat Seytnazarova