Safety and clean air

Kuopio is a safe city that combines the best aspects of both large and small cities.

Cristina Eivet, originally from Mexico, remembers her first day in Kuopio as if it were yesterday.

“It was January 9, 2005. I had arrived in Kuopio as an exchange student. Snow was everywhere, and it was completely new to me. My hometown has eternal summer,” Eivet recalls.

In Kuopio, Eivet’s first lesson was learning how to dress appropriately. Shirts and sandals were swapped for winter coats and boots. The cold and darkness of winter took some getting used to. However, the beauty of nature and the quietness captivated the student, who was accustomed to mountains and the hustle of a bustling metropolis.

“I was surprised by how much forest and how many lakes there were here. I loved exploring nature and walking around the city. It was amazing to see how easy it was to get from place to place on foot.”

Eivet’s university exchange lasted six months, after which she returned to Mexico. But Kuopio soon called her back, as she had met a Finnish man during her exchange. She moved to Kuopio permanently in 2011.

“I’ve now lived here for 10 years, and during that time, the city has grown a lot. There’s always some construction project underway, and new people are moving here all the time. Everyone is friendly, greets you, and strikes up conversations.”

Eivet has noticed that Savonian people are open to learning about other cultures.

“They’re curious to learn and hear what life is like elsewhere. I often get questions about the weather in Mexico and the food we eat there.”

To her Mexican friends, Eivet would describe Kuopio as a city that combines the best features of a large city with those of a small town.

But more than the beauty, Eivet values the safety. She finds it liberating to move around the city without constantly fearing that something bad might happen.

“Safety, a high quality of life, and the ability to breathe clean air and walk in the forests—these are the things I value most. It’s also important for me to balance family and work life so that there’s time for both. In Mexico, workdays are 10 hours instead of 8, and vacations last only a few days.”

While Mexico’s warmth, sunshine, and family weekends sometimes make her nostalgic, Eivet always comes to the same conclusion after a little reflection: her home is in Kuopio.

“I have a wonderful life here in Kuopio,” Eivet says.

Text: Maiju Korhonen

Photos: Cristina Eivet

The article was written during the Future Savo project in 2020-2021.