Teksti Annmary Anto, kuvat Abin Thomas
”26-year-old Indian girl with an ardent desire to do her doctoral research on atomic layer deposition at the University of Helsinki but proven several times that she cannot withstand lower temperatures, not even at the 10°C of Delhi international airport on the day of travel to Finland.” Annmary Anto tells her story.
The Husband, accompanying on the journey knows her poor ability to survive in the cold and prepares his mind to take her corpse back to home if she fails to withstand the –25°C of the ”happiest country” in the world. This was my life picture on the day I travelled to Finland.
After spending the past 25 years of my whole life in the motherland, India – the shift was both exhilarating and intimidating.
Back home in Kerala, it was 32°C. Just a few hours later, I found myself in the freezing –25°C air at Vantaa airport. It was 6:30 PM, but it felt like the middle of the night. The landscape was completely white with snow, and I could see nothing but endless winter. I was shivering from fear too. And curious to know what lay ahead.
On my very first day I headed to Kumpula Campus bundled up in a long, thick blue jacket with three layers of clothing underneath, heavy black boots, thick woolen socks, and gloves. The snowstorm outside made everything look surreal. My brown skin turned red for the first time in my life, reacting to the cold.
”The commitment of Finns to cleanliness and health-conscious living is impressive.”
The First Few Weeks of Cultural Shocks
Finland’s quiet, nature-centric life was a dramatic change from India’s bustling streets. The pristine environment and the commitment of Finns to cleanliness and health-conscious living are impressive.
Outdoor activities, healthy food habits, and a deep love for animals are evident everywhere. The public transportation system still amazes me with its punctuality.
However, adjusting to the restrained nature of people here was challenging. Unlike the warm, open interactions in India, Finns are quite introverted, only warming up once you get to know them.
The Finnish sauna culture I heard was another surprise. I wonder about the comfort of nudity and the cool conversations in such settings which I have not experienced yet, not because of getting a chance but due to my shyness to visit there.
The light patterns were another adjustment. The endless summer days and the brief winter sunlight were disorienting, especially coming from a place with balanced day and night. I also noticed how much taller people are, which was initially intimidating but later amusing.
”My colleagues always follow a systematic way of doing research and have never seen them stressed.”
The HelsinkiALD Lab
I feel like it would be a big crime If I am not sharing a few words about my research group. Even though I have been involved in differently sized research groups in India, working in a group of 30 people is quite marvelous.
On the first day at campus, professor Matti introduced me to the other group members during the 11 am coffee break. I was expecting that everybody would remain silent, have their coffee, and disperse. But against my prejudice, the interactive 10-question session started in which the whole group members including our professors Markku, Mikko and Matti, brainstorm about current affairs together and find the answers. A perfect example for the lack of hierarchical supremacy and a stress-free environment in our group.
In addition, I have noticed that my colleagues always follow a systematic way of doing research and have never seen them stressed. Professor Mikko motivates us not to get worried about how long we work, but about how efficiently we produce results. Apart from that, all are willing to help each other without any hurdles and correct each other when something goes wrong.
I always love to learn from them, and I am still learning. Our group always ensures the work-life balance of every member without fail.
Apart from the research, all of them are involved in some extra activities like sports, fitness, music, fishing, reading, attending gigs, and so on which is very rarely seen among the researchers in India.
The Transition: from Fear to Comfort
As the months passed, I adapted to life in Finland. I learned to layer for the cold, and the once daunting weather became manageable. The snowstorms, initially overwhelming, transformed into a comforting routine.
Finland’s health-conscious, environmentally aware society became something I embraced. I found joy in nature – taking walks in the woods, enjoying serene lakes, and spending time outdoors even in winter. By the end of the year, Finland felt like a second home for me.
On 5th December 2024, it was the Chemistry Department Pikkujoulut on the Kumpula campus. Snow was turning everything white outside, and the temperature was less than 0°C. After Dinner at UniCafe, professor Mikko reminded me with a smile that I was the only one wearing a T-shirt for the party, but I was exactly the opposite on the first day on campus as I mentioned in the beginning.
Even I was surprised about my tremendous change at that point. Had I changed or Finland changed me? I am proud of myself now, who adapted to the outrageous life within a year!
About the author Annmary Anto
She comes from India, Kerala. MSc in chemistry from the Central University of Kerala in 2021. Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Kottayam Institute of Technology and Science, Kerala; Project Associate at the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune; Project Assistant at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram. From January 2024 doctoral researcher in the HelsinkiALD Lab of the University of Helsinki under the guidance of professor Mikko Ritala. Her research delves into the ALD of Novel 2D materials, focusing on their potential applications in energy-efficient Microelectronics.
