This week the All Points North podcast looks at the experiences of people who've moved to Finland from abroad — and decided to stay — because they fell in love with a Finn.
We hear from marriage and family therapist Therese Sprinkel, who helps multicultural couples work through issues they face.
"The real challenges they meet have to do with how their identity changes once they're here in Finland. So, if they meet a partner in some other location — and even if they both thoughtfully choose to move to Finland — probably neither one of them realise how much their identity is going to change once they come to a different society," Sprinkel explained.
The show also features many vignettes from audience members who shared their personal stories and insights about life in their adopted country.
Listen to the episode via this embedded player, on Yle Areena, via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
"We've been married now for 55 years. Living in Finland for 49 of that period, three children, four grandchildren now. Finland's been very, very good to me, gave me a university position, a lectureship first, and then a permanent post after two years," said Michael, who moved to the country from Ireland in 1968.
"Accepting to marry him and move here are the only two good decisions I've ever made in my life. I really love the culture, not the drinking part though. I love the people. They are actually very super friendly, and I love that there is no small talk," Elizabeth told the podcast.
Mark B. Odom produced and presented this episode of All Points North. The sound engineer was Matias Puumala.
