By Päivi Arvonen

Zulfia Acar moved from Turkey to Finland six years ago. She is grateful for the opportunity for an independent life in Finland..

Zulfia Acar has just received information that she has been granted Finnish citizenship. However, she does not feel Finnish.

“I’m a Kurd, and I miss my home country Turkey. But I understand Finland better and better, and I get along fine with Finns,” says Acar. She is 35 years old.

She arrived in Finland with her husband in 2009. The marriage was soon broken, and Acar was left alone.

“It was very hard at first. I didn’t know anybody, and I didn’t know a word of Finnish. I had to wait for six months to start a Finnish class.”

Acar does not speak English, which forced her to learn Finnish to cope with the everyday routines of her new home country. Soon after she arrived in Finland, she discovered libraries and started learning Finnish on her own.

“The Finnish library system is outstanding. I can spend hours in a library every day,” she says.

Acar has just finished her studies and qualified as a practical nurse. She is happy that her life is about to take a course after many difficulties. She had a summer job in practical nursing and continues to work in the same job as a substitute, but she hopes to find permanent employment soon. She also considers continuing her studies, for example, at a university of applied sciences.

“I’m truly grateful to Finland for the opportunity to study. Now it’s my turn to pay back by working and paying taxes.”

Acar could only dream about studies in her home country Turkey.

“As a woman, I could never live by myself, lead a financially independent life and support myself in Turkey. That is why I really appreciate my current life in Finland. A woman must have a life of her own, but that doesn’t rule out a family,” she says.

Many immigrant women stay isolated in their homes

Acar hopes for more activities and language courses especially for immigrant women in Finland and Helsinki.

“All too often immigrant women stay isolated in their homes and at the mercy of their husbands. They only do household work and look after their children, and they don’t learn Finnish and about Finnish society.”

Acar’s circle of friends is multicultural, and she also has Finnish friends. She is grateful to her friends for the help and support they have given to her.
“It’s not very easy to make friends with Finnish people, but the Finns are wonderfully calm and don’t get upset easily,” Acar says.

Acar’s first encounter with racism was in Finland. She has received racist comments on public transport, at school and at the workplace.

“My home city Mardin has several religions and languages, but they are all respected. People should be taken as individuals without stereotyping. There are no characteristics that are common to all in any group of people.”

The best thing about Helsinki is the closeness of nature

Acar has lived in Vuosaari for over four years and feels at home. The best thing about Helsinki to her is the closeness of nature. She enjoys walks in the Aurinkolahti area in summer.

“The Kaivopuisto park, the Suomenlinna islands and Helsinki Zoo are magnificent places. In winter I enjoy shopping centres, because you can walk indoors in them.”

Acar enjoys the free and open city events, such as Helsinki Day and the World Village Festival. One of the highpoints of last summer for her was a major anti-racism demonstration in Helsinki, titled I Have a Dream.

“It was fabulous to see so many Finns at this demonstration. There is only one negative aspect of Finland and Helsinki, and that’s racism.”

Translated by Johanna Lemola

<< contents