Any other stay at home moms/wives in the Porvoo area?

JDK · Post by **JDK** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:03 pm

Hei!

I married a wonderful Finnish man and moved to Porvoo in July of this year. Back in the US I was a stay at home mom (I have two boys) and that seems to be unusual here, unless you have very young children. Now that my boys are in school, it gets a lil lonely around here. I found this forum last night and though I'd give it a shot, see if there's any other women in the area who might want to talk? My Finnish is horrible (hopefully starting a class next month) and I am a bit on the shy side so making friends here has not an easy thing for me.

**Sponsor:**

mCowboy · Post by **mCowboy** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:10 pm

Use the search, Luke...

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JDK · Post by **JDK** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:13 pm

Thanks but I saw that post last night and wasn't exactly interested. Not sure if I would qualify as an "interesting international" person since I'm nothing more than a bored, stay at home mom, who happens to be foreign.

mCowboy · Post by **mCowboy** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:19 pm

JDK wrote:Thanks but I saw that post last night and wasn't exactly interested. Not sure if I would qualify as an "interesting international" person since I'm nothing more than a bored, stay at home mom, who happens to be foreign.

Beggars can't be choosers... Porvoo isnt' that big, if you haven't noticed...

carolinemaher · Post by **carolinemaher** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 6:28 pm

Hi JDK
Sorry to hear your feeling a little lonely out there, I know its difficult when you first move, especially to Finland where people are not in the habit of striking up a conversation with someone they don't know! I live in Helsinki and there is a group of international Mums (I'm British) who meet up regularly, I know Porvoo is about an hour from Helsinki, but if you were ever in our neck of the woods please feel free to contact me. You can p.m. for details or if you just feel like a chat.

There is also an American Womens Association based in Helsinki you might contact them, maybe there are people in your area?
Happy Christmas
Caroline

Stephen B · Post by **Stephen B** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 7:27 pm

hey jdk, i moved here from Canada 8 months ago and married a finish woman. I can relate to being a bit lonely,.it may take a little time but things will get beter for ya.

My wife speaks real good english and maybe some day you and your hubby and my wife and i can hook up for a beer

Xochiquetzal · Post by **Xochiquetzal** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:02 pm

American Womens Club is indeed your best bet.

My 4 year old and I drive up from Helsinki to Porvoo all the time. We can relieve one of your bored days perhaps

er, if You don't mind a Los Angeles person

oompah18 · Post by **oompah18** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:15 pm

Wow! And I was beginning to think I was the only SAHM koti-äiti left in Finland

All my friends in nowheremäki have gone back to work when their youngest gets to 3. Me, not much chance, still, youngest is only 18mths, so still have a while to think about plans!...
I just wondered if SAHMums are a dying breed? Can people afford to do this, like the "old days"? Judging by the size of houses & the fact that almost every house in our village has 2 cars (I am NOT kidding

), it doesn´t seem very likely. Me? I would rather be at home than have my kids in daycare anyday, we still get a good social life & they mix with others on an almost daily basis & luckily the village has a free lastenkerho run by the church, for 6 hrs a week for 4-6yr olds, where they do crafts, music, etc (& probably a bit of bible or something, but none of that has rubbed on ds1 so far!)
Anyway, long live the kotiäiti

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:40 pm

When we lived in France I was working full-time and had a "nounou" (nanny) for the kids. When we moved to Hungary I was a SAHM but by then the youngest was 3 and in school anyway. It was weird not working but most of the ex-pats were SAHMs so there was always plenty to do, Budapest is a great city. Then we came here and I didn't work for the first year (took Finnish lessons and looked for a house, joined the BWA) and then I was offered a (very) part-time teaching job and took it. Gradually I just started working more and staying at home less. Now I work during term-time but hardly at all during the school holidays.

So I've been (1) a workaholic, for nearly 20 yrs, (2) a SAHM for maybe 3 or 4 years and now (3) a self-employed part-time teacher.

Being a SAHM stinks if you really have to stay at home (alone). Cooking is fun, gardening is fun, but having no contact with the outside world is debilitating.

Being a workaholic is like banging your head against a brick wall. It feels really nice when you stop.

Being self-employed is FAB. Teaching means I can chose how much I work and I am also in daily contact with all kinds of different people (who are not ex-pats). My Finnish hasn't got any better but I manage. I have found out a ton of stuff about Finland, Finns etc through my job (which is basically forcing people to talk).

Advice... (take it or leave it)

- get a dog (great for making conversation and gets you out of the house)
- sign up for some classes (anything- mediterranean cooking, oil painting, car maintenance, Finnish or any other language. Doesn't matter if the classes are in Finnish, you'll muddle through)
- go to school (do a degree or another degree)
- look for voluntary work (maybe the boys' school needs some help???)

Don't stay at home all day (alone). You won't last more than 12 months.

oompah18 · Post by **oompah18** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:50 pm

Wow, yet again penelope gives me so much advice, even though it is aimed at JDK too

I was working for 17 years before moving to Finland & having 3 kids in 3 & half years, so in a way, it is a career change for me. I plan to work self employed, part time, when the kids are at school, as being a musician/ music teacher/ just seems to be really in demand round here, as is the increase in families wanting to be bilingual Finnish English (If I could have had a euro for everytime someone asks me if I am giving English lessons right now

)
I agree, do some Finnish course, or something completely different, especially in a totally Finnish speaking environment, it is very stimulating that way, I hope you JDK, meet lots of friends & have a great time here, good luck,
Merry Christmas
Allie

JDK · Post by **JDK** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 12:29 pm

Thanks for all the responses and suggestions. It does seem that Helsinki is the place for all the social action.

I looked up the American Womens Club so thanks again to whoever suggested it.

Xochiquetzal I had to laugh at your LA comment. I'm from the Riverside area myself and most of my family is in Ventura so I'd say I'm pretty used to Los Angelians.

Xochiquetzal · Post by **Xochiquetzal** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 12:42 pm

JDK wrote:Thanks for all the responses and suggestions. It does seem that Helsinki is the place for all the social action. I looked up the American Womens Club so thanks again to whoever suggested it.

Xochiquetzal I had to laugh at your LA comment. I'm from the Riverside area myself and most of my family is in Ventura so I'd say I'm pretty used to Los Angelians.

Ok, well, I'm from the Western side - graduated from Glendale High but grew up in the SF valley. So hey, you won't laugh at my valley girl accent

Welcome to Finland

Storbjorn · Post by **Storbjorn** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:32 am

Hello!

Well, I don't qualify as a stay-at-home mom, but I am am a work-at-home dad from Chicago. I'm also here in Porvoo with my wife and two kids (4 and 6). I guess I've been a real hermit up here on Joonanmäki, cause I haven't heard any other languages spoken around town (except during tourist season). Nice to see so many other expats living out here in the metro periphery!

allan · Post by **allan** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:48 pm

It seems there are lots of us living in Porvoo (or in my case Pellinki). I have been suprised to find 3 scots living there - and here was me thinking a l was all alone! However it seems there are a lot of other English speakers (first or second language) from other parts of the world. Is anyone organised enough to arrange an international event in Porvoo (i.e. evening coffee/beer perhaps)? It is always nice to meet new people.

Stephen B · Post by **Stephen B** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 8:30 am

hey i'm up for that, if anything comes up let me know

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