Pori, a liveable city

First impression of Finland

Tian Zhang was born in China. Later he moved to Japan and after that to the USA. How did Tian end up moving to Pori? Let’s hear his story and thoughts about Pori and Finland in general.

– I travelled to Finland for the very first time in 2015. It was totally dark because it was wintertime in Finland. There was lots of snow and it looked so beautiful, Tian starts.

Coming from Japan, Finland was like a dream, utopia.

–  I had seen pictures of wintertime with the nature filled with white snow, and from summer, where every place is covered with green – it felt like a dream. But here, it’s real! And the blue waters are so beautiful, continues Tian.

Impressive working culture

Tian has also reflected on the differences between working cultures of different countries, while he has worked as a researcher in Finnish mining technology company.

– Compared to Asia, working culture here is impressive. In Asia, it is totally normal to work 12 to 13 hours per day. It is seen as normal there. In Finland, you ”only” work from 8 to 16. Or you can even work from home! You have a paid sick leave and a long, paid holiday in the summer. Those things are just impossible in Asian working culture, Tian explains.

– I feel like Finland has a great support system for everyone. Here we have free healthcare, free education and all of these different benefits for different people, like students or families. This city also feels safe for kids, Tian continues.

Living in Pori has been quite different from living in all the big cities Tian has lived in.

– Coming from Asia and from a big city, I found myself thinking ”Is this really the centre? Am I really living in the city centre?” Because it’s so calm here. No traffic and no rush. But I´ve had a good impression of the city, amused Tian says.

A good place to live in with children

Tian’s wife has taught Japanese in Civic Education Centre (kansalaisopisto), and worked with schools to teach about Asian culture and connect schools between Japan and Finland. A couple of years ago Tian and his wife had their first child. They now have a happy family with two small children.

– Before I had my kids, everyday life sometimes felt quite boring. In Pori, there is lots to do with children! For example, Kirjurinluoto park is very nice. Yyteri is also very beautiful. It is a big advantage to have a beach that nice and big here in Pori. And we like to go to Yyteri not just in the summertime – but also in the winter. It´s such a relaxing place, Tian muses.

Tian adds that Pori is a very nice city, where services are also available in English.

– It is easy to communicate with health and social services, for example. Our kids go to an English playschool, where they speak English, but naturally the kids hear Finnish everywhere.

Tian’s children are still small, so they do a lot of things together as a family. When asked if Tian and his family have thought about their future plans in Pori, Tian smiles, saying he doesn’t think he will die in Pori.

– But I have been here for six years. If I didn’t like it here, I wouldn’t have stayed here for so long. I think this is a nice, calm city with lots of opportunities, Tian laughs.

Tian’s top 3 things in Pori:  

• Swimming hall – It’s very nice to go with or without kids.
• Kirjurinluoto park – Great with kids, lots of greenery and the kids like it.
• Pori Jazz and Suomi Areena events – Nice to have people in the city during these big summer events. The international atmosphere is great!

Love lead from Sweden to Pori

At the office of Visit Pori sits a smiling couple. A contact to an interview came completely out of the blue to Markus. Roosa had seen an open search for migration stories and announced Markus for an interview. Markus wanted Roosa to join the interview since she had filled the application form.

– I arrived from Central Sweden to the travel centre of Pori on a winter Friday three years ago. Then started the Pori relationship, and I moved here at the end of September 2022. I sold my house and business after falling in love with my Pori lady, Roosa tells on the application, which she secretly filled and signed with Markus’ name.

But how did Markus end up in from Sweden into a city he has never visited?

Taken by the first dates

Markus and Roosa found each other in classic way, through Tinder.

– So, had I known that Markus was from Central Sweden, this could have ended quite fast. He had set Tampere as his location with wide radius for matching. So, as we matched, I thought he was from Tampere. Well, he was from farther away, Roosa laughs.

Markus had suggested a date on a ship to Sweden, but Roosa thought that it would be better to get him to a visit in Pori.

– We had never met each other face to face. First Markus had suggested a date on a ship to Sweden. I was helpless. What if he is an awful guy and I am stuck on the ship, I could not run away from him on a ship, she laughs.

– Then Roosa suggested me to come directly to Pori. And sure, I did. We met for the first-time face to face after ten weeks of messaging, at the Pori travel centre. Then Roosa showed me Kallo, Yyteri, and Reposaari. She packed coffee with her, of course, Markus tells while smiling.

After a lovely weekend Markus returned to Sweden, but never forgot Roosa and Pori, as there had been sparks. Then Covid19 hit the world and the couple could not meet each other for the next 10 weeks. After the borders were opened again, Markus headed towards Pori on the very same day. The couple tried to spend time together at least once a month. A few cruises were done together back and forth.

– We have contributed to the fleet operators’ economy during the last three years, visiting each other, Markus and Roosa laugh.

Eventually, Markus became a Pori resident as he followed his heart and moved to Pori.

Everything you need is in Pori

Living together has gone well, and Pori has surprised Markus positively.

– For me it was a complete surprise, how magnificent city Pori is. And how beautiful the nature here is, Markus says.

– Reposaari, Yyteri, Kallo, Joutsijärvi, Ruosniemi, Kuukkari, Viikkari, Saantee…, the couple lists their favourite places.

These places definitely have a theme. Roosa and Markus are people for whom the outdoor activities are a big part of their life. For example, riding fatbikes is a common hobby of the couple.

– Now that we bought a cottage in Meri-Pori, we have been biking less. The cottage requires a lot of renovations. At the moment, we have not been doing anything but renovating our cottage. We could buy a kayak to the cottage, so we could head to the waters, Markus tells eagerly.

In Sweden Markus had a boat for 5 to 6 years, which he used to sail to Åland. A kayak is not suitable for Åland trips, even though the cottage is right next to the shore. Luckily, the couple has other plans that essentially includes going outdoors.

– In the next summer, we are planning to bicycle to Lapland. We are not spending a lot of time here in the city. We like the outdoors and doing other things. We come here to the city centre if we need to run errands.

–In here you will find everything you need, the fells are a bit too far way for a guy from Central Sweden, but at least the sea is nearby, Markus states.

Top 3 things for Roosa and Markus with nature theme important to the couple:

• Yyteri; diverse outdoor terrains and the vicinity of the sea are a perfect combination.
• Reposaari; the couple likes to go to admire the old buildings.
• Kuuminainen – a good outdoors area (which Markus called by accident during the first visits ”kuumanainen”, meaning “hot woman” in English)

Attracted by the cosy Pori

Ursula’s family of four moved to Pori in August 2022. When thinking about where to move next, their family pondered between Pori and Tampere. Eventually, Pori was chosen, as the family was currently living in Kankaanpää and had visited Pori several times – and loved it. Pori felt right in size and peaceful, and reminded them of their hometown in Hungary.

– We moved from Hungary to Finland in 2019. In Hungary we lived in Budapest. There we did not have the sea, but both the cities are combined by the same things; reasonably sized city with services and hobbies, says the father “Antti”.

From a nearby municipality to the city of Pori

Ursula got a job in Pori, as they still were living in Kankaanpää. At first, they thought about driving to work, but days got longer.

–As a mother it felt bad to miss the morning routines of the children, or the afternoon activities when working days were longer. Even though we did not want to change the daycare and school of our children, we started to look for rental apartments in Pori. This way, we could have some extra time with our children, tells the mother Ursula.

The apartment rents seemed too high for us, so they decided to apply for a loan for an apartment of their own.

–We looked at a house and we decided to buy it. Coincidentally, there was another Hungarian family familiar to us living in the neighbourhood. They had children of the same age as ours and we have visited an indoor playground and the Satakunta Museum together, tells Ursula.

The new daily life of the family

In their opinion, they have enjoyed the life well in Pori. The older child tells eagerly about having judo as a hobby, mentioning friends and the school as favourites.

– I think people here are positive. For example, after starting at my new job in Pori, it was lovely and nice how people received me at work. Everyone was so nice and friendly. We have a good atmosphere, and it is easy to go to work, Ursula tells.

Antti’s experiences have also been positive.

– It feels like everyone is open for ideas and thoughts. We appreciate each other, we are open-minded, Antti says whilst telling about his experience at work try-out, where he was contributing to a new social service together with the drug abuse and homelessness foundation Blue Ribbon of Pori.

– It is really important to give ideas, thoughts, and to argue. Then we consider the matters together. I am arguing quite often; Ursula agrees and laughs.

The family has actively gotten to know the city and residents of Pori. The Puuvilla area and Pori Jazz have become familiar. Yyteri has become an important place for the family. An acquaintance of Ursula knew good outdoor and camping sites in Yyteri. The older child states that there is a really good hill.

– Yyteri is a diverse destination since you can go there in winter as well, Antti continues.

Destiny led to the hometown

The family noticed once a manhole cover on the ground with a clear sign of finding a right place.

– The manhole cover had a text “Eger” on it. We were amazed since Eger is one of our favourite cities in Hungary. It turned out that Eger and Pori are twin cities. It was a funny coincidence!

The entire family considers Pori as their hometown.

– We have a sense of a permanent home here. And Pori is a bear city – in addition, I happen to have a bear tattoo!

TOP 3 things in Pori: 

• Best friends
• Everyone is friendly
• The city centre during summer, Yyteri, and the sea nearby, the lighthouse in Kallo. We came from near the sea and the swimming is important for the entire family. It is romantic to live in a maritime city.