MAHDOLLISUUKSIEN MATKALAUKUT

 What is home? The meaning of home varies for different people and at different stages of life. The concept of home can change depending on circumstances, and sometimes it can be found in surprising places. When I moved to Finland and my living environment changed completely, I was left wondering: what really is home? For many, home is made by its physical features. The physical aspects of a home reflect a person’s personality, life situation, and lifestyle. This is visible, for example, in interior decoration: photographs, keepsakes, and furniture make the space personal. Location and surroundings also play an important role – nearby communities and services, such as the local grocery store or a football field, can be things that make a place feel like home. For others, the more abstract qualities of home are more important. Home is a safe haven, a place for relaxation and presence. It is a place where one can be entirely oneself and express emotions. Home is associated with warmt...

Mikä on koti? Kodin merkitys vaihtelee eri ihmisillä ja eri elämänvaiheissa. Kodin käsitys voi muuttua olosuhteiden mukaan ja joskus se löytyy yllättävistäkin paikoista. Muuttaessani Suomeen ja asuinympäristöni muuttuessa täysin uuteen jäin miettimään: mikä oikeastaan on koti? Monille kodin tekevät sen fyysiset ominaisuudet. Kodin fyysiset ominaisuudet heijastavat ihmisen persoonallisuutta, elämäntilannetta ja elämäntyyliä. Se näkyy esimerkiksi sisustuksessa: valokuvat, muistoesineet ja huonekalut tekevät tilasta omannäköisen. Myös sijainnilla ja asuinympäristöllä on suuri merkitys – lähellä olevat yhteisöt ja palvelut, kuten lähikauppa tai jalkapallokenttä, voivat olla asioita, jotka tekevät kodista kodin. Toisille taas kodin abstraktimmat ominaisuudet ovat tärkeämpiä. Koti on turvasatama, paikka rentoutumiselle ja läsnäololle. Se on paikka, jossa saa olla täysin oma itsensä ja ilmaista tunteitaan. Koti liitetään lämpöön, turvallisuuteen ja läheisyyteen. Kaikille koti ei tarkoita vain...

  Growing up bilingual is a great richness, but the road to growth can sometimes be a little rocky. I moved from Nepal to Finland at the age of six and immediately started first grade here. There were many good reasons why my father decided to stay and study in Finland, such as the praised education system and the excellent level of safety. However, when I moved to Finland, my father was nervous about how I would learn Finnish and adapt to a new society. Finnish is, after all, considered one of the most difficult languages in the world. That is why learning Finnish became my primary goal both at school and at home. Fortunately, my learning at school was supported by the English language, which I had already learned at school in Nepal. In my free time, I wrote a diary, and often after school I practiced new Finnish words and pronunciation together with my mother. My father chatted with the boys next door and asked them to play with me and teach me Finnish, because I didn’t have Finn...