Marja Arola / Snowdrop

Necklace and earrings

Silver and freshwater pearls

"Happiness is fragile" is a delicate and touching theme in the Snowdrop jewelry collection, symbolizing the symbiosis of beauty and vulnerability in life. Like the snowdrop that emerges after a cold winter, happiness can be fleeting and fragile, yet it carries with it hope and the promise of new beginnings. The design of this collection reflects this idea, emphasizing life's small, beautiful moments that are precious and worth cherishing.

Ana Boaghe 

I came from the Republic of Moldova five years ago in July. Since my husband was working in Finland, I chose to put my family first and be with him. Even though I left my dream job and my 7-year career at home, from the first day I arrived in Finland I felt that it was my place. My childhood dream of living like in the movies had come true.  

My husband and I drove to Finland. When we arrived here, we found ourselves without a house because of some circumstances, so we lived in a car for about two weeks because we didn't know how to rent an apartment. We didn't know English or Finnish and we didn't have money to go to a hotel. I do not regret the time I lived in the car; it was a test of endurance that I passed well. My husband was working in construction at that time. In the morning, he went to work, and I stayed in the car and went to a shopping centre where I had access to a bathroom and the internet. In the evening, when my husband finished his shift, we went to the beach, ate what a church offered once a week and slept somewhere in the parking lot in the car. Sometimes a work colleague had his apartment free during the day and I stayed at his place until the evening. He left us to sleep at his place about two times. 

We didn't know how to start looking for an apartment and that's why I found ads on the internet from people who can find a host if we pay them the value of a month's rent, which we couldn't afford at the time. In the end, a Moldovan man recommended the company Lumo to us, where we easily found an apartment. In Moldova, the apartments that are rented are usually furnished. I was surprised that there was nothing, not even lamps. But we were the happiest people on earth to have found our place and have access to a shower, a kitchen. For furniture we were able to buy a bed from a second-hand market for 40€. The bed was our only furniture for a few more weeks until my husband received his salary. 

However, the country seemed wonderful to me, and it was a question of time and patience until we found our place. The culture is different from mine, both the people and the customs. But still we have a lot in common, that's why I integrated easily. I had to familiarize myself with the high digitization in Finland, the laws, I learned English individually to be able to communicate. I was on my own, I didn't know about the social centres. That’s why think it took longer than others to find right kind of information. 

Equality would be to have the right to the basic things without feeling guilty. Other people to respect my choices and my way of being. Everyone is unique and special, this is the most important thing in equality, the right to be yourself and of course, at the same time, to respect other’s rights. 

I felt inferior at school when my classmates and teachers made note of the difference between me and other children just by the fact that I was a poor child even if I studied well. People judge me because I think outside the box. When I was a child, I wanted to be like others and have what others have, only because they didn't accept me as I am. They made jokes about me. But I always actually had more than others: love and harmony in the family, high values, and high aspirations. 

Having no friends in my childhood and the fact that the teachers had a bad attitude made me a person with a lack of confidence and a fear of people of higher status: teachers, bosses. At the same time, these things made me strong, they gave me strength to fight to get where I want. A small child with very big wishes. As a child I had the feeling that no one loved me, I felt hated. Probably from so many emotions that I didn't share with anyone, at the age of 19 I got sick, being diagnosed with colon cancer. It's strange to say, but that's when the most beautiful things began to appear in my life. After the surgery, I said to myself: I love this life and I can move on.  Two years of treatment, chemotherapy, and a wig instead of hair followed. But at the same time, I applied to the University, and I graduate after three years. In this time, I made my first real friends and got rid a part of my childhood traumas, because life is beautiful and there is only one. 

In Finland I feel accepted, and I feel that I always have support. Now I feel that this is my place even though I am an immigrant. Here, there are so many options how to be part of this culture. I don't know if I would want to change anything. For the first time, here in Finland I feel accepted and appreciated. People are kind and respectful. Sometimes I feel a difference, not from the Finnish people, but from other nationalities. 

I gave birth to both my children here in Finland and neuvola was one of the first places where I learned about what rights and opportunities I can benefit from. My dream of being a mother came true here in a healthy and calm environment. In the meantime, I met wonderful people through whom I got to know the country and the culture. 

I am 34 years old, and I am mother of a 4- year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy.  

The second hard period for me was maternity leave. I was at home with my daughter all the time, my husband at work, sometimes until 10 pm. I didn't know that in Finland there are so many places where moms can meet, talk, and even study the Finnish language. During the second pregnancy I studied a little bit of Finnish at school. After the second maternity leave, I tried to apply to Business College Helsinki and I think it was my lucky day, because I passed even with my almost A2 Finnish level. Now I am a mom with two small kids and a student at Business College Helsinki, economic science. 

I am still studying the Finnish language, it is a little difficult to me because every day I speak four languages: Romanian, Russian, English and Finnish.  

I have a university degree in economics and seven years of experience working in a bank in my home country. In my free time in Moldova, I went to a theatre course, and I studied psychology. As a lot of people, I like traveling and hiking (Finnish forests are amazing for walking). I read psychological and motivational books. 

I still don't have the feeling that I am Finnish person because I don't speak the language well, but with every day I feel that I am closer. Because I'm a quiet and shy person, it's hard for me to make friends, the fear of being rejected persists and that's why I still don't have Finnish friends. However, I can talk with the parents from kindergarten, with my teachers from college. I also had a wonderful teacher at the school where I learned Finnish, she was the one who encouraged me to apply to college. Sometimes I meet her on the street, and we talk, she is a wonderful woman. 

I had my first internship from the school. It was in Asukastila and there I met very good people, I studied the Finnish language with them and I got some new friends. After this practice I feel closer to Finnish people and culture, and I think my integration is going well. 

This project it is something new for me and it is an opportunity to be part of something very special. I am very happy to collaborate with the museum and my partner.