Before

Necklace Pecock: Bronze casting, brass, amber, gold-plated silver

Earrings Black and White: Resin, feather, silver, amber

Bracelet: Resin, feather, brass

Now

Necklace DNA: Brass, resin, amber

Earrings Us: Resin, brass

Brooch On the Journey: Brass, amber, resin

Bracelet New Home: Birch bark, resin, brass

Megha Goswami 

I am originally from India. My parents moved to Taiwan when I was young, where we lived for 2 years and then moved to the US for five years before moving back to India. I was 11 years old when we returned to India, so I learned quite young how to adjust to different environments. As a child, I was the child of immigrants in a different country, and I also noticed that my parents had strong roots to their motherland India, and therefore never intended to settle in the US. Little did I knew that I would continue my journey as an immigrant, this time, on my own journey to Finland.  

I was offered a scholarship to study Biomedical Sciences – Molecular Biotechnology and in vitro diagnostics track at the University of Turku in 2018. While I had applied to other countries, including the Netherlands, Cyprus and New Zealand, the scholarship appealed the most as it would be the most cost-effective study program for me, and I was also optimistic about the job opportunities that might be possible to find in Finland after my studies. While I had no intentions of living in Finland long term, my studies evolved into work life and building a life here together with my now husband, who I met while at university.  

Equality to me is the chance to live your life to the fullest – irrespective of your gender, race, or sexual orientation. It is to have the same opportunities in life irrespective of financial abilities. While we have all noticed various forms of inequalities in life, whether that is, the number of women in tech roles, or otherwise, the inequality I have noticed the most is financial inequality. I have lived in 4 countries till now – India, Taiwan, USA and Finland. My memories of Taiwan are limited, since I was five years old at the time, but in both India and America, I witnessed a significant difference in quality of life based on one’s income. On opposite sides of the road, would be skyscrapers and homeless individuals, their lives completely different and yet walking up and down the same crossroads. One of the things that I noticed immediately after reaching Finland is the lack of a large pay gap between individuals, enabling a more equal life for all. 

Despite being an immigrant woman of colour, I have been privileged. I have had supportive parents who have invested in my well-being and upbringing with all their efforts dedicated to me being successful. As an only child, I was taught early on in life to work hard, and I do believe that has allowed me to get a seat at tables most people are not able to get to. 

For the last five years, I have been working at Finnish companies, where I have represented the minority. In both companies there have been few people of foreign origin. Despite that, on most days of my working life, I have felt accepted and welcome. I am still one of the youngest employees at my company at 27, and while I am usually the youngest person in the room, I have been given a chance to share my views and opinions without hesitation. I do not think my background effects my everyday life, perhaps it effects how I think and how I react.  

Being a more inclusive country would make Finland a better place to live. Despite myself having had rather positive experiences in Finland, I am aware that racism does exist here. In a country where racism exists, people face discrimination in day-to-day life as well as in work life, or even in finding work. I think most of us find happiness or contentment through our work and believing in what we do. A society which deprives hardworking people of that, leaves the people disappointed and disheartened. Accepting individuals of foreign background into the workforce and integrating them into society is a big goal for Finland in the next decade or two. Through my YouTube channel “Couple of Expats”, I am eager to create a bidirectional exchange of spreading awareness of Nordic society to other parts of the world, while hoping to take a step closer to making Finland more international.  

The Finnish way of life has grown on me, as I appreciate various aspects of living in Finland. From being able to take long walks in nature, to spending time berry picking, I have enjoyed the local culture. Despite knowing very little of the language, I have understood the culture well and enjoy particularly the low hierarchy in Finnish companies, the work- life balance and the straightforward communication with both colleagues and supervisors.   

Often, individuals including myself go through an identity crisis when having moved from one country to another. Initially there might be some pressure to blend in, and after a while one becomes too foreign for their own home country and foreign in their new home. With time, it’s important to find a balance between the two cultures, and I’m still in the process of finding that balance. I feel a disconnect from my own culture, which I would like to overcome someday. Perhaps finding friends in the Indian community, being involved in the community events and gatherings, as well as more frequent trips could help that process. I visited India together with my husband and his family this year, a trip which I will remember forever, and brought me the feeling of being a step closer to India.  

I started working at a local diagnostic company already during my first year in Finland, so I have been actively shaping my professional identity in Southwest Finland. During the time from 2018 to 2024, I have worked in Finland for five years now, worked for two companies and also faced layoffs. This time has taught me how important employment is to our identities and the importance of finding work that is relevant to one’s interests. Internationals are often stuck working jobs which they are not interested in, such as gig economy work like uber driver, or food delivery, and while these jobs are also an important part of society, it is disheartening when individuals with higher education degrees can’t find proper employment.  

I am first the daughter of my parents, and the wife of an amazing man. I am working as a Marketing Coordinator for a health-tech company. I am also a part-time entrepreneur, who offers services such as digital content collaboration, brand partnerships and event speaking.  

My hobbies are limited due to a lack of free time, but I hope to read more books and travel more often. An international person who would like to see the world embrace diversity and immigration, both which I think are evolving in this rapidly changing world. 

I feel myself as a Finnish person and not. I love the country, the nature and what it has to offer. I am also very aware of the fact that I have no family by blood in this country and will never be completely “Finnish” – ever.