In between, everywhere

Brooch
Silver
Originating from a feeling of separateness

Same Land

Brooch
Silver, sand (South Africa/Finland), seashell (South Africa), coins (South Africa/Finland)
People have the same needs and concerns, no matter where they come from

The Finnish Mental Landscape

Brooch
Silver, wood/oak
Finnish introversion and racism

Sealed Emotions

Necklace
Silver, plastic

Allison Abdile 

I am from Cape Town South Africaa and I met my husband in South Africa. He is Somali, but he grew up in Finland. We decided to move here after we got married. He was part of a group of refugees from Somalia to move to Finland in the 90’s. 

I moved to Finland in 2006 for the first time but have moved away many times then back again 2016. Each time, we lived in a different area and the experience was different. Some areas were very racist, and others were mixed and more friendly.  

Equality means to me having access to opportunities on the same level as everyone else in Finland. 

 
I feel that I have not experienced equality in Finland for the most part. I feel in almost all aspects of life, I am boxed into the “immigrant” category, and I must fight against the stereotypes. Being from an African background, a woman and wearing hijab, I feel it takes people a while to see past my appearance and value my education and experiences. There is always an assumption that Muslim women are forced to wear hijab or that people in Africa are uneducated. That all immigrants are here as refugees. I remember living in a predominantly Finnish neighbourhood back in 2009. We bought a house there. But we experienced so much racism that we sold the house and moved back to South Africa for a while.  

I would be stopped and asked how we can afford to live in an area like that. The bus driver would ride past our bus stop even if we pressed the button. I had to come to Finland to experience racism and discrimination for the first time in my life. I was not mentally prepared for it. At that time, I had not yet built up the mental resilience that is needed to survive in Finland.  

I think we need more representation and diversity in the workforce. Why is it that there are very few immigrants in “white collar” jobs or in government. Regardless of educational background immigrants are mostly forced into lower level or “blue collar” jobs.  And those that do manage to enter a decent job has to work twice as hard as their Finnish colleagues just to maintain their positions or prove they can do the job.  

 
When you live here long enough you tend to adapt to your environment and start doing things in the expected or accepted manner that you have been exposed to. There are a few things that I think to have really adopted from Finnish culture, that is the love and appreciation for sauna and being out in nature. I love walking in the forest. 

When I found employment, I was fortunate enough to do something that I am passionate about. It gave me a sense of purpose. It helped me to feel validated and respected for my education and experience. I regained my professional identity. Most importantly, my job helps me to help others. 

I have many identities in my family. I am a daughter, a mother, a sister, a wife, a sister-in-law, a cousin. In work I am a Volunteer Co-ordinator and social services student. I have many hobbies, but they don’t define me. I do shadow boxing, Pilates, Zumba and keppijumppa. 

I only feel Finnish when I am back home in South Africa, after being away so long. I have adjusted to the Finnish lifestyle, and I enjoy the calmness about it. I am happy to go to South Africa for vacations but after a few weeks the constant noise and bustle gets to me, and I want to return to my quiet forest. I also enjoy that public services mostly work in Finland, and this is not the case back home.