Text and photos: Eeva Mäkinen
Audrey Noel’s and Stefan Sandelin’s decision to come to Finland for one winter led to a second winter and possibly a third in the future.
The French-Finnish couple wanted to work in the north for the winter because Audrey was interested in Finland, and Stefan had never been to Lapland.
They arrived in Kuusamo for seasonal work in 2022 through the EURES website’s European Job Days online event, where companies seek workers for the winter.
“Participating in the event is easy from anywhere in the world. The site has a good system where the needs and wishes of job seekers and companies are matched as closely as possible. After entering your details and skills, the site recommends suitable destinations, and that’s how we were offered Pohjolan Pirtti,” Audrey happily explains.
The winter in Kuusamo has clearly made a big impression on the couple, and they remember the past two winters with warmth.
“In the midst of a busy workday, the community spirit of Pohjolan Pirtti, snowshoeing trips in the nearby forests, movie nights and card games with colleagues, and cooking food stand out,” Stefan recalls fondly.
However, Audrey mentions one specific thing for those dreaming of working during the winter season.
“You have to be ready to adapt to different situations. Social life is constantly present, and you have to get along with everyone,” Audrey lists.
The couple had such good experiences with the EURES website and Pohjolan Pirtti that they have already recommended the site to several of their friends.
“The winter season is amazing, but it would be interesting to perhaps stay here for the summer sometime to work as a guide, for example, because nature is so different,” Stefan dreams.
In front of a beautiful log wall on a sofa exuding old times sits the hardworking entrepreneurial couple Tanja and Matti Pohjola. They look out at the beloved lake views and praise the wonderful surrounding nature.
They have run the beautiful Pohjolan Pirtti in the rural landscape of Vuotunki for almost 25 years, mainly serving their international guests.
The weathered logs charmed guests from Russia and Ukraine in the early days of the business, but today customers mainly come to enjoy the atmosphere of the cottage from Britain, Spain, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, and even Japan and China.
Currently, they have one permanent employee. In addition to local gig workers, retirees, and students, help comes from international workers, which Tanja considers absolutely essential due to their language skills.
Tanja and Matti have been using the EURES website for recruiting international employees since 2018.
“In the first year, we received up to a hundred applications, even though we only had four positions open,” Tanja marvels.
Tanja enjoys moments when she can serve customers in their own language and tell stories without an interpreter, noting that it also saves everyone’s time in the midst of busyness.
The biggest wish of international applicants is to experience a real winter far from city dust and to see the northern lights. The recruitments have been very successful, and some want to return year after year to the magical winter landscapes of Pohjolan Pirtti.
“Only one employee left Vuotunki after three days, finding that the cold was not suitable for him.”
When it comes to differences in work culture, Tanja says they have always managed by openly discussing them.
She tells a prospective employee how employers also work here, work start times are precise, proper winter clothes and shoes are essential, there is little free time during the short busy season, and the store is a long way away.
However, in free moments, you can step right outside to snowshoe, ski, or kick-sled, and get a genuine local experience.
In addition to basic matters, the employee is also briefed on cold and snow-related considerations.
“Not everything is obvious to someone coming from a warm country, like not spraying window cleaner on the window outside when it’s -20 degrees. And the snow work. The steps must be brushed before stepping on the stairs,” Tanja says with a smile.
Tanja and Matti trust the future even after COVID and other crises. They want to develop tourism in a sustainable way so that people from abroad can continue to enjoy the services of Pohjolan Pirtti and Kuusamo in the future.
“Our employees stay close to Pirtti, and even in the midst of busyness, we always have a shared Christmas lunch,” Tanja mentions.
In free moments, you can step right outside to snowshoe, ski, or kick-sled, and get a genuine local experience.
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