From the world to Västerås. Daring to move, daring to belong

Meet Raisa Haikala, the accompanying partner who turned a move to Västerås into something more than just a new address.

For some, a relocation begins with a job offer; for others, with a longing for a specific place. For Raisa, it started with a ambition to keep moving forward, to dare to take the next step and open the door to something new.

For nearly fifteen years, she has lived and worked in several countries, navigating languages, cultures, and contexts. From Finland to China and Taiwan, on to England – and finally, in the middle of the pandemic, she and her family landed in Sweden and Västerås.

It was her partner who received a job offer. But the decision was mutual, and it was Raisa who pushed it forward.

It was me who pushed. I said: let’s go.

She saw the move as an opportunity, both for the family and for herself. A chance to learn a new language and step into something unfamiliar. At the same time, they were living in an England where everyday life had become more restricted, with closed schools and limited freedom of movement.

Leaving became not only a farewell, but also a sense of relief.

While the job was clearly based in Västerås, it was not obvious that this would also become the place they chose to live. Stockholm was an alternative, but the children’s schooling became decisive. The International School in Västerås became an important piece of the puzzle in a relocation with an open time horizon.

What began as a practical decision quickly proved to hold more. There was an accessibility that made everyday life easy, while the city offered everything they needed: restaurants, nature, Lake Mälaren, and proximity to Stockholm.

Over time, a sense of having found the right place began to grow.

Finding her own place

The first period in Sweden was still an adjustment. Raisa had brought Swedish from her school years in Finland, but quickly discovered that knowing a language is one thing, living in it is another.

I could speak Swedish, but not really the one I needed in everyday life.

Authorities, banks, and systems required a different vocabulary and a different sense of confidence in the language. Getting a personal identity number, a bank account and entering society took time and before everything was in place, it felt like standing on the outside looking in.

At the same time, her role as an accompanying partner became clear. While her partner gained a context through work, Raisa had to build her own daily life and network from scratch.

Don’t wait. You can wait your whole life for an invitation. Invite yourself.

Through her children’s activities, doors opened. Hockey and community life became natural meeting points, where conversations grew into relationships. At the same time, she began creating her own contexts, which also sparked thoughts about her next step in working life.

With a background as a teacher and more than 20 years of experience working with adult immigrants, she had clear competence but the path into the job market was not obvious.

After a period of job searching, I chose to create my own path.

Through her network, she began working as a consultant, which strengthened both direction and confidence.

I thought: I know what I can do, so I should trust myself and use it.

Turning experience into purpose

Today, she is developing Snacka, an AI-based language application that helps newcomers find their voice in Swedish and feel included in society. The idea is rooted in her own journey and her long experience working with people in similar situations.

For Raisa, language, inclusion and working life are closely connected. She sees how more open and inclusive communication not only benefits individuals but also strengthens organisations and influences how a place like Västerås receives and grows together with new residents.

A place to call home

Today, the family has found their place. The children are growing up in a safe environment where distances are short and opportunities are close by.

Here, children can cycle on their own and take care of themselves. That says a lot about safety.

Over time, Västerås has gone from an unfamiliar name to something much more meaningful.

For us, Västerås has become home.

And maybe that is what makes her journey so telling. Being an accompanying partner is not just about following someone else, but about creating your own sense of belonging. About daring to take space, define what matters and build something of your own.

The future is still open. The children’s paths and her company will shape what comes next. But the foundation is there.

A place where life works.

And a journey that shows that sometimes it is in the unexpected that something real takes shape