We are glad that we dared to try life in another place!

For the small family with children, the move to Åland came from Jakobstad in Ostrobothnia.
- We had long dreamed of living somewhere else, and I wanted to study, preferably something short and efficient, just like at grit:lab. When my brother told me about the program, it was a perfect opportunity for us, says Jacob Pesämaa, who applied and was accepted.

Yet it was difficult for the family to let go and leave all their comforts behind, especially when they didn't know what they would get in return. 
- At first it was a bit scary to move from Jakobstad, but now it feels really great, it was worth the challenge, says Jacob, and Amanda agrees.

- We've said so many times to each other – imagine that we did it, that we dared to take the leap! It has been so positive for us to experience what it's like to live somewhere else.

New insights

Jacob is now attending grit:lab together with 70 other students from around the world. Of these, 24 are from Åland, which Jacob feels provides a good insight into Ålandic culture. 
- It's a bit of a luxury – it's also like getting the fun part of an around-the-world trip since we have people from 20 different countries in the class. 

The program is intensive but rewarding.
- I had barely used computers before, but I love difficult challenges. I've also become much better at English, learned how to learn from each other, and challenged my logical thinking on a deep level.

Through the program, he also gets to familiarize himself with the dozen or so Ålandic tech companies involved as grit:lab Partners.

Life with young children

While Jacob studies, Amanda is on parental leave with their 1.5-year-old son Hosea. Thanks to Jacob's flexible study schedule, she can sometimes step in and work at the care home Trobergshemmet in Mariehamn. 
- It's great to have colleagues when you want to get to know others and become part of a community!

She is otherwise pleasantly surprised by how good the offerings are for those at home with children.
- I read about the family café in Folkhälsan's magazine even before we moved. The baby library sessions at the library have also been great and fun. There are also many public social spaces where you can meet others with children of the same age – through the playground, for example, I've made a wonderful new friend.

Good weather and community atmosphere

Right now, it's very open as to what will happen when Jacob finishes his studies, but both he and Amanda enjoy living in Åland. The dream is to find an Ålandic employer who offers the possibility of remote work between Åland and Jakobstad.

- Many things are better in Åland than in Ostrobothnia. We like that the climate is a bit milder and that we avoid all those months of snow and minus twenty degrees. 

- Yes, I've rediscovered my love of running, it's so convenient with little snow and many running-friendly trails, says Amanda.

Both appreciate the Ålandic mentality. They find that people from Åland are not as reserved as they are used to from Ostrobothnia, but not as blunt as in Sweden either. 
- As Ostrobothnians, we feel at home in Åland when it comes to the atmosphere in the workplace – it's friendly and positive with minimal emphasis on hierarchy. On the other hand, we had expected it to be a bit more bilingual, like in Ostrobothnia.

The best thing about Åland is still that it is a calm, safe, and harmonious place, especially for children. 
- For us who have moved from the countryside, Mariehamn is a just-right sized city, but Mariehamn is surely just as well suited for those who want to live a quieter life than in a big city.

- The only thing we miss is our families, friends, and our congregation!