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Catalina Nica's life is anything but quiet. She is a trained teacher, loves working with people, and never turns down a new challenge. In Åland, her journey has taken her from cleaner to deputy principal at Medis.
Catalina Nica moved to Åland from Romania with her husband 16 years ago. At the time, the plan was to only stay for a short period in Finland.
- We wanted change and the opportunity to create better conditions for our family. I was 24 years old then and we had one child, now we have two. A seventeen-year-old and a five-year-old.
Before moving, Catalina had worked for a year as a teacher in Romania and noticed that she didn't enjoy the bureaucratic school system. Instead, she had heard many good things about schools in Finland, and through friends, the choice fell on Åland.
The transition from Romania to a new life in Åland was not easy for the family. Since neither of them could speak Swedish, job opportunities were initially limited. Catalina's husband is an engineer and had his own mobile telecommunications company in Romania. In Åland, the couple instead had to move between various odd jobs and work at everything from laundry to cleaning.
- Eventually we reached a point where we really wanted to change our lives in Åland and find jobs in our professional fields, but we couldn't attend Swedish classes for newcomers because the course conflicted with our working hours. It ended with us quitting our jobs to take the course, and once we had learned the language, things finally started to fall into place for us in Åland.
Catalina was not satisfied with merely passing the general language test, she wanted to become even better at Swedish.- I applied for a hotel and conference program and improved my Swedish while also gaining a new professional qualification.
After that, Catalina further studied to become a health communicator and a leader in cleaning technology. She has also worked at Hotel Arkipelag as a housekeeper, in the restaurant service, and as a substitute housekeeper.
Still, there remained a longing to work as a teacher again. Catalina therefore contacted the education office at the Åland Regional Government to have her teaching qualifications validated, which was made easier by Romania being an EU member state.- Now I am a qualified teacher in Åland too!
Catalina ended up at Medis in the City of Mariehamn four years ago when they needed an assistant for the Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) courses.- I walked in with my CV and application in hand, and got the job!
What started as a temporary position ended with a teaching job and her own SFI groups for Catalina. In between, she has also stepped in as an administrator at the office and served as a substitute placement coordinator and information officer at Kompassen, which is aimed at newcomers from non-Nordic countries. Currently, she is deputy principal at Medis and is responsible for the SFI courses and Swedish for immigrants in employment (SIA).
What the future holds she doesn't know, other than that she wants to continue working with people.- You'll never know what you enjoy doing if you don't try! I'm happy where I am and would love to continue working with newcomers, but I won't say no to new challenges either.
When the Nica family moved to Åland, neither Kompassen nor any other consolidated information for newcomers existed. - We had to find our own way instead of just going to Kompassen and asking for the information we needed.
In addition to turning to Kompassen, Catalina advises other newcomers to actively seek new friends from Åland, who can help with contacts, provide tips and answer questions.
Catalina's husband now has his own construction company, and the family lives in a house in Möckelö Strand near Mariehamn. After 16 years in Åland, their 17-year-old daughter considers herself an Ålander and the same goes for the family's 5-year-old son, who loves Nordic food.
- Over time, we adults also become more Ålandic. We still think of Romania as our homeland, but don't want to move back. We have chosen to focus on the children, and neither have the energy nor the desire to start over from scratch somewhere else.
Catalina sees the security and the excellent conditions for families with children as major advantages of Åland. She also appreciates the tranquility and nature. At least in summer – she still finds the winters a little too long.
- We have worked hard and fought to make life better for our children – that is why we live in Åland!
Find available jobs and read more about the City of Mariehamn as an employer.
Do you want to work in Åland with a degree from a university or college in a country other than Finland? Then you first need to apply to have your degree or academic achievement equated with the equivalent education in Finland or in Åland. This applies, for example, if you want to work as a teacher in schools or in childcare.
The Education Office at the Government of Åland will help you with your application:
More information about the recognition of foreign professional qualifications can be found at the Government of Åland.
You can study Swedish for immigrants through Medis.
Visit the Town Hall in Mariehamn with the information office Kompassen at Storagatan 11 B, here you will find information and other useful things to know for newcomers, especially if you are moving from non-Nordic countries.
Welcome guide – everything you need to know before moving to Åland.
Information for those looking for a new job.
Find your new home – tips and advice for those looking for housing in Åland.
Det finns många anledningar att välja Åland. Ibland är det jobbet, andra gånger familjen, kärleken eller möjligheten till en enklare vardag. Läs mer om hur livet på Åland kan se ut i våra intervjuer med nya ålänningar.
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