When Colombian and Finnish traditions meet – Kummi Family programme is all about sharing customs and experiences

After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Antioquia, Carolina Herrera spent a few years working on artificial intelligence development in the computer sciences industry. Herrera found this work to be very interesting to her and she wanted to study more in order to continue professional work in this field. She also had a desire to study abroad and so she started researching her options, which is how she found the Master’s Programme in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Oulu.

“Finland is of course very famous for its educational system, which is why I was looking into options here as well as other European countries. The curriculum in Oulu was interesting to me as it is very varied. I was also intrigued by this place that is so far in the North, because I really like cold weather. I know it sounds funny coming from a Colombian!” Herrera says with a laugh.

Herrera likes to challenge herself and expose herself to new experiences as much as possible. So, even if she liked cold weather before, she wanted to test if she liked it as much as she thought. Her first winter in Oulu had temperatures below -20 degrees Celsius and the city was covered in snow and ice, in true winter wonderland fashion.

“I visited Germany in my teens and experienced the winter there, but this was my first proper winter. I don’t mind the cold here, which is fortunate, and this winter was just incredibly beautiful,” Herrera says.

Herrera’s curiosity about Oulu and the programme at the university extends to Finland and Finnish culture. The University of Oulu’s Kummi Family programme is intended to facilitate cultural exchange between international degree students and locals in Oulu, a two-way opportunity to meet new people and get introduced to other cultures. The long-standing programme is very popular and it has resulted in life-long friendships.

Herrera had learned about the programme from the university’s pre-orientation materials before she arrived in Oulu and she wanted to see what it was like.

“I knew about it beforehand and they also talked about the Kummi Family programme during the first week of introductory sessions at the university, and I thought I would apply. The idea of sharing experiences with a Finnish family directly was very appealing.”

It turned out that chance played a role in Herrera’s first meeting with her to-be Kummi Family. Herrera’s original family wasn’t able to participate in the first Kummi Family meeting at the university, and she ended up sitting next to another family. As luck would have it, the degree student who was paired with this family, also wasn’t able to participate that day. Herrera and the Hyrkäs family started a casual conversation, which led to both parties wanting to be paired with each other. They just clicked, Herrera says.

“They are a big extended family, Silja and Jussi with four kids in total and Silja’s parents. We have celebrated a lot of the Finnish holidays together, like Independence Day, Christmas, Easter, and we also celebrated Artturi’s birthday, who is one of Silja and Jussi’s young children”, Herrera explains.

Herrera says that the Kummi Family programme has been a wonderful way to learn about Finnish culture and society. She feels that she has a certain advantage as a foreigner trying to get familiar with the Finnish way of life because of her connection with the Hyrkäs family.

“It is kind of a shortcut. I think it would be a bit more challenging to navigate society and get to know the culture without them, even if lots of Finnish people speak English and are very kind and willing to help. The family has been very helpful with everyday things like going to the pharmacy or figuring out some bureaucratic thing”, Herrera says.

“Carolina has brought a lot of joy to our family. One of the perks for the families participating in the programme is that it helps you see Finnish culture from someone else’s viewpoint. It helps us see things that we take for granted with fresh eyes. And we are eager to learn about Colombia and Carolina’s culture, so it works both ways”, Silja Hyrkäs says.

And then, there’s dessert.

“I love sweets! It’s so good. There is a special cake or dessert for every celebration in Finland, which I love", Herrera laughs.

The culinary enthusiasm goes both ways. While Herrera is learning about Finnish traditions and holidays through desserts and pastries, she is also sharing Colombian traditions and foods with the Hyrkäs family. Herrera has been taking Finnish along with her other studies and she gets to practice vocabulary with the Kummi Family. Her “Kummi grandmother”, Silja’s mother Tuuli, speaks Spanish and delights at the opportunity to work on her language skills.

At the end of her first study year, Herrera says she has settled in Oulu very well. She spent her Christmas there and has a summer internship in Tampere before she returns to Oulu in the fall for her next semester. She says her studies are a lot of work, but in a good way. The curriculum is exactly what she hoped for and she thinks it will be very beneficial to her professional life. And her Kummi Family has provided her with a way into Finnish culture, which she identifies with.

“I am an introverted person and fairly quiet for a Latin American person. Like the Finns, I enjoy my personal space. I am still very struck by how close to nature you are in Finland, even in the city, and I really appreciate how peaceful it is.”

Text and photos by Janne-Pekka Manninen