From Fixing Pavement Blocks to Driving a Bus in Finland: Nana Brown’s Inspiring Journey

Nana Brown is a Ghanaian living in Finland, specifically in Kotka, a city in the southern part of the country, a bit far from Helsinki. He has been in Finland for 17 to 18 years, having moved straight from Ghana.

Back in Ghana, he was a cultural dancer and performer, based in Nima and Techie First Junction. His journey into traveling began when he performed at a festival in Modua, spending three weeks there before returning. Later, he went to Norway for three months, and with a Norwegian visa, he explored Scandinavian countries. In 2003, he participated in the Festimundial festival, traveling from the Netherlands to Norway, Sweden, and other places. He believes that with effort, anyone can succeed in art and craft.

Over time, he traveled across many African countries but eventually needed to settle down and take care of his family as the firstborn. During a visit to Finland, he met his wife, and after she visited him in Ghana, they got married, allowing him to move there permanently. His background in cultural performance remained, but after the passing of his leader, Richard Kwakye Dankwah, who was based in Norway, the Nima Cultural Center group declined.

Adjusting to life in Finland was challenging, especially the language barrier, so he had to attend school to learn Finnish. Later, he furthered his education and also did some teaching. During the summer, he would go to Frankfurt, Germany, to participate in festivals and conduct dance lessons for kindergarten children and elderly people. His wife initially didn’t speak English well, but over time, she improved, often using Google Translate before conversations.

Since moving to Finland, he has taught only one man; the rest of his students have been women. Although he wanted to focus on teaching dance, he had to prioritize working to make a living. He now drives a bus, but that wasn’t his first job. Initially, he worked fixing and replacing pavement blocks before deciding to further his education to become a bus driver. After a year and six months of training, he started driving buses six years ago. Although COVID-19 disrupted his job temporarily, he had already completed his training by then.

In Finland, professional bus drivers are highly regarded, and he holds B, C, and D licenses. Companies assess skills before hiring, and he currently drives full-time. He enjoys driving, working an average of eight hours a day, with mandatory rest periods. There is money to be made, but the cost of living is high. Winter conditions are extreme, with even mobile phones freezing, so devices sold there are specially designed to withstand the weather. The same applies to clothing, such as jackets and shoes, which must be suited for the cold climate.

He visits Ghana every year, sometimes with his family. He emphasizes the importance of honesty when dealing with foreigners, advising against starting relationships with deception. In Finland, one cannot hustle illegally or work with someone else’s documents. The main pathways to employment are through school or legal work permits. Many students come through study programs, and the country is close to St. Petersburg, Russia—just an hour’s journey by bus. Though he hasn’t been inside Russia, he has been to the border.

Rent in Finland is expensive, but people often share apartments to manage costs. He pays his rent to his wife, who handles the bills. Currently, while his family is asleep, he stays up to make calls. He advises that when dealing with white people, it’s essential to show them your true character from the start.

There aren’t many Ghanaians in Kotka—he only knows two—but most Ghanaians in Finland are based in Helsinki. The area he lives in is almost like an island, with a serious winter climate. Jobs are scarce, and unless one has a profession or studies, they usually have to return to the bigger cities for work opportunities.

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