“The grass is always greener on the other side…” I notice the tendency in myself and others to overrate what we don’t have. It seems we’re waiting for external conditions to fall into place (things we achieve, own, become…time and the weather!) so we can feel better on the inside. It seems that the grass really is greener on the other side, until we realize: it can’t work both ways! It can’t actually be greener.

It’s exciting to see lately is much more attention given towards diversity, inclusion and equality in the Finnish media. Yet this isn’t one of those “sit back and watch things change” scenarios though. We have an opportunity – yes, and we have a role to play. So if you want to advance the discussion in small but tangible ways, I invite you to participate in the 3 following ways…

Over the past 10+ years of living in Finland, I’ve found nature’s ability to adapt and flow with the cycles to be the most inspiring teacher there is in my own transition abroad. Whether for you it’s the plasticity required to adapt to another language or the fluidity that other cultures ask of us – or both at once – nature has lessons to help us navigate the terrain with more grace. Here’s what summer has to teach us…

It’s a pretty simple idea: an invitation to learn how to put together simple sentences in Finnish. We’ll explore from the beginning, but with a twist!

I recently came across a quiz to determine your Creative Type! I thought it’d be fun to share because it’s my belief that: 1) Learning a language is a creative endeavour and, 2) we’re all creative in different ways. Take the test here!

Around a year ago, I found myself in an internal tug of war:

• I wanted to be more intentional about the things I did and the direction my life was headed in.
• But writing my intentions down felt incredibly scary. What if I’d disappoint myself?
• Then again, how would I ever know if I didn’t try? (Round and round, I went.)

Here’s what happened next and why I’m sharing this with you…

In this post, I share the 3 missing links at the root of the vast majority of why people struggle to learn Finnish (or other languages). I’ve built my entire career around helping educate people and support them in integrating these 3 missing pieces into their approaches to learning Finnish. This is the 1st time I talk about these in this way, so I’d love to hear your insights, questions and reactions in the comments below!

Happy new year! I wish you a wealth of joy, laughter, love and health: today, tomorrow and every day of this year. Because it’s ours for the taking, whether we realize it or not. For the past few years, I’ve chosen a word to guide my intentions for the year (I’m not a fan of new years resolutions). So for 2020, kindness is my word. Here’s why…

If in every breath you strip naked just like a winter,
the joy of spring will grow from within
– Rumi

It’s almost upon us: the dead of winter. Some seem to spend all of fall dreading this time of year, but now that it’s upon us, can we lean into it fully, and even enjoy it?

My name is Irina Pravet and I’m a language and cultural transitions coach. I help people tap into their inborn ability to learn Finnish, and feel at home in their lives abroad.

My work brings together the threads that have run deep throughout my life: transitions, adaptation and belonging (between languages and cultures).

Why does this matter so much to me and why do I believe this work is essential? Well to answer this question, I’d have to start at the beginning…