Putting Down Roots in Rauma
News
Text: Essi Partia
Photo: Elmeri Elo
When Angela Torikka arrived in Rauma in May 2010, the decision was shaped by circumstance rather than long‑held plans. Life quietly pointed her here.
Originally from Southern California, Torikka had been working in the film industry in Los Angeles. She met her Finnish husband there, and when the recession hit, the question of where to settle answered itself. His family was from Rauma – and for Torikka, Finland felt like a sensible and safe place to build a family. “I never seriously considered raising a family in the States,” she says. “Here, life felt calmer, and we had family close by.” Today, Rauma is her home and the place where she has lived most of her adult life.
Like many newcomers, Torikka’s first concern was the language barrier. But it soon became clear that English worked well almost everywhere in daily life. Growing up in a multilingual household made navigating between cultures and languages familiar. Rather than focusing on differences, she chose to lean into similarities. “That mindset has helped everywhere I’ve lived,” she says. “It makes new places feel familiar faster.”
Rauma’s small‑town rhythm revealed itself quickly. Daily encounters often turned into conversations, and faces started to feel familiar. Compared to California, where networking never really paused, interactions in Rauma felt refreshingly sincere. “There’s a sense of transparency so you don’t have to constantly second‑guess or perform,” Torikka says.
After arriving in Finland, her career gradually shifted towards language, editing and teaching. She worked at Areva and later founded Foxfire Language Academy. This autumn, she will run new courses at the local adult education centre (Kansalaisopisto) – from an English book club to theatre workshops and English‑language karaoke. For Torikka, language learning is about connection. “It’s about using it, enjoying it, communicating.”
Today, she lives just outside the town centre, surrounded by countryside and an old garden. The slower pace has made everyday life feel more supportive and far less anxious than before. “I can still drive through Los Angeles traffic,” she says. “But I’ve learned to enjoy not having to.”
Rauma, to her, is a place of quiet character – small in size, generous in spirit. A town where belonging grows through everyday moments.
“It’s a place you can put down roots,” she says. “If you’re willing to meet it on its own terms.”
Who?
Angela Torikka
- Originally from Southern California
- Has lived in Rauma since 2010
- Language professional, editor and teacher
- Founder of Foxfire Language Academy
- Lives in Kolla with her husband and their 12 year old son
This article was published in the Rauma-lehti magazine, which was released on June 10, 2026. The Rauma-lehti can be read online on Issuu.
