Bridging the 60 degree gap between Colombia and Helsinki

Stefania’s journey from the warmth of Colombia to the icy embrace of Helsinki’s winter swimming is a story of contrasts, resilience and giving back. Through her Colombian heritage, Stefania has brought latin flavours to Helsinki’s food scene, and inspired others to do the same.

a woman holding a dog on her shoulder
Helsinki Partners

Meet Stephania Pe – or as her friends know her, Stefi. Originally from Cali, Colombia, Stefania’s journey to Helsinki began in 1999, when she and her mother arrived as refugees. Despite the challenges of adapting to a new country and climate, Stefi has transformed her life in the city, bringing her Colombian roots to Helsinki’s multicultural scene and making a lasting mark along the way.

For Stefi, a memory of moving to Helsinki stands out.

“For me, one memory stands out. It was minus 27 degrees when we arrived. Back home, it was always 32 degrees or more” she laughs, recalling her first winter in Helsinki.

Adjusting to the Nordic winter was only part of the transition. Stefi also noticed how Finnish people’s reserved nature was different from what she knew in Colombia.

“People were polite but kept to themselves more. First it felt like a closed community, but I soon learned to discover the warmth behind it.”

A taste of Colombia Mia

After studying at Itäkeskuksen Lukio, Stefi found herself inspired by the diversity of people she had met in a multi-language high school. Treasuring her Colombian roots, Stefi decided to bring her own heritage to the city through Colombia Mía, a pop-up offering Colombian street food.

“I wanted to introduce Latin street food to Finnish culture. And I hoped other foreigners would feel encouraged to share their food and culture too”, she says. 

To her joy, the reception was beyond what she had imagined – people loved it. Seeing other foreign-born Helsinkians follow suit has been one of her proudest achievements.

“There is a small world right in Helsinki. People here support each other and embrace new ideas.”

Helsinki makes you feel like a “voittaja” !

When asked to share her favourite things to do in Helsinki, Stefi’s list is uniquely her own.

“Spending time with my dog is right at the top. Helsinki is such a pet-friendly city, I can take my dog almost everywhere,” Stefi says. It’s not uncommon to spot her and Negrita, her Pug-Shar-Pei mix, enjoying a day at Löyly.

Stefi also has a passion for swimming – no matter the season. As a former swimmer, she can often be found from the communal swimming pools or public saunas Helsinki has to offer, like Löyly and Allas Sea pool, or taking an icy dip in the Baltic sea.

“Winter swimming in cold water makes you feel like a champion, voittaja in Finnish!” she states. For Stefi, introducing friends and visitors to the tradition of winter swimming has become a favorite activity.

“It’s a true Finnish experience and always a highlight for visitors.”

Photo Yiping Feng and Ling Ouya
Loyly sauna in Helsinki for winter swimming
Award winning Löyly eco sauna in Helsinki

Support your local

As she reflects on how Helsinki has evolved, Stefi marvels at the resilience of the city’s creative community.

“Over the last 10–15 years, Helsinki has changed so much. The pandemic was tough, but the incredible artists and creators here didn’t give up. You can feel the creativity everywhere: in the art, the food, the music.” 

Many of Stefi’s friends run their own businesses, and she shares that there’s something special about being able to support them, knowing that your choices strengthen local connections. The city’s “support your local” attitude resonates deeply with her.

“In Helsinki, people support each other,” she says, “and as long as you’re open to trying new things, you’ll always find something new to love here.”

But what makes Helsinki the happiest city for Stefi is her mother. “Living in the same city as my mom makes me very happy. And that my mom loves to be here in Helsinki, that makes me very happy.”

Follow in Stefi’s footsteps and discover the hidden gems of Helsinki: Taste Colombian Street food and other global cuisines or take a look at a local’s guide to winter swimming in Helsinki: where to dip all year around? Remember to support your local creatives by exploring unique shops and pop-ups.