Nadja Ekblom’s proximity life is “far-from-life”. A conscious choice where a job with pulse and new technology is balanced with leisure close to peace and nature. Here she wants to stay and build a long-term life.
Nadja Ekblom takes off her helmet and safety vest and checks out through the security gates at the large construction site ongoing at Boden Industrial Park. Here, Stegra (formerly H2 Green Steel) will build Europe’s first newly constructed steel mill in 50 years and one of the world’s largest hydrogen facilities.
Week by week, more and more is emerging in the area where a large number of employees with various professions arrive each month. Nadja’s title and role is digital workplace IT operations specialist. In short, her task is to make the digital infrastructure run smoothly for all categories of employees. In addition to the ongoing construction, there is also a growing office area.
– Things are happening all the time, and I run around a lot on site. I like it. My previous job celebrated 100 years, which means most things were in place. Now we can bring in the best, drive change, and build new, says Nadja.
– I don’t like sitting still all day, so I thrive in the controlled chaos at work.
She has studied biology, epidemiology, and business administration, worked with geographic information systems and IT, sales and marketing, project management, and driven change work, with technology and data as a common thread. She describes herself as ambivert, needing both social life and alone time, speed and peace. It’s precisely this life she has created here in Boden.
FROM CONSTRUCTION NOISE TO THE WHISPER OF THE FOREST IN 30 MINUTES
When her car rolls away home after a hectic day at Boden Industrial Park, she leaves the bustling international construction site both physically and mentally. During a half-hour drive along the Lule River, lined with fields, villages, and trees in all autumn colors, she can sort and reflect on the day. The last stretch home goes along a winding road towards the alpine recreation area Storklinten. More trees, forest, and autumn colors pass by before she turns off the car outside her new home. Here, at the aptly named Urberget, it is quiet and still.
– Sometimes I can stay in the car and just stare at the forest for ten minutes. Then I’ve landed, smiles Nadja.
Inside the door, with the forest and a future winter ski trail right behind the house, and kitchen windows facing the ski slopes, she is welcomed by all her large green plants that have followed her from Stockholm. The cabin exudes a muted cozy calm. Here she finds peace to just be.
– When I come home, I really need this, says Nadja.
For a home is precisely what it has become, even though she only rents a furnished cabin for an indefinite period.
– I found it myself through a private ad on Facebook and got in touch with a super nice landlord.
– That feeling of home may not come immediately, but where you have work, friends, and a life, that’s home. And I have that here now.
Nadja moved here last summer when the nights were at their brightest and the sun was up all night. She took every opportunity she could to explore the area, on foot and by car.
– I’m out in the forest a lot, hiking, driving along small roads, finding beautiful new places, staying overnight, camping, grilling, watching the stars… I love life here and try to get everyone I can who starts working with us to realize how good it is here and that life in the north is a good alternative. I also want to show those who haven’t moved here that there are many opportunities for a good life in the area.
EXCITING JOB WITH a GOOD LIFE
During Nadja’s first 1.5 months at Stegra, her position was based in Stockholm. But it was to Boden she wanted and would go.
– I’ve lived in larger cities such as Paris, Vancouver, and Marseille, as well as 15 years in Stockholm. I felt I was done with that.
What attracted her was the combination of an exciting and challenging job in a future-oriented industry with a strong sustainability focus, and the opportunity for a new way of living.
She describes a determined pioneering spirit in the Stegra organization, a fighting spirit, and a strong belief in breaking new ground with sustainability and innovation in focus. In Boden, she was met by a welcoming family-like feeling where those who have been with the company longer are natural hosts.
– Many of us are new here and can discover things together. We have a hiking group, for example.
In addition to hiking with friends and eagerly finding new places herself, she has also had visits several weekends in a row in her cabin, from family and friends.
– We’ve sat out here and made fires at the grill area for hours and watched the northern lights.
So far, she is quite alone in the area, except for the occasional cabin neighbor.
– But they have probably barely seen me because on weekends I’m out in the forest almost all day, laughs Nadja.
She is not afraid of the dark; rather, she hopes to see a moose, bear, fox, or reindeer.
A SHORT TRIP AWAY
Nadja grew up in the countryside in Finnish Ostrobothnia. She notes that she can drive to her family there in a few hours, and in even less time fly to siblings and friends in Stockholm if she wants to feel the city pulse for a weekend.
– The big city is still there, but it’s here I’ve found my way back to myself. I want to find my own house, have chickens, a dog, goats, maybe a horse. This is not a temporary adventure. I want to create a home here.
TEXT: ANNA BERGSTRÖM
