Roosa Grönberg got a space in Riihimäki for friends to hang out and enjoy gardening.

Sinulle riksulainen is a series of stories in which people from Riihimäki share their thoughts about their hometown.  

When Roosa Grönberg moved to Riihimäki with her husband Eemi Saarinen in the fall of 2025, the Helsinki couple moved into a large detached house. After a year of searching, the young couple found the home of their dreams at a reasonable price. Now Roosa is bursting with enthusiasm to explore her new hometown. Her husband has known Riksu since childhood.

They invited Mayor Jouni Eho to their housewarming party, because as a lover of good speeches, Grönberg hoped for a speech about Riihimäki at the party.

“He gave a great speech about how he is inspired by working on something where he sees potential. I also like to use my energy to get to know Riihimäki, and I tell others about my impressions. With positive energy and sincerity, I have received good feedback. Strangers on the train have praised my Riihimäki videos.”

Friends can fit in the overnight village

The 146-square-meter house, built in 2008, has plenty of space for two people. Each has their own study, a large kitchen, and a garage. Grönberg is especially happy that he can now invite friends and relatives to parties and overnight stays.

“I had a friend in the weekday village, and we went to Helsinki together for work. I’m also happy about the rug rack in the yard, where I can air my bed linen. Drying laundry in my own yard is also a luxury. In the future, I still dream of a yard sauna and a flagpole.”

A detached house has also brought the opportunity for gardening. Now we are excited to see what plants will sprout from the yard and grow boxes. It is time to learn the skills of a green thumb and plan what all could be grown in the yard.

Martyrdom is a good everyday life

Grönberg joined the Riihimäki Marts, which meet at Anton's house once a month on a different theme. The topic could be fiber in nutrition or preparing for crisis situations. He has met new people from the city through the Marts, and through working together there have been some nice encounters.

The March movement is only intensifying, as the annual meeting of the March League elected Grönberg as the organization's chairman for the next two-year term. The predecessor was MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen. The organization is a significant social actor.

Marta is considered an organization for older women, but Grönberg, 26, hopes that young people will join in, as the topics covered include recipes, cleaning tips and other tips familiar from social media. Marta has been working for a better everyday life for over a hundred years.

"Marttailu has brought me an intergenerational community where I can learn new things. I would like everyone to have more courage in their everyday lives to invite our acquaintances over, even for a box of macaroni or sandwiches for dinner."

An interesting new hometown

Grönberg and her husband go to the gym and swim twice a week. She has also taken her friends from Helsinki to the wonderful Riihimäki swimming pool. She has not yet been to the outdoor swimming pool and the water tower café, but her husband has promised to take her to the café for an ice cream on the first day of summer. She also likes culture, has been to Riksu's theatres and museums and is already looking forward to summer events.

Grönberg's husband's parents and grandparents live in Riihimäki, so there's a nice clan nearby. However, it was Grönberg who suggested moving to Riihimäki. The location on the main line is great, and the town has a close-knit and communal atmosphere.

"I'm from Hattula, so I'm familiar with the Häme area. I studied in Lappeenranta, moved to Helsinki for work, and now it feels good to be rooted here in Häme."

Grönberg made an Instagram post about Riihimäki once a month during the spring. The collaborative posts with the city were about R-kiyti, city bikes and summer Riihimäki. While planning the posts, he got to know the city and learned new things.

Work on the train

Grönberg works four days a week in Helsinki as an assistant to a member of parliament. It is convenient to work during train journeys.

“The new everyday life feels nice. The commute is longer, but I get a lot of exercise. I walk to the station from home in half an hour. Everything fell into place here and it feels like home.”

Roosa Grönberg is one of three social media influencers with whom the City of Riihimäki has agreed to collaborate for a year. The goal is to highlight the everyday life of living in the city. Grönberg writes about her life in Riihimäki On Instagram @roosra.

Text: Reija Ypyä