Lassi Pensikkala
@lassipensikkala
Finnish expat in Ecuador
Forum posts
7
Contacts
2
About me
Finnish
Lives in Samborond脙鲁n, Guayas, Ecuador
Speaks English, Spanish, German, Finnish and Swedish
Registration: 04 April 2024
About
Hello everyone,
I am originally from Finland and have lived in Sweden, Germany, and since 2009 in Ecuador. I work as an insurance agent, international business consultant, and travel expert.
I am the founder of Seguros Amer Pensikkala Romo庐 and AmerExperience.com. My professional background includes insurance consulting, international business development, tourism, and destination management across Europe and Latin America.
I speak Finnish, Swedish, German, English, and Spanish. I enjoy connecting with people from different cultures and sharing experiences about expat life, business, travel, family life, and Ecuador.
My interests include family, golf, travel, international culture, and entrepreneurship.
Occupation
I am Businessman. I am Founder for Seguros Amer庐 | Amer Experience
Education
Universit盲t Hamburg
Master of Science (MSc), Economics, Psychology and Sociology
1992
Turun Kauppaopisto
Bachelor's Degree, Foreign trade
1980
My expat journey
Samborond贸n, Guayas, Ecuador
I have been living in Samborond贸n, Ecuador since 2009 with my family. I am originally from Finland and have also lived in Germany for many years before moving to Ecuador. My life project here combines insurance advisory services, international business consulting, and travel expertise.
I am the founder of AmerExperience.com, an international travel and lifestyle platform, and Seguros Amer Pensikkala Romo庐, an insurance advisory company focused on personalized solutions for families, expatriates, and businesses in Ecuador.
Living in Ecuador has given me the opportunity to build international networks, raise my daughters in a multicultural environment, and combine European and Latin American perspectives in both business and daily life.
Insurance advisor,聽International business consultant, and travel expert.聽
Founder of AmerExperience.com and Seguros Amer Pensikkala Romo庐. I work with insurance consulting,聽travel content, and international business development. My background includes over 30 years of experience in international business across Europe and Latin America,聽tourism, and travel destination management.
What I like most about Ecuador is the people, climate diversity, and quality of life. In a relatively small country you can experience beaches, mountains, rainforest, and modern cities. Ecuadorians are generally warm, social, and family-oriented.
Samborond贸n offers a comfortable lifestyle for families, with good private schools, restaurants, sports clubs, and international connections. I also appreciate the entrepreneurial opportunities and the possibility to build international projects from Ecuador while staying connected globally.
Another important aspect is the slower and more human rhythm of life compared to many European countries.
Like in many Latin American countries, there can be challenges related to bureaucracy, traffic, economic instability, and security issues depending on the area and the period. Public services and infrastructure are not always at the same level as in Northern Europe.
For expatriates, adapting to the culture and language can also take time. Speaking Spanish is very important for integration and for understanding daily life, schools, business culture, and local society.
Hamburg, Germany
My life & project in this location
Germany played a major role in my personal and professional development. I moved there from Finland as a young man and spent almost three decades studying, working, building businesses, and creating international networks.
I lived in several German cities including Cologne, Frankfurt am Main, and Hamburg. In Hamburg I studied economics as well as psychology and sociology at the university. Germany gave me a strong international mindset and the possibility to work with clients and companies from many different countries.
During those years I also built my long-term career in international tourism, destination management, and business development. The experience I gained in Germany later became the foundation for projects such as AmerExperience.com and my consulting activities in Latin America.
My occupation
Insurance advisor, International business consultant, and travel expert.
Founder of AmerExperience.com and Seguros Amer Pensikkala Romo庐. I work with insurance consulting, travel content, and international business development. My background includes over 30 years of experience in international business across Europe and Latin America, tourism, and travel destination management.
What I like/liked about this destination
Germany offered excellent opportunities for education, professional growth, international business, and cultural experiences. I especially appreciated the organization, infrastructure, reliability, and strong work culture.
Hamburg is an international city with a maritime atmosphere, beautiful architecture, and high quality of life. Germany also gave me the possibility to become truly international and multilingual. Living there helped me develop discipline, independence, and a broader understanding of Europe and global business.
I also value the friendships, professional contacts, and life experiences I gained during those years.
What I don't/didn't like about this destination
Like many Northern European countries, Germany can sometimes feel socially reserved and bureaucratic. Integration into society and professional circles may take time, especially for foreigners.
The climate can also feel long, dark, and cold during winter months. Compared to Latin America, daily life is often more structured and less spontaneous. However, these differences also taught me adaptability and helped me understand different cultures better.
Stockholm, Sweden
My life & project in this location
Stockholm was my first experience living abroad after Finland. I moved there as a young man to work, experience a bigger Nordic city, and improve my Swedish in real daily life.
That period was important because it opened my mind to international life and gave me confidence to later continue abroad to Germany and eventually Latin America. Living in Sweden was also culturally easy for a Finn because of the close historical and cultural connection between the two countries.
Those months taught me independence, adaptability, and the importance of languages in both work and life.
My occupation
Insurance advisor, International business consultant, and travel expert.
Founder of AmerExperience.com and Seguros Amer Pensikkala Romo庐. I work with insurance consulting, travel content, and international business development. My background includes over 30 years of experience in international business across Europe and Latin America, tourism, and travel destination management.
What I like/liked about this destination
Stockholm is still one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. The combination of water, islands, parks, history, and Scandinavian architecture creates a very special atmosphere.
I also appreciated the international feeling of the city, the organization, public transportation, and the quality of life. Sweden felt modern, open-minded, and culturally dynamic. For a young Finnish man, Stockholm was an exciting first step into a more international world.
What I don't/didn't like about this destination
Like many large cities, Stockholm could sometimes feel expensive and socially reserved. Building deeper friendships and networks could take time.
The dark winter months and fast urban rhythm were also challenging at times. However, overall the experience was extremely positive and became an important turning point in my life.
Piikki枚, Varsinais-Suomi, Finland
My life & project in this location
Piikki枚, in Southwest Finland, is my birthplace and where I spent my childhood, school years, and early youth. Growing up in Finland gave me a strong foundation based on education, independence, honesty, and international curiosity.
I graduated from Turun Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu in 1978, continued with Foreign Business Studies at Turun Kauppaopisto in 1980, and completed my military education in 1982. Those years shaped my international mindset and later led me toward studies, business, and life abroad.
Interestingly, April has played an important role throughout my life. I was born in April, moved to Sweden in April, later to Germany in April, and finally to Ecuador in April as well. Somehow that month has always marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life.
My occupation
Insurance advisor, International business consultant, and travel expert.
Founder of AmerExperience.com and Seguros Amer Pensikkala Romo庐. I work with insurance consulting, travel content, and international business development. My background includes over 30 years of experience in international business across Europe and Latin America, tourism, and travel destination management.
What I like/liked about this destination
Finland gave me an excellent educational foundation, safety, and a strong sense of responsibility and independence. Nature, clean air, forests, lakes, and the changing seasons are deeply connected to Finnish identity and childhood memories.
I also appreciate the Finnish mentality of honesty, reliability, and persistence. Even though I later became very international and moved abroad, Finland always remained an important part of my identity and personal history.
The school system and discipline of Finnish society gave me tools that helped me later in international business and life abroad.
What I don't/didn't like about this destination
Like many young Finns of my generation, I sometimes felt that Finland was small and geographically isolated. Opportunities for international business and multicultural experiences were more limited at that time than in larger European countries.
The long winters, darkness, and reserved social culture could also feel difficult, especially for someone curious about the world and interested in international experiences. That curiosity eventually pushed me to move abroad and explore new cultures and opportunities.
Activity
Preparing to spend winter in Ecuador. Where on the coast by paulbarton37
I am 59, single and retired early. I am looking to spend the winter months in Ecuador. This is my last midwest winter. I have no interest in the nightlife. I simply want to relax in the warm, have access to medical and basic modern ...
@paulbarton37 Hello Paul, greetings from Samborondon. If you search something more urban surroundings Samborondon is one good alternative. Green, many actiivities, 60 km from the Pacific Ocean and near the airport. Other places if you prefer the ... Read More
Raising kids the local way in Ecuador by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Raising children as an expat in Ecuador means discovering new parenting habits. School routines, discipline, food habits, independence, social life鈥� many things may work differently in Ecuador compared to your home ...
@Cheryl Hello Cheryl,I have lived in Ecuador since 2009. What do I think about raising kids in Ecuador? First of all, expat parents should learn Spanish. I have friends from the USA and the UK who still don鈥檛 speak the local language, and it ... Read More
Health insurance in Ecuador for foreigners 鈥� Practical considerations
Hello everyone,As an expat living and working in Ecuador, I have noticed that health insurance is one of the most important 鈥� and often misunderstood 鈥� topics among newcomers.Many foreigners arrive assuming that either public healthcare ... Read More
The impact of artificial intelligence on the Ecuador job market by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Artificial intelligence is driving major changes to the job market in Ecuador : task automation, evolving job roles and rise of new skills. For expats and soon-to-be expats, this transformation may raise some key questions on ...
The impact of AI on the job market in Ecuador 鈥� A practical perspectiveArtificial intelligence is no longer theoretical in Ecuador. It is already transforming how businesses operate 鈥� especially in sectors that combine services, ... Read More
Ecuador, a welcoming destination to expats? by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Settling in Ecuador, like every new environment, can feel like stepping into the unknown and brings many questions: how will it go, how to integrate successfully, etc. To help smooth this transition, we invite you to share your ...
Settling in Ecuador has been one of the most enriching decisions of my life. Like any major move, it came with uncertainty 鈥� especially concerns about long-term security and how we would adapt. But over time, those initial doubts were ... Read More