The Fredling sisters found their home in Kalanti

This proud statement, once made by a local resident, has stayed with Kirsi Fredling ever since.

“Now, after twenty years of experience, I can honestly say I completely agree. Kalanti’s location is simply perfect. Roads lead in every direction -whether you’re heading to the center of Uusikaupunki, Laitila, Rauma, or Turku,” she says enthusiastically.

In addition to Kirsi and her partner Eerik, her sister Carolina Fredling and her family now also live in Kalanti.

Their parents are close by as well, having become residents of Uusikaupunki after moving to Pyhämaa.

Kirsi and Carolina spent their childhood and youth in their father’s childhood home in the village of Kaivola in Laitila. Today, they both feel like true residents of Uusikaupunki, even though Kirsi—who works as a teacher—still commutes to Laitila every weekday.

When visiting each other or their parents, they can choose their route depending on their mood or the season.

“There are options ranging from major roads to scenic countryside routes,” says Kirsi, who lives in a detached house in the center of Kalanti.

Carolina lives with her partner Jouko and their children, Akseli and Adele, along Lokalahdentie in the village of Kytämäki—right next to Sundholma, where her mother grew up.

Family is very important to the Fredlings, and they see each other often. When the whole group gathers around the same dinner table, there’s no shortage of chatter, laughter, and lively energy.

“It’s like the Serrano family,” Carolina laughs, referring to the popular Spanish TV series.

Carolina works in financial administration and also runs her own wellness business. She offers treatments in a room renovated from an old barn building in her yard.

“I’m interested in treatments based on Chinese medicine, such as qigong and shiatsu. I started practicing qigong 14 years ago, and it has become part of my daily routine—it provides a great balance to my day job.”

She also shares wellness tips through live and online courses, as well as on her Instagram account, which has followers from around the world.

Spring is an especially busy time for Carolina, as her days are filled with growing tomatoes, herbs, and potatoes, along with other gardening tasks.

She feels truly at home in her surroundings, with fields and forests all around.

“There are lots of deer here, and I’ve even seen a wolf while out on a walk,” she says.

A love for animals is something both sisters have carried with them since childhood. Kirsi and Eerik share their home with dogs named Tiuku, Jekku, and Hissu. Carolina’s household includes cats Banu, Boris, and Black, as well as a rabbit named Markku.

Both sisters have plenty of hobbies—and new ones keep coming along. Last autumn, Kirsi took up singing in the Uusikaupunki-based women’s choir D’ameni.

“We recently had a concert at the Crusell Cultural Centre together with musician Petri Laaksonen. It was an amazing new experience to perform and learn from professionals,” she says.

In the summer, Kirsi helps her partner with beekeeping, and some of the hives are located in Carolina’s yard. There’s enough honey not only for their own family but for others as well.

Boating, the sea, and time spent at their summer cottage have become an important part of Kirsi’s free time in Uusikaupunki.

“We’ve had an island cottage for 14 years and spend a lot of time there. Eerik is a passionate recreational fisherman,” she explains.

Carolina’s whole family plays golf, and there’s no need to travel far—the greens of the Uusikaupunki golf course are just a few minutes away.

Her newest hobby is Rotary activities.

“We hosted a Californian exchange student through the Uusikaupunki Rotary Club with just a couple of days’ notice. When I was then asked to join the club, of course I said yes,” she says.

The Californian, Dahlia Richardsson, enjoyed her time with the Fredlings and in Uusikaupunki so much that next summer she’ll return to Kalanti with her entire family—including her grandmother.

And why not? Kalanti is well worth visiting—even from the other side of the world.

At least if you’ve experienced the hospitality and warmth of the Fredling sisters.