If you were to ask a fish in a sea about the sea that surrounds it, it will tell you there is only water around. The same applies to Finns and Finland. That what we call “Finland” is besides the functioning institutions within the recognized borders is also a number of messages, postulates of truths that apply to the certain area and make its inhabitants unique from others. For instance, what is happiness for a Finn? What is success? What is the role of association in Finland? – and there are many more one might want to know in advance. The institutions are easy to identify and interact with; however, revealing the nature of the mysterious messages that form the culture of “Finnish-ness” is often quite a challenge.
There are some truths about Finland that not a single Finn will tell you in part because of political correctness, in part, because they are often unaware of these truths themselves although they follow them unconsciously and, in large, because these messages are a taboo for discussion though they form the natural fabric of their life. I struggled and had to learn many of these lessons on my own skin. I wish, I knew this before coming to Finland. It would save me from a lot of headache. So, if you are a foreigner and you read it, do yourself a favor – learn the environment. You are welcome to disagree with me, reasonably argue back or stay silent, but, please, choose to learn the environment you either plan to experience by moving or have already settled in.
Finland is for Finns. Finland is such as it is because it is built in such a way by the Finns/locals and for the Finns/locals. If political, social, economic or any other domain of life in Finland does not fit in your “ideal-small-little-Finland”-box or your perception of this country – the problem is in not in the country, it is in “the box”; adjust your understanding by taking everything you see here as a given. Learn to live with it if you choose to stay. If you do not like something, nobody holds you down nor holds you back. Move to your dream land! You are not a tree. If you do not want to move, stop winning and look for opportunities as there are plenty. If, however, you still want to bring a change, find and join other people with the same agenda. This is a bitter pill to swallow, but once you digest it, it will turn into a remedy and help you to carry on. Continue reading “Quick Guide to Finland – Post #1 – The Foreigner’s Basics”