I just found this one when I was uploading all my videos to Share on Ovi. It’s from Couleur Café, a music festival I attended in Brussels last year.
The kind of foreigners I know in Finland
Well, I'm still not very happy about the police doing spot checks on people who look or sound foreign, since it assumes that we are all in some way or other breaking the law just because we don't look like the mainstream and happen to live here. Of course, the most ironic thing of it all is that this activity is financed with my taxes.
Since in the news you only hear about those foreigners who are breaking the law, I wanted to show plenty of examples of those of us who aren't and are not exactly of Caucasian origin.
- A, Turkish, male, works as a consultant, has two masters degrees. Is married to a Finn.
- B, Mexican, female, works as a designer, also has a masters degree.
- C, Indian, male, works as a computer engineer. Married to an Indian.
- D, Malay, female, works in marketing.
- E, Thai, female, is an IT specialist.
- F, Venezuelan, male, is finishing his studies doing his thesis in an IT company. Is married to a Finn.
- G, Mexican, female, works in finance. Is married to a Spaniard.
- H, Japanese, female, works in finance.
- I, Pakistani, male, also an IT specialist. Is married to a Pakistani.
- J, Turkish, male, owns and runs his barbershop. Married to a Finn. Has Finnish citizenship.
- K, Nigerian, male, is an IT specialist.
- L, Chinese, female, works as a strategist.
- M, British of South Asian origin, male, works in business development.
- N, American of Central American origin, male, works as a consultant.
- O, German with African roots, male, works in a media-facing role.
I have plenty more, but I guess you get my drift.
I feel like I should be wearing a T-shirt reading "Olen ulkomaalainen. Mitä sitten?" (I'm a foreigner. So what?). Who's with me?
WTF?!?!
Finnish police is now spot-checking foreigners to find those without residence permit (myös suomeksi). Is racial profiling making its way here? This, and the fact that I have to renew my residence permit again (after 7 years altogether living in Finland) and have to tell the authorities how I met my wife for the third or fourth time shows how welcome foreigners are over here, even when we contribute to society and pay our taxes just like everybody else.
I'm sorry if I sound rude, but I find this just insane.
La mejor versión de "Las Mañanitas" es la de Pedro Infante
Eso sí, no me vengan con “Amapolita dorada de los llanos de Pekín” que así la cantaba un cuate que conozco, jajaja.
Renegotiating NAFTA is not a good idea
Let's hope that this is only empty rethoric, as the United States would be shooting itself on its own foot, and damaging its relationship with its neighbours to boot. More information in the Economist.
The importance of the Spanish language in the United States
I had heard about the "Latin wave", but I hadn't experienced it until my last trip. All over the city I heard people speaking Spanish, and at many places was indeed served even better when I spoke Spanish.
However, on the other hand, when watching TV at my hotel, of 40 channels none of them was in Spanish. They didn't even have Telemundo or Univisión. Nevermind international channels, in Spanish or otherwise.
However, on the other hand, when watching TV at my hotel, of 40 channels none of them was in Spanish. They didn't even have Telemundo or Univisión. Nevermind international channels, in Spanish or otherwise.
Chinese-African ties
You might have heard that the Chinese are investing heavily in Africa. What you may not know is that there's also Africans doing business in China.
The brief at Monocle (subscription only).
Globalisation, competition and the American way
The United States is a very exceptional country, in that it was originally founded on ideas, mostly. I'm sure you've heard about the "American way" and the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". The American people are capable of great things, and the 20th century was indeed theirs.
This century, however, seems a little more threatening, with the war on terror and a weaker economy. The rise of China also means there is another big competitor in the world stage. To make matters worse, their country also has a little of an image problem currently.
Sadly, I find that the instinct is to close up, to keep on ignoring what is happening in the rest of the world, and to refuse to understand how others see what is going on. Hardball negotiation doesn't work anymore.
Thankfully, there is also a group of people who understand that the US cannot afford to do that.
Changing perspectives
Your experience colours your point of view. 10 years ago I saw NY in a completely different way than now.
Of course, eight years living in Europe did that to a Mexican…
Confusing belief with fact
I was watching CNN when they had a report about an alleged link between childhood vaccination and autism. Right after it, they had a poll where they asked the audience if they believed there was such a link. I found the process disturbing for one reason: whatever I believe may or may not be backed by scientific fact, and in issues such as healthcare this becomes very dangerous.
I might believe that the world is a flat dish, but the facts prove me wrong.