Especially for people not used to it, the Finnish holiday season is quite an experience, if for nothing else, for its length.
Here in Finland, people take 4 weeks during July, which means that during this month the whole country is basicaly closed for business. This is the time when summer trainees and skeleton crews are responsible for the continued functioning of the nation while the majority spend their weeks in a summer cabin in the middle of the forest, preferrably next to a lake, but maybe without running water or electricity.
The BBC has a hilarious list of office jargon used at workplaces around the world. Any of the regular readers of now-jailedMartin Lukes will definitely appreciate it.
I witnessed a very interesting event on the public transport a couple of days ago. I was taking the bus on Sunday back to my place in Espoo when the bus driver started an argument with a man of dark complexion since he was having a beer in the bus, which is forbidden. His answer was quite interesting, as he said "Why can't I do that, if you see plenty of Finns who do?" which regardless of being prohibited actually is the case, especially during weekends or holidays such as Vappu. Even I have done so on a couple of occasions in my student days. This strengthened my resolve to follow the rules to the T even when some people might not, regardless of whether it is fair or not. It's the easiest way to stay out of trouble.
When I was a high school student in Mexico, some of our classes had to do with the different characteristics of our North American neighbours, so I had some understanding on Canadian multiculturalism. However, I was pleasantly suprised in my visit to Vancouver when I basically didn’t feel like a foreigner there, as they’re very much used to people of varied appearance and culture, and their approach tends to be curious and inquisitive rather than hostile or uneasy.
There were three instances where their approach to multiculturalism showed through.
The first one was on TV, where you had an Islamic preacher in one channel and a Christian in the next, both speaking English.
Then they had a report in the CBC about their transmissions of the Stanley Cup, a quintessentially Canadian sports event… in Punjabi. I wondered if the Finnish Hockey World Cup games would ever be broadcast in Somali or, God spare me ;-), Russian.
Finally, there was the Terry Fox Memorial at BC Place. What struck me was not only the story behind it, but the fact that their advertising includes the face of a girl of slightly Asian features. Given that Finnishness seems to be rooted in ethnicity that was a very refreshing, and at the same time sad detail, as I thought that in the end it would be easier for people like me to be Canadian than Finnish even though I’ve never even lived there. Somebody has to be the pioneer, though ;-).
Kun olin Seattlessa pari viikkoa sitten eräässä tapahtumassa, siellä oli muutamia suomalaisia, jotka tapasin lähtölennoilla. He olivat hyvin ystävällisiä ja näimme Yhdysvalloissa useita kertoja. Oli todella hauskaa että pystyin vaan hengailla sekä heidän että meksikolaisten kanssa, joita oli myös muutamia. On tosi mukavaa kun voin olla vain yksi joukosta.
I was about to write an entry about how to minimise the effects of culture shock, but found out that Wikipedia already has a pretty competent article about it.
One thing that I can add, however, is to avoid the usage of the word "exotic", even in your thinking, as it assumes that your frame of reference, point of view, or "reality" is the only "true" one, therefore making the establishment of empathy and further understanding more difficult.
On one hand, the world definitely welcomes the US entertainment industry. On the other, I'm slightly worried that people get too far away from reality…
"On lottovoitto syntyä Suomeen" is a phrase you hear often enough in Finland, referring to their perceived fortune at their high standard of living. Whereas I agree that it is indeed a nice place, I believe the statement is flawed for the most important thing is not where are you born, but what you do with your life.
I've seen plenty of people of advantaged backgrounds but self-destructive attitudes. Yes, a good starting point is nice to have, but shouldn't allow you to get overconfident or, shall I say, cocky.
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.
