Learning the local language

Helsingin Sanomat has published two essays (Language discrimination drives away foreign professionals from Finland and Elite is handicapped by speaking English) within two months how highly educated foreigners are struggling to learn Finnish and to integrate to Finland. I have personal experience working abroad speaking the local language in Spain and not speaking the local language in Poland. I think that knowing the local language is the key for adaptation to any society. I have witnessed how foreigners can adapt to a new country by getting to know other foreigners who speak the same non local language. Also friendships are formed with locals if they speak that foreign language. Then a foreigner might even feel that learning the local language is not necessary.

On the other hand if you oblige the locals to speak a foreign language with the foreigners then locals are handicapped depending on their level of fluency in the foreign language. Is it fair to make 10 locals speak foreign language to accommodate one foreigner to the group? Or would it be fair for the foreigner to learn the local language in order to join the group of 10 locals? Either way language learning effort is needed.

If you end up moving to a foreign country and learn the local language you are still likely going to be seen as a foreigner because of the accent in your speech. 

Early winter

24th of November in Kauniainen

Last April I wrote how winter never seemed to end. This year the winter arrived early on November and the landscape was fully covered with snow but two days later the snow is gone. I had a reunion with a Spanish exchange student friend from Ankara. 12 years had passed since we said good bye in Turkey. She came for a holiday to Finland and was lucky to witness the landscape fully covered with snow.

How to recognize a Finnish backyard

Market place of Kauniainen as a backyard

There are two classical pieces what you see especially in the backyards of old apartment buildings and row houses in Finland.  One of them is a rack for whipping rugs and other is a drying rack for clothes. These are not completely forgotten in the new buildings but they are not always part of the backyard. I believe these pieces are not used much nowadays but you can still spot the rusty metallic structures in the backyards. The space could be used for something else or be made more esthetic by removing the old rusty racks.

Nature destinations in the capital area of Finland

During the summer and Autumn I have visited four nature destinations inside the capital area. In Finland you can find nature reserves inside the urban areas which are worth visiting for tourists and locals. All the destinations listed below can be easily reached by public transportation. 

Autumn view from Kasavuori

Kasavuori is a nature reserve in Kauniainen. The name means mountain in English but in fact it is just a hill 66 meters above the sea level. In the highest spot you can find a view over the highway leading to Turku. The forest is mostly pines and spruces but you can find also trees with leaves.

The Glims river

By the river of Glims there is a path following the river surrounded by trees all the way to an old house museum with some farm animals. The 3 kilometers long path starts from the recently renovated old mansion of Träskända.

The view spot in the central park of Espoo

Espoon keskuspuisto - The central park of Espoo is the biggest area to be explored out of these four destinations. You can find areas with trees with leaves, swamps, areas with pines and spruces. Especially I like exploring the area by following the small paths.

The wooden path in Laajalahti

Villa Elfvik is an old mansion surrounded by a forest where you can find cafeteria and exhibition about Finnish nature. The mansion is inside the nature Reserve of Laajalahti which is by the sea. The area is especially interesting for bird spotting and you can find a bird tower on the shore to look over the bay.

My previous suggestion to visit in the capital of Finland: Roihuvuori

Reading list 2024

Below listed the 23 books that I have read since publishing my previous list. I have highlighted 5 books which stood out the most in my opinion.

Bregman, Rutger - Humankind: A hopeful history

Casanova, Giacomo - Elämäni tarina 7 - 8

Diaz, Hernan - Luotto

Epstein, David - Range how generalists triumph in specialized world

Foster Wallace, David - Tennisesseet

Herrera, Yuri - Kartellin trubaduuri

Ibrahimović, Zlatan - Adrenaliini: ennenkuulemattomat tarinani

Itkonen, Juha - Ihmettä kaikki

Itkonen, Juha - Teoriani perheestä

Kahneman, Daniel - Noise: A flaw in human judgement

Kwik, Jim - Rajoittamaton: päivitä aivosi, opi nopeammin

Manson, Mark - Kaikki menee päin helvettiä: nurinkurinen kirja toivosta

Manson, Mark - Will

Mykkänen, Erkka - Sellainen mies

Pilecki, Witold - Vapaaehtoisena Auschwitziin: vastarintaliikkeen solouttautujan uskomaton tarina

Pulkkinen, Riikka - Raja

Pöppönen, Hannu - Nippu pesoja ja muita kertomuksia Argentiinasta

Saahko, Lotta-Sofia - Koti kulttuurien välissä

Siltala, Juha - Keskiluokan nousu, lasku ja pelot

Torkki, Juhana - Dion prusalainen onnellisuudesta

Torkki, Juhana - Plutarkhos mielen tyyneydestä

Vahvanen, Pekka - Kone kaikkivaltias: Kuinka digitalisaatio tuhoaa kaiken meille arvokkaan

Ypi, Lea - Vapaa: kuinka kasvoin aikuiseksi maailman luhistuessa

The previous list from 2023

The king's oak and The great field

Street view from Kuninkaantammi

I have visited recently two new neighbourhoods in the capital area of Finland. the one in Helsinki is called Kuninkaantammi in English The King's oak. and in Espoo Suurpelto in English The great field. Both neighbourhoods have been criticized for being isolated because there is no short distance train or metro connection, lack of parking space, lack of services nearby and empty plots which are still under development. The positive sides are schools and day care centres for families. Moving inside the both neighbourhoods is designed for walking or cycling. I liked a lot the overall look and atmosphere of Kunikaantammi, the round shapes, green areas and the architecture gives vibes from the medieval cities. As Suurpelto is more like typical square blocks with modern buildings. Though Suurpelto is attractive for English speakers because there is an international school where studies are in English. You can also find one of the three Angry Birds playgrounds in Suurpelto.

The most expensive house of Kauniainen

Listed house

My home city Kauniainen is known as a city where wealthy people live in Finland. I moved here 4 years ago. In Kauniainen you can find many very nice and expensive private houses but also regular apartment buildings. Recently I spotted that probably the most expensive house of Kauniainen is on sale for 5,7 million euros. The house is built 2021 and the only house in Kauniainen with a private beach by a small lake. The price of the house is not actually very high if you compare to other western countries but for a house in Finland it is very expensive. 

Lunch or beer

In Finland having a lunch buffet during the workweek is common practice. Emploeyrs are allowed to give a lunch benefit of 13,5 euros per workday for their employees which often determines the price of the lunch. The lunch price also includes also a drink but if you want to have a beer with your lunch which is not common in Finland you have to pay for the beer almost 10 euros. For example celebrity cook Kape Aihinen has critized the buffet culture because serving lunch doesn't bring much income to his restaurants. He explained that main reason for him to serve the lunch is to be able to offer work for his employees also during the day and keep them that way more satisfied. Aihinen mentioned also that a great sommelier is very valuable for a restaurant. My conclusion is that lunch is cheap and beer is expensive for the consumer. Which makes selling alcohol profitable business and selling lunch very low margin profit business.

J Balvin in Helsinki

Encore

Colombian Reggeaton artist J Balvin held a concert in Ice hockey arena of Helsinki and drew a crowd of 5200 people. J Balvin started the concert with his hit song "Mi Gente" and the people sitting on the benches stood up and started to dance like the people on the floor in front the stage. The people danced through the whole concert. The atmosphere flattened when the end was approaching and J Balvin was asking people to request their fevourite songs. Also the reporter of Helsingin Sanomat made the same remark. There wasn't a clear answer from the crowd and I was wondering does he usually get a clear response from the crowd. The atmosphere went up again for the encore ending with song "In Da Ghetto". Four years ago Maluma held also a concert in Helsinki and attracted about same size crowd. The big reggeaton artists cannot yet attract as big crowds as the popular Finnish artists who have sold out 30 000 people stadium concerts.

Returning winter

April 20th in Espoo

Winter turns to Spring slowly in Finland. Last night the snow covered the landscape for the second time this spring also known as "takatalvi" in Finnish. When the warmer spring weather is delayed you often wish to be in a warmer country. Though the winter darkness is already gone and the bright days are long.