I asked my friend what finnishness means to him. His answer was: ruisleipää ja salmiakkia. Rye bread and salty liquorice. Personally I hate salmiakki, so that does not belong to my finnishness. What finnishness means to me? That’s hard question because I always say I was born to wrong country because I hate snow and cold weather. I’m from Tornio, Lapland, so winter sports are familiar. I am not outdoors person, but I appreciate our pure nature. I appreciate the solitude what nature gives us. And I love sauna.
I’m not stereotypical Finn; I talk a lot and I am loud. I am open to new experiences, I don’t drink that much and I don’t listen heavy metal. For me finnishness is stubbornness. And we are very proud. Sometimes (read: usually) those two things are same. Finnishness to me is night less nights, midsummer, dark humor, honesty, melancholy and turkish pepper candy. Also we have this thing called sisu. There is not English word for sisu, but it means determination regardless of cost, so we don’t give up easily. And that trait makes me proud to be Finn.
I will do my training in hotel named Viura, Logroño, Spain. I am bit nervous because Spanish people are quite different than we finns. And I will miss finnish solitude, rye bred and sauna. I’m sure I will learn many things abroad about my future profession, Spain and myself , but mostly I think I will appreciate finnishness eaven more.
Comments