"By Alessandro Maccari I consider anniversaries" joke
By Alessandro Maccari
I consider anniversaries (and birthdays) generally meaningless, save for the
fact that they trigger reflection. Last month marked my fifth year in Finland as
a resident; I moved here on February 7, 1997, and, apart from a four-month break
the following winter, stayed ever since.
The recurrence prompted me a question: the same most Finns I meet ask me
(strangely, not Italians, who may be too busy wondering how cold it can possibly
get up here): why am I still here? What has kept me (and an ever-growing number
of foreigners) in Finland for such a long time?
This "footnote" is an attempt for an answer, in the form of a simple list of
good reasons to be in Finland. The list is subjective, biased and incomplete,
and, given that the carnival time is here, should be read with a light heart.
As a homage to Douglas Adams' memory and to Mark King's talents, the number of
good reasons to be in Finland that I have collected is 42. And, although 42
should be the answer to everything, and therefore I am not supposed to enlarge
the list, I am too curious: why are you readers - Finns and foreigners alike -
still here after all this time?
Sauna - the Finns have invented it and despite many imitations they're still
the best at it.
Suomirokki (Finnish rock'n'roll) - "mun mummoni muni mun mammani, mun
mammani muni mun": simply ingenious.
Juhannus (Midsummer) - a day when the whole country goes to the m
There once lived three boys. They had really weird names. The first was named Nobody, the second was named Shut Up, and the third was named Manners.
One day, the boy named Nobody fell into the river. Shut Up and Manners went to the police station.
On the way to the more...
Why do Mummies like Christmas so much?
Because of all the wrapping!