Suomalaiset & jij

I always found Finns funny and adorable. They all have a national low self esteem and an minorty complex. I think this is partly given in because they are a reletively young country and their culture is not that much known in the world. At least they think that, but their sauna is known over the world and Nokia has still a cult status around the world. Also according to research, people think if they hear Lapland more of Finland then any other Scandinavian country. Finns have the strange habit to think of themselfs only in stereotypes, more then any other people. This form of selfspot I can admire and I think a healthy dosis of selfspot doesn't hurt anyone, but in Finland is the norm and is sometimes quitte scary I think. But still, Finns are cute and lovely.

I think Finns have to get used to the idea that the are independed, for almost 98 years, and they have to forge their own destiny. Not thinking of what others think of them. The Netherlands is stubborn and weird for a long long time and as small country as we are, we have our own etiquette and own social rules. We are still here and some people like us and the others we ignore. So ignore the Swedes little Finns, they are weird any way and Finland is far more awesome then Sweden. People only like Sweden as long as Swedes not speak Swedish because that is absolutly horror for most people. And the Swedes only do well in Europe, after that it is just all Scandinavia with the weird part. And the weird part is Finland. Because the language is diffrent from the rest of Scandinavia, but that makes it more awesome. Also because Finland is quite mysterious and unkwown. So go on and exploit that. And forget that Sweden, they are just Sweden. Finland is one of only 5 countries in the world that always played in the championship division in icehockey. Your Eurovision win is one of the most memorable wins ever in Eurovision. The Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki is regarded as one of the best over (Finland was the highst ranking western country of that edition) Jaana Pelkonen and Mikko Leppilampi are regarded as the best hosts ever, if you exclude the solo hostings. So there you go.

The social skills of Finns is regarded as far to negative, especially by some Dutch folks around here. I think Finns are very social. Because of the long distances in Finland, they are not very used to be social and they are very on their own, but if you give Finns time you wish they were silent again. Like some Finns I know who live in a certain appartment in a certain appartmentbuilding next to a certain Siwa in a certain city in a certian country and in a certain continent on certain planet in a certain milky way. I also know a women who is one of the most kindley spirted souls I met and she hosted me for 2 times now in Kokkola. I think it sometimes it requires a little more afforts from us foreigners but when you have Finnish friends, you have them almost for ever. Because even Finns die, unfortunatly. So don't be frighten of their silenceness, their grumpy looks or there barely understandable language. It is like a test if you want to get all trough that and are worthy of their friendship. Also remember their natioal low selfesteem, because that always pops up every 15 minutes. But then you have more reasons to party hard with them. Because Finns are the party people of Europe. Probably because you don't have to talk that much while partying. But even talking is not that hard for a Finn if they are used to you, then they barely shut up. You have then the chance to observe and hear their cute accent in English. Because even then their hidden nationalistic tendencies pops out, you hear they are Finns and speak Finnish. And it doesn't take long before Finland is the main discussion topic.