Independent Finland!

6th of December is the Finnish Independence Day, 99 years ago 1917 Finland gained it's independence. For a Finn living outside Finland, the independence day brings in mind all the good things about Finland and why Finland is one of the best countries in the world.

Reason to put some lipstick on! ;)

We spend our independence day with the other Finns who live here. Our Honorary Consul invited everybody to a dinner on the occasion of the 99th Anniversary of the Independence Day of Finland. Violins were playing the national anthem of Finland and the food was so good!

Our menu for this evening!

Finnish flag cake, nobody wants to get the blue parts as they may be coloring your mouth!

Starters were tasty!

Finland is among the world’s top countries according to a range of international measures. Studies have shown that Finland is among the best performers in the world based on criteria such as honesty, innovation, literacy, success in education and opportunities for girls. We have also been deemed the world's most stable country. This provides a strong starting point for celebrating our independence.

-Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic of Finland 

(Message from the President of the Republic of Finland to Finnish expatriate communities on 6 December 2016)

Finland is the best!:

1. Finland is the most progressive country in the world
2. Finland is the greenest country in the world
3. Finland is one of the best countries for girls
4. Finland is the most stable country in the world
5. Finland is the safest country in the world
6. Finland has the best governance in the world
7. Finland’s judicial system is the most independent in the world
8. Finland has the least organised crime in the world
9. Finland is the best country in protecting fundamental human rights in the world
10. Finland has the smallest difference in the employment rates of women and men in EU countries
11. Finland has the most human capital in the world
12. Finland's primary education is the best in the world
13. Finland has the most forests in Europe
14. Finns drink most coffee per person in the world
15. .....

http://www.stat.fi/ajk/satavuotiassuomi/suomimaailmankarjessa_en.html

Today I'm so proud to be a Finn! Happy Anniversary Finland!

-Camilla

National identity while abroad!

I have been thinking lately about my identity and how it has changed after I moved to Poland. While living in Finland I didn't think about my national identity as it was something automatic. Of course I have always been proud of the success of Finns. In ice-hockey, Eurovision, Finnish companies that are doing great in the international field and many more (unfortunately not football :(). I'm still proud of all the success and happy how good picture people have about Finland in general. But now everything related to Finland is more dear to me. I consider Wroclaw as my home and it is so dear to me, but it is not Finland.

Here everything related to Finland came luxury for me. Probably you noticed that I became so happy about Finnish rye bread :D  When here in the city happens anything related to Finland, I want to be there to watch football, volleyball, movies, concerts... anything!

After I moved here I became the Finnish girl. That is my identity, that is what people remember about me even if they don't remember my name. I'm proud to be the Finnish girl but it changed my identity as it changed how people see me. In Finland my identity was different as it was not so closely related to my nationality. Of course I'm so much more than just a Finn, I'm a student, I'm a girlfriend, I'm a daughter..... Now my nationality has just taken the leading role.

Before moving to Poland I wanted to think that there is an European identity. Probably there is in some level but the national identity comes first. Always! As even within the Europe people think in so different manners. I don't know if European Union integration is able to change the way of thinking for more pro European.

-The Finnish girl