Why Finland!?

[boO_fi]

i moved to finland because i'm totally obsessed with HIM and i hope that one day i'll bump into ville valo on the street and then he'd propose to me and we'd have a cool goth like wedding and such

[greenhorn]

i moved to finland because i'm totally obsessed with HIM and i hope that one day i'll bump into ville valo on the street and then he'd propose to me and we'd have a cool goth like wedding and such

Any progress in last two year ?

[Make]

i moved to finland because i'm totally obsessed with HIM and i hope that one day i'll bump into ville valo on the street and then he'd propose to me and we'd have a cool goth like wedding and such

Any progress in last two year ?

I'm living in Tampere oposite a bar where loads of these type of people are hanging around to pick up a flash of 'Negative'
I don't really see the point in that but then moving to Finland for that reason only?

I can't believe that!

[Rahela-Hanna]

Um, "Girl," as you call yourself...I, also a girl, and an American-Mustalainen one at that, am seventeen years old, and I'm moving to Finland in August of 2006 because my life here in the US has been terrible. I said that I was a gypsy, and legally so it says. I've faced all types of poverty, racial prejudice, child abuse, and sadness here in the US. And so now, even though I'm so young and the whole world is against me, I'm ready to immigrate. Even if that means leaving the only world I've ever known. I've been to Finland before. Twice, in fact. And I loved it. I fell in love with Finland straightaway when I thought that I could never begin to love anything ever again. But in Finland, unlike here where Bush reigns hand-in-hand with Chaos, I have a future. I can have a life, and not be having to beg food with my two younger brothers from people, because we can't afford it. I speak Finnish even, quite well, though I couldn't spell it if my very life were depending on it...that, at least, is gonna help me, I know. I don't have anything at all left in the world. Just the hope that one day soon I can go to Finland and put my terrible past well behind me. Maybe my scars, inner and outer, will heal someday in the future. But for now I can only look at different maps of the world, and whenever I happen to spot little Finland sitting way up there in the far North, or if I ever see the Finnish flag, I can just whisper a little prayer deep inside my head and really hope for the best. Because without this, I'm broken. Ya'll...ya'll in Finland really do have everything, do you know that? (But I'm not saying this to try and make you feel guilty or a anything, really.) It's just that I've had such a very hard life, and so may other poor Americans I know, Roma or non-Roma, have had the same too, and just...well. I know what I want. And I know why I want it.

So give me Finland or give me death, yo.

[Hank W.]

A kaale romani? Or some random knacker?

Do you wear such a dress?

[toukokuu]

Dear Rahela-Hanna,

I am so sorry what you been through in your life. You need a new start, we do not need any definitions. It is love and peace you need. You are so young that you will pull it through.

I do know that these bad things happen all over the world and there is not a paradise on the earth. However, you need a new start. The Finnish society is absolutely more for human rights and values than the American. Mr Bush, whether he really is Christian as he claims or not, has created deepening inequalities and suffering especially among disadvantaged people. What a shame. And hypocrisy.

Finland has its problems as well but they are different. I never could live in the United States but visiting there has been funny. Even during a short and funny holiday I had to face so clear racial prejudice and "money talks", that I thought what a hard society it is. At individual level, however, there are a lot of caring and kind people in the States.

Finland is more boring but if you understand what we Finnish people are you will manage. It is not so much words and external. It is more fairness, honesty, order and simple things. Quite ordinary life.
Wish to hear more about you!

[Rahela-Hanna]

Yes, I am Kaale...no, I'm not just a "knacker", as you so thoughtfully put it! And yes. I do have the dress. But I don't usually don it. But, man---not all of your gypsies in Finland are so dark, not anywhere compared to so many in America! We also, in America, have such a difference in what is considered "blonde", than what is considered "blonde" way up there in Finland. Like me, for instance---I've seen a few Finnish gypsies walking the streets of Oulu all jazzed up like they are, and I've thought to myself, Oh goodness, there's a blonde gypsy, sure as the sun! And take me for an example. In America, we think that my hair is very blonde, while in Finland, they all seem to think that it's light to medium brown or something... And I'm actually quite light-skinned. And green-eyed, as well. Not at all like either of my parents, who are what people call "typical." Though they, too, both have green eyes. One of my brothers has the same.

[Hank W.]

Well, sorry for putting it out so crudely. Theres a lot of XYZ-americans and for us they are mainstream yanks as you know. And say an Irish traveller doesn't even remotely resemble a Finnish roma as you can tell.

And yes, as the kaale in Finland are quite traditional. But it does not matter if you are blonde or dark - theres very blonde ladies here in the traditional dress - it is a matter of belonging to the family I think. Its a bit of the the same way of how the Sami people define "who is a Sami".

But if you move to Finland, it is 50/50 ... either you wear the dress and then you are discriminated because you are "mustalainen" (women in the dress are even today sometimes discriminated against and its nothing to do with how they'd otherwise look) - or then you go "mainstream" and the old ladies in the community are upset...

Well, I am my mother's son, you can always find me and ask questions.

[Rahela-Hanna]

Wait---you're your mother's son---so are you Kaale also?

And oh, I actually like it, strangely enough, when all these old gypsy women get really and truly pissed off at me for not donning "the dress."

Oh, but you know what? This has just come to mind: I've been looking for a few good pictures of the Finnish mustalaisia to show some of these narrow-minded white folks here in the US, who seem to think that gypsies don't exist in the world anymore.

[Hank W.]

Wait---you're your mother's son---so are you Kaale also?

no... I am a "valkolainen" - was I just remembered a little figure of speech the kaale use when introducing themselves. I guess I got that one right.

And oh, I actually like it, strangely enough, when all these old gypsy women get really and truly pissed off at me for not donning "the dress."

Ah, a true rebel. I think the old women are afraid that the younger generation will "slip into the mainstream", loose identity etc. And I think the "rule" is that once you take upon wearing the dress you can't switch back & forth.

Oh, but you know what? This has just come to mind: I've been looking for a few good pictures of the Finnish mustalaisia to show some of these narrow-minded white folks here in the US, who seem to think that gypsies don't exist in the world anymore.

Well, here, show them
http://www.romanomissio.fi/galleria/
http://mansetori.uta.fi/romanit/terneka ... ruulla.htm
Theres quite many found in google, but all are quite small.

[Rahela-Hanna]

Yes. I must admit that you're exactly right and there is actually a rule that a good Roma girl may not switch back and forth between Roma and Western dress---but since I do, and have before, that does make me a true rebel, doesn't it? And with a definite cause, to boot?

[Susan]

Baris already mentioned some of the good reasons why people move to Finland. Living in a place you choose is one of the best things you can do for your Self. I particularly enjoy living where I decide to live, not where I was born for hell knows what weird things of the Universe. Choosing where you want to live gives you freedom, freedom of mind, gives you the wonderful feeling of choosing everything, or almost everything, gives you capacity to enjoy the things you like the best from the world according to your own ideals and likes. Choosing a place gives you the opportunity to choose a life style, to choose the culture, the society, even the weather... You need to know that there are a bunch of people out there who prefers winter than summer, at least than the extreme summer with so high temeperatures that seems your brain is going to melt. Needless to say how horrible it is to see people in suits sweating as if they were in sauna.
I am more than happy to have the chance to choose where to live and make the decision to move somewhere else when it´s time. I have traveled quiete a lot, less than other people and more than other people, I have seen many cities in different countries in two continents. I have interacted with people from different nationalities, different cultures, different backgrounds, different ways of living. I have a picture in my mind of the place I want to live, of My Place in the World. You have to know how to Dream. I have lived in cities that almost everybody would consider a wonderful place to live, places where people go on summer holiday... There is a place for everybody. If you are brave and determined enough you have to find it. You have to be open minded and have a strong will. You need to have the capacity to open your eyes and see what is hidden. To look, to open your mind and your heart. Then you will see..
Finland is not the only place in the world with cold winter. Winter is cold. Summer is not. There are other more important things to consider rather than the cold winter.
People suffer from depression for many different reasons. The weather can be a trigger for other hidden reasons but is not the reason. People in general don´t know about the true reasons of such a harmful thing like real depression. Being depressed is not just being sad and bored in winter. Depression is a big word and should be taken seriously. People not only commit suicide in Finland. Have you thought why people commit suicide in countries where the weather is not dark and cold in winter? Why should they kill themselves if they don´t live in Finland?? What would be the excuse?? The weather is just an excuse, not the reason. You will never know the true reasons of why people commit suicide, unless you yourself have experienced suicidal thoughts and have a slight idea about what depression and suicide are about.
I would say that you have to look around, choose a place where you think you would like to live and move there if you don´t like living in Finland. There is no need of being unhappy in a place. But most important, look inside your own Self...be true to your Self. And respect if people mistakenly (for you) think that Finland is a very good place to live in this chaotic world.

[Rahela-Hanna]

That's true. *begins to cry* That's DAMN true, Susan!

*embraces Susan and cries*

Suomi on minun Kanaan.

Anybody understand me there? I can't half spell stuff in Finnish.

[Hank W.]

Finland is into my chicken? I thought it was turkey season?


(Yes, I think I got the "promised land" reference but Kaanaanmaa is mutilated grammatically in a bit different manner )

[Susan]

That's true. *begins to cry* That's DAMN true, Susan!

*embraces Susan and cries*

Suomi on minun Kanaan.

Anybody understand me there? I can't half spell stuff in Finnish.

Don't cry R-H, don't cry... there are more people like you who think and feel they can be happy in Finland. For a reason I don't understand I have this weird feeling for that country and last weekend, I came to the conclusion that I'm a Citizen of the World with a Finnish Heart...and I think that can define me pretty well. =)