Dreaming about Finland...

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 9:00 am

toukokuu wrote:Dear Susan,

Susan, in your country, you have very good authors, and thats one reason I have appreciated your country. You are kind of interesting person, and hope that you will find your place in the world, whether in Finland or elsewhere. I think this kind of forum is excellent for changing experiences and opinions, and possibly for making friends.

Hi toukokuu,

The idea of living in two countries sounds good but I don't think I could afford that, and may be it would be a bit complicated in a long run...but I will follow my dream for sure.

You're right about the authors. I like Milan Kundera's style. I like the way he combines Literature and Philosophy, two subjects I really like. Which author do you like?

I appreciate what you say about me. I'm also curious to know what makes you say that..

About the forum, I enjoy reading what you guys post. It's a nice place for learning, sharing and yes, making friends as well. =)

**Sponsor:**

toukokuu · Post by **toukokuu** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:02 am

Dear Susan,

I also like Kundera. The best way to "do philosophy" is to write a good novel, exactly what you said to combine literature and philosophy. And of course, I like Kafka. But Kundera is more for me, something really close to life, or down to earth.

Why did I say the positive things about you? Because you consistently keep your own, very strong position and show that you know what you want in your life. You follow your inner voice. And I like people who speak out their minds.

About living in 2 countries. It is impractical and expensive. Sometimes I wonder if I live not only in 2 but in 3 countries. But soon I will settle down. And I am ready to meet you one day in Finland, if you want.

And about this Forum. I think it is just excellent. My problem is technical with the quotes etc...but otherwise. just great!

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 11:00 am

Hank W. wrote:
well, the horse's mouth http://www.minedu.fi/minedu/education/index.html

Well, a few things:
- no illusions of grandeur; we know if we step out of the borders we have to communicate in the lingua franca which in modern times is English.
- they pound the grammar into you.. don't know if it is the same around but they emphasise a lot of reading comprehension and writing in Finnish schools.
- oh, and tv is subtitled so you get "immersed" quite a bit...

Thanks Hank for the link! You're a star! =)

I know you need English to communicate with the rest of the world, but Finland is not the only country is that situation. English is the Lingua Franca, the language for business and communication in general, every single person in the world has to speak English if he wants to go a little further than the borders of his country. but not everybody is willing to do that. I have heard some very narrow minded comments in my life about this language thing and well, what can I do...

Anyway, I was talking about the quality of Finn's English compared with others. By and large, Finns have a very good command of the English language. I think I have talked to enough Finns to be able to say this. I'm also taking into account the use of vocabulary, grammar structures and pronunciation, that is different from accent. Not to mention the knowledge about different topics Finns are able to discuss in English. I know Finns have a hard time with English prepositions as there are no prepositions in the Finnish language.

I tend to think that excellent command of the English language is thanks to the Teachers and a very good educational system and not because all Finns are super intelligent beings. =) Are they?

Reading Comprehension plays an important role in the process of learning a language, the same happens with writing till some extent, and TV and movies subtitled are one of the main reasons why Finns have a very good English. Listening is probably the most important of the four language skills in the process of learning.

I think Finns have to be proud of their language skills.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 1:49 pm

Susan wrote:and not because all Finns are super intelligent beings. =) Are they?

The ancestors who moved here were barking mad if you ask me

Rahela-Hanna · Post by **Rahela-Hanna** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 2:33 am

Man, I want so much to move to Finland, as well. But then there's my boyfriend...my dearest one, and oh, how I do love him so much...he moved to America, in the first place, from that country called Moldova. And we had been speaking to one another the other day about what our future together is going to be like...and suddenly I said to him rather forcefully I'm afraid, "Iosif! I hate this place. And I'm supposed to be leaving sometime next autumn. What do you think about that?"

"I'm not sure what I think," Iosif replied with a bit of a frown.

But I said, "Iolska, I'm going there with or without you."

He gave me kind of a funny look, and I knew all at once that he didn't really want to emmigrate to somewhere else, when he had already come way-across the entire world to get here in Asheville with his family, where we both reside now. That thought scared the absolute hell out of me...

So, "Iosif, please," I said to him, holding both his hands in my own. "Let's go there. To Finlandia. Where we can both be free, religiously free even, and maybe no one will throw trash at us on the schoolbus or on the streets!"

He looked as though he was thinking it over very deeply. He closed his eyes. Then he patted me on the shoulder and was all like, "I'll see what happens. When I'm eighteen."

Ya'll, he's turning eighteen on the 22nd of this month, already...then will come all the major changes between us, I guess. I'm absolutley terrified. I wish more than anything that I could just go to Finland with my Iosif and stay there forever more! All we both have ever wanted is life. And love.

All his family is here, though. If he leaves with me, he'll be leaving about six brothers and sisters, parents, and even his elderly grandfather who probably won't be living much longer, anyway. I'll be leaving my own grandmother and grandfather, on opposite sides of the family. And my brothers. And parents---even after all they've done wrong to my siblings and I. Even after that.

I'm just so, so afraid. More than I can ever explain to anyone...it nearly makes me literally sick to my stomach, just to think about it all! I mean, what if Iosif and I can never go somewhere where we can live so much nicer than this, with such seemingly better people, and get married as we plan, and raise a family of our own?

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 2:37 am

Considering you two are now "in paradise" what people in Finland and Moldov(i)a used to think... Why would the people have moved there from the "old country"? USA is the land of opportunity - and to be rich! And you are dreaming of a country the first order is to pay half your income into taxes...

BTW what do you expect of like "doing" as in getting money... Iosif is quite sensible asking that question.

Rahela-Hanna · Post by **Rahela-Hanna** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 2:46 am

I don't mind one bit paying all those way-high taxes while living in Finland. Not at all, man. In Finland, the health care is free, or near-free, at least. I can't help but think that we certainily could have used some of that here in America a couple of years back when my brother got in a knife fight he didn't start, and wound up getting his foot stabbed to the ground. He bled and bled, I was completley and utterly freaking on out, and yet we couldn't take him to a hospital anywhere, because that was back in the day when we couldn't even afford insurance, and it would have cost us way more than we could ever pay had we taken him to the hospital without it. So we had to drive him in the car for a couple-few miles to this neighbor whose house we know, who just so happens to be a nurse, and was able to give him the stitches and care he needed right from her house with the doctor's stuff she had so cleverly stashed there, instead.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 11:03 am

Well, true - there is always the flip side of the coin. But yes, you need to see both sides of the argument - some people have this illusion of XYZ (like the streets "paved with gold" in the USA) and then the reality is that the grass was greenenr because it was painted plastic

... Currently job opportunities in Finland are somewhat fluctuating, so those things you guys need to be figuring out beforehand.

Wait a minute... you two are not planning to elope are you?

Rahela-Hanna · Post by **Rahela-Hanna** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 10:35 pm

Yeah, I know...*looks momentarily discouraged*...And no, we're not exactly planning to elope to Finland!

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:57 pm

Hi Rahela-Hanna,
You know, I always say you have to follow your dreams and be true to your Self... just one question> Is Finland your only one option? How did you come to the conclusion that Finland is the place you want to be? I'm asking because you say once and again you are scared about this and that...If you are determined to make such a move you have to be sure about what you are doing and you don't have to be scared about absolutely anything. That's a rule to survive in any place.
If you are absolutely convinced about what you want, then go for it...but with no fears.

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 9:12 pm

toukokuu wrote:Dear Susan,

I also like Kundera. The best way to "do philosophy" is to write a good novel, exactly what you said to combine literature and philosophy. And of course, I like Kafka. But Kundera is more for me, something really close to life, or down to earth.

Why did I say the positive things about you? Because you consistently keep your own, very strong position and show that you know what you want in your life. You follow your inner voice. And I like people who speak out their minds.

About living in 2 countries. It is impractical and expensive. Sometimes I wonder if I live not only in 2 but in 3 countries. But soon I will settle down. And I am ready to meet you one day in Finland, if you want.

And about this Forum. I think it is just excellent. My problem is technical with the quotes etc...but otherwise. just great!

Dear toukokuu,

I love the combination of Literature and Philosophy. I agree with you, I also prefer Kundera. =)

Maybe one day I finally write something good enough to be published...who knows...everything is possible...
Thanks for your nice words. I would say you already seem to know me quite well. ...I also like people who speak their minds and constantly speak with the truth.

Sure I want to meet you one day in Finland...it will be soon.

toukokuu · Post by **toukokuu** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 10:17 pm

Dear Susan,
Thanks. Any plans for a next trip to Finland? Keep us informed. I think that you already have many friends in this Forum.
cheers, toukokuu

Rahela-Hanna · Post by **Rahela-Hanna** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 10:33 pm

Susan wrote:Hi Rahela-Hanna,
You know, I always say you have to follow your dreams and be true to your Self... just one question> Is Finland your only one option? How did you come to the conclusion that Finland is the place you want to be? I'm asking because you say once and again you are scared about this and that...If you are determined to make such a move you have to be sure about what you are doing and you don't have to be scared about absolutely anything. That's a rule to survive in any place.
If you are absolutely convinced about what you want, then go for it...but with no fears.

Yes.

Thank you. And yeah, Finland is my only option---but it's at the same time the only option I'd ever want! Finland has all I've ever wanted out of life. I can have a real life there...of course I have a few fears, but I know that everything is fear at first, and we just have to conquer our fears time and time again or else not live at all. I don't know how else to put it, really...

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 10:44 pm

toukokuu wrote:Dear Susan,
Thanks. Any plans for a next trip to Finland? Keep us informed. I think that you already have many friends in this Forum.
cheers, toukokuu

Dear toukokuu,

The original plan was to move in January...not sure about that yet. If it's not January it would be for the next academic year for sure, a bit before...for the summer holidays maybe. Sure, I'll keep you posted. =)
It's good to know I can count with friends here already. Friendship is important and not easy to find. Thanks =)

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 10:50 pm

Rahela-Hanna wrote:
Susan wrote:Hi Rahela-Hanna,
You know, I always say you have to follow your dreams and be true to your Self... just one question> Is Finland your only one option? How did you come to the conclusion that Finland is the place you want to be? I'm asking because you say once and again you are scared about this and that...If you are determined to make such a move you have to be sure about what you are doing and you don't have to be scared about absolutely anything. That's a rule to survive in any place.
If you are absolutely convinced about what you want, then go for it...but with no fears.
Yes. Thank you. And yeah, Finland is my only option---but it's at the same time the only option I'd ever want! Finland has all I've ever wanted out of life. I can have a real life there...of course I have a few fears, but I know that everything is fear at first, and we just have to conquer our fears time and time again or else not live at all. I don't know how else to put it, really...

What's all you ever wanted out of life?
If living in Finland is what you want, Fight your fears then and go and follow your dream. Real life? >> this depends on you. Not everybody considers "real life" in the same way. What is "real" for you?

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