The first day of orientation one of the directors told us we will not be the same person when we leave as when we came, and I knew she was correct. The more people I meet and talk with makes me realize that I am far from ever becoming an adult. The people I talk to everyday come from all walks of life, with different opinions, backgrounds, goals, wants, needs, and dreams. Everyday we struggle with something here whether it is something as simple as the weather, or as complicated as trying to meet and have a conversation with a random Finnish person.
I know somewhere between 10 and 15 Finnish people currently, and trying to understand them as a person them can be rather challenging. On the outside they seem very simple, as you begin to talk with them you learn that they are far from simple. During orientation they told us talking about the weather and hockey will get you along ways when talking with a Finn. Though it’s not as simple I’ve found. Some girls find talking about the weather boring and cannot stand hockey. Others love hockey so much they begin asking me about certain NHL players and I don’t watch too much of it. The look they give me I feel as if it is disappointment, but some finnish people can be very bad at facial expressions. In US culture we look at those who show no emotion as if they are weird, in Finland I feel sometimes as if they embrace it. Making me guess as to either keep talking or shut up and leave.
Tons of Finnish people speak good english though when they hear my accent and can tell I’m a native english speaker they tense up, freeze like a deer looking at headlights. You can see them thinking, processing what to say and how not to screw up. I tell them their english is better than mine, though they just laugh and say, “Okay, Weston.” I try to make them feel more comfortable about speaking with me though the only time they feel comfortable is when they’re drunk. Finnish people love talking to me then, it is as if alcohol makes them fluent in english. I’ve contemplated walking around with a liter of vodka and making finnish people talk with me, but I’ve been advised against it. Going to bars is a great way to meet the university students. There they are in their natural environment, unrestricted, and not afraid to be who they truly are.
I’ve been trying to learn Finnish, and let me tell you it is not for the faint of heart. I try to practice everyday, but it is tough. I have a few people helping me and they usually laugh at me when I try to pronounce words. I’ve found some I may never be able to say. For example George is a pretty easy name to pronounce in english. In finnish it is spelt Yrjö, looks simple, but go to google translate english to finnish put George for english and hear how that name sounds. I get to the r and my tongue can roll the r so there I am stuck sounding like I have peanut butter stuck to the roof of my mouth. The struggle is real, but I like to think I’m getting better everyday. Until I write again, stay warm. Kiitos! (Thank you) Hei hei (Goodbye)
Weston aka Yrjö
Weston R Brooks 