ffp: first finland post!

And we're off!

I've been feeling stressed about making this blog a reality, hence the lack of posts since my arrival in Finland more than a month ago (crazy! it's flown by). But! I'm sitting here doing my online introductory Finnish course—titled "Suomi with Love"—and inspiration struck!

I really cannot believe I've already been here for over a month. In that time, I've gently slipped into quite a peaceful routine. Most of my days consist of a morning and evening walk by Lake Saimaa. The lake is visible from my apartment, and I can access shoreline trails by walking just across the street (see some pictures in the collage below)! The forest is beautiful and lush and mossy and feels really alive. Around each bend, I’m expecting (and hoping) that the rock trolls from Frozen will jump out and serenade me. One night, I timed my walk poorly with the sunset, and in the darkness I felt that the trees might reach out and grab me with their roots.

One of the things that first drew me to Finland was how culturally embedded an appreciation for nature seemed to be. I can now confirm that my suspicions were correct.

There’s a law called "Everyone's Rights" that codifies the sentiment that access to nature is not a privilege but a universal right. According to the law, everyone is granted the freedom to roam and enjoy nature—hiking, cross-country skiing, camping, foraging, rod fishing—so long as they do so responsibly, avoiding disturbance to other people and the environment. The peak summer berry season has concluded, but I continue to keep my eyes out for lingon and cloud berries. I've also noticed an increase in fungi lately, though I'm scared to be fooled by a false chanterelle and poison myself, so I'll hold off on mushroom foraging for now (i’m planning to watch fantastic fungi tonight, so stay tuned).

One of my favorite parts of the whole Everyone's Rights story is that several years ago they adopted the current name in substitution of "Everyman's Rights" for the sake of inclusivity and to emphasize the true universality of the right. Honestly, this snapshot of Finnish culture sums up what I've observed to be the country's core values: trust, individualism, and pride in its land, history, and people.

Another snippet that exemplifies the role trust and nature play in everyday life is napping babies. It's true! It's not uncommon to see strollers—which we might be quick to identify as abandoned—strewn here and there. I’ve mostly seen them while walking through a park near my apartment. While a baby left alone outside would be a concerning and alarming sight in the United States, it's part of a culturally and scientifically based practice common in Scandinavian countries.

Many parents leave their babies outside to nap! The reasons for this are manifold. Parents believe that exposure to fresh air and natural light helps regulate circadian rhythms and promote longer sleep, supports acclimation to Finland's harsh climate, and fosters a connection to nature during a child's developmental stages. In the U.S., we might worry that leaving our child outside would have dangerous consequences, but in Finland, it's a manifestation of the importance of the natural world and a culture defined by trust.

While I'm having so much fun learning about and exploring this beautiful and honestly sort-of magical place, it's not all berries and napping babies! As expected, I've certainly had moments of frustration and embarrassment as I adjust to being a foreign person in a new land. My biggest obstacle is learning that it is okay not to know what the hell I'm doing. I love to enter a situation and know exactly what to expect and how to act. Oh, I love it! And so, becoming comfortable with being confused has been a humbling and hilarious process.

Take, for instance, the first time I did laundry. The drama! In my apartment, the laundry room is in the basement, and you book time slots online. I felt actual horror when I realized that the time slots were 30 minutes and the shortest wash cycle was 45 minutes. Envisioning the moment I had to explain to the next laundry-doer that I didn't know what I was doing, and that I still had 15 minutes left on my wash, was unfathomable. They'd be standing there watching me switch my laundry, and how much time will I waste checking the tag to see if my trousers should be dried? And what if I dropped a pair of underwear on the floor? All the while they're toe-tapping and hating me, and I'm frantic.

Naturally, I sprang into action to avoid facing this nightmare. I looked up how to "emergency shutoff" the washer and shlopped my mid-rinse clothes back into the laundry bin. Now, having doubled in weight from the water, I could no longer pick up my laundry bin. So I dragged it across the room into the farthest and darkest corner, and then I fled the scene.

The next day, having booked three consecutive slots, I dragged my bin back to the washers, reloaded the sopping wet clothes, and emptied the ~12 inches of standing water from the bottom of the bin. An hour later, I sauntered out of the basement feeling victorious: head held high and clothes smelling of lavender. Nothing to see here! Just a girl who knows how to do laundry! I have no shame!

However, I do know that not every situation will have an "emergency shutoff" and try-again-tomorrow option. Even during the height of my panic at an impending uncomfortable situation, there was a rational voice in my head laughing through the whole ordeal. And that is the voice that prevails now. Going forward, I expect that learning to let this voice lead in the heat of my anxiety will be one of my greatest lessons (and goals!). I look forward to continuing to be challenged to laugh at myself and adapt. Ultimately, I know I will be rewarded with a newfound assurance in myself and my capabilities.

Honestly, that's sort of the gist of my first month here: learning by experience, observation, and failure. It's been horizon-expanding, beautiful, exciting, and definitely scary at times. I can't wait for what's to come. There we have it! First Finland post in the books. Thanks for listening & talk soon!