Finland, what, where, huh?!

Hey there readers!
Today Im going to (mostly) just offer my own thoughts and ideas, about being a Finn. It's kinda hard to explain what it feels like or what makes finns - finns. In some fashion Finland could be thought of as an enigma of sorts. Smack dab in the "middle" of northern europe, actually north eastern europe - sits a rather tiny nation of people; whom aren't really western in a strict sense nor eastern, speak a strange language, not really known for anything, no one seems to really know where this oddball people came from or how they ended up in this somewhat odd place, yet managed to get stuck in a situation of several wars over the past centuries and finally now independent.

So, I know Im a finn, and even I cant say for certain where we came from of who (the idiot? :) ) was the first finn or the fist ancestor(s) to decide, hey! lets put up a settlement here, it's cold, swampy, forests ridden with bears, reindeer and unbelievable amount on gnats/blackfly and what not. I mean surely somewhere warmer not so far away would have been nicer? Anyhow, thanks to 'em blokes - we know have a rather nice place to live - yet quite unknown. Why do I like to live here? Why have I not moved or decided that - k! I'll go to france - the land of gourmet. It's really hard to name any grand ideology that would describe what makes finns, proud to be finns.

So, I (might have to edit this post later :D) what I like about being here is:

Seasons (albeit the summer could be longer) - very beautiful transitions from green to almost total darkness with snow.

Simple things, tap water(The United Nations World Water Development Report: Water for People, Water for Life considers the water in Finland cleanest in the world. The secret is not only in the quality of raw water, but also in the water treatment methods) is generally safe to drink, everyman's right (the Finns believe that it is everyman's right to be able to enjoy the countryside, woods and lake shores free of charge and without the landowner's permission) - so one might go pick berries or mushroom anywhere.

People. Even though finns can be frustratingly hard-headed, cynical, quiet and so on, its quite easy to get along in Finland, be it that you want to sit alone and read the newspaper or want to go out partying with a few mates. Im kinda hoping my friend Craig would write something about this, as it's very hard for me to do (Craig you reading this? Start working!) :)

Midnight sun. Need I explain this?

Sisu. "Sub-zero temperatures. Sunlight for just five hours a day. Centuries of Russian aggression. The people of Finland have a word for their renowned fortitude and resilience. Could an outsider get in on their secret?" Read the whole article here. Very entertaining and interesting article I might add!

Thus, I shall leave you with an excerpt from Kalevala (RUNE IV.
THE FATE OF AINO) to fuel thy imagination:
"When the lone and wretched mother
Heard the sacred cuckoo singing,
Spake she thus, and sorely weeping:
"When I hear the cuckoo calling,
Then my heart is filled with sorrow;
Tears unlock my heavy eyelids,
Flow adown my, furrowed visage,
Tears as large as silver sea pearls;
Older grow my wearied elbows,
Weaker ply my aged fingers,
Wearily, in all its members,
Does my body shake in palsy,
When I hear the cuckoo singing,
Hear the sacred cuckoo calling."

Ps. Remember to smile today :)