After 30 years of living in Finland, I've collected a huge amount of experiences. Fortunately, most have been more or less on the positive side. Of course, there have been a few unpleasant ones, and some that I'm still unsure about. But that's to be expected anywhere.
"Why did you come here?" I've been asked hundreds of thousands of times...or so it seems. In truth, I didn't have any special reason for coming to Finland. I didn't come for a girlfriend, nor to discover my roots, nor to do research on Finno-Ugric languages, nor for a special professional opportunity. I was just curious. Plus, I loved the Finnish countryside, appreciated the cities and towns, and most important, liked the Finnish people.
Initially, I had only planned to stay one year. But there was always something I wanted to do, someplace I wanted see, and someone I wanted to meet. Then one day, I woke up and realized that 30 years had passed. I had traveled around the country, studied, had several careers, got married, had kids, got divorced, and learned to tolerate salmiakki candies. In other words, I was "stuck" here...but there are far worse places to be stuck.
When abroad I tend to brag about the spectacular Finnish nature, the cleantech know-how, the excellent education system, the emphasis on good design, as well as the friendly mosquitoes in summer and the deadly cold in winter...
All in all, I'm glad I moved to Finland. Of course, I might say the same thing about Sweden or Costa Rica if I had decided to move there. But let's not speculate.
Information for this book was obtained by having lively discussions in pubs, by listening to gossip in saunas, and by hearing small talk at receptions. These texts are based on facts...and some of them are even true.
Finally, I'd like to mention that Finland has been recognized by the media as one of the best countries to live in. Moreover, several international organizations have found Finns to be among the happiest people on earth. So, in spite of how they look when fighting crowds on the morning metro, walking through a blinding snowstorm, paying high prices at the supermarket, waiting for service at the restaurant, or complaining about a new tax...they are smiling to themselves thinking: Living in Finland is like winning the Lottery!