
That was the end of the Winter Olympic Games 2018 and Finland won 1 gold, 1 silver, 4 bronze which is not the goal we were looking for but there you have it.

That was the end of the Winter Olympic Games 2018 and Finland won 1 gold, 1 silver, 4 bronze which is not the goal we were looking for but there you have it.
New post, new year. I hope you all had a safe new year. I went to see with my father a fireworks show for children at 6 pm at the park close by. It has become a tradition. All the fireworks are the same so that is all I really need. I stayed at my fathers place the rest of the evening. There was Junior ice hockey world championship on TV where Finland played against the USA. I ended my year with ice hockey and began with it. We lost though. Personally, the new year is just another day. Some people fuss about it but that’s not me. Some years I’ve been to see fireworks somewhere when the new year changes but sometimes I don’t bother. This time it was because of the ice hockey. The everyday life continues no matter what.
That was not the conversation I was going to write about. Living in a world where talking seems to be highly appreciated, is difficult for a person who doesn’t talk much. There’s nothing wrong if you like talking. The problem is more about the quality of conversations. People talk a lot of nonsense. A little less conversation and a little bit more action, please. Anyone can talk but how many can put those words into action? I rather show what I can do, rather than talk about it. When I was in that job interview, I don’t know if my replies were long enough. On job interview tips it says your replies should be about 1 minute or less. I wouldn’t even know what to say for that long. It’s easier to think what to say before but when the interview is on, all those thoughts are gone. I say things that come to mind and later I realise I didn’t mention something I should. Then it’s too late. I won’t be surprised if I don’t get a second interview.
I really feel stressed if other people are waiting for long answers from me. I’m not the best person to give speeches. You can always improve your conversation skills but it’s not easy for a person who only talks when they have something to say. Writing is so much easier because you can think before speaking and then you can delete or add words. Talking to someone you can’t take words back. Once you’ve said them, it’s all over. Especially if the conversation is with someone you will only meet once. Some people feel awkward if there is silent but they just have to get used to it. You don’t need to talk all the time. Even in libraries, you don’t have silence signs anymore. That’s one place that should be quiet but now they have all kinds of programs there. At least in our local library. There are silent places there too but they’re not that many. Whispering is a disappearing tradition. People are having conversations like they were in a dance club. Shouting and screaming like there is no tomorrow. Strange behaviour in a library. Good manners are hard to find.
If there were less conversation and more action, things should actually go somewhere. Especially, politicians. They talk a lot but a very few have any ideas how to make things better. We should this and we should do that but nothing ever happens. What works on paper doesn’t mean it will work in practice. If they have any ideas, it’s always someone who’s gonna suffer the most. All action doesn’t always help. Everything starts with a conversation and it’s only the brave who take action. You either just talk or take the bull by its horns. As long as someone takes the first step and others will follow. Which one will you be, is the question you should ask yourself. I prefer the action because a conversation is forced and I rather follow my own mind then what others expect of me.
Today it’s Independence Day in Finland. 100 years of it. Blue and white lights are being lit on buildings in different parts of the world. Even in Ethiopia. It’s an honour to be remembered by other countries. What Finns love the most is hearing praise. We’re really proud of our nation. No one is perfect though. Like any other country, we’re not saintly. This is not the day to have negative thoughts.

There’s a saying in Finland, it’s a jackpot to be born in Finland. You really can say that. For starters, there haven’t been any wars since 1917. Our school system has been praised. We get our basic education for free. We don’t need to pay for our school lunch either. It doesn’t matter what background you come from, you still get an education. High school is only optional. If you don’t want to go, you can study an occupation in vocational school instead. So if you don’t go to high school, it’s not the end of the world. There are different ways to educate yourself. Education of any kind is very important. You have a better chance to get a job. It depends on what kind of job you’re looking for though.
Finns love their sport. Especially ice hockey. We have won the championship twice, 1995 and 2011. Winter sports, in general, have been successful. We’re also good at other sports. Recent success has been in female floorball and ringette.
Finns are also well known in motorsport. If you want to win, hire a Finn, is a well known saying. Being a small nation with so many champions have amazed other countries. There haven’t been any champions in recent years though. The standard is higher and many other great drivers are coming along from other countries. But I think there will always be Finns in motorsport.
There are so many great things in Finland so it would take forever to write. We have nature and we have the sauna but it’s so much more. Never underestimate a Finn. We might be famous for being introverted and reserved. But when we get going, there’s nothing that stops us. We’re honest and trustworthy. I’m proud to be a Finn. Veterans fought for our independence and for 100 years Finland has been war-free. I’m happy to have been born here and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Hyvää Itsenäisyyspäivää, Suomi!
Glad själständighets dag, Finland!
Happy Independence Day, Finland!