My independence day

It's the independence day of Finland today. Here in Italy they always ask me "independence from what?", meaning from which country. I never remember these things exactly (in school I was interested in history but was horrible at it) so I just say "from Russia". I'm confused about these things also because we've been governed by the Swedes as well, so it's hard to remember which one of these nations humiliated us first and which second. Seeing that it's the appropriate day for checking these things out, I did, and yes it's from the Russia. On the 6th of December in 1917 Finland gained her independence from the bully Bolsheviks.

Info on the Finnish independence for those of you who are interested

I often get asked if I have some angst towards the Swedes seeing that we're neighboring countries and that one time we were under their rule. I've never had any resentment towards the Swedes, actually I've always thought that they're like Finns but a little better. A little more European, a little more talented and a little more pretty. And they get better tans. And I'm not saying these things in an envious way, but in a "way to go Swedes" kinda way.

For some reason I don't feel the same kind of sympathy for the Russians. In fact, when someone mistakes me for a Russian I often get a little offended and hurry to clear up the matter, but when I'm mistaken for a Swede I don't always even set the record straight (depending on the situation of course). I'm not sure where this attitude comes from, lord knows I wasn't there fighting in the Talvisota (or Winter War) against our eastern buddies, and no Russian has ever harmed me in any way. They don't bother me, apart from the fact that they flock in great big herds into the Finnish supermarkets, department stores and bath resorts in the holiday months leaving no room for the poor Finns. If you go to any big supermarket right now in Finland you will find a few busloads of Russians doing their shopping for the Christmas season. But it's not like it annoys me that much, there's always been enough food left for me as well.

I think it has to do with my national identity now that I'm abroad. Apart from the fact that I'm very proud to be a Finn, I'm maybe a little afraid to be seen as the "girl from the east" rather than the "girl from the north". With our independence Finland wanted not only to be in charge of her own business, but also make a clear statement to NOT be a part of the east and TO BE part of Scandinavia and Europe. 

Snow = Nordic

When I say that I'm in Italy because of work, the usual response is "really? I thought surely you were here because of a guy". Many many many times I've had offers from elderly gentlemen to take care of me in case I was looking for a rich boyfriend, which always made my skin crawl and made me want to beat up a senior citizen. It has always been very important for me to be able to take care of myself, financially and otherwise, so it's also very important for me that people don't mistake me for someone who mom sent abroad to marry an old millionaire. I guess I'm afraid to be seen as something I'm not. That seems fairly natural I guess.

What this has to do with Russia?  I don't know. It's not like there are millions of young Russians here all married to some old dudes with big houses. Some of them are. Just like there are old Russian women married to old Italian men with a small house. Just like there are Finnish women here married to Italian dudes with no job and who only moved out from their parent's house because the Finnish girlfriend wouldn't stop nagging about it.

I guess it's all a part of my prejudice against the eastern countries in general, for which there is no real cause.
How cool is it to find out that you're a racist on the very day of your country's independence.

Still, like I said before, I have absolutely nothing against the Russians as individuals. My beautician in Finland was a girl from Russia, a lovely person who I was sad to leave behind when I moved to Italy. I currently work with Russians, all wonderful people and always ready to help even though they're often slowed down by the bureaucracy and other difficulties. I've never been to Russia, probably because it's right there over the border and so it really doesn't feel like you're on a vacation, but I have nothing against going one day.

Maybe this prejudice is a built in feature in all Finns because of the hard struggles we had to endure against our once gigantic enemy. "Be aware of the east" is inserted in some microchip inside our brain when we're born. Who knows. It's probably some great big government scheme. Like Area51,

All and all, I just think that being abroad has really strengthened my sense of national pride, and therefore it's really important for me to be seen as a Finn, as a person from the north, from Scandinavia, from the Nordic Countries. As it was (and is still) important for Finland to be seen as an independent country governed by Finns, it's equally important for me to be seen as an independent lady, governed by no one.

Happy independence day. To me, to Finland, and to all the people out there who are independent or longing to be independent.

summer cottage by the lake, an everyman's right