The morning after arriving in Australia from Finland, my family left for a walk from our new home in the migrant Midway hostel in Maribyrnong. I guess we wanted to discover this strange new country we had landed in. We walked along the side of the road, like ducklings flowing their mother. We must have…
Author: Jaana M. H. Jokinen
I’m a proud mother of four grown children and a very grateful nanna to four beautiful grandchildren. My heart is happiest around a table — baking, cooking, and gathering people together for long, laughter-filled dinners.
I find joy in the simple things: a good book, a quiet walk, tracing family roots through genealogy. But what truly stirs my soul is nature, reflective writing, Nordic-inspired living, and the gentle beauty of Christmas and autumn.
Born in Helsinki, Finland, and raised in Melbourne, Australia, I carry both homelands in my heart.
The Magic Word
To an English speaking person, Finnish language can sound a little blunt at times. Finns don’t beat around the bush. They don’t pretty things up. Finns appreciate honesty and straightforwardness. Finns are known for their dislike of small-talk. It’s totally debatable whether Finnish small talk even exists. On the other hand, there is a lot…
Hope
Have you ever wondered why in the worst moments of human history; you often find the greatest amount of hope? We hear stories of great suffering of all kinds, be it amidst war, natural disasters or other kinds of personal despair and agony. The situations seem totally hopeless, the future seems unpredictable. Australia has appropriately…
I Found It!
When my brother and I were children, we loved playing “hot and cold”. One of us would hide a small object and the other would be the hunter who would try to find it. The closer the hunter got to the object, the more the other person would call “hotter, hotter!”… and finally: “now it’s…
Bedtime Story
When I was a little girl — around six years old — living in Helsinki, Finland, one of my mum’s dearest friends came over for supper. Eila lived in the same neighbourhood and had known our family even before I was born. She was one of those rare, lifelong friends who remain close, no matter…
Timeless Treasures
When I was a little girl and lived in Finland, I had a special friend. Her name was Tiina. My friend and I lived a few hundred metres from each other and were in the same class at school. A lot of the time, she almost lived at my place, only going home to sleep….
Wait a Minute
My earnest desire is to find joy in every single day, but I understand some days are harder than others. Recently, I came across a quote that made me chuckle: “By replacing your morning coffee, by green tea, you can lose 87% of what little joy you still have left in your life.” The more…
Wood-smoke and Cinnamon
The natural beauty of Finland is breathtaking, and autumn is no exception! Summer ends with an explosion of autumn colours. The forests turn to various shades of yellow, orange, red, and brown, or maybe I should describe them as amber, auburn, russet, and crimson. I am a lover of autumn, of earthy colours and golden…
Treasured Simplicity
Let me describe to you the simple pleasures of Finnish life. It’s an early autumn morning, there is a crispness in the air and a light drizzle but it is hardly noticeable. I arrive at the local Prisma supermarket store to collect some essentials to add to my already loaded car. I enter the store…
The Royal Symphony
Some time ago now, I had an unforgettable experience, at The Sydney Opera House where I got to listen to the masterful performance of Pictures at an Exhibition by Sydney Symphony Orchestra by conductor Giancarlo Guerrero. There is something about live music that is exhilarating. As an audience member I felt more than a spectator,…
Apples of Gold 