As Finns living overseas, our identity is a delicate dance between the past and present, a symphony that resonates with the echoes of our homeland while embracing the richness of foreign lands. The Finnish term “ulkosuomalaiset” encapsulates those of us born in Finland but living overseas, each of us sharing a common thread despite our…
Tag: Longing and Belonging
Childhood Summer Cottage
Although Helsinki’s cobbled streets and majestic architecture formed the background of my early life, my world was anchored by a cozy cocoon of a significant place within the city. In the northeastern reaches of Helsinki, where the city’s pulse slows and nature’s embrace charms, lies the picturesque neighborhood of Itä-Pakila. It’s where my childhood summers…
Storytelling
In the midst of the chaos of our modern world, where the noise of daily life often drowns out the whispers of the past, storytelling stands as a serene oasis—a source of wisdom and a connection to our family history. This timeless tradition offers a tranquil respite, a momentary escape into the sanctuary of our…
I Still Call Australia Home
Once again it hit me full force, like a bolt out of the blue. We have my husband Peter’s Finnish relatives staying with us, visiting Australia for the first time. Among other places we have shown them The Sydney Opera House in Sydney, The Parliament House in Canberra, Sir George historic boutique bar in Jugiong,…
The Great Unknown
Some years ago now, as I was getting ready for yet another day, a breakfast television interview caught my attention. Lisa Marie Presley was discussing her relationship with music, her fight with drug addiction and her fondest memories of her father, the music icon Elvis Presley. Since Lisa Marie was born around the same time…
White Christmas
I have only ever had one white Christmas as an adult, and it was truly magical. My family lived in a small country town in the eastern side of Finland, 60 kilometres from the Russian boarder, called Savitaipale. This is where my paternal grandfather’s side of the family is from. The town is so small,…
Childhood Home
Written by Jaana Jokinen, told by my mother Mirja Anneli September 1949 in Kallio, Helsinki, Finland Slowly but surely, the days were getting colder and darker. School was back and autumn was upon us. I have always been a summer person, so even as an 8-year-old I wasn’t too happy about the changing weather. There…
Homesickness
I was struck by a feeling of homesickness this afternoon. Most of the time I go about my life without feeling it, yet every now and then it hits me full force. Being Finnish-Australian, I do add a touch of Finnish into my everyday life in any way I know how. I have moomins, Marimekko,…
Rustic Wisdom
During our last visit to Finland, I had the honour of staying at my late mother-in-law’s childhood home, in a small village, in the Finnish countryside. These days this ancestral homestead belongs to one of the cousins, Hannu. When I stepped inside the old country house, it felt like the earth had paused to take…
This Moment
I got up before sunrise and hurried out the door. I could hear the birds; they sounded way chirpier than I felt. My mum is having surgery, so I am keeping dad company today. I made us some morning porridge, a cup of chai for me and a cup of coffee for dad. We sat…
Apples of Gold 