Dude, you met Mika. Jealous. I don't know if I told you this, but I write an F1 substack too...hahaha, I'm obsessed with F1, but only as of the last five years. f1fanatic.substack.com
Awesome, I'll check it out. This is years ago now but Mika was really cool. I met and interviewed a few F1 people you would've heard of. Probably my favourite was interviewing Alex Zanardi.
Kuulostaapa hyvältä! I find it interesting that still – after internet and all that globetrotting – Finland remains a bit mystical place. Are you familiar with the term ”rally English”? I believe Mika Häkkinen inspired that saying. 😄
I absolutely love rally English. Many Finns in my life feel ashamed of their slight rally English but I think it is a total testament to the skill with which they have learned English.
I love reading about your observations as you adjust to Finnish culture. It’s refreshing to read your thoughts in a world where it seems like finding the curiosity and humor in being a fish out of water is a little lost.
#8 reminded me of when I learned about the infamous West-Coast Flake in America. Having friends from San Francisco and LA has taught me that they don’t always mean it when they set a time and date for a meet up and you will never truly know when they mean it until they show up lol. It’s so different from East Coast culture where we’ll at least text to say we’re running late and it’s also different from my West Indian culture where we’ll probably be late, but we will definitely show up lol.
Ah thanks so much. I wasn't familiar with the west coast flake. Very different to the Finnish culture.
Dude, you met Mika. Jealous. I don't know if I told you this, but I write an F1 substack too...hahaha, I'm obsessed with F1, but only as of the last five years. f1fanatic.substack.com
Awesome, I'll check it out. This is years ago now but Mika was really cool. I met and interviewed a few F1 people you would've heard of. Probably my favourite was interviewing Alex Zanardi.
Zanardi is a beast. Dude is the most resilient human.
I would love to fail at being Finnish. I am 1/4 Finn. Parental grandmother. She was so proud of her Finnish heritage. I am too.
This blog is awesome. I love how you live, cook, share. Thank you.
Really.
One of the most interesting reads in a long time.
Congratulations on Everything YOU.
Well Done!
Thanks so much. I'm very proud of this new home of mine and bringing up two kids here. I love this place. Thanks for reading and such a kind message.
Kuulostaapa hyvältä! I find it interesting that still – after internet and all that globetrotting – Finland remains a bit mystical place. Are you familiar with the term ”rally English”? I believe Mika Häkkinen inspired that saying. 😄
I absolutely love rally English. Many Finns in my life feel ashamed of their slight rally English but I think it is a total testament to the skill with which they have learned English.
I think Finns have no reason to be ashamed of their English skills but were told in schools for a very long time, that only perfect is good enough.
Well that explains a lot.
This is lovely, Wil.
You're very kind Jolene. Thanks so much.
What a lovely column. Bravo!
What a fast reader. Thanks so much.
I wish I had a sauna. 🧖♂️
Me too. My apartment block has a public one that I am often to be found in but I can't wait to have one of my own.
When it’s really good writing it is like a vortex.
I love reading about your observations as you adjust to Finnish culture. It’s refreshing to read your thoughts in a world where it seems like finding the curiosity and humor in being a fish out of water is a little lost.
#8 reminded me of when I learned about the infamous West-Coast Flake in America. Having friends from San Francisco and LA has taught me that they don’t always mean it when they set a time and date for a meet up and you will never truly know when they mean it until they show up lol. It’s so different from East Coast culture where we’ll at least text to say we’re running late and it’s also different from my West Indian culture where we’ll probably be late, but we will definitely show up lol.
Meant Paternal.
This is fantastic! Thanks, Wil!