Text by Husna Haq
Following are resources to help plan your visit to Helsinki. Even though the most common languages are Finnish and Swedish, many of the residents speak English, as evidenced on these websites.
Blogs
Reporter Robert G. Kaiser and photographer Lucian Perkins embark on a three-week tour of Finland "to find out why this rarely noticed little country has the world's best educational system, produces such talented musicians and architects, and has more cell phones per capita than Japan or America." The result is an intelligent, thoughtful, and well-researched chronicle on issues like women's rights, technology, depression, taxes, abortion, racial homogeneity, and much more. This easy-to-navigate site also features links to Washington Post articles on Finland, and intimate photos of Finnish life.
During three years of working in Finland, an American IT professional named Phil explores politics and culture in his new home. Read Phil's commentary on Finnish news and post replies to his sharp opinions on Finn-American relations, racism, and Finnish media, military, education, and music. Browse side columns for links to English-language Finnish news and suggested blogs and websites.
Life in Finland (and Beyond): Odds and Sods of an Expat in Finland
A Canadian expat living in Espoo, Finland, reveals an eye-level view of everyday life in the land of saunas, cell phones, and snow. From shoppingless Sundays and tin-can cars to Finnish performances at the Turin Olympics and the cost of living ("only beer and milk is cheaper in Finland"), "Carmen" muses about Finnish customs and cultural differences. What she lacks in authority, she makes up for in curiosity.
