There are many formats to discuss social problems among students. Debates, ModelUNs are great but in first case you express randomly assigned position, in the second case you choose/are chosen to represent country where you possibly have never been to before. There people present their own countries. their multiple indentities, characters, problems and hopes. Whereas media manipulates opinions chasing its own aims, may they be commercial or political, there we see a real live dialogue of people gathering together to fight against stereotypes of russophobia, fear of migrants, fears of upcoming political conflicts.
Finland was presented through a story of a small village which merged with a bigger municipality (an inevitable process during time of financial hardships) but saved it own identity, managed to be sisukas (adjective from sisu - a national character of determination and bravery). We saw photos taken in 1950s, illustrating the basic daily life, fishing, working, were told the story of integration of Russians into the part Finnish society represented by the village with the population of around 400 people. When people are asked where they come from, they still mention the old name of the village, not the new municipality, whatever the city plans and official documents say. They return to their roots in the certain period of life, respect daily traditions and care about family history.
I was curious to ask questions about it Karelian identity as this village is situated in the South Karelia region. It was a bit of surprise that Karelian culture and language is not presented that much there as in Russian Karelia, where certain attempts are being made to give Karelian language status of the second official language of the Republic. However, my questions invoked some discussion and it was a positive surprise to see exchange students coming from far away being acquainted with Karelian language.
Finland was presented through a story of a small village which merged with a bigger municipality (an inevitable process during time of financial hardships) but saved it own identity, managed to be sisukas (adjective from sisu - a national character of determination and bravery). We saw photos taken in 1950s, illustrating the basic daily life, fishing, working, were told the story of integration of Russians into the part Finnish society represented by the village with the population of around 400 people. When people are asked where they come from, they still mention the old name of the village, not the new municipality, whatever the city plans and official documents say. They return to their roots in the certain period of life, respect daily traditions and care about family history.
I was curious to ask questions about it Karelian identity as this village is situated in the South Karelia region. It was a bit of surprise that Karelian culture and language is not presented that much there as in Russian Karelia, where certain attempts are being made to give Karelian language status of the second official language of the Republic. However, my questions invoked some discussion and it was a positive surprise to see exchange students coming from far away being acquainted with Karelian language.
The story of the Finnish village
And me as a listener and a living book representing Russian Karelia:)
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