When Europe and Asia became so close

Finland and Indonesia are technically two very different worlds. To reach Finland, I had to survive a 12-hour flight. It seems as if there was a huge gap between Asia and Europe.

But, one says that music is a universal language and I believe it. Collaboration between Asia and Europe in music could be the key to shortening the gap between these two continents!

That’s why I was very happy to attend ...  (continue reading)

New Nordic meets new Asia – Modern Sky Festival in Helsinki!

White Shoes and The Couples Company is an Indonesian band, which performed at the Modern Sky Festival on 28-29 August in Helsinki. With their classical outfits and dancing styles, which take you back to the fifties, and the loud music mixing pop, jazz and ...  (continue reading)

Go with the Flow

One of the best things about festivals is that you are able to check out lots of different artists and that the atmosphere can change completely in a matter of minutes. This is the case of Helsinki’s Flow Festival as well.


The first day was all about raving, when Major Lazer tore the place down. The second day was wrapped in rainbow colours, and Belle & Sebastian, Years & Years ...  (continue reading)

Finland found its way to my heart through its culture

I already know what to expect from my visit to Finland. My friend Daniel who participated in thisisFINLAND Foreign Correspondents’ Programme a couple of years ago summed it up in one sentence: “The best month of my life”.

But my expectations are high both for the trip and for myself! I want to work hard on getting to know all there is to know. I want to find perspectives on Finland that ...  (continue reading)

How different can it be?

I come from Oslo, Norway, and we are often told that the culture here is very weird for foreigners. There is even a popular blog that explains how Norway and Norwegian are actually seen from foreigner’s perspective. You should read some of it to get an idea of how we are.

We don’t talk to strangers here, unless we meet them in the middle of nowhere or in the mountains while hiking, skiing or ...  (continue reading)

Flow Festival

I woke up last Saturday afternoon feeling exhausted —but also with a night of fun and a lifetime of memories.

Before flying thousands of miles from Hong Kong to Finland, my knowledge about this European country was limited. It was not a surprise that I had not heard of the Flow Festival at the time.

And then, Friday night came. I arrived at the venue as big as the Victoria Park in Hong Kong (anyone ...  (continue reading)