stereotypes – thisisFINLAND Foreign Correspondents' Programme

Finland, surprise me!

I am about to tell you why I am eager to take off to Finland. But first, let me start with a little story of the most pessimistic country in the world – France. I promise there will be a connection in the end.

You may have heard that if you come to France, you might get stuck in public transportation because of a strike. Or you will probably meet a nasty taxi driver who will take the wrong ... (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)

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland has administrated thisisFINLAND Foreign Correspondents’ Programme (FCP) since 1990.The programme is targeted at young international journalists.

In 2022, thisisFINLAND Foreign Correspondents’ Programme will be organized in June. Information on future FCPs will be published on this blog.

The programme provides an excellent opportunity to learn more about Finland, Finnish society and the Finnish way of life. It includes briefings on various subjects, meetings with Finnish professionals and visits to business enterprises, cultural sites and institutions.

In this blog, the participants report on their experiences in Finland. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.