Comments on NEPAL - FINLAND: Finland is not ready for international students

Unfortunately I'm not much surprised of your e...

2011-11-02T00:52:46.375+05:30

Unfortunately I'm not much surprised of your experiences, especially because you were in a small town. And I am a Finn myself. I'm really sorry that you've had to go through that kind of treating and silence racism, as you pointed out. That's a correct word. Some Finns claim they're not racists but in some level they are. Maybe not racists but narrow-minded and prejudiced. I have faced this kind of prejudiced behavior myself with my Nepali boyfriend but luckily my own family is completely opposite.

But there are also many many Finns who are completely different from your experiences, so I hope all of you Nepali people hoping to study in Finland don't base your decision on one person's experiences. My boyfriend loves this country. We've met only few jerks but most people have always been really interested in him, Nepali culture etc.. But hey, what country is a jerk-free zone?

I'm not defending jerks, the opposite, but I truly hope that this country won't lose its international students because we need them! It's really true that Finnish companies are old-fashioned and making a mistake when avoiding hiring international graduates, but somehow they has to be shown how they're falling behind from the rest of the Europe. Please keep coming here and show the whole Finland what you're made of. We need you.

With regards, Terhi from Helsinki

In my opinion, the true problem lays in your attit...

2011-09-12T00:52:33.649+05:30

In my opinion, the true problem lays in your attitude. It's rather arrogant, I must say.
Finland, or any other country for that matter, don't owe you anything. But Finland has given you and is giving many other students free high-education. Prejudice towards foreign people occurs in every single country in the world, not just Finland. They don't know you're here to educate yourself, to probably pay your taxes to finnish system in the future ( that what you are doing, right? you're not just getting your free education in Finland and then fleeing to another country after you're gratuated? ), or are you in the country just because of social benefits or another questionable motive.
So the prejudice is understandable, but naturally, not acceptable.

About the bus scenario, take a moment to think about the following : a finn is in Bangladesh and gets attacked in the bus...how many local people would defend him ? ...zero.
It's sad that people don't care, but again, that's universal as well. It's the trend nowadays.

And the final thing..
At the parties etc. social events, it's not anyone else's duty to entertain you.. you have to be active yourself, and find the like-minded people, for example via internet..?
In social events, especially with ladies, don't be so pushy, tone it down a little bit ;
Finnish ladies hate when someone is coming on too strong.
Finns are not all racists, those who are don't have any international friends themselves and don't know how to be with them.
I can see through your acticle that you have poor self esteem, and that's why you think no one likes you where you're studying... I'm sure there's lots of native finns too, who would love to get to know you better. But please drop the attitude..be friendly and smiley, open person and give them time. It will be alright.

( what it comes to salary-issue, that's real problem and discrimination, which is against the law, in Finland as well. I'm sure you have some kind of contact person to help you investigate what's that about. )

Sunshine to your life!

it really touches my heart....

2011-07-23T17:22:23.010+05:30

it really touches my heart....

thanx 4 the article..

2011-07-08T17:59:44.298+05:30

thanx 4 the article..

This guy is a pessimist and has planted fear in th...

2011-06-04T00:32:35.868+05:30

This guy is a pessimist and has planted fear in the minds of students like us who have been accepted in Finnnish Polytechnics and are moving Finland soon .

Thanks Lotta for your nice comment.

2011-05-31T12:30:56.058+05:30

Thanks Lotta for your nice comment.

Hi! I am a Finn and I work in a university, so yo...

2011-05-02T13:21:10.677+05:30

Hi!
I am a Finn and I work in a university, so your story touched me deeply.
I don´t know what to say... I am truly sorry that my country has treated you in this way... I wish you all the best in the future and I truly hope that you will find an awesome job in Finland or elsewhere, and that you don´t feel that it was a waste of time being here.... I seriously hope that my fellow Finns will change to the better. I don´t know why they are like this...
All the best! Good luck with everything you do.
Regards, L.

Being myself from southasia and studying here for ...

2011-02-19T01:54:46.963+05:30

Being myself from southasia and studying here for 6 years I would say the author is too sensitive and expects too much from the environment and people around here .

Well there are all kind of people in every country, so better treat people on merit rather than bias.
One thing is asian people mostly live with a complex of being different and being hated .

Its all about perception and things happen to us the way we perceive them .
I did not have any noticeable racist incident with Fins .

I did had some bad experiences but being totally different from these people , one should expect this .
And I never kept those thing to my mind for long.
For enjoying our life ,many times we should just ignore these things and dont let them occupy our mind.
As we dont do any good to ourself by dwelling into the mysry of others behaviour.

good article... I am also having the same kind of ...

2010-12-29T22:16:50.128+05:30

good article... I am also having the same kind of experience. I am already here now for more than 2 years. Hope things will not remain the same till I graduate :)

hehe. this is enlightening article. thnx 4 it. but...

2010-11-16T11:22:20.105+05:30

hehe. this is enlightening article. thnx 4 it. but nothing is easy and without problem,lets face it.

well... i am a bangladeshi too and have been study...

2010-10-08T19:56:41.498+05:30

well... i am a bangladeshi too and have been studying here for a couple of years and i dont agree with this article.

I just think that Finland wants to protect their c...

2010-09-21T14:25:10.391+05:30

I just think that Finland wants to protect their culture and don't want anyone taking it down. Also they are not ALL racist but i think the author meant a big majority are.. I mean he did say the "wide minded" finns weren't racist but..from those experiences.. especially the bus one you can tell that if NO ONE in a BUS stands up for you, you can consider them all a bit racist in the fact that they won't even stand up for you, which means they consider you something less than what they are. Sad reality

I know what you wrote is true but there are someth...

2010-08-09T15:43:50.957+05:30

I know what you wrote is true but there are something which is hard for me to accept. Things are different with different people. Its not only in Finland you find that kind of people. Its everywhere...People are of different nature and you cannot expect same from everyone. I had some racist experience in my life while staying in Finland but met really really helpful and friendly Finns...Discrimination exists in you own country as well then why to be surprised when you experience in Finland..??

This article is somehow true picture of Finland an...

2010-08-04T01:06:41.312+05:30

This article is somehow true picture of Finland and the finns.. I agree almost on every point except the PHD research thing being not recognized internationally.... the author may mean, his research shall not get priority according to the international standard... but yes, finns are cold, in every mean and every inch :)

I think this article by the author is a good one. ...

2010-08-02T23:37:44.931+05:30

I think this article by the author is a good one. People should be allowed to freely express their opinions. Though I was a bit discouraged after reading this article, I think it puts me in a situation where I would not be taken by surprise should I face such a situation. I have decided to study in Finland though and I think it would make a balance if some seniors with encouraging experience in Finland can also share. Again, I think our author has done a good job.

ok

2010-07-26T00:23:29.128+05:30

This is my 3rd year in Finland. I found some parts...

2010-07-23T14:43:51.719+05:30

This is my 3rd year in Finland. I found some parts of the article untrue. You cannot impose your thinking on someone who did not speak any thing to you. The thinking that they treated you as second class citizen is all yours. If somebody said to you directly somewhere then you can comment. And even if it happens to any one in europe he or she can file a discrimination case against that guy.

this guys are bunch of racists, dont joke with the...

2010-07-18T20:32:51.841+05:30

this guys are bunch of racists, dont joke with them

I think the writer is making scare for other and n...

2010-07-08T13:43:07.798+05:30

I think the writer is making scare for other and new coming people. You can not judge with your own personal things to all genaral. If you are doing PHD program you shold know that things are run differently. You can not have two thing both in our hand same time, which you are trying to get here. I think you better go back and get them both.

If I need to struggle further to be credited fo...

2010-06-22T00:41:58.179+05:30
If I need to struggle further to be credited for my earned degree and research on another part of the globe then what was the value of so called international degrees?

What kidn of research do you do if it's not recognized internationally?

I think that this article misses out the fact that...

2010-06-22T00:17:03.669+05:30
I think that this article misses out the fact that almost the same could be written about any European country if you have problems adapting. Having studied in several foreign institutions, I think that a lot of one's experience has to do with your attitude and sensitivity.

Thank you! This gives me something to think about....

2010-06-20T10:46:46.331+05:30
Thank you! This gives me something to think about.

I hope gentle winds of summer give you some answers to your questions about future.

For winters in Finland; just add clothes and keep moving!

yep...I also agree with u..True face of Finland.

2010-06-20T01:34:19.519+05:30
yep...I also agree with u..True face of Finland.

I totally agree with this article...bigger cities ...

2010-06-18T23:32:54.672+05:30
I totally agree with this article...bigger cities could be a slight relief, but the bitter truth is..no matter how good finnish you speak or you have felt yourself assimilated to the people and culture...I still people here are racist. That's the fact !!!

Its a truth.Giving free education is a part of som...

2010-06-18T23:26:22.621+05:30
Its a truth.Giving free education is a part of some purpose.They have problems in themselves and they need us for few things.But they will never allow you to sit on some place where you will make decisions.So the best thing is if you come here.Just take out maximum benefit you can get from here and leave.This is not place for us.