The main headline in today's local newspaper was how Finland expects to get 100,000 tourists from India next year.
Knowing how the Finnish Embassy has been handling genuine business visitors from India in issuing them visas, asking them for all sorts of guarantees, banks statements, and other proof that they are not trying to come in settle in their "land of milk and honey", I think the Finnish Embassy will have to increase its staff a hundred fold if they hope to achieve even a tenth of this projection.
Quoting from the first page of our (authored by Annikki and me) book "Handbook for Survival in Finland" published in 1994:
The half-witted comment by a TV announcer describing the Ambassadors attending the reception at the Presidential Palace in December 1992 to celebrate 75 years of Finnish Independence typifies the ignoramus attitude prevailing among some sections of the population. The proud Finn had the audacity to say the Ambassadors must count themselves to be "Lotto Winners" to be posted to this great land. He would be shocked if he had heard what some Ambassadors have said about their experiences in his country.
Further, one Indian like me has been more than enough for the Finns. What if another 100 like me turn up and start asking embarrassing questions?
The Finns will go crazy!
It was only a few years ago that the Finns were talking disparagingly about the "poverty-ridden" India. India was depicted in all the school text books in Finnish schools with cows wandering aimlessly on the streets of big cities!
Former Finnish President Matti Ahtisaari was most insulting about India and its intention not to sign up to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty during one of his visits to India.
Isn't it interesting that just now the US has withdrawn its restrictions on transfer of nuclear technology to India!
The wheel has spun, and spun far from where the Finns thought it would end. They desperately want to be liked by the Chinese and the Indians as they try to get into their bulging pocketbooks!
Another intersting news item from Finland today was about Heikki Kovalainen being chosen to drive for Renault in the next season's Formula 1.
Short Biography of Heikki Kovalainen (from the BBC website)
Born: Suomussalmi, Finland, 19/10/81
Started racing: 1987
2000: Elf Masters karting champion
2001: Formula Renault UK, fourth overall, two wins
2002: Joins Renault driver development programme; five wins in British Formula Three
2004: Nissan World Series champion
2005: GP2 runner-up
2006: Renault F1 test and reserve driver
With Kimi Raikkonen driving for Ferrari, the arrival of this exciting young Finnish driver on the Formula 1 scene is going to be a great boost to race driving in Finland, already one of the most followed sports here.
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