Needed: more powerful stories from refugee women!

I was excited about how many women would show up to the two storytelling workshops at the Finnish multicultural center, Gloria, in the end of November. The target group was asylum-seeker, refugee and immigrant women from the Jyväskylä-region. It was not easy to reach out to such a broad group that does not know to …

On “It’s a Wonderful Life”

Frank Capra’s fantasy drama from 1946 It’s a Wonderful Life is my favorite Christmas film. Showing it on television at Christmas time is not only a long-standing American tradition, but it has spread to many other countries, such as to Finland. Last weekend I had a chance to see the theater version of it at …

Overcoming a 90-year birthday in the end of November

My mother was not very eager to have a birthday celebration when she approached 90 this year. She said she is too old and tired to arrange any get-together. However when we four children and a couple of the grandchildren managed to persuade her over a long time, she gave in and said that if …