Finnish Vappu in London

This coming Tuesday is May Day or Labour Day back in Finland and so a public holiday. Being one of the biggest yearly celebrations, May Day gathers together both student, labour and socialist organisations with traditions such as demonstrations, picnics and student happenings. But of course Vappu, like every other Finnish holiday, entitles people to get pissed ;)

So as we were unable to join Finnish celebrations in Helsinki this year a couple Finnish friends and I went to Hamstead Heath yesterday to participate a Finnish picnic organised by The Finnish Student Society of Great Britain and Young Finnish Professionals. The idea of picnic was nice indeed: beautiful weather, good food, sparkling wine and of course, lots of other Finns. And I think that was the thing I actually hadn't thought through. It's just so weird and random to be surrounded by people who actually speak the same language and have most likely grew up in same culture. You lose part of your privacy in that process; it's impossible to talk without everyone understanding you.

Don't get me wrong. I really enjoyed the picnic and especially the champange (thanks Ville!) and after couple hours and couple glasses I was ready to carry on the evening in Finnish Vappu party in Holborn. Quick change of clothes and off we went! And oh boy, what a mistake that was! First of all, the place was pricey (a shot of Salmari, salted liquorice flavour vodka, cost 3 pounds) and packed with drunken Finns. Second, the music was terrible! I understand it was a Finnish party but still. Do you really have to play the worst Finnish songs ever? By the time I heard Kuuntelen Tomppaa by Paula Koivuniemi third time within couple hours I was convinced I was in hell. Well, just imagine the night club of a ferry between Helsinki and Stockholm, multiply it by ten and you get the picture...

So after this horrendous experience I have managed to kick out most of my home sickness and also started seriously wonder why on earth I'm ever willing to go back to Finland...Oh, and what it comes to the soundtrack of this post. Dare I even say it. Well, just check this link out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA5GkLM5C7M (sorry, was unable to make the link work so you just have to copy and paste). I think it will take several listenings of the new album of Arctic Monkeys to erase these Finn Hits from my mind and still there is a strong possibility that I have to rely on lobotomy to get rid off this trauma altogether.