Spaniard Alejandro Pedregal has had his struggles in Finland, from surviving with the lack of communication to finding a thick enough coat for winter. Nevertheless, he appreciates the security and stability of Finland, as well as the extensive educational opportunities. Having already left his mark on the Finnish film scene, Alejandro now contemplates leaving the country.

Competitive video gaming is rapidly establishing itself as a spectator sport, both virtually and in real life, but has received little attention from mainstream media. Will professional video gamers be the sports stars of the future?

After graduating with a B.A. in the United States, Greta Mohney came to Finland to work as a childcare worker while figuring out what she wants in her life.

What do you do here in Finland?

I work as a lastenhoitaja at a preschool in Munkkivuori. That’s a child care worker. There’s a hundred and twenty kids. We help the kids to do what they are supposed to be doing and prepare them for school.

Despite the publicity, fewer strikes take place in Finland than before – but many of them are illegal.

In mid-June this year, almost 2,000 stevedores in Finland went on a day-long strike. Made up of members of the Transport Workers’ Union (AKT), their action was in reaction to staff practices applied by a Russian shipping company. As a result, Finnish ports were shut down for the duration of the strike. In a press release, Ilpo Kokkila, Chairman of the Board of the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK), the leading business organisation in Finland, condemned the strike, due to its harmful effect on Finnish exports and job protection in this country.

Mostafa Morsi is a 24-year-old Egyptian who has been living in Finland for around six years. He has experienced everything from studying, working and travelling around Europe as an exchange student. His friendship with a Finnish family has given him the opportunity to embrace the Finnish way of life.