You may remember that the last issue of 6D shed light on the Finland-Swedish population and Swedish language in Finland. Now you might be wondering where and how to find Swedish in the Capital region. Well, stay tuned! There are actually several Finland-Swedish actors working for a more multicultural Finland-Swedish society, with the two major ones to keep an eye out for being: Luckan - The Finland-Swedish Information and Culture Center and the Swedish Adult Education Center in Helsinki (Helsingfors arbis).

AT A FIRST glance, my hometown does not seem to have anything to offer to visitors to Austria. Apart from being popular as a trade fair town, it hardly attracts any foreigners. And although it has a long history dating back to even before the Roman Age, Wels does not pop up in any travel guide.

So why would then anyone consider choosing this town over places like Vienna, Salzburg or the Alps?

Let me tell you, there are gems that this town has to offer and which are definitely worth visiting!

The 4th edition of Siivouspäivä on 31 August will again set an important example on recycling.

THIS year’s end of August will lie under the sign of recycling and disposal, as the biannual Siivouspäivä (Cleaning Day) will again draw thousands of bargain hunters looking for treasures to the streets of Helsinki, Tampere, Turku and other major cities in Finland. For the second time this year, flea markets and stands will pop up around neighbourhoods in what will arguably be the biggest recycling event in whole of Finland.

There are tons of rules and regulations to overcome for potential visitors to St. Petersburg, but don’t give up – the struggle will eventually be worth it!

IN THE battle with Russian bureaucracy, every aspiring traveller spoiled with the comfort provided by the Schengen area will most likely come to the point asking oneself: “Why so many regulations? Wouldn’t it make more sense to simplify entering Russia for harmless travellers like you or me instead of scaring them off with complicated travel rules?”

A recurring question I get asked here in Finland is, “Why do you come to live to here?!”, as if I must have been out of my mind when making the decision. I had a similar feeling when living in Getxo, but once I lived abroad for a couple of years I came to objectively see what a wonderful place Getxo is to live and to grow up.