I read Mike Watson’s article on Finland, and was astonished to see someone tell it like it really is here (I moved to Finland believing it was a progressive dream. It hasn’t turned out that way, 4 November). My partner was left a house by her late mother, and we moved here in 2009 to look after that house. It’s in a small town on the coast of western Finland, a Swedish-speaking enclave. It’s a pretty town and the air is astonishingly fresh if the local paper mill isn’t spewing in our direction.
I didn’t expect that 16 years later, neither of us would be able to find work. Nor did I expect a blatant copyist of George Osborne to be in power. What Mike said is even worse if you’re unemployed. My partner has been in the charmingly titled “rehabilitation” for 13 years. Does this help her find work? She goes to what’s effectively adult daycare and knits. I as a foreigner, and most others like me, have little to no chance of ever finding a job. I worry immensely for all the kids of immigrants and refugees. How will they manage?
