jora_bhm@yahoo.com
English 102
Assignment #2
November 3, 2008
Growing up I had never given considerable thought to my heritage. It felt almost as though I
had never had "cause to." Like most Americans I am what is referred to crudely as a "mutt,"
meaning my ancestors come from several different countries. Yet for as long as I can remember
my father has been reminding me of our Finnish heritage in particular. From my father's side I
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get the German and Finnish elements of my mutt status, and from what I understand the largest
concentration is in the Finnish side (hence my last name of course). What I have always liked is
the way in which my father introduced his feelings of pride for his relatives' country of origin. He
has never been overly boastful or condescending of other cultures in relation to his own (that
wouldn't be in his nature anyway); he simply wishes to learn and explore as much as he can
about what makes him who he is. Even though he cannot speak the Finnish language beyond a
few simple phrases he still enjoys listening to music from Finland, in particular the band
Vaarttinaa. In recent years, I have begun to take more of personal interest in my heritage, the
Finnish part in particular, quite possibly in part due to my father's subtle influence.
The first thing that comes to mind when I think about Finland and my heritage is the fact that
a great number of Americans don't even know it exists (perhaps I am exaggerating here, I'm not
quite sure, but in my experience so far this seems to be true). When I am asked to spell my last
name, for example, many will look at it and guess that it is Hawaiian. It is a good guess, I have to
admit, since many words in their language begin with the letters "kau." Then when I tell them
the origin of my last name most stare blankly at me. Usually to get past this awkward moment I
tell them that Finland is near Sweden. "Oh!" they say, as though it finally makes sense. I've
grown to accept this response and even take some delight in it. Never have I been a
conservative or repressed thinker that is happy living the life of the normal "average joe." Little
things that make me different are exciting and interesting, and exploring them is twice that fun.
Upon reading into Finland and the history of its people, I have found certain facts that are of
great interest to me personally. Finland seems to have had a head start in establishing human
rights, including those of women. For example, women were given the right to vote in 1906---a
full fourteen years before the U.S. finally gave their citizens this right. Finland's history
regarding women in medicine is also very impressive. Rosina Heikel, born 1842, is known as the
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first female doctor in Finnish history. Having had no opportunities to learn medicine in a male
dominated acedemic field, Heikel continued her medical education in the only way that she was
allowed at that time, by taking courses in physiology. After much perserverance, and often
proving herself far more qualified than many of her male counterparts, she was eventually
allowed to practice medicine. Although she was restricted to treating only female patients and
children, Heikel paved the way for many more women to follow in similar paths to her own.
Agnes Sjoberg, who was born in 1888, is known as Europe's first female veterinary surgeon.
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After overcoming numerous obstacles, including a lengthy education in everything but veterinary
science, Sjoberg was finally allowed to attend a veterinary school populated by 300 male
students. The rector of the college gave this reason for allowing a woman into a male-dominated
field: "After all, a female veterinary surgeon is well suited to handle small domestic animals."
I am most proud of Finland's obvious liberal practices, both then and now (despite the fact
that these liberal ways had to be fought for), but also of the little things that make it what it is.
The people, the culture they create, the mythology and history, all these things and more make
this country (and for that matter every other) almost like a living breathing entity. Exploring
these things has made me feel closer to my ancestors pasts, and also closer to my past...and my
present..and I suppose to my future as well.
1. Photo by: Jorjisuka; http://www.flickr.com/
2. Photo: Rosina Heikel; http://www.helsinki.fi/
3. Photo: Agnes Sjoberg; http://www.helsinki.fi/
