Ramblings 9: Semi-Rant About MC

More on being Multicultural

I don’t want Finns to take too much offence, but I think you’re a bit snobbish in your world view.

Yes, Finland is a great place to live, great education, social structure, communications, transportation and what ever else I am forgetting. But your mindset towards “foreigners” really gets to me.

I come from Canada, I am a Finnish-Canadian, my parents were born and raised there. I am a mixture of both cultures.

Finns are highly educated, smart, practical people, they frequently go on student exchanges and visit with people from other cultures.

But for some reason a lot of Finns just use a very broad brush stroke and just label and categorize people in a way that has my job dropping to the floor.

It's not with cruel intent, it's not to be malicious or that they really think they are better than people from other countries. It's just how it comes across. This is not just individuals. I've seen this behavior on the News all over the media and about how people I meet talk about foreigners and immigrants.

I have the dubious honor of being both a Finn and also a foreigner. I can see it. I just don't understand the mass blindness.

For people that are so enlightened about most things I just can't understand that they can just be so... stereotyping.

So when I get called a “yank” or an American, I get a little insulted. I am Canadian, you can call me a Canuck but that’s a really outdated term. For people so educated I am astounded at the lack of consideration. Saying Canada should be shoved in with the USA is just… well insulting to me.

It would be like me saying “Oh you Europeans,” or “Scandinavians” and yeah I am aware how Finns can get outraged at the latter. Oh or better yet I will call you a Swede. Because hey you are neighbors, share the same culture and viewpoints right? Oh they might take offence!

I can get being called American, since Canada is in NORTH AMERICA, however when that American is meant to mean the United States of America, I get rather annoyed.

I have lived in the USA, but I have lived far longer in Canada, I was born and raised there.

I am very aware of the differences between the USA and Canada.

It may sound trite but it is exactly as we learned in school. USA = cultural melting pot and Canada = cultural mosaic.

What does that mean? Well if you want to be an AMERICAN (USA) then you need assimilate to the culture and have your own native culture take a back seat. So-called native born Americans dislike immigrants. Generally, though it is a bit broad, after all US is made of immigrants so they are more tolerant than other countries.

Now Canada, lets you keep your culture. It expects you to glory in it and share in it. And just come together as Canadians being from around the world. There are some 3^rd generation families or more that don’t call themselves Canadians they call themselves their native ethnicity. However, the second you take them out of Canada? Then they are Canadian.

Canada is pretty much the MOST successful country is realizing cultural diversity. How many countries are you comfortable living in where you feel you can wear your native dress? Speak your language, practice your own religion? (Of course there is hate, and it is not perfect but a large portion of it has been successful)

All Canada asks is that you accept others, tolerate them as well and to maybe, just maybe learn the English language so others can understand you. *You need to know a little to be able to pass the citizenship test!

Here is a quote that at first I thought was ridiculous, but latter on realized the truth of it.

Excuse me but I can’t recall the exact quote, but here is the gist:

“How’d you know she was Canadian?” “She was nice for no reason.”

I am not saying Canada is perfect, but it is a lot more accepting of people from other cultures and ethnicities. More aware. You have to be to live in Canada. Sure you have the stereotypes, biases and bigotry. But in the end most people end up learning about other cultures if not consciously, just by osmosis.

And yeah, Canada has a lot of stuff to work on, health care, education, communication etc etc. But at least we don’t put our noses in the air when we meet a foreigner.

Of course I should add that my sensitivity to all this is probably brought on by having lived in Canada for so long. We become very, very aware of others and about preconceive notions.

Sorry about the semi-rant but I don't like seeing this behavior.

And no, it wasn't directed at me.

Warning It's a Rant

I have recently come into some information from my last place of work.

I worked there for a year, I did my job, did it well and ended up doing MORE than what I was being paid for.

When asked about what I thought would help me at the job, or any suggestions, I would take the question seriously. I would figure out what they were and figure out the best and easiest ways to implement them.

What I suggested:
1) Improving search engine functionality
2) Making update/insert information an online option
3) Having Sales Reps confirm with their customers that information is correct (so the company did not look inept when we contacted then 3 months later and they realize that we had been showing incorrect products/contacts/and other information online.
4)Having clients have a little more involvement
5) Getting more people into my position because one person just can't do the job of 5.

What was I told for all these? They are unimportant, they would not work, they weren't realistic considerations, they cost too much money. Other words I was shot down each time and informed that I was foolish to think any of these suggestions and others I made could possibly work out.

While I was there I was frequently asked why I had not finished the work assigned to me. (Review point 5). They now employ 5 people.

I have since quit this job. And have now heard from former co-workers that each of these suggestions has been implemented or is in the process of.

That's appreciation for you.

God gotta love it.