I’m doing it myyyyyy way!

Juggling ski poles and a PhD application, former First Vice President Hannamiina Tanninen reports on life in Suomi (aka Finland) after more than a decade in the 852.

Where are you?

In very snowy and cold (minus 1 degree Celsius on 1 February) Helsinki, the Finnish capital. Although I am originally from Kuopio in the east of the country, I will be settling in the city centre.

What are you doing?

Cross-country skiing (clichéd, I know, but it is my favourite sport) and setting up my new home, which is taking more time than I thought, because things de nitely move at a slower pace here than in Hong Kong.

Most culturally shocking thing so far?

People really do not talk that much, especially to strangers. It is so quiet, even in public places, and cashiers and bus drivers are sometimes surprised when I chat and smile at them. But people are usually happy when you break the ice (apt metaphor).

Finns love karaoke: spot-on or rural myth? Very much spot-on. Finns adore karaoke, especially late at night.

Our culture is not very expressive. We do feel love, compassion, happiness and so forth, but we don’t express our feelings in public. So maybe karaoke allows you to sing from your heart, rather than speak from your heart. Unlike Hong Kong, there are no private karaoke rooms, just one stage for the whole bar where strangers take turns. e experience can

@Congratulations!

be toe-curling or absolutely wonderful. I do not, however, sing karaoke. You can guess why.

I miss Hong Kong’s ___ but not the ____. FCC wonton noodle soup and cheesecake, Taiwanese food and the hiking trails. But not the working hours, stress, crowds, people yelling at me and poorly built apartments.

What next?

I was Kauppalehti ’s correspondent for 13 years, nishing at the end of 2022. So now there’s time for loved-ones and more skiing. I will also be nishing my PhD application (subject TBD) and the mortgage application for my at. Both are things that scare me a bit, but now I have announced these in a respectable magazine, I have to go through with them.

Over the moon, pleased as Punch, happy as a sandboy – that was Aaron Busch after picking up the Australia Day Community Award 2023 in recognition for the sterling work he did during the dark days of COVID-19 keeping Hong Kong abreast of events via his Twitter account @Tripperhead.

An ability to slice through bureaucratic gobbledegook and explain the latest twists and turns in the o cial response to the pandemic, and keep fans amused at the same time, distinguished Busch’s nigh-daily tweets.

So what’s next for the larrikin twitterer who hails from Bunbury on the coast south of Perth? “I’ve started a weekly newsletter on Substack (Tripperhead HQ), which is available to subscribers who want to nd out what’s going on in Hong Kong,” said Busch.

“And now my eldest is at university and the other youngster is in secondary school, I’ve taken up commentating on local cricket three times a week – so you could say I’m bowled over!”

Elizabeth Ward, Australian Consul-General, commented: “Aaron Busch’s tireless work keeping the international community informed throughout the pandemic is an outstanding example of Australian community service in Hong Kong, and a timely reminder of the power of citizen journalism.

“He’s kept it uncomplicated and accessible, with a dash of our unique Aussie humour, and has as a result attracted over 40,000 followers.

“Presenting him with this award was a true honour.”