Who Is The Refugee?

I remember that date, because it was just a day after Finland’s Independence Day. Our family took the flight to a place none of us had been before. There were many other refugees on the plane, mainly families, some even from our village, and a few single young people. At that time the situation in the country was unbearable. Although formally a democratic state, it was far from that. Thinking in a different way or trying to create a more humane atmosphere by expressing problems were not welcome. Unless one joined the servile mass and agreed to the robotic maintenance of the system, one was doomed to have severe difficulties to make a decent living. We all on that plane knew that what was going on only served some higher interest of no definite goal.

That was then the overall situation, ruling politics, economy and culture with full support of the world’s greatest democracies... . So, we left because we could not take the pressure, the torture any longer; we had enough of the constant limitation of the bureaucracy; of neighbours spying on us; and of the fact that we seldom had the chance to relax, to be meaningfully together. We became refugees.

We didn’t know much about our coming (temporary) home and many people warned us. “Why THERE are you going? You are too different to manage there; you can’t even stand that climate…” Indeed, many from our county found refuge in the neighbouring countries, that’s what they could afford. We had some savings and we also received aid from the local government. Although equipped with a great deal of prejudice but driven by despair and the hope for a true
refuge, we took off with optimism. Of course, back in my mind, I couldn’t help blaming the so-called civilised world: why should anybody get into the situation that the only solution is to run away? Why don’t we all work on the issue, so that it would just cease to exist?

We finally arrived. I admit I threw away all my prejudice, already then. We had an unexpectedly warm reception, really well organised. The local people were all friendly and cheerful. Everybody spoke English, so communication wasn’t an obstacle. Even the weather was bearable, which was a true surprise to all of us.

Our host, a man in his late 50s became a good friend of mine. He and his wife were both entrepreneurs. They started out from scratch and by hard work they made it. They made it, because the conditions were there. “The only thing that mattered”, he said, “was what and how you did, not who you were”. My place, I thought! We had great, night-long conversations on history, religion, culture and human life in general. After one evening I just noticed something paradoxical about the wolrd: People in the East crave the material wealth of the West and the latter seeks the spiritual stability of the former. You westerners can afford to offer physical refuge, but seem to need the spiritual refuge of the East. Ironic! I wonder what happened if this exchange would be consciously guided. Would global problems disappear?

Some time passed and the conditions improved so that we were ready to go home. Since we didn’t originally plan to live elsewhere we began to pack. Everything was arranged and we got a lot of support from the locals. We spent the rest of our money on such useful things as books and small gifts. We will always remember the place as our shelter and we know where to return when time (anything can always happen) comes again. During the relatively short time we spent there, I think we all became better, if not more enlightened. We learned what really matters in life. That no matter how hard it is, one has to go on; and has to help others to go on. Of course, life is still full of ups and downs, but remembering all what we experienced there always gives the power to cope with it. Some day, perhaps soon, I know we will visit there again.

(Flying home took about twelve hours. When we arrived at the airport we had to wait for the cab. My mobile phone was working again, so I could switch on the sauna. “To Järkikatu 12, please!” I said to driver and looked out to see the fading lights of Pirkkala International.)