Post Magazine: Finding Your "Inner Finn"

"Like bungee jumping or joining the Marines, traveling to Finland inwinter gives visitors a chance to see what they're made of, to measuretheir ability to withstand everything from darkness at noon to Arcticblizzards against that of some of the most durable human beings on earth."

So wrote Bill Thomas in Sunday's Washington Post Magazine Spring Travel Issue. . Thomas was online Monday, March 27, at 1 p.m. ET to field questions and comments about the story and the renowned fortitude and resilience of the Finnishpeople.

Bill Thomas is co-author of "Red Tape: Adventure Capitalism in the NewRussia."

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Washington, D.C.: As as mother of Sisu (my 3 y. old son) I highly appreciated your wonderful article about Finnish sisu. No need to say, my Sisu has lots of sisu too.

Best regards,

Sari Helin

Bill Thomas: Washington, DC: Thanks. A boy named "Sisu." Sounds like the Finnish version of a Johnny Cash song.

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Maple, Wisc.: As much as I admire the Finns (I'm fully related to them) those who live with the challenges of the climate in our own country in the northern tier of states are about as impressive, wouldn't you agree?

Bill Thomas: Maple, Wisc: Where is Maple, Wisconsin? I admire anyone who can put up with extreme cold, though I perfer palm trees and sandy beaches.

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Helsinki, Finland: Thank you Sir for your quite accurate and funny article. To survive the dark winter months and `krapular3auna or `purgatoryCéth an icy dip you do get rather close to what SISU is all about.

With best wishes and welcome back,

Paula

PS. You are SO much more courageous than Conan (OË©en)

Bill Thomas: Hello, Helsinki: Looking forward to a return trip to Finland this summer. I liked Conan O'Brien's dream job -official women's sauna inspector. But I don't think he fully understood the working conditions.

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Arlington, Va: There are two sides to the "sisu" coin. That fierce determination or "guts" as its closest english translation can also be stubborness prevailing against common sense - like the Finn shoveling the sidewalk during the blizzard. Did any of your acquaintances talk much about this less flattering aspect of sisu? (I was in Finland for a week in summer 2002 and fell in love with the people, their spirit and the whole country.)

Bill Thomas: Arlington, Va: If geography is destiny, the Finns seem to be in the right place. Stubborness is part of the package, though Finns woulod probably call it determination.

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Silver Spring, Md: First of all, loved the article. What a tribute to personal perserverance. I am a big admirer of the Scandinavian culture.Second, did you ever look at the other side though? It's my understanding that Scandinavians have a very high rate of depression and alchoholism. Did you see eveidence of this during your trip? I know it wasn't the main focus of the article, but I'm just curious.

Bill Thomas: Silver Spring: I was trying to look on the bright side. But I can see how the harsh climate might be a problem. Isn't that why saunas were invented?

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Mclean, Va: Bill,

started reading your article about helsinki becasue my good friend richard stites was in helsinki .. and there he was!

how is 'richik' doing? when i stayed with him in helsinki in 1996, he set me up with a russian woman, who became my wife. it's a great story.

Bill Thomas: McLean: Stites is a real romantic. He's is back in Washington. I ran into him a few months ago.

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Arlington, Va.: I have heard that Finland is one of the most wired countries

in the world. Did you find Internet access everywhere you

went?

Bill Thomas: Arlington: Wired is right. Even little kids have cell phones.

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Fredericksburg, Va: I love Finland! Sisu is what sets Finland apart. It is not just determination or stubborness but also a fundemental understanding that one can prevail and/or survive just about anything if you set your mind to it. It should be noted that the Finnish Armed Personnel Carrier Combat vehicle is called the Sisu.

Bill Thomas: Fredericksburg: I share your feelings about the Finnish people. Look at everything they've accomplished - and all of it while living in a Jack London adventure.

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Arlington (2) Va: But don't you think it ironic that the Finns - so famous for being tight-lipped all have cell phones? Do the Finns get how funny this is? They don't talk (the stero-type) but all have cell phones?

Bill Thomas: Arlington: For people who don't seem to talk much, they do spend a lot of time on their cell phones.

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Formerly in Finland: As an American who used to live in Finland well north of Helsinki, I was prepared for the weather, prepared for the darkness, etc. However, I was not prepared for an attitude that I think you captured perfectly when you did not get a ride to the institute - Finns will not offer a helping hand, and look at you oddly if you ask for one. I injured my back pretty badly, and the expectation that I would continue with the physical aspects of my job rather astounded me. I'm no wimp and continued working, but having cracked vertebrae really hurt. Even more routine things, like not opening a door for someone with their hands full, etc., bothered me. However, I had not linked this lack of helpfulness to sisu until you described it as such, which actually makes a lot of sense. Thanks!

Bill Thomas: Fromerly in Finland: Finns expect people to put up with discomfort and would probably find it laughable that schools and businesses in Washington close at the slightest mention of snow. I can't explain the reaction to your back problem, though.

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Bethesda, Md.: What are the Finnish saunas like? What is their tradition of going from warm to jumping into cold water or into the snow, or getting slapped to get the cirulation going? I would fear that stuff like that would stop my heart. What are they really like?

Bill Thomas: Bethesda: Finnish style saunas are amazing, like a trip to the tropics in the middle of winter. The extreme heat and extreme cold (along with getting smacked by tree branches) are supposed to shock the body into good health, although for guys jumping into icy water at 30 below does produce some shrinkage.

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Washington, DC: What is email address forSports Institute of Finland?

Second - when I visited "Purgatory" sauna the Finns said they get sisu by inhaling steam from the wood fire inside sauna. Did you hear that?

Bernard Burt

Author

100 Best Spas of the World

The Globe Pequot Press.

Bill Thomas: Washington: Check out the Finnish Sauna Society's web site. A smoke sauna is a pretty elaborate affair. The temperature, I was told, got up to 250 degrees, and when water was tossed onto the stove it sent a blast of humidity into air that made it feel like breathing fire.

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Arlington, Va: "Sisu" is also the name of one of those Finnish icebreakers that keeps the harbor open. It was the name given to the first ever of those large ships and its successor is still in Helsinki harbor.

Bill Thomas: Arlington: Speaking of the Finnish ice breaking fleet, I believe it's possible to book passage. Imagine going on an two-week ice-crushing vacation on board the "Sisu."

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Austin, Tex: I visited friends who serve in the US Foreign Service while they were stationed in Helsinki. One visit was in February, 1998, and there was a heat wave -- temperatures reached freezing. I was told "there is no bad weather, only bad clothing." I am left to assume this declaration is of Finnish origin -- a perspective that would result from sisu.

Bill Thomas: Austin: I've got to remember that - "no bad weather, only bad clothing." That should be Finland's motto.

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Hancock, Mich: Hi Mr. Thomas - can't let you get away today without greetings from Hancock, MI, home of Finlandia University, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (talk about cold winters).

I'm not a Finlander, but being surrounded by them (lots of them) so I can with certain confiedence that, along with saunas and long-distance running, Finlanders have a strong national pride in the arts -- eg, their arts/crafts movement and classical music. Care to comment on the fine arts in Finland?

Bill Thomas: Hancock: Finnish architecture is world famous, and you can see lots of it in America. Dulles Airport outside Washington and the St Louis Arch were designed by a Finn. A Finn conducts the LA Symphony. Until Finland switched to Euros, Sibelius used to be on the Finnish ten mark note. Walking around Helsinki, which I recommend for anyone interested in design, is like a trip through a building museum.

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Arlington, Va: Just a comment: The Finnish sauna is the most wonderful place! The feeling after taking a sauna is impossible to describe: a total feeling of being born again, adn, the world seems to be a much more tolerable a place than it was before you went in. And one gets really-really clean! the finnnish women do not sport such a pretty skin for nothing.On another note: I once dates a Finn. There were no half-shades, either yes or no. It was rough but simple, and no reason to twist my brain over the "what did he really say" question.And: Finns are no way wimps and do not think much of the people who are. One must be able to live the life as it comes at you. In rural areas, the women go to sauna, give birth, and come back to the main house to finish chores. what must get done is getting done.

I truly like the peoples from that region.

Bill Thomas: Arlington: You said it all. Finns let you know where you stand. Period. And Finnish women are particularly refreshing in that respect. It's yes or no, as you put it. Take a look at a Russian movie called The Cuckoo that explores this subject in great detail

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Arlington, Va: Do the Finns say the sauna is a way to recover from "krapula"?

Bill Thomas: Arlington: It's one of the ways. A spicy bowl of pea soup is another.

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Bill Thomas: Great questions. Sorry I couldn't get to all of them. As they say in Finland, Hey-hey.

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