It’s relatively easy to get by in Finland’s capital, Helsinki, without speaking Finnish. But meeting an American opera singer and a refugee from Iraq here taught reporter Kavita Pillay to embrace the vulnerability of learning a new language.
Finland’s national word ‘sisu’ conjures new meanings for tough times
“I don’t think you’d find an older person in Poland who’s not going to church, but I think that younger generation is rather like me. I’m not going to church. I don’t believe in God. I consider myself an atheist.”
The Secret Behind Finland’s Super Smart School Kids? Recess.
Finland has one of the most successful public education systems in the world. And Finnish school children, on average, get more than an hour of recess a day. Is playtime the secret to their success?
Extended Use: Europe’s Old Churches Finding New Life as Starbucks, Circus School
Many of Europe’s churches are struggling to stay open. A new movement called “extended use” is trying to save the old buildings. The plan includes using some church buildings for circus schools and Starbucks shops.
A vast network of tunnels is being constructed beneath the Nordic countryside in Finland. It’s intended to safely store nuclear waste for up to a thousand centuries. Eventually, officials say, there will be no surface trace of the tunnels below.
Comedy in Singapore: Can the Much-Restricted Nation Lighten Up?
The Asian city-state of Singapore is known for its strict social laws, including a ban on chewing gum. It’s not known for its sense of humor but as Kavita Pillay reports, Singapore’s government want people there to loosen up.