Oulu

Finnair was my introduction to Scandi cool. The cleanest plane I have ever seen. Even Mark wouldn’t have had to have the wipes out. There is something about pristine flight attendants that I find reassuringly calming. I always feel the slightest bit nervous on American airlines with tracksuit wearing staff. Nothing about appearance and nothing wrong with a tracksuit, just the Finnair navy military like (but oh so stylish) uniforms made me feel I was very safe.

Although Finland is so close, it still took me about ten hours to get to Oulu. I did have to remind myself  that I was only an hour or so drive from Santa’s home and the Arctic Circle. Three hours to Helsinki and then an airport wait, and then another hour or so flight to Oulu.

I have become quite used to the excellent English of the Finns. They are quite funny really as everyone starts every conversation the same way. Multiple apologies in perfect English for their poor English. Kristina who has hosted me in Finland tells me Finnish women apologise for being alive. I did tell them at my keynote address to stop it.

Oulu is a nice small city with a lovely park. Lots of bikes and felt like an easy place to live. The Finnish city architecture is not at all inspiring (well except for Oodi but more about that later) but the absolutely warm and lovely people make up for it. From the lovely taxi driver waiting patiently at the airport for me, to everyone everywhere – they are all just so lovely. Evie would have been excited as I am sure Santa drove my cab a few times. Lovely older men with the bushiest grey beards and twinkly eyes.

The real stand out in Oulu (apart from fantastic work) was the lovely Lapland hotel. There were reindeers everywhere, including on the menu. When I arrived, I got offered a nice stick of reindeer meat – OMG I cannot eat Rudolph. It was on pizza, and in every meal. Thankfully, I had some of the most stunning vegetarian food that I have ever eaten in the restaurant and did add some amazing salmon one night in a lovely French place that my wonderful colleagues took me to. Work was wonderful as again; the nicest people had flown in from interesting parts of Europe. I left feeling super motivated.