Lisa Matusova: Three months of Finnish emotions

So my GROW program has come to an end. These 3 months in Finland will remain with me for all of my life.

It was difficult. At first. It was difficult to get used to a rhythm of another city, it was difficult to get used to communicate exclusively in English, it was difficult to find friends. But with my colleagues at work from the first day, it was very easy to me. They tried so hard that I did not feel like a stranger, that I was busy with work, despite that all telemanufacture occurs exclusively in the Finnish language. My colleagues supported me, and answered all possible questions.

It was interesting. It was not the first time for me working on TV, and I can tell that TV people are very interesting and keen people. I've always appreciated people who are fanatically dedicated to work. Otherwise, what is the sense in it? Otherwise work turns to a waste of time. Besides, telemanufacture is improbably interesting and creative, but at the same time a very challenging process frequently demanding emergency decisions of the most different problems, especially if it's a question of the air.

It was amusing. It was amusing, how strongly Finland and Russia differ from each other, despite their neighborhood. I observed these distinctions in global questions of national character and attitude, and in mentality, and in small details. Thanks to it, there was no lack of topics for my interactive show Smetana, the first Russian-speaking show in the history of Finnish television. During my stay I have prepared and presented 13 programs.

It was insulting. Insulting that the majority of Finns know so little about Russia, being guided only by the information received from mass media, telling only bad things about Russia. Also many Finns still remember the Russian-Finnish war which has ended almost 70 years ago. In the show I often received messages of nationalist character that, of course, does not reflect sights of the whole country, however upset. And it is no wonder that among all Finns whom I have got to know, only a few have ever visited Russia in spite of the fact that Petersburg is only 400 km from Helsinki. And then I have understood that one of my tasks and probably the main one is to struggle against these stereotypes. For myself I have decided that even if I only will manage to change the opinion about Russia and Russians for 10 people, it will already will be a big victory. And thanks to Smetana, it seems to me that I could reach the hearts of even a bigger quantity of people.

It was joyful to find remarkable friends. Warm, real, kind people whom I will miss very much. It was joyful that my colleagues have accepted me in the collective and have been so open for experiment that they have helped me to create a qualitative and in its own way revolutionary television show. It was joyful to know that they are going to visit me in Petersburg — probably the whole department as a corporate trip. But it was also very sad to say goodbye to these remarkable people and to the wonderful city of Helsinki which became very dear to me.

It was great. It was great to take part in such a remarkable program. I want to thank Bonnier, all the organizers of the GROW program, and also the department of Interactive television of MTV3 for an unforgettable experience and for 3 months of bright emotions.