Barack Obama

My grandfather immigrated just after the turn of the 20th century. One of my uncles was born in Suomi. He was named after the Russian Czar, Nicholai. (Suomi has a long history with Russia, as they share a border. Google "Finlandization" to understand why. Also why Finland aligned with Hitler during WWII.)

All my aunts and uncles spoke Finnish first. My grandmother never spoke English, even after living 40 years here. (I have my doubts that she didn't understand English.)

One of my big regrets is that I wasn't brought up bilingual. I have tried to learn three different foreign languages. I failed miserably each time. Alas, my brain just isn't wired right for that talent. But I could have learned it at my mother's knee. It was her first language and it should have been one of mine.

Still, I can curse in Finnish like a longshoreman. That much my mother taught me.

Culture is important. Whether it be Suomi or a Native American tribe. And the languages are part of that culture.



Maybe you understand my handle. My dad was Norse. I am half Viking.