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When I made my first trip to Rovaniemi many, many years ago, I quickly noticed the following scene:
If you couldn’t guess from the photo, you are looking at a row of slot machines. This is not an arcade, it’s not even a casino. This photo is from the local grocery store. And the scene is everywhere- either a group if 5-10 as above or single slot machines at local restaurants like Kotipizza (below)
The major company in Finland regulating slot machines is called Ray. Money earned from slot machines and other gambling under Ray (there are local casinos and online play opportunities as well) goes to support health and social welfare groups (more than 250 million euros in 2011 to approximately 800 groups). Even on their website they advertise Ray gambling as a way to support these organizations.
Personally I’ve never been a fan of gambling. BUT, when I’m waiting for pizza or folks to finish shopping at the grocery store, or even waiting for a flight at the airport, it really is a great way to pass the time. But don’t get too excited- this isn’t Vegas and payout aren’t the stuff of movies. I have turned a couple euros into over 20 before though 
Here’s a photo of the exterior of a casino in the Sampokeskus shopping center
And here is one from the nearby Revontuli shopping center
I think you will have a harder time finding a public location where there is NOT a slot machine.
What is the experience like? We took a video of a recent play (below). It’s long but cycles through a few different games on one machine. You can see at the bottom of the screen in the video that English is a language option. This is new. I’m familiar with the Finnish language ones- made it more exciting- I really had the excuse that I had no idea what I was doing and therefore couldn’t be at fault for a loss. Those times are no more. You will be happy to know that Ray does its part in supporting responsible gambling though. They provide a link on their site to test if you have a problem. I couldn’t find an option for English on the page so I guess I’ll never know: Link to gambling problem support
Enjoy the video!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
During my time in Finland I always take a few relaxation essentials- books, tv shows I couldn’t watch, and the most essential: music. Being a graduate student I don’t often get much time to just sit back, relax and not think about research, classes or work related things so when I get time off I use it wisely and indulge. This break I have many entertainment sources:
Books (reviews coming later)
In addition to the Minnesota State Drivers license guide to study for our written drivers exams when we return. Below are a few books I plan on taking with me to Finland for leisurely reading.
Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s by John Elder Robison
The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
TV Shows
Chuck- If you have yet to start watching this START NOW. Get the Season 1 DVD and then start watching Season 2 on Hulu. It’s awesome and a romantic comedy, they just adverised it really wrong. Don’t be fooled, it’s great!
Private Practice- I started it, it isn’t that great, but, I might as well try to finish it before it is canceled (sorry show producers, it just isn’t that good, but, I invested, gotta ride it out.
The Starter Wife- I have heard too many great things to not get started with this. I watched the first part of the intro miniseries and loved it, gonna try it out if I have time.
Music
Too many to list but tons of new albums out I’m going to finally take time to listen to on the plane ride over. Gotta love iPods!
On top of that I’ll be watching some movies from Finland (whatever happens to be in theaters- need to be BIG releases to make it to Rovaniemi, Finland). The only thing currently on our list is the Tom Cruise Valkyrie movie. Not sure what else might make it there but we think that one is all we’ll get.
So, not a whole lot going on today to prepare for packing or heading off to Finland. But, I was working on Finnish stuff so I’m sharing that. In my Finnish class we finish (no pun intended) the semester with presentations to the class. Thought I would share mine this year with the blog readers. I did my presentation on the popular Finnish Comic Strip: Viivi and Wagner. You can read all about this comic and its author from Wikipedia and daily comics are posted online through the Helsingin Sanomat.
Here is the English version of Viivi and Wagner from Wikipedia
Viivi & Wagner is a somewhat absurdist Finnish newspaper comic strip drawn by Jussi “Juba” Tuomola.
The titular main characters are Viivi, a Finnish woman in her twenties, and Wagner, a mature male pig. Wagner is fully anthropomorphic and sentient, yet still considers himself a pig instead of a human. Though often mistaken for married, the two are cohabitating in an Odd Couple-ish relationship and genuinely fond of each other when not bickering.
Here is the Finnish version of Viivi and Wagner from Wikipedia
Viivi ja Wagner on Jussi “Juba” Tuomolan luoma suosittu suomalainen sarjakuva. Se sai alkunsa strippisarjakuvana, mutta sittemmin on julkaistu myös joitakin pidempiä juonellisia tarinoita.
Sarjakuvan päähenkilöinä ovat nuori opiskelijanainen Viivi ja sika Wagner. Viivi on valveutunut ja huolehtiva nainen, eläinten oikeuksien puolestapuhuja ja kasvissyöjä. Wagner puolestaan on sika, jolla on perisuomalaisen juntin piirteitä.
Here is the comic from today’s Viivi and Wagner from http://www.hs.fi/viivijawagner/ (Dec. 9th, 2008)
English Translation coming soon!
FinnFest 2008 rock music performance setup
Originally uploaded by frozenreindeer
On our way back from FinnFest today we walked through the skywalk over
the area where performances will be going I tonight by a Finnish band
(need to clarify who it is)but here is a quick look at the setup.
We’ll head down later just to see/ hear how it is..
Minnesota native brings music of Finland to Winona
By Tom Weber
For Diane Jarvi, the kantele is an instrument of change.
Jarvi, you see, would like to change our perception of Finland as only a place with chilly weather and colder people. She intends to do that by bringing the music of Finland — much of it played on a folk instrument known as the kantele — to American audiences. read more..
Event Details
What: Finnish-American singer Diane Jarvi at the Winona State University International Music Series.
When: 5:30 p.m. Feb. 7.
Where: Tau Center, 511 Hilbert St., on Winona State’s West Campus, Winona.
Admission: Free.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/movies/349547_finnish01.html
By WILLIAM ARNOLD
P-I MOVIE CRITIC
In the minds of most American moviegoers, Finland is a blank spot on the map. We know of the great filmmaking traditions of Sweden and Denmark, and to a lesser extent of Norway. But, with only a few exceptions, Finnish cinema remains clouded in obscurity.
COMING UP
SISU CINEMA: NINE FROM THE FINNISH NEW WAVE
WHAT: Three-weekend film festival
WHERE: Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave.
TICKETS: Series pass: $30 members, $45 general. Individual tickets also available. Call 206-329-2629 for more information.
