Li-
Hien's wife is working for the same company and the children spend the days at a day-care centre. She assures us that her family has met with sheer friendliness in Finland. The authorities know, however, that there is some evidence of discrimination against and oppression of aliens in our country. There is no proof of organized racism a lá Sweden, though.
"Fortunately, the refugees do not know enough Finnish to understund
and verbal gibes", a spokesman for the Social Affairs and Health Ministry says.
all the uneers
Tran Minh Canh, a 37-year engineer, is employed at the Aeriul Photography Department of the National Board of Survey in Pasila, Helsinki. He is intrigued by the idea of gathering all Vietnamese refugees in Finland under the wings of their own organization or society. "It is important with a view to retaining our cultural identity".
"Exile is the worst thing that can happen to anyone", Canh says. He does not stop wondering how it is possible that Finland, this swall nation, is able to live at peace with itself and others.
This is something that I have to make clear to myself and teach ny children, and if I can return to Vietnam the people of Vietnam,
Canh adds.
11
Canh has written a book about his own life and his views of the world and dr- 14. of publishing it even in a Finnish translation.
W
Canh's dream of grouping the Vietnamese around a society has
found favour with Finnish authorities who promised support for the idej.
In all likelihood, the refugees will remain in Finland as a permanent minority, gradually integrating into the indigenous population or retaining their ethnic "purity".
Teachers having the children of Vietnamese refugees in their classes report little if any difficulties in adapting the children to the routine of Finnish school life.