Immigrant women would like more Finnish friends
Arab women socially isolated by language difficulties
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No hands went up when Iraqi immigrant Samahat Ramadan asked a group of Iraqi, Egyptian, Kurd, and Palestinian women if any of them had Finnish friends.
About 20 immigrant women were at a gathering in the Kilo district of Espoo on Tuesday, discussing how well women from Arab countries have adapted to life in Finland. The meeting was part of a week of Arab culture held in nearby Leppävaara.
Each one of the women said that they would like to have a Finnish woman as a friend, to help learn the Finnish language. Even after several language courses, many immigrant women still find it difficult to put two sentences together.
The women feel that they are in a vicious circle; their lack of knowledge of Finnish means that they cannot get work, and cannot communicate with native Finns, or follow the local media. On the other hand, not getting a job makes it more difficult to learn Finnish.
The problem is much worse for women than for men, because the women generally spend their time alone with their children.
Samahat Ramadan, a construction engineer who has lived in Espoo for 11 years, spoke for all of the women when she lamented the difficulties of getting to know Finnish neighbours.
"In Iraq if I had not heard anything from my neighbour for two days I would have become worried and started to ask. I am sorry, but this is not the case in Finland", she said.
Norim Mohammad Salma, an Iraqi Kurd who moved to Finland four years ago and lives in Leppävaara, says that she always says "hi" to her neighbours, but they never respond.
"I would like to get one Finnish friend", she said. She has a four-year-old son who will start day care soon, and she hopes that this might help her meet more Finns.
Jinan Abdullatif moved to Espoo 11 years ago from the Iraqi city of Basra. She says that she met her husband, who was a student in Finland, when he was visiting relatives back home. She learned Finnish while looking after her three children at a public playground.
Samahat Ramadan criticises the others for not being more active in seeking contact with Finns. "Ask them about their dogs or cats", she urged the others.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 12.5.2004 - TODAY |
 Immigrant women would like more Finnish friends |
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