The one who was from a minority

I come from the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland ; I think we are about 8% - wait no 5% now.

Anni works as a parliamentary assistant at the European Parliament in Brussels

I still go to Sweden sometimes, I have family living there. When me and my mum eat princess cake together , that is very Swedish! So obviously, I feel some cultural attachment to Sweden, but my home remains Finland. There were never a point where I felt anything less than Finnish.

Here? Oh. It doesn’t make much difference to people here; for them we’re just a big bowl of Nordic countries (She laughs)
I used to be quite shy in my core. In Finland people are quite shy: you listen first for as long as possible and then you talk; if necessary.

But this past year in Brussels has changed my perspective; it has helped me toughen up. I learned to stand up for myself when needed. I had to because it sometimes feels like 'the only way' to be heard here. I think being shy and being a good listener are both a good thing and I will never stop being either.

But in this, being part of the metoo movement - I cannot be nice, because what is happening is clearly unjustified! We are talking here about our basic rights to feel safe in our own working environment. I believe in the cause we are defending. So, I had to toughen up.

Anni works as a parliamentary assistant at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. She is also a spokesperson of the #metoo movement in the institution