OlmWeb

When I loaded up my google homepage this morning - the countdown read “30 days until OHI ON”. I’ve finally gotten here. After months and months of being imprisoned her att Nyland’s brigade I’ve finally reached the magic three-o. Only a month left now and then I’m a civil man!

For those who don’t know it, Finland has a non optional military service. Ie. all men must spend at least six months in the military between the age 18 and 28 or they’ll loose their citizenship. There’s also the possibility of civil service for 13 months or to refuse to touch arms completely and refusing civil service which will give you about six months in an open prison. Finland is one of few countries in Europe that has this system. Almost all other countries have voluntary service. And the government here is under inspection from Amnesty after numerus people have spoken out saying Finland is keeping prisoners of consience - which is very true indeed.

Me myself have had a tremendous luck with my service. After I’d been a recruit for about two months I found out I was going to be the next editor of Nylands brigade’s own magazine called Fanb?raren. I had applied for this position almost immediately when I enlisted. I got a month of medic schooling (so that in case of war I’d have some real military duties) and was sent to this wonderful little building where there were no senior personell, no bosses, no screaming and shouting - only other people like me who disliked the military. Bev?ringskommitt?n (meaning the “committ? for soliders” or something like that) was heaven on earth, I realized. We were totally free to do anything, within sertain limits of course. So what I’ve been doing for these past six months is reading, watching documentaries, dwelwing into conspiracy theories and learning programs like Lightwave and Maya!

Well it’s all oughta end soon (in 30 days, to be precise). The 5th October is my lat day in service and it’s called “ohi on” in finnish, which literally means “it’s over”. In swedish it’s for some strange reason called “fara schaan” and I have no idea what this word schaan means But I understand the meaning of it: I’ll be a free man who can go about his ordinary civil life once again! And I can finally start doing something important with my life like studing, moving together with my girlfriend, have children (doh!) and getting a dog! It’ll feel strange for sure. But I’m sure I can get accustomed to it.

Peace and understanding!