Adult Onset Finnishness: Are you an
AOF? John O. Kiltinen 2005
The Northern Institute for
Self-Understanding (NISU) has released a study of the
phenomenon of people becoming
increasingly identified of their ethnic roots
during their adulthood. The phenomenon
is particularly strong among those of
Finnish ancestry, those married to
them, or those who have lived long enough in
proximity to them, and for this
reason has been named Adult Onset Finnishness.
Those affected by the phenomenon
are referred to as Adult Onset Finns, or
AOFs for short. (Pronounce AOF like
"our" with the "r" replaced by "f.")
According to the report, the
phenomenon appears to be beneficial to most of the
people affected, increasing their
sense of self-worth. In many cases, it can alter
the course of their lives following
onset, causing them to become involved in
local organizations with other AOFs
and to attend Finnish festivals annually. In
very rare cases, the phenomenon
takes over the AOF's life, resulting in a total
sense of identification, even
obsession, with things Finnish. Once the symptoms
have presented themselves, they
usually persist for the rest of the affected
person's life.
The onset of Finnishness can happen
at any stage of adulthood. Researchers
have categorized cases into three
classes based upon the age at which
symptoms are first observed. If the
person presents with symptoms prior to age
35, this is called Young Adult
Onset Finnishness and the person is called a
YAOF. If the onset is between 35
and 60, this is Middle-age Adult Onset
Finnishness, and the person is a
MAOF. Finally, if the sense of Finnishness
becomes apparent after the age of
60, this is Senior Adult Onset Finnishness,
and the person is called a SAOF.
NISU released a "You may be an
AOF if ..." list of symptoms of AOFness which
is printed in its entirety below.
NISU recommends that if people begin to notice
symptoms of AOFness in themselves,
rather than panicking and trying to
suppress or ignore the symptoms, they
relax and enjoy them. The phenomenon
is usually harmless, the experts
say, and for most individuals, produces an
increased sense of well-being. They
highly recommend "going with the flow" and
nurturing the sense of Finnishness
once it is observed.
The Northern Institute for
Self-Understanding (NISU) is a private, figmentary
foundation dedicated to increasing
the awareness of Adult Onset Finnishness.
NISU also conducts research into
how AOFs can live productive and fulfilling
lives because of, rather than in
spite of, their emerging new sense of identity.
Symptoms of Adult Onset
Finnishness: You Might Be An AOF If
1. You have installed a sauna in
your home, or are even thinking about it.
2. You've gotten up to dance a
polka or schottische at a wedding reception in
preference to the dances you did
while in high school.
3. You find yourself choosing to
eat cardamom flavored coffee bread with your
coffee instead of Danish rolls or
donuts.
4. You've repeated at least one
Eino and Toivo joke. There was a touch of self-recognition in your laugh when hearing the one about
that new kind of Finnish car insurance, not no-fault but my-fault.
5. You've heard the legend of St.
Urho, and can repeat the basics of his story.
6. At least twice, you've dunked a
hard piece of toast (such as Trenary Toast) into a
cup of coffee and have ingested the
soggy morsel.
7. You can name at least two of the
Finns who play on NHL teams.
8. You've explained your
stubbornness to yourself by saying, "I guess that's my sisu
showing."
9. Upon being introduced to
someone, you've said, "That's a Finnish name, isn't it,"
and have felt warm inside upon
learning that indeed it is.
10. You get choked up, and maybe
even a little teary-eyed when you hear the hymn
tune from Finlandia by Sibelius.
11. You feel the need to get out to
the lake (your own special lake, likely a small
inland one) at least twice a year.
12.It is important to you that
people pronounce "sauna" so that the first syllable
sounds like a female pig rather
than a carpenter's cutting tool.
13. When selecting a loaf of bread
at the bakery, you've opted for the one made with
rye flour and flavored with caraway
seed.
14. You recognize the humor in the
acronym, NISU.
If at least two of these statements
apply to you, there is a 50-50 chance that you
are an AOF. If 3 to 5 apply, it is
highly likely that you are an AOF. If it is more
than 5, it is almost certain.
NISU recognizes that their list is
a work in progress, and that Adult Onset
Finnishness can become apparent in
many other ways.
If you would like to add to the
"You Might Be An AOF If ..." list, send your contributions by e-mail
to kiltinen@nmu.edu, by regular mail to John Kiltinen, 1315 High Street
Marquette, MI 49855
Return to Home Page or Finnish
Humor Page