cover of episode The Sunday Read: ‘My Miserable Week in the “Happiest Country on Earth’’’

The Sunday Read: ‘My Miserable Week in the “Happiest Country on Earth’’’

2025/5/11
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Molly Young: 我前往芬兰，体验这个被评为世界上最快乐的国家在冬季的真实面貌。我选择在二月这个最阴冷的月份前往，旨在检验其幸福称号的真实性，并探究芬兰人对幸福的定义和实现方式。我的旅程始于一个感冒和时差交加的糟糕开始，在阴冷的城市中漫步，感受着冬季的萧瑟。我参观了各种类型的桑拿房，体验了在冰冷的海水中浸泡的“Avanto Oni”传统，感受到了冷热交替带来的独特体验。在赫尔辛基的Oodi图书馆，我看到了一个充满活力和包容性的公共空间，孩子们在室内自由玩耍，人们和谐相处。然而，我也观察到芬兰人对“坎特里尔阶梯”幸福评估方式的质疑，以及他们对幸福的理解并非西方媒体所宣传的“永无止境的快乐”。总的来说，我的芬兰之旅是一次对幸福的深入反思，它让我重新审视了幸福的定义，以及不同文化对幸福的理解差异。 Mikko Tironen: 芬兰冬季缺乏色彩，这与人们对芬兰幸福的印象形成对比。芬兰作家Joka Vigela的名言“芬兰是一个孩子们在黑暗中玩耍的国度”既是比喻也是事实描述，反映了芬兰冬季漫长黑夜的现实。芬兰人普遍使用小咖啡杯，这是一种独特的文化现象。我对“坎特里尔阶梯”幸福评估方式持否定态度，因为人生只有一次，没有高低之分。现在有一些事情正在发生，我感到困惑，之后还会再次陷入黑暗。

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For eight years running, Finland has been rated the happiest country in the world by a peculiar United Nations-backed project called the World Happiness Report, started in 2012. Soon after Finland shot to the top of the list, its government set up a “happiness tourism” initiative, which now offers itineraries highlighting the cultural elements that ostensibly contribute to its status: foraging, fresh air, trees, lakes, sustainably produced meals and, perhaps above all else, saunas.

Instead of adhering to one of these optimal itineraries or visiting Finland at the rosiest time of year (any time except the dead of winter), Molly Young arrived with few plans at all during one of the bleakest months. Would the happiest country on earth still be so mirthful at its gloomiest?

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