I frequently have the difficult conversation with my teacher candidates that you often learn more from what you don’t expect to see than from what you actually do. At this moment I need to take my own advice because I came to Finland to learn. As a Fulbright mentor shared, it is an interesting comparative description to experience, and I guess this is what a Fulbright opportunity is all about. Encountering a different culture is not always perfect; in fact it can be messy and reflective. It’s actually difficult work to wrap your head around the realities and cultural differences of something you are very passionate about. Before I came to Finland, and even when I first arrived, I had the assumption that it was inclusion inclusion inclusion everywhere. However, as I get into my research and am learning more, I am starting to see the authenticity of what the Finns consider to be the definition of the term, inclusion. Using my global perspective and growth mindset I am exploring more about the culture and philosophy behind this. I am fully aware that I came with my own foundations regarding education, diversity, equality, and inclusion which happen to be fundamentally different to the Finnish present circumstances.
So now I am looking into the cultural definition of ‘inclusion’ here in Finland. It might be different than what we think it is back home. I am here to learn, thus I will keep digging and exploring in hopes of finding a way to explain their distinctive approach to supporting students with special needs.