This, all you American people there, is what every Finn (well, most of them) is born and raised with. "You can always be better, remember to be humble, don't boast about yourself, don't imagine that you're something great, don't think that you're a good person..." it must be something engraved deep in our heritage and culture. Sometimes it almost feels like a crime when I keep getting A's in English. Before, I wouldn't tell anyone my English grades so that anyone wouldn't think I was boasting.

I admit, I might've exaggerated. But still I'm so happy that I got the chance to experience some American culture. I don't suffer that much any more.

But hey! Here's someone (me) you've made a good impact on, BC ! It has been a great experience to follow your blog. The experience has not only been entertaining but also very thought-provoking.

It has taken most of my 27 years to grasp this dynamic of the human psyche, and even then I don't profess any authority on it:

Humility is a virtue, but a negative self-image will not elicit praise.

There is a line. There are narrower lines than this one, but it is a line none the less. The line is the boundary between pride and self-loathing. A successful person is one who can maintain a middle ground between trodding upon others and being trodden upon himself.

It appears that line has different centers for different cultures, but in any culture, there is space on both sides.

So many words to say this: keep your chin up. Let us know how long until you reach step 2.

-KIE

We all are victims of this strange balance. Humility versus no drop of self-confidence.

First step: realised and completed. On with the second.

And we'll be right behind ya!

-<dd>