My best moment at the University of Helsinki

My great-aunt Marjatta Wis (1915-2008) was Professor of Germanic Philology at the University of Helsinki. The collection of international stamps I had as a child I was able to assemble largely due to correspondence with aunt Marjatta and her husband Roberto Wis.

I felt indeed anxious when my studies started to fall apart because of music and time management issues in 2010. Many of my lectures were held in lecture room 31 in Metsätalo, where my great-aunt’s portrait, which hung on the wall, would stare accusingly at the back of my neck. Now that I have returned to the academic world and my Macedonian language lectures are in the same room 31, I feel that my great-aunt’s benign gaze inspires and encourages me to complete my studies to my best ability.

By Written by Jaakko Laitinen (Kaija Hartikainen, ed.). Translated by Kaisla Kajava. Revised by John Calton.

Jaakko Laitinen

Jaakko Laitinen
Born December 4, 1981, Rovaniemi.

Bachelor of Business Administration (Librarianship), Librarian and Information Services training programme, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, 2007
Undergaduate, studies since 2008, west and south Slavic languages and cultures, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki

Singer-songwriter
Jaakko Laitinen & Väärä Raha 2009-
Orkestar Business Class 2004-2008

Publications, awards and special achievements
Jaakko Laitinen & Väärä Raha: Lapland-Balkan (2013)
Jaakko Laitinen & Väärä Raha: Yö Rovaniemellä (2012)
Jaakko Laitinen & Väärä Raha: s/t (2010)
Orkestar Business Class: s/t (2008)

Runner-up, Runon ja laulun sokkotreffit (’Poetry and song blind date’ competition), 2014
Vuoden kansanmusiikkilevy 2012 (’Folk music record of the year’), Jaakko Laitinen & Väärä Raha: Yö Rovaniemellä
Aholaita-Femma award 2012
Virtain karaokekuningas (’most energetic king of karaoke’), 2002
Rovaniemi ilmakitarakuningas (’King of Air Guitar’), 2000

Photo: Arttu Nieminen
Written by Jaakko Laitinen (Kaija Hartikainen, toim.)
Translated by John Calton