Yankee Doodle Van-dy

Perhaps the most unexpected thing I've seen yet in Helsinki was a patriotic yankee van parked in front of Stockmann. It was complete with more than 6 American flags, an OK Route 66 sign, a "Fuck the Fuel Economy" bumper sticker to go with the gas guzzler mini-van and a "Fucking Bush and Son, Inc." sticker to complement the U.S. Army sticker. The "Protected by Smith and Wesson" was the crowning touch in the pastiche of gummy vinyl Americana stuck to the back of the van. I stopped and gaped at it for a while since, unless they made a wrong turn at the MASS Pike and somehow drove across the Arctic, I hope it's the only such reminder of what I left behind when I moved here.