The Matchmaker

In the 19th century, Russians from the town of Kostomuksha would take their goods across the border to peddle them in Finland. Today, local television advertises Finnish goods. And Kostomukshans (over half the 30,000 residents work at the local ore processing plant) love to spend their salaries in Finland.

Katya Bytsytsina, a handicapped, single mother, found opportunity in this cross-border connection. Katya is fluent in Finnish, so it was natural that she would be asked to translate a letter from a Russian woman to her Finnish beau. Shortly thereafter, the woman received a very enthusiastic response from her Finn: “You are so good, so beautiful you have such a rare soul ... “ Apparently nothing was lost in the translation.

A phone call ensued. Katya interpreted. An invitation from Finland followed and soon the newlyweds sent Katya a warm “thank you” cable.

Thus Katya earned a local reputation as a matchmaker. There was no shortage of Karelian women searching for a Finnish husband. Kostomuksha had a market of brides; Finland had a market of grooms. The niche was vacant and Katya decided to act. But she did not charge a fee for services, instead relying on “rewards” given her by her clients. It was enough to supplement her meager pension.

Katya chooses her potential grooms from Finns over 40—women from Kostomuksha wouldn’t settle for anything younger. Under 30 themselves, they believe that only a mature man can provide material security. With time, Kostomukshan brides have gotten pickier and pickier—there are often as many as 15 Finnish pretenders for each Russian bride. Needless to say, the Russian bride, tired of local problems, often ignores the plain looks of their prospective groom. “What are you going to do?” Katya asked. “The poor thing often doesn’t have the money to buy bread, what with months of wage arrears ... the Russian bride makes no bones about her economic incentives, so the Finns respond accordingly in their letters: ‘I am a Finn with serious intentions. My salary is ...’ or ‘Bought a house recently, mortgage paid off...’”

“Our woman, for all her economic problems knows how to please and attract men,”  Katya said. “And look at how Finnish women are dressed ... no hair styling or cosmetics. In Finland, women are more independent—for them to use make-up means that they are looking for sexual favors from the opposite sex. The Finnish woman considers herself on a par with the man. To attract attention is humiliating for them.” Nothing of the kind with Russians.

As Katya tells her stories, she picks up an accordion and runs her fingers across the keyboard. It’s been 10 years since she, once one of Karelia’s best accordionists, played her instrument. She suffers from a rare disease of the joints. She has been through several painful surgeries, and many more are in store. Her friends in Karelia and Finland are doing their best to help her ... There is a knock at the door, interrupting her interview with a journalist ... It seems some former clients have sent a bouquet of red roses ...