Carsten talks Formula One

Carsten enters the lab with the Finnish flag from the study, as well as a bowl of blueberries and raspberries, which he offers to Kustaa.

Carsten has prepared a few questions on a sheet of paper to ask the Finn, and he has also brought the Finnish-Danish dictionary into the lab with him.

However, despite having access to the dictionary – and, as briefly shown during his attempt, his phone – Carsten does not take advantage of these resources, and instead ploughs on with his prepared questions, asking Kustaa how he is, then asking (several times) for Kustaa to speak more slowly when he responds.

In an attempt to keep the conversation moving, Carsten name-drops the Finnish Formula One driver Mika Häkkinen, then says (in Danish) “little boy”, as he looks up something in the dictionary, presumably intending to share that he had seen Häkkinen race when he was a little boy. Kustaa quietly states that Carsten is a little boy, providing him with the Finnish words he is searching for, but also covering the insult by eating a berry. Carsten, having misunderstood, agrees (in Danish) that the berries are delicious.

Using the berries, Carsten attempts to illustrate to Kustaa that he and his father had seen Häkkinen race. When Kustaa asks where Carsten had seen Häkkinen race, listing a few Danish cities as suggestions, Carsten shakes his head and responds with “Motorola”, implying that Kustaa is incorrect about Häkkinen’s sponsor (Carsten seems to be mistaken, himself, as Mobil appears to have been Häkkinen’s most prominent sponsor).

After the two men sit in awkward silence for some time, Carsten notes the time on Kustaa’s watch, and stands to leave, shaking his hand and saying (in Finnish) that their conversation was fun.

Lasse awards Carsten and his “Formula One berries” third place.

(Written by Jenny R and proofread by Karl Craven)

(Illustrations collected by Jenny R and adjusted by David Fuller)