About Terhi Mikkolainen

Editor, translator

I have been working in the Radio86-team ever since this whole concept of China-related radio programs and website took its first steps in year 2003. I mainly write and edit material for the Finnish language radio programs and web site, but also contribute to the English team. My area of expertise is Chinese language. I also work as a translator.

I have for a long time felt keen interest into Chinese culture, mainly through Chinese philosophies, metaphysics and taiji-practice. Through taiji I found my Chinese husband, and followed him to Beijing in year 1994. That was all in all a five-year adventure, where getting through each day was a mixture of confusion, joy, frustration and hilarious moments. Learning Chinese not only opened many doors and windows into Chinese culture, it also opened my eyes and heart to see more deeply into the Chinese mindset. I studied my first year of Chinese in Beijing Drama Academy, and earned my degree in Chinese language and literature from Beijing Language- and Culture University in year 1998.

Before my life “went China”, I had already studied arts and crafts and cultural counselling, and worked as a textile artisan. Arts and various fields of culture are my main areas of interest.

Although living in Finland at the moment, I regularly visit China, and have a home, a family and many friends there. Therefore it is a personal mission for me to tie as many knots as possible between China and the western world, and working for Radio86 gives me the perfect opportunity for that. As I believe, and know from my own experience - east and west do meet!