That’s something that I often heard: Finnish people are awkward. It turns out that what even Finns themselves name “awkward” is actually introvertness.
When I first thought about moving to Finland, I was told to BEWARE of the Finnish coldness, weather-wise and character-wise. Now, weather-wise, “cold” wasn’t a total lie. Character-wise, it wasn’t either, but it somehow felt differently. In three points, I will demonstrate why everything about the introvert character of Finns was a relief for me.
No small talk
Small-talk… Why is it necessary? Well, Finland understood it very well: Finnish people do not keep small talk and if they ask about your wellbeing, it is because they genuinely care. And trust me, it’s a relief for introverts. Finland teaches you how to value silence and conversations, as well as how to truly get to know somebody.
Respect for nature
Finnish people hold in their culture a deep respect for nature, and I think it is not too much to say that nature is thankful to them. As demonstrated in the pictures below, Finland holds a lot of unexpected views and landscapes that they enjoy in silence. Because pictures speak louder than words, I provide you with a picture taken in Riihivuori, near my boyfriends’ mother’s place.
Valued friendship
Coming to Finland, one think stroke me at first: it felt very difficult to find friends. Now, a few years later, I realize that it is much easier. In a lot of cultures, the notion of friendship is kind of blurry, as people being extra-nice does not always guarantee true friendship. In Finland, it might take time for people to become your friend, but when you are friends with a Finn, you are trusted and can trust your friend, even with thousands of kilometers apart.
Now, I am aware that all of those traits are very personal, but it is my vision of Finnishness. All in all, coming to Finland is, I feel, a total yes or a total no. Either you love it, either you hate it, and I happened to love it. And, as I mentioned metal in the title as a reference to the reason why I fell in love with Finland in the first place, I will leave down there a link to one of my favorite Finnish bands…
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