What is like to live in Finland?
Well, it’s cold and dark almost all over the year, people are shy, silent and drink alcohol a lot, right? I don’t think so.
Even there is very dark and cold most part of the year, you can think it in positive way. In autumn, there is so beautiful all over the Finland, thanks to “ruska”, when all the three leafs changes colors. It’s not that cold you should put quilted jacket on you, but you won’t get hot with leather jacket and nice warm scarf. And the best part is when after school or work you can just go home, light the candles, take hot chocolate and read your favorite book on the couch (or just get ready for next exam…)
In winter there is so much more lightness, thanks for the snow. Everyone is waiting for Christmas, and after that coming New year’s eve. Family, good traditional Finnish Christmas food, presents, Santa Claus, Christmas carols… And again in new year’s eve; potato-salad and wieners, friends, fireworks etc. And Christmas holiday from school of course!
When the snow starts melting, flowers and grass are growing, days are getting longer and sun is getting higher… That’s the time when all Finn’s will come out of their nests, and very soon everyone has only t-shirt and shorts on, because “it’s so hot when it is 15 degrees warm after cold winter”. In spring people are smiling more, and have good feeling because summer is coming.
Oh, Finnish summer, is there anything better. Everyone is waiting their summer holidays, and the Midsummer day, when almost everybody are drinking some alcohol and watching big bonfire. It’s called also “nightless night – yötön yö”, because the sun won’t go down.
In summer you can go to swim to many lakes of Finland, or maybe if you have boat you could try water-skiing or just fishing at lake. Very Finnish thing at summer is also going to your own little cottage and just relax (well as soon you mow the lawn, fix broken things after the long winter, put wharf where it belongs etc..).
In summer there are also many music festivals in Finland, where teens and young adults are going to have some fun. They sleep at cottages or tents, with every Finn’s best friends: mosquitoes. But that’s ok, because you can see many famous artists and have great time with your best friends. Those are the experiences you won’t never forget.
Last but not least, the most Finnish thing I think there is: sauna. When it’s cold and you are freezing, just warm up your very own sauna and soon you’ll have the warmness of summer. For Finnish people it’s weird being with someone just your underwear on, but it’s ok to be naked in sauna with them. And is there anything better, when it is hot summer day, than go to even hotter sauna and after that swim naked in lake.
I have seen some world, and I want to see so much more, but there would never be place like Finland to me. This is just little piece of that how I see Finland, but I love it.
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