To me, the meaning of being a Finn and also the term “Finnishness” are both all about being a part of the nature of Finland. I am still young but I have already travelled quite a lot and I have also been working as an international tutor. Interactions with foreigners have taught me that the image of a finnish person variates quite much. You can compare the personality of a Finn to the climate of Finland; There is a great contrast – cold winters VS. fairly warm summers, calm and rational VS. straightforward and hot blooded. Naturally it depends on the fact have you personally met a Finn or not. A stereotypical Finn is someone who enjoys one’s own personal space and doesn’t care to talk that much. And is a drinker and very passionate when it comes to ice hockey. People are often rather shocked when they see that a Finn can actually form long sentences. The finnish language is difficult, now that is a fact. It is sad but true that finnish folk as tourists can be real thorns in the flesh; they’re loud, arrogant and very much drunk. However, usually harmless, just annoying. So no wonder why some think that the whole nation is the same (thanks guys, geez). Actually we are melancholic and just trying to hide our insecurities. Maybe. I do not honestly know.
However, Finland is an easy country to visit since we don’t have any special customs or manners that visitor could screw up. In other words, we don’t care as long as you don’t violate the public order and break the law. Finns have a strong sense of national identity because of the country’s history but they do not expect foreigners to know a lot about the country. We are still quite isolated, aren’t we?..
(look me, hey there peeps)
Let’s get down to business~ (did you get the reference huh huh).
My favourite thing about Finland.
Seasons.
I want to think that those are part of this “Finnishness” since all the countries do not have so much diversity during one year. The summer might not be endless in Finland, but there are almost endless summer days and white summer nights. On a fine summer day, you can enjoy the wild nature and ((almost)) clear waters. After all, Finland is a country of vast green forests, Baltic Sea islands, windswept arctic fells and thousands of blue lakes (this sentence was provided by Travel Guide of Finland, please don’t sue me). Just don’t run into a bear. Please. That might get.. nasty. As the Land of a Thousand Lakes, a lakeside cottage is a huge part of Finnish summer. And when there is a lake, there is a sauna. Sauna is indeed a great part of our country’s heritage and culture. It is said to purify both body and mind.
Oh right, Midsummer rules!! Go barbeque!!
Summer ends with an explosion of color in the forests. This is the season known as ‘ruska’. It’s the time of autumnal reds, browns and yellows, rain, ponds, worms and colourful wellies. My absolute favourite. “When the endless sunshine of summer gives way to dark winter, the Northern Lights appear like magic and lighten up the sky.” The Winter. The cold. And snow. No, rain. No sorry, snow. No wait, what.. Well at least it’s cold, okay! Do you wanna build a.. Moving on. Spring is even shorter than summer. It’s okay. It’s green. And muddy. And maybe even sunny.
Just a quick thing before fin(n)ishing this text (oh how rich I would be ..). Finland has a rather high standard of education, social security and healthcare that are all more or less financed by the state. Of course it’s not perfect but it could be worse. So that’s also part of
“Finnishness” I guess.
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