Finnish people don’t usually start conversations or ask you how you are if they do not actually care. It can feel harsh or unpolite but I actually think it saves everyone the trouble of having to do mental gymnastics to figure out whether a person is being genuine or not. This way when someone asks you how you are doing you know they actually care. In my experience this type of approach leads to more meaningful connections rather than only surface level relationships. Of course there is nuance to this and things might look different for example at a professional work place setting. Although this behavior has its positives it can sometimes make it harder to break the ice and actually get to know new people. But once the initial ice is broken you will be able to build a new genuine connection. One way to know if a Finn is comfortable with you is if they don’t feel the need to fill every silence. Only speaking when you have things to say, meaning you don’t have to make up a topic to talk about by force. It shows that you are comfortable enough with each other that you can just simply enjoy each others company with out having to say anything. A silence that might read awkward for some is actually a sign of being at ease.
Silence can also be enjoyed alone in Finland. Finns often escape the hectic day to day and city noises to nature. Even though never fully quiet with sounds of the wind in the leaves and maybe some animals near by, Finnish forests provide a place where the mind can rest. Nature is right around the corner pretty much anywhere in Finland. Even in the capital, Helsinki, parks and small forests are easy to find. I think growing up in Finland you learn to appreciate silence and not see it as something you always need to fill.
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