I’m a German who has lived in Finland for almost five years now and even before that I used to visit Finland every summer since I was fourteen years old. The biggest difference I have noticed and what ultimately drew me to this country was the importance of silence. It’s an introvert’s dream. In conversations being quiet isn’t deemed awkward in Finland, in fact it is part of it. Generally Finns respect personal space a lot more and are usually not interested in unnecessary small talk.
But besides that you find silence within nature in Finland. I find the respect and joy for nature here is one of the most important aspects. The country and its people are way more invested in keeping the country’s nature safe and clean and it seems to be a part of the Finnish everyday life. Especially popular are for example the summer vacations in the ‘Mökki’ far away from civilisation in the forest or by the sea or lake and often also without internet connection. It is the perfect opportunity to relax and detox from the busy daily routines and work life and maybe also the reason why Finnish people appear more relaxed, at least when I compare it to Germany.
Another aspect connected to nature that I adore in Finland is that certain activities like picking blueberries in the forest and ice skating or skiing in winter, as well as swimming in the lake or ocean are a part of the culture here which additionally allow a deeper connection with nature. Also being active is very important to Finns. Every Finn I have met is experienced in sports, especially winter sports like ice skating, ice hockey or skiing and has done it from a very young age, which really supports a healthy lifestyle.
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