Now I am an international third-year student living in Finland, but even before moving here Finland wasn’t really a foreign country to me. During my childhood I visited Finland a lot with my family because my home city is located very close to the Finnish boarder. And I think this is one of the reasons why Finnish culture always felt familiar to me, and living here for 2,5 years now only strengthened this feeling.
For me one of the most visible and important elements of Finnish culture is its strong connection to nature, and its forests, lakes and seasonal changes are playing a big role in everyday life. One of the most “Finnish” moments for me was walking on the frozen lake during winter and it showed me how nature is not something distant from the city life. It also reflects in cultural values, calmness, respect and balance.
Another important element of Finnishness is sauna culture, as it is not just about relaxation but it is a social and cultural ritual. It also represents equality, simplicity, and closeness to nature. The social status there disappears and people can simply be themselves.
Finnish mentality feels very close to me. Finns really value personal space, privacy and quietness and it creates a really comfortable social environment. And silence here is not awkward but very natural. I personally noticed that during social situations, like parties or just group evenings together where everyone except me was Finnish I felt very comfortable and accepted even though Finns are often considered reserved. This showed me that Finnishness is not about being distant, but about respecting boundaries and giving others space.
For me Finnishness is a combination of visible elements (like nature, sauna and lifestyle) and and invisible culture (values, mentality and attitudes). It is present in silence, in snowy landscapes, in social interactions, and in the way people respect each other’s space. Because of my background and mentality Finnish culture feels comfortable to me and with years of living here it also became part of my identity.
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