Finnishness means a lot to me. One of the most amazing things of Finland is its nature. Beautiful forests and thousands of lakes make Finland an exceptional place to live. We get to enjoy nature in all its glory through four distinct seasons. Being from Kainuu, I’ve spent nearly 20 years enjoying not only lovely springs, summers, and autumns but also snowy winters. Finland’s fantastic winters have allowed me to ski and snowboard for so many years and that’s something I’m very grateful for. Hopefully climate change won’t take away Finland’s winter completely.
I must also mention sauna. We have a sauna and direct connection to a lake for swimming in my childhood home and it has meant a world to me. Sauna is where you can relax, clear your mind and relieve stress. Ice swimming has also been very important hobby of mine during the colder months, so I’ll miss that too during my stay abroad.
Finland’s welfare state offers excellent healthcare services, setting it apart from many other countries. Having traveled extensively, I can say that Finland’s recycling and waste management are top-notch. For example, Finland’s bottle return system is a source of wonder for many foreigners and serves as an excellent incentive not to litter with bottles and cans on the streets. It always baffles me how poorly waste management functions in many countries, leading to littered streets and bottles that, in Finland, would bring you money.
While Finns are generally introverted and prefer their own company, I like to break those barriers and be the opposite – social and outgoing. Sometimes, when I’m tired or having a bad day, it’s comforting to ride an elevator in silence without the neighbor trying to strike up a conversation. Finnish character traits also have their merits; sometimes, sociability can drain your energy, and it’s nice that people don’t question your silence.
What makes Finland truly unique is the Finnish language. It’s wonderful to speak Finnish abroad with friends almost exclusively, knowing that no one else understands. Of course, when abroad, I’ve encountered many funny situations where restaurant promoters start shouting Finnish words (and also finnish curse words haha).
All in all, I’m very proud of being Finnish. It’s challenging to describe everything I’m proud of, but here are some aspects. By the age of 21 I’ve seen a lot of the world and I still believe that Finland is the best place on earth.
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