“Is it just a Finnish thing?” is something I find myself asking a lot. Before you step out of your Finnish bubble, you don’t even realise how big a part of you your Finnishness is. It’s coded into your behaviour, your way of thinking, and the way you perceive the world around you. It’s the comfortable silence, politeness, abiding by the rules, and queuing even when you don’t know what you’re queuing for.
While moving abroad, my Finnishness is something I will cherish and hold on to. I am proud of my home country, its nature, its education system, the values of its people, their kindness, and the unique perseverance known as sisu. Some parts of my Finnishness, however, I am willing to let go of — for example, the shyness, the discomfort of talking to new people, and the “I’m not good enough” mentality.
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