The sun
In Finland, the summers seem to be like a fairytale. Everyone waits all year for the Finnish summer to take place and when it does, people really are living their best lives. Midsummer is known to be one of the best days of the year, when everyone gathers around to enjoy the sun and company of others. I myself have experienced midsummer for the first time when I was 19 years old. We didn’t have a cottage with my family and I think that is the main reason why we haven’t celebrated it. Even though I felt it just a couple years ago, now I understand what it’s all about.
Winter on the other hand is very different. In that time of year, people tend to stay more inside because it gets dark at about 4 pm already. Winter can seem dark and boring but is actually almost as amazing as summers! Skiing, ice skating and sledding are common winter-activities. I love going out on walks in winter because the air is so crispy and the whole town is covered in snow.
Coffee and friends
One thing that I love in Finland, is the quality of coffee. I feel like it tells a lot about the culture because in my family, we can’t really do anything without our morning coffee. Often times when we invite a friend over we like to ask if they want to have coffee. So coffee and friends like to go hand in hand. The best times to hang out with friends is to go to a coffee shop and talk about everything with the feeling of a warm coffee.
Sports: Ice-hockey
I feel like Finland is connected to ice-hockey somehow. Here we like to connect, even the student parties are held with a good game of ice-hockey. I have been to a lot of games and have noticed the sense of community. Everyone there is just enjoying and watching their favourite team play and hopefully win.
In Tampere I feel like this is most common because here we have two top teams, Ilves and Tappara. The first question asked is usually which team am I cheering on. Almost everyone here have been to one of those teams games, even though many don’t understand ice-hockey itself. It is more of a place to feel in touch with others and feel the energy and happiness of the sport.
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