I travel a lot and have worked abroad. Although I sometimes miss for the warmth of the south during cold winters, no place has ever felt as much like home as Finland. Here it’s familiar and safe. It’s the way people give space to one another, how nature is always nearby and how you don’t need to do things on a grand scale for them to feel meaningful.
Abroad, I notice that I crave my own space much more than I do back home. Social situations feel social to the power of ten and I often wonder how people have the energy to talk so much. Silence is a Finnish art form. I’ve also happily realised that Finnish silence isn’t perceived as rude or distant. It can soothe people around you. Of course, building friendships takes longer, but the best relationships ripen slowly. I don’t need a large crowd around me. I’m happy with a few people with whom we share that special connection, a connection that doesn’t require words or a common mother tongue, but rather understanding and trust. Those kinds of friendships are built on the understanding that even the quietest person can be quite fun if given the space to bloom.
It’s often wondered how Finland can be the world’s happiest country year after year, but I’m at my happiest here and that’s at the core of my Finnishness.
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