“Finns like to keep to themselves”
Often Finns are described as secluded introverts who hate small talk and would rather stand in the rain than next to a stranger under a shelter at a bus stop. Though we may be a little reserved, I’d argue that Finns actually are surprisingly open and communicative. Once we get comfortable in our environment, we get very talkative and eager to have dialogue on different topics at hand.
Many foreigners’ experience of Finnish introversion or rudeness is actually – usually – a misunderstanding of the culture. For example, if we step into an office/classroom without saying hi to our coworkers/fellow students, it’s not because we’re being rude – we’re actually trying to be polite and not to disturb your work. We’re also very straightforward and honest – we speak our mind but we don’t mean to offend anyone.
Finns are humble and modest people
The first word that comes to my mind when picturing a Finn is humbleness and honesty. This characteristic comes out very prominently in those situations, where Finns succeed on something especially well or outdo themselves. We’re very modest, meaning that we rarely speak about our own accomplishments and the things we’re good at – we’d rather let our actions speak for themselves. It’s also important to note that being humble isn’t the same as being subservient. We want to remain humble, but we also do not want to miss out on potential opportunities by staying in the shadows. When needed, we do speak out.
All in all, your experience of Finns varies by the part of Finland you’re traveling to. In southern Finland, different cultures are more commonly represented than for example in northern Finland, and different generations of people behave differently because their values, experiences, and lifestyles differ a lot from each other. No matter where you go though, I’m sure you’ll be positively surprised that we’re not what our stereotypes make us.
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