January is typically the coldest month of the year in the northern globe. It is dark, freezing, and nature is so silent one can hear their own breath break the soft silence of the winter. Finland is the home of winter and the people who live there are raised like winter; enjoying the soft silence and privacy, and personalities as self-contained and reserved as nature tends to be in January. But the more you stick around to see the seasons change, you’ll see gentle and caring spring and never-ending light which will embrace you during the summer. The same goes for the people living in Finland. With hard shells decorated with honesty and a bit of modesty, there is a softer inside that blooms once you stick around long enough. You begin to realize that Finns are not that bad after all, and they will be forever loyal to you when you befriend them. That is how I experience how we Finns are formed!
Finnishness contains plenty of nature. The appreciation of nature comes in as every man’s rights to enjoy nature, which is not so common around the globe. Finns love nature so much; they have built over half a million summer cottages around the country. Most of the cottages have no electricity and no running water, so it bring us humans back to our roots and separates us from the busy world we live in. And this brings us to our sanctuary: saunas and lakes. The most cliché thing about Finland has now been mentioned, but it cannot be unmentioned. It is a place where the coldest and the most antisocial person can transform into the chattiest and most relaxed person on earth. All it takes is a sauna, a beer, and a little swim (no matter what season it is). Also, it is very common for people to talk to each other in public saunas but may the devil himself take you away if you try to small talk with your neighbor! Confusing? Yes. Is this normal? Absolutely. But with one of the hardest languages to learn, one should be thankful of not needing to use it that much.
Finland is my home; therefore, I might be biased, but the contrast nature and people make me feel more at home than any other place could. I don’t need to fake my feelings, since honesty is appreciated, there is always a good reason just to stay at home and cancel your plans (just to enjoy the wine bottle yourself in your pajamas or in underwear=kalsarikännit). Have to admit, this is an introvert’s dream! Maybe that is one of the reasons Finland is the happiest country in the world?
Of course, leaving the country is sometimes very welcome. New experiences will make me either question or appreciate the culture and the country. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll learn to small talk too…
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