adapted from an English essay

There is no doubt that the Finish lifestyle and a Finnish person’s mentality are quite distinct from others. They have been shaped by proud history, and a country which was not always such a comfortable place to live. It is often said that foreigners can be easily identified in Helsinki, for no Finn breaks a smile when walking alone. An outwardly cheery disposition is indeed a rare thing for a Finn, most prefering to shut away the outside world when it is not required. This often gives foreigners the impression that Finns are rude and unsociable, an opinion fairly justified, yet one which is not entirely accurate.

Finns are ultimately as social as any other peoples, although this is rarely apparent with strangers. It is nothing peculiar to observe a typical frowning Finn pick up a phone and suddenly burst into a lively conversation, often disregarding the nuissance this might cause to others. Mobile phones are indeed an ever present factor in Finnish socialisation, although this is no longer unique to Finland. Internet based socialization thrives among teens and young adults with the use of websites such as IRC- Galleria and Facebook. A more traditional social lubricant is of course alcohol, and Finns can be sure to apply it liberally during the dark depressing months of winter. Alcohol is an ever present part of Finish culture, and many take pride in the various, occasionally illegal, home brewed concoctions.

Discussing Finnish social habits inevitably requires a mention of Finnish curse words, renowned for their strenght of expression by many a foreigner learned enough to be familiar with them. Any Finn who understands the unique worth of his or her native swears is surely proud of the heritage. Indeed, this is one tradition we can applaud the youth for preserving.

Should a foreigner for some absurd reason wish to emulate the Finnish lifestyle, he would do well to begin by shedding away the token politenesses which his original culture has no doubt hammered into him. Surprisingly, this is as easily done as it is said. For this I can vouch with my personal experience from moving back to Finland after having lived in England for five years. In England I was schooled into a very polite boy, and upon returning to Finland I surprised teachers and store clerks alike with my politeness. Soon however, I realised that in everyday situations in Finland simple goals could often be achieved with as little as a grunt of acknowledgement, with perhaps a mumbled thanks if you are having a good day, which unfortunately is unlikely should you wish to fully intergrate yourself into the Finnish society.

While opinions may differ, I would consider the hallmarks of a true Finn to be pride for ones country, appreciation for a hardly cheery outlook on life, and respect for Finnish traditions. Consider that all of these can be present at say, a men’s sauna evening, where they complain about the degenerating state of the world, drink beer and make superb arguments for why Finland is a superior country.