Hi everyone!
A little while ago, I made a post asking why Finns become more talkative in saunas and what the proper sauna manners are. I honestly didn’t expect so many people to respond, and I was really happy reading all your kind, detailed, and funny answers. Thank you again — I learned a lot!

Today I went to my local sento sauna in Japan and tried to keep your advice in mind. It definitely made the experience calmer and more enjoyable. I felt like I understood the atmosphere a bit better thanks to all of you. I'm really happy and good experience for me.

So now I’m curious about something more personal.
What's your personal experience in Finland?
It's okay to just share what you can. And it could be anything like, something emotional, relaxing, ordinary, funny, unique, traditional or something that are about Finnish culture.

I’d really love to hear your personal stories.

by Ricky_2303

8 comments

  1. I miss speaking Swedish. And yes I know there’s Swedish speakers here too but I haven’t managed to befriend anyone yet. It mostly sucks because I’m losing the language.

    Other than that I’m very happy with what Finland is. It feels like home but in a different municipally where you can’t understand the local accent

  2. As an American who worked in Finland over COVID, aside from the language, I found Finns to be remarkably similar to Americans (at least the ones I associate with). Most were courteous, friendly and I made some friendships which persist. I dated in Helsinki and found the ladies to be pretty similar to American women I dated in DC. Beautiful, educated and intelligent. If I could have settled there, I’d probably still be there.

  3. Not a native Finn but I live here and am learning the language. My teacher has officially marked me off at the halfway mark of my course as A2.2!

    That said, it’s a very cold and quiet country in my experience (in the north). Perfect for me.

    I’ve still yet to make any friends but I’m hoping that’ll happen when I progress my studies further. Right now I am mostly around other foreigners. Sadly I don’t really get along with them very much. Being from Wales makes it very easy for me to enjoy Finnish culture at least. So I’m hoping when I am around Finns instead I will make a few friends 🙂

  4. My first ever backpacking trip at 18 I went to Helsinki as my first stop randomly. Met some people I really enjoyed hanging out with, and been back 5 more times since then. Unfortunately I live on the other side of the world now (Australia) and I don’t know when the next time I’ll be in Finland will be, but those summers in Helsinki have played a huge part in my ‘coming of age’ and I have a lot of people to thank for helping me through the confusion of my youth, sort of like an adopted family of friends.

    We hardly really talk much anymore and it’s been over a year since I was last in Finland, I guess I’ve also been growing a bit further away from the lifestyle we used to share, and also with the distance it doesn’t make sense and we all have our own lives. Been 10 years since that first trip and a lot has changed, but Helsinki in particular will always hold a very special place in my heart tbh haha. I truly do miss it, and it would be my dream to be able to build a small mökki with a sauna in a remote forest by a shallow, clear lake, with a little island maybe in the distance I could go to by boat, with a little rustic outdoor lounge-y setup.

    Kinda sad that I’ve spent that much time in Finland and still can’t speak decent Finnish lol

  5. 🇫🇮 from 2 1-week summer trips, lots of reading and now opiskellen suomea: great design (Aalto, Marimekko), quiet determination / resilience (sisu), preparedness to defend their country, swimming in lakes, enjoying saunas 👙🥵, spectacular swearing

  6. I visit finland every year and every year i love it more and more.

    Finland has sincere people. You notice if they dont like you, you notice if they do like you. And that is just *cheffs kiss. In my country we have many people who are friendly in your face but actually hate you. Not in finland. They dont like you? They show it.

    Finnish people keep politics to themselves. GOD I LOVE THAT. And even IF they are biased they arent “US vs them” mentality people. I have never seen such mature political debates in my life. Also goes for religion. One of my finnish friends is very christian. I only found out by accident after 5 years.

    The food is crazily underrated.

    Speak even a few words of finnish and you see smiles.

    I have many many many more. But of all the countries i visited, Finland is my favorite. Without a doubt.

  7. I’m not from Finland, but I do went once to Helsinki for a game event in 2024, it was honestly amazing and maybe even the best experience in my life. Helsinki is a beautiful city, and the game event was fantastic. This year I also wanted to go to the game event. But I couldn’t because of the travel distance to USA (too far and expensive 🥲). I’m hoping that this year it will be in Helsinki/ Finland again, so I could go again. I’m now trying to learn finnish on Duolingo btw, so I could maybe speak a little bit Finnish for the (hopefully) next time when I go to Finland/ Helsinki.

  8. I’ve been to Finland a lot of times and 3.5 years ago moved to live here. I feel calm and safe here.

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