5 WEIRD Things You MUST KNOW About Finnish People! 1727pm 5.8.23 ummmmmmmmmm... due to the films of Aki Olavi Kaurismäki (or whatever the director's a name is) it has been decided that the finns are introverted and awkward and socially distant? who is speaking on your behalf????
This is a great addition! I totally agree with this. Its actually quite funny because some Finns (me included) have a tendency to try and solve everything on their own even if they would need help. And even if someone offers me help, i might politely decline because i dont want to bother them - even while i very much appreciate the offer. Then finally, when i accept the help, im more than grateful for their tenacity and insistence on helping out.
Good to know but this is kinda confusing. So as a nonFinnish myself if I came across a Finnish person that I thought they might need help with something, how can I tell if them saying "no thanks" is legit them meaning "no thanks, go away, I don't want anyone's/your help and leave me alone" or if they meant "no thanks cause I think that might be a bother to you but it'd be great if you helped me if possible"? For example, in my country there exists something confusing called "tarof" which is basically being over the top maddeningly polite and considerate and hospitable to others and all that and it's a pain to tell the difference between that and serious decline of help. Sounds like Finnish people too have their regiment of being overly polite and indirect too but in the Finnish example how can I tell if my insisting would make the person happy and relieved of their trouble (and with me going on and help them) or if my insistence would make them angry or upset because they percieved my insistence as me being disrespectful of their choice and personal space and them seeing me as offensive/rude?
@@tobe3940 Best would be no need to use any words at all. My car turned off at the traffic lights and didn’t start, the battery was empty. I tried to push it out of the intersection, but it was too heavy. Three men came from a nearby park and, without saying anything, pushed my car to the side of the street. They had left before I could even give thanks. Another case: I was riding my motorcycle and the clutch release lever had come off while driving, the gear was left on in the traffic lights and the engine stopped. The oncoming car stopped and the driver came to ask if I needed help. Yes, a screw or something should be installed on the clutch lever. The man had no tools or spare parts, of course, but with my tools we removed a screw on the passenger seat of his car and it fit my Harley well, and we were both able to continue our journey.
Finland regularly wins top rank in research surveys as the least corrupt country in the world. So yes, a nation of honest, modest and considerate people. The catch? The cold weather!
I've travelled through many countries and Finland is one of my favourites. The people are so genuine, nice and non-aggressive. I do like the general sence of personal space and not bothering people unnecessarily, but they are so kind, polite and helpfull when you do bother them. I really don't understand the negative stereotype and really felt at home there. So much so that I consider moving there if I can.
Hey Frederik and thanks so much for sharing this! Its very nice to hear that you enjoyed your time in Finland. As with any country, Finland has its ups and downs and there are always people who are looking for something else. However, i really feel the same way as you and while id love to live outside of Finland at least for a few years to get the experience - im pretty sure i would always return back here eventually.
@Limon Cello I realise there's a difference between being a tourist and living somewhere. I have some relatives that live there and they can be rather critical about Finnish culture at times, so I went in with low expectations. I just saw/felt certain traits and mannerisms that I rarely see in people, but recognise in myself. I am often seen as odd and introverted back home and in most other places I have travelled and lived and are often made to feel weird, but did not feel that way in Finland.
@@RoadtoFinnish _"...id love to live outside of Finland at least for a few years to get the experience."_ So come to Canada for six months! We're a huge country with really diverse geography and ethnicities across the country. Be prepared to fly because our highways are miles and miles of miles and miles, especially crossing the prairie provinces. Imagine driving for a whole day and seeing nothing but golden wheat from the car to the horizon. Yes, really. Oh yes, and we have the world's biggest cartoon show going on just south of our border. Check us out, you'll love it.
"Early is on time, on time is late and late is unacceptable" - this is the motto I live by! Finns are amazing people. Your culture is parallel with my own beliefs. Thanks for sharing!
I believe, there's also a substantial difference between the Helsinki folk and the rest of Finland, in terms of small talk and introversion. I think, I can easily spot someone who grew up outside of Helsinki and came here as an adult.
Indeed, and there are differences between different regions outside Helsinki on how talkative people are (stereotypically). For example, people from North Karelians or Savonians tend to be more talkative compared to Ostrobothnians or Kainuu folk.
😅 having a grandfather from Karelia, we have some of that in our family. I think you guys are definitely right, this, and many other personal aspects are impacted quite a bit by where you are originally from. Great point 👍
Thanks again for all the tips, I've arrived in Finland 20 days ago and have found some rather unique people that I've begun calling good friends. But that's mostly because my chosen bachelor is kind of peculiar so the people here aren't exactly sticking with the stereotypes.
Thats so nice to hear! Some of the more unusual majors and fields also have very good communities around them because there arent that many people studying them in total.
Biologically I am 1/4 Finnish. But after watching this, I'd say culturally I'm close to 100%! I embody so much of what was presented here, it's uncanny! I have embraced my Finnish grandfather's culture for sure!
All of this is super sensible, more natural and preferable in my opinion. I don't like the way it is in the USA, even though I was born and raised in the US. Everything you discussed makes far more sense to me. When I was younger and applying for work, I could not understand at all how people expected you to "sell" yourself. People advised me to change my behavior to meet the expectation norms. After watching this video, it's almost as if I had been born and raised in Finnish culture and needed coaching to comprehend the social norms of the country where I actually am from. I have been blown away by the unexpected and baffling dishonesty from people, including misrepresentation of many kinds. Also the disrespect of not informing others of impending failure to meet a deadline, schedule or other sort of agreement. Moreover, I abhor the intrusive cultural norm that is so common in the USA which causes people to presume that a lot of personal things (including finances), are suitable to inquire about or discuss, even with people you only just met.
There is one exception to the "money rule" - collectors’ social groups and similar interests. If you and a Finn you know "on good terms" are both vintage car fans, and he buys a vintage corvette, asking how much it was is within the "facts about old cars" category, not necessarily about how rich he is.
Interesting to hear the bit about introversion, mainly because the way I got to know about the Finnish introvert stereotypes was through other Finns who usually love to joke about Finns being extremely introverted.
I love Finnish people. Me and my family since I was born we run our lives here in the US the same way. My late mother and father advocated that when we had an appointment that we arrive early and when we would be in public to respect other people's comfort areas. I totally agree with the Finnish notion not to ask about another person's income, it's nobody's business.
I love this about the initiative. I'm a long time English fan of Finland and have always found Finnish people to be friendly, warm and with a great sense of humour. I get a bit sick of the endless stream of videos (usually made by Finns) about how you must never speak to anybody you don't know in public! You've hit the nail on the head! Finns are shy to take the initiative and to talk to strangers but in fact when somebody else breaks the ice for them and makes the first move they react really positively and are very friendly.
Hi Oliver! My daughter was accepted in University of Helsinki,Faculty of Science.Hopefully,she'll be there this coming Spring,can you please make a video featuring Kumpula Campus?Thanks😍
Oh wow Jyla, that is wonderful to hear! Please tell her congratulations from me 🥂. I would love to make a video about the Kumpula campus. You guys just have to start pestering the university communications team so that they'd give me a tour 😅. The universities in Finland are big organisations and its sometimes quite difficult to get to the right person, and to convince why it would be worth wasting some time to show me (and my camera) around 😏.
Good video for reflecting on why I get annoyed with behaviors in Canada. I left Helsinki at the age of 9 (back in 1958) and being reclusive natured I am probably twice as introverted as the typical Finn. What raises my critical ire in this country is the lack of reliability, unkept promises, forgotten commitments. I tend to be very friendly with the people I've gotten to know but I am quick to dismiss people who fail my expectations. Isolated I have tended to remain extremely Finnish in my attitudes. Thanks for this video. Very revealing.
Videoiden laatu paranee joka kerta, hienoa että katsojiakin on. Kiitos kun näet vaivaa näiden eteen, jopa suomalaisten on vaikea löytää netistä vastauksia moniin asioihin. Odotan jo seuraavaa videota! :)
Kiitos, olipa mukavasti sanottu. Arvostan 👍. Vaikka sisältö on suunnattu pääosin ulkomaalaisille opiskelijoille, olisi silti kiva kuulla myös mikäli sulla tai vaikkapa sun tutuilla on jotain kysymyksiä opintoihin tai alkuvaiheen urakehitykseen liittyen. Mieluusti otan nekin huomioon sillä monet suomalaiset opiskelijat pohtivat ihan samoja asioita kuin ulkkarit. Monesti suomalaiset opiskelijat osaavat jopa ilmaista nämä huolet tai kysymykset paremmin kuin ulkomaalaiset - heillä kun ei ole kokemusta monista asioista jotka tulisi ottaa huomioon näin uran alkuvaiheessa.
It was kind of funny to trace EACH of these traits deep inside me. And though as I live in St. Petersburg I'm not a man of Finnish culture, it's fascinating to see how my distant Finnish ancestry is so deeply ingrained in me (my dad is "inkerinsuomalainen" by birth, and I have a Finnish surname, LOL). Much love to ur country, guys
Time to dust off a hoary old joke about Finns. - How can you tell the difference between a Finnish introvert and a Finnish extrovert? - When he's talking to you a Finnish introvert looks at his feet. A Finnish extrovert looks at yours.
My grandmother was Finnish. Her parents were from Laihia and Karstula. She was born and raised in Calumet, Michigan, USA. Some of my known Finnish surnames: Ahonen, Lehtola, Maki, Tapperi, Watilo.
They do. I think there are two main reasons. One is motivation. If your first language is one that is not spoken outside your own country then you need to be able to speak an international language. You'd be surprised for example how many specialist textbooks used in Finnish education at the higher level are English language ones because there isn't a viable market to produce them in Finnish. Secondly, they grow up listening to English language TV programmes and films in the original with subtitles so have been listening to English their whole lives.
My Grandmother on My Mother's side who was Finnish was definitely a Quiet somewhat Shy Lsdy. But once She got passed that She was a real People Person. Even though She died in the 90's People still talk about what a Lovely Warm Lady She was. She taught by example what it meant to be a Real Lady or Gentleman is. Basically Good To Everyone Also Simple Elegance. People tell Me I'm A Warm, Cuddly Lady as was My Mother. I once had a conversation about this topic with an Old Family Friend of German and Dutch Decent. Mentioned what a Lady My Mother and I are. When I mentioned My Grandmother came from Finland, She said "Now It Makes Sense!" I inherited Her Gift for Reading People generally My Instincts About People Are Right. I was a Shy Little Girl. But partly because of those Instincts, I'm more Outgoing than My Grandmother. I generally have a Dramatic Streak especially when I getting dressed up. It sounds like Modest Finnish People would fit in well in Australia. Over here if someone develops A Large Ego, We'll Put Them In Their Place. No matter who they are. Even Chris Hemsworth and Hugh Jackman are Modest, Approachable People even though they're famous. Unlike American Fans, generally We remember they're still People and Don't Mob Them. My only Phobia, The Fear Of Being Late sounds like it could come in handy in Finland. Sometimes I even have Mild Panic Attacks. Usually I'm ready to go in plenty of time, having planned ahead. Because I don't drive, usually other people make Me late. I consider it Good Manners to let people know if I'm going to be late or not going to be able to go somewhere. I'm careful about saying I'll do something, if I'm unsure I'll say Maybe. If I say "Yes!" to something you can take My word for it, if at all possible. I gave up trying to lie as a child.
0:48 Here in the Netherlands it's exactly the same and even more fast forward. No small-talk or other nonsens, just cut right to the chase. To us it's normal but most view the Dutch as blund and rude. I know some Fins here and they feel pretty much at home caus we share the same attitude.
We are finns. Humility and expressionless is our bliss, modesty and feeling of shame is our pride, Silent and quietly speaking is our politeness, being sulky, grumpy and self-underrating is our sympathy and honesty is our duty. You cannot know anything about real honesty if you don´t know some finns.
I only have known one Finnish woman and she surprised me with how outgoing she was, and had been rather wild in her early youth. I liked her very much, as she was honest and a hard worker. She and I got along very well.
The Nokia sub-topic is absolute funny 😂 I think, Finnish want to talk. But you must start first. They also doesn't afraid to voice their right, say if being duped by seller, in shop or just anything to stand with their principles - as long as discussion is genuinely educational and lead to somewhere. So sometimes you can hear, sometimes they just silent. I remember going to exhibition where you have to pay for admission fee, and this guy stopped a while and just not going out, though many already realized just few steps away it will be reaching the end of the tunnel. The logic is, it too pricey and just something not nice to practice around in touristic area. It might be the culture. Or selecting what good timing to talk, and if it won't improve anything better just stay silent and do your own business.
On to the next video of yours. Thank you. 😀 I forgot to say in my previous response that part of my MGPIS channel intro is from Finland, when I was there last. I'm glad I incorporated Finland into my YT introduction.
Oh this depends. I think there are many wonderful places to visit and see both in the summer as well as in the winter. However, the focus shifts quite a bit depending on the season. Lapland is the obvious choice in any season and there are a ton of things that you can do in the large number of resorts that we have there. On the other hand, Helsinki is just lovely in the summer and i really recommend that you see the Finnish archipelago using boats or ferries. Its absolutely lovely. Another great location (just of the top of my head) for the summer would be the city of Hanko (specifically in the summer). Its basically the Riviera of Finland and its a really popular summer vacation destination for Finnish people. Not recommended during the winter though - its all dead and nothing happens during that time 😏
@@RoadtoFinnish please am about coming to Finland to look for a job please can u help me get a house for me to stay for a month why looking for a job like one room . please reply my message
Your videos are great! They have a really good quality not only from the content. Editing and sound are also well done. I came to Finland one year ago and it would have been great to know your tips before! These ones will be helpful in future. :) Keep it up!
Hey Juliana and thanks so much for the lovely feedback - its much appreciated! Its great to hear that these (would have been) are useful for those moving in, but id also love to do more videos helping those who are already in the country. E.g. im currently planning a full playlist of videos about early career development, job hunting etc and it would be great to hear whether these would be helpful for you as well 👌
I'm not a Finn, but I can really relate to everything you say in the video 😂 The more I learn about Finland, the more I think it's the perfect country for me😊
This description of Finnish habits fits 1:1 to me, a German. I think Finns and Germans are generally quite alike, especially the facts about punctuality, finances and that we don't like small talk.
OTOH, Finns don't address anybody formally, maybe apart from the president. Titles, ranks and degrees are almost completely invisible, and only spoken out only when truly relevant. Maybe class background doesn't matter much in Germany, but in Finland it's basically nonexistent as something that would in itself define your position the society. Money doesn't define you either, apart from possibly cursing you. I know people ranging from "homeless" (which isn't quite what it is in some other countries) to billionaires. People from aristocrat families to the extreme opposite. Those who struggled to get through mandatory education to those who have multiple PhD degrees under their belt. CEOs of relatively large companies to chronically unemployed. MPs and parliament party leaders to odd counterculture loonies. All these attributes tend to be irrelevant to them and the fellow Finn in the bar table as long as people behave well and respectfully (which probably adheres largely with the German view), and there are no requirements that would be set differently on basis of these attributes. I'm wondering if this really gets fulfilled to the same extent in Germany as in Finland. I think even Sweden, which is praised for equality, has an upper class with "different rules and sensibilities apply to us" that is simply practically nonexistent in Finland...
Hello Oliver, Your are doing an awesome job in guiding and motivating people who are very ambitious about Finland, can you share some information about student accommodation in Tampere region?
Hi, Oliver has stated before that he has studied in the capital region and thus can't give advice on other cities. Look up "Tampere opiskelija asunnot" or "Tampere student apartments" and you should find some results. Hope this helped, good luck!
What Zit Tooya is somewhat correct here. I usually just refer people to Google when talking about other cities than those in the capital region. However, in this case id recommend that you check out TOAS. Its basically HOAS but for the Tampere region. The same concept, but a different organisation. Heres a direct link: toas.fi/en/
Yeah, Google is everyones friend in these cases 😅. Every time i get a question like this, i have to google the answer myself. Having said this, i guess its a bit easier for me to find the answer because i know a bit better what to look for.
i love your channel topic and ur uploads. my best friend from austria fell in love with a finnish woman and now he s there - so its great to learn from your channel about his "different life "
Enjoying your channel; it came up as a RUclips recommendation after I watched a few clips about living in Japan. I'm not planning on studying in Finland, but look forward to visiting and learning about country through your clips. Feels like I'd fit right in (as an atypically reserved American.) Keep up the good work.
I had the honour to collaborating with some Finnish Freelancers as an artist, and I had been impressed. Besides the quality of Production, the communication and politeness (also cleverness) are such marking elements of Collaboration, Never visited Finland, but I wish one day 🙏❤️
So I've lived my life in the US. Money: I find most people I know just don't discuss personal finances with others. Even within my family, talking about personal wealth (or the lack of it) is considered...It's none of your F&%@# business. Asking for help is a sign of weakness. (Only men don't stop to ask for directions, according to women...LOL). Punctuality, especially in business, is an absolute must! Like you said, don't waste my time, and regardless of when the meeting starts, it ends promptly as the designated time. A minute or two on either side is usually acceptable, as long as you explain your tardiness. Because the US is so large and diverse these things may or may not be important to you. I lived in Chicago, The City That Works! So, we did! Love your content. Bon Chance mon ami! Oh, on one of your other posts, I found the two doors really odd! I live in a building built in the 60's. We have solid core doors and only 26 neighbors....
I am American, and almost every point you make is considered common courtesy around the world. It’s just that a lot people in the US have become lax about observing common courtesies and teaching them in school, at work and at home. I think it’s fantastic that Finns are so disciplined, modest and empathetic. If only it were sunnier I would probably consider moving there!
It seems that Finns and Germans are quite similar, especially when it comes to the preconceived notions/prejudices, being distant, rather underselling themselves than overselling themselves, being punctual, sticking to a schedule ... 😊
My experience with Germans has been very different. When I worked for IBM in California, the Germans acted quite arrogant, demanded more than what others of similar jobs were given, and boasted quite a lot.
Thanks for the great Video,Oliver. Its really informative as usual. I'm planning to apply to UoH this December and I always watch your video to get insight about Finland.
Glad it was helpful Laila! Ill definitely keep my fingers crossed 🤞 for you. I would love to know how the application process goes as you get started with it later this year 👍. Meanwhile, please let me know if you have any questions about the process or anything related to studying and building ones career in Finland. Id love to make dedicated videos about such questions.
Wished my people would learn these from Finnish people a bit, especially with the not being overtly friendly thing. It's overwhelming how people where I am don't have any regards to one's personal space or privacy and EVERYONE from the store clerk to taxi drivers want to know EVERYTHING about you down to even your love life! -_- I gotta say tho, If I was a guest in Finland, I myself would preferrably refrain from initiating conversations to most Finnish people there for more or less the exact same reason you mentioned Finnish people don't initiate conversations. I'd be thinking that "Well I'm a guest here and maybe these people are just not happy with seeing me in their country so maybe I shouldn't bother them or force them to talk to me or even attract unneccessary attention to myself" or "I'm just some prancing all smiles relaxed tourist here with plenty of time to have fun and chill when these people live here and probably are very busy going through their chores and errands and busy days, so maybe I shouldn't get in their ways" and as someone from a dictatorship ravaged-in-the-name-of-nasty-religion country that's been doing abysmally for the past 45 years (Persia) while Finland is one of the most progressive and free and the best countries as we speak, I'd be thinking that the chances of me having to face even explicit racism from Finnish people would be pretty high (I almost never heard of Finnish people being racist tho, that'd just be one of my possible pessimistic worries generally speaking). So, if I was there I'd probably just try to go about my time keeping a low profile and trying not to bother anyone with any extra conversations and just do all the fun sightseeing stuff and learning and all that. Thanks for the vid.
Lol, won't agree at least with the last one. Always asking people here from uni about finances (even that i'm from Russia, where it's mostly considered really impolite for some reason, haha) and they're mostly super easy to talk about it. I was really glad about that :)
These things vary from age and culture. Fins are not the only people who don't do "small talk". My expectation is that younger people will not approach older people out of respect, at least the young, and others of perhaps different class, people who are respectful, something that appears to be declining in some areas. Self reliance and a willingness to help others may be found more in rural areas, in the USA for example. (experiances may vary) Punctuality can vary too, In a book published some time ago (1980s?) in the US titled "Rules of the Thumb" there was a rule for when to expect guests to arrive at a party. If it was to start at 7 expect the younger people to arrive at 8 or 9 when the party is going well. While people over 50 who are invited might show up at 6 to help you set up.
Even though I was born in America of 100% Finnish parents, (both sets of grandparents were immigrants here in the early 1900’s I think) I really identify with these things still!
What a great channel! For anyone who doesn't believe the Finnish strongly prefer punctuality, at 7:50 our Finnish host stops explaining THAT they do, and begins to explain WHY they do, and what ramifications your lateness may have on those whose time you didn't respect. I thought it was really funny, and I think the Finnish must be very pleasant to live among.
On the first topic you covered, I have an anecdote. I'm American, and I visited Helsinki in 2017 for WorldCon 75 (big sci-fi convention). I was there for about a week at the end of August. I stayed in an AirBnB a few miles away from the convention center and bused in each morning. One morning while waiting for the bus (silently! because no one at the bus station said a single word to anyone else), I saw two women across the street, both walking their dogs, in opposite directions. As they approached, the dogs went nuts trying to get at one another, barking, snarling, etc. In the US if this happened, either the owners would get into a yelling match about whose dog was at fault OR they'd apologize and commiserate about it before moving on. But neither of these two women said a single word. Each restrained their dog and both turned and went back in the direction they'd come from. That was just totally bizarre to me. :) Is that typical?
I didn't even know that could happen... if the dogs start barking at passing by stranger, do they also complain to the owner? I can't speak for everyone, but this is what I think: These little things aren't worth getting angry over. If you're having a good day, there's no point in ruining it over something like this. If already having a bad day, no point in making it worse. So... what I personally do if something minor like this happens to me? I ignored it and carry on. It's really not worth it to let it bother me.
I was told Finns won't initiate talks or even talk much, but today, just today, I took the initiative and asked my Finnish manager what's he up to, and he spoke very nicely about his family trips. Yes, we maintain good rapport with common interest so.
Welcome to the club i guess 😅. The last video that i did about a similar topic had a 70% viewership from Finland. I kinda understand this because i used to watch a lot of videos about Finland as well - being interested in foreign peoples' takes on this country. However, now that im doing these myself, it feels really weird that the majority of these "about Finland" videos are being watched by my fellow Finns.
I think this is a great way to summarise the whole point. However, that would not make a very good video 😅. Just kidding, i think you are right. Its not that we would be anti-social but rather a bit more reserved. So it takes a bit more to get through the shell but once you get through to us, most Finns are very warm and lovely. Would you agree?
@@RoadtoFinnish There's regional variation as well. People in Eastern Finland are in general more talkative than in Western Finland. And alcohol loosens people up, of course, but I think that's universal despite all the old cliches about Finnish drinking habits.
Oh sure i think you are totally correct. The one cool thing about the alcohol thing though - there are a lot of surveys from the past few years showing that the amount of alcohol consumed by students in Finland is decreasing rapidly. Thats kinda cool and i attribute a lot of it to a new type of a alcohol culture where people spend more money on craft beers, wine and whisky, and instead of just intending to get wasted, people enjoy the drinks more than before.
Finland sounds like a wonderful country, I think I would be very happy there. Oh to be young again and able to just up and move to a new country and a new life lol
I will watch some of your video. I am from Lismore North Coast NSW 20 minutes Byron Bay and 2 hour Gold Coast Queensland. I am civil engineer which I studied at University of Technology of Sydney, I completed my studies 1978.
I am the same way. I don't do late! A couple minutes is fine but anything after 10 minutes I consider rude. I am quite a reserved person so putting the social initiative in for me is not likely. I tend to be honest on my resume but under sell myself because of the whole lying thing and because I have been at college for 12 and a half years now (I am serious). I don't want employers to feel intimidated, think I will leave in a few months, or give the position a way to someone else.
Oh the last point really struck me... This is actually something that i really try to help people with so that they would feel more confident about themselves, and so that they could do better e.g. with job search. I think underselling oneself is a huge missed opportunity that can think people can learn away from. I understand this way too well because i used to be like this myself as well. However, ive over time learned to be more confident and to really understand the unique value that i can bring into a company. Youve been hangning out in the channel for quite a while and every time i become more and more confident that you are a born-again-Finnish person 😅
@@RoadtoFinnish That's nice of you to say Oliver but not Finnish Russian well... not full Russian I am mixed descant actually but am well aware of the tension between Finland and Russia. However, in Canada a lot of us embrace the values of our ancestry and Canadian values as a whole. Also, one thing my Professional Communication professor told me was to tailor the resume to the job you want so I am trying to do that instead. And I decided not to go to school this semester. I know, it's unlike me but I need to be in the social atmosphere of being on campus. I missed the deadline so, if the school lets me I will take a hybrid course half online half at home but I am just unmotivated right now. Under normal circumstances for me to be not motivated is very rare.
Oh i totally get your point about the social atmosphere! Its one of the big things that i miss now that ive graduated. Its so easy to not interact with people if you are not at the campus and its sometimes hard on the mind not having that many interactions (especially with last year and all). Also, your professor is 100% right. I would recommend you to always tailor your resume and especially your application/motivation letter. I would not write everything from scratch though. Rather, have a solid text that tells the most important things about you, and which you can then change slightly to tailor it to each employer. Its a lot of work but totally worth it 👍
@@RoadtoFinnish The thing is I am not fully an introvert or an extrovert. I am in-between person. Sometimes it's neat though because I can rely on my own hobbies and interests for fulfillment but I still need some social connection whereas other times I like, god why couldn't you make me one or the other? I have had that feeling strongly this year. After I finished my summer courses it hit me like a ton of bricks!
As a Mexican, we need to learn a lot from Finns about respecting other people's time, but at the same time I believe it has its root in the weather and pacing of life... something that would require a long conversation to explain it. :D I vacationed in Finland in 2019 and loved it. Thank you for sharing these videos.
The emphasis on punctuality (from your various informative videos) makes me wonder what people were thinking and feeling when this happened to me: We were going to an opera in Savonlinna, and had taken a public dinner cruise which would drop us off at the venue in Olavinlinna Castle. The boat was late in docking, and from memory the performance was held up for us. From memory there was some suggestion that the captain might have been unfamiliar with the waters, maybe because they weren’t local?
Ahhh my spirit-people lol.. I do believe financial transparency is important within the same workplace, where you’re uncertain if equal pay (for equal work and duration of employment) is being upheld. Although Finland is an extremely equitable country by reputation, you might not have the same issues as one might have in the US- especially as a woman.
As a kiwi, I'm watching this video and thinking it sounds like my dream... Even if I have to unlearn some of the habits I've picked up dealing with recruiters in this country.
This is very similar to the U.S. It's considered rude to ask people how much money they earn, the value of their properties or investments, etc. In some cultures, people are more open about it, but it is very rude in America or Canada.
My Great Grandparents immigrated to America from Finland. I have always wanted to visit Finland. I have my Great Grandmother's diary but it is in Finnish. Any advice on how I can get it translated?
Hey Kristen and thanks so much for sharing this! Im sure you could have someone translate it for you for a fair price. If you are interested, you could e.g. reach out to the The Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters (SKTL) which im sure has some kind of a newsletter for accredited translators. They might be able to find you someone interested in taking the job 🙂: www.sktl.fi/in-english/
Best of Finns: NO talks. Worst of Finns: NO talks. When it start, some very important was happened and it continue too long. Why is that? Finns was hunter-catchering, not long ago and silence is gold while hunting. To Finns, forest is safe place and no need owner permit to go forest for walking.
no i wouldnt say that now the current kids have grown up in an enviroment where this does not apply but they seem the same to me also yeah im finnish and have no idea why i wrote this in english
Glad you think so! Id also love to get any and all feedback, and any potential video ideas that you might have. I have plenty of videos that ive done specifically because someone has requested them before. So let me know if you have any ideas that youd like me to consider for future content 👍
I’m more looking to move to someplace with better social programs, a more relaxed climate. I really just want to work, do my hobbies, start a family and watch my kids grow.
I think the first fact also kinda applies to Germans too in some way. At least I am not always that much into Small Talk, up to the situation and Person I'm dealing with. XD The punctual is so german as well! I am always a bit earlier at the place than to late. I HATE waiting for someone to show up so much xD You finish people would hate my sister so much lol she's always late even tho we set a time to be together... xD To me it sounds like Finish and German People are pretty simular in many things. Or at least that's how it seems to me. We don't like talking about money as well. XD
If you bought something for a good bargain you can tell the price or ask about it. Even if price is secondary to us Finns, if we know someone would benefit from the same deal we will tell to that person. We just value more if something we buy is usefull, needed or is sentimental for us.If a 5000 euros couch is design and expensive we will tell it but also if it´s awful to sit that is gonna be highlighted, not the price. Same with cheaper couch. And being envy of someone who has it better than us as individual is not uncommon but comes from the fact of low selfesteem or modesty gone too far, not really how big a pay someone gets.
About my business yes all my customers must pay their invoices at due date and moneys must appear to my company back account at mean time i.e 10:30 O'clock sharp not before or after that time ;)
Oh Viswak, your request is going to be fulfilled faster than you think - i actually have a video about this topi currently on the table and i should have a video ready in a couple of weeks 👍. So please let me know if you have any particular questions about this topic and id love to include your question in the video!
So im not 100% sure if i got what you mean, but if you are asking whether the Pathway programme will give you access to other universities than those partnering with Edunation, the answer is no. The Pathway programme has a specific list of universities that you could get admitted to after passing all the Pathway courses. It does not hold any weight if you apply to other schools because its just those that are partnering with Edunation.
@@RoadtoFinnish ohh ok thanks , i was also wondering as i am applying for the year 2023(august), will my course be valid if i take it in 2022(february). And what would you suggest is the best time to take the course?Thanks in advance:)
Hmm this is a great question. Im not 100% sure so what i would recommend you to do is to contact Edunation directly about this. Their team will be able to give you an answer to this and you dont have to wonder whether they are correct or not 😅
6:24 I highly disagree with that part. My wife since the first date she arrives late, neither her friends know what is get on time 😅. alarms to wake up is minimum 15 sets every 5 min on two different devices.
...Huh. So outside of the whole straightforwardness thing, this really isn't much different from how japanese people behave; l guess that, wherever l'll go to, l'll have to be particularly punctual, huh? X~X; Also, l should note that what you're really describing finnish people as is *asocial*; asocial people are more along what you'd call introverts and vice-versa -- antisocial is... well, *something completely different.* Still, thank you for covering all these tips about Finland, especially for those of us who are already past the whole university/student circle.
Hey and thanks so much for participating in the discussion and for the feedback. You are absolutely right, asocial would have been a better term to use in this context. Didnt even cross my mind when planning the video so i do appreciate you bringing this up 👍. Yes indeed, the whole straightforwardness thing is something that can be culturally a bit weird for some and i think its just a thing that one has to get used to over time. Im sure that this is not a bit deal for many people but some do get a bit baffled about this once in a while. I do hope that this brings some value at least to some people thinking about building a career here 👍.
I have been to Helsinki and have been associated with several Finns while living in Beijing--two Mika's and there was also Perko, Anti, etc, typical Finnish names. Lots of Mika's! They were ALL shy and introverted. I was also told that the Finnish originated in Siberia... Such a fascinating story of long migration of your ancestors...
Ah yes I recall being shocked moving from London to LA and finding people asked about the price I paid for things. That was 50 years ago but there's still a gap in poilite noseyness between Europe and the colonies
Hi, oliver. Great content. Have been watching these forever. I have planned to apply for a finnish university. Specifically Aalto University. Could you help me with the motivational letter. I have written it, but wants someone who knows the university well to go through it and see if its something that the pannel would accept. Keep up the good work!
Hey natz and thanks so much for the comment. I would love to help you out but im actually not the right person to do this. The university application system is totally different for Finnish nationals and ive actually never had to write a university motivation letter. I do have some experience in the recruitment market and on writing compelling motivation letters for job search. However, its quite a bit of a different from university applications and i dont feel comfortable giving advice because i dont want to be the one responsible for you loosing a spot because of bad advice 😕. I hope you understand.
In the title pic for this video, you make an extraordinary face. So, Oliver, I was wondering whether you had a gallery of faces you make during overall parties.
funny how fins are so sensitive about personal finance while its so easy to get someones tax sheets and find out everything about their finances from there (if i understood it correctly) or not funny but... you get it
😅 i get it. its kinda ironic but then again, the day when peoples tax info are published is called the "envy day" (kateuspäivä in Finnish). About that, the amount of information that you are able to get about personal taxes is actually very limited. Its only a very small portion of ones tax information that you can get from the Tax Admin. To summarise, only the income and municipal taxes are public but nothing else is. So considering that those taxes only constitute a small portion of peoples' potential tax burden, it doesnt really tell you that much. You can read more about these rules on the Tax Admins website: www.vero.fi/en/About-us/finnish-tax-administration/data-security-and-information-access/public-information-on-taxes/public-information-on-individual-income-taxes/
Oh you will not have any issues with English in Finland 👍. There are always people who are not that proficient but if you study in any of the major cities, you are going to be more than fine.
@@RoadtoFinnish tho its best to not try too much asking from childs and elders becouse childs are at start yet and elders maybe never learned english becouse when they were childs,english was rare and mostly only for university but in these days english is being teached early so in cities you can survive life with english
WATCH NEXT: Things you MUST KNOW about Finland before moving here: ruclips.net/video/dH5RNUhvhvg/видео.html
Finkand
5 WEIRD Things You MUST KNOW About Finnish People! 1727pm 5.8.23 ummmmmmmmmm... due to the films of Aki Olavi Kaurismäki (or whatever the director's a name is) it has been decided that the finns are introverted and awkward and socially distant? who is speaking on your behalf????
As a Finn myself I would add one thing: we do not ask for help easily but we are grateful for ever if we get it.
This is a great addition! I totally agree with this. Its actually quite funny because some Finns (me included) have a tendency to try and solve everything on their own even if they would need help. And even if someone offers me help, i might politely decline because i dont want to bother them - even while i very much appreciate the offer. Then finally, when i accept the help, im more than grateful for their tenacity and insistence on helping out.
Very rtue
I don’t agree not asking for help. When we help others we get it back in multiples. Even being Finnish.
Good to know but this is kinda confusing. So as a nonFinnish myself if I came across a Finnish person that I thought they might need help with something, how can I tell if them saying "no thanks" is legit them meaning "no thanks, go away, I don't want anyone's/your help and leave me alone" or if they meant "no thanks cause I think that might be a bother to you but it'd be great if you helped me if possible"? For example, in my country there exists something confusing called "tarof" which is basically being over the top maddeningly polite and considerate and hospitable to others and all that and it's a pain to tell the difference between that and serious decline of help. Sounds like Finnish people too have their regiment of being overly polite and indirect too but in the Finnish example how can I tell if my insisting would make the person happy and relieved of their trouble (and with me going on and help them) or if my insistence would make them angry or upset because they percieved my insistence as me being disrespectful of their choice and personal space and them seeing me as offensive/rude?
@@tobe3940 Best would be no need to use any words at all. My car turned off at the traffic lights and didn’t start, the battery was empty. I tried to push it out of the intersection, but it was too heavy. Three men came from a nearby park and, without saying anything, pushed my car to the side of the street. They had left before I could even give thanks.
Another case: I was riding my motorcycle and the clutch release lever had come off while driving, the gear was left on in the traffic lights and the engine stopped. The oncoming car stopped and the driver came to ask if I needed help. Yes, a screw or something should be installed on the clutch lever. The man had no tools or spare parts, of course, but with my tools we removed a screw on the passenger seat of his car and it fit my Harley well, and we were both able to continue our journey.
Honesty, punctuality and consideration for others - Finnish culture sounds pretty good to me.
Finland regularly wins top rank in research surveys as the least corrupt country in the world. So yes, a nation of honest, modest and considerate people. The catch? The cold weather!
People here are assholes, just saying
I've travelled through many countries and Finland is one of my favourites. The people are so genuine, nice and non-aggressive. I do like the general sence of personal space and not bothering people unnecessarily, but they are so kind, polite and helpfull when you do bother them. I really don't understand the negative stereotype and really felt at home there. So much so that I consider moving there if I can.
Hey Frederik and thanks so much for sharing this! Its very nice to hear that you enjoyed your time in Finland. As with any country, Finland has its ups and downs and there are always people who are looking for something else. However, i really feel the same way as you and while id love to live outside of Finland at least for a few years to get the experience - im pretty sure i would always return back here eventually.
@Limon Cello I realise there's a difference between being a tourist and living somewhere. I have some relatives that live there and they can be rather critical about Finnish culture at times, so I went in with low expectations.
I just saw/felt certain traits and mannerisms that I rarely see in people, but recognise in myself.
I am often seen as odd and introverted back home and in most other places I have travelled and lived and are often made to feel weird, but did not feel that way in Finland.
@@RoadtoFinnish
_"...id love to live outside of Finland at least for a few years to get the experience."_
So come to Canada for six months! We're a huge country with really diverse geography and ethnicities across the country. Be prepared to fly because our highways are miles and miles of miles and miles, especially crossing the prairie provinces. Imagine driving for a whole day and seeing nothing but golden wheat from the car to the horizon. Yes, really.
Oh yes, and we have the world's biggest cartoon show going on just south of our border.
Check us out, you'll love it.
As a finn myself I find these vids both greatly informative as well as amusing! Kiitos, Tack! ✌️🇫🇮 Got yourself a new sub.
Thanks Anna, that is much appreciated!
"Early is on time, on time is late and late is unacceptable" - this is the motto I live by! Finns are amazing people. Your culture is parallel with my own beliefs. Thanks for sharing!
I believe, there's also a substantial difference between the Helsinki folk and the rest of Finland, in terms of small talk and introversion. I think, I can easily spot someone who grew up outside of Helsinki and came here as an adult.
Indeed, and there are differences between different regions outside Helsinki on how talkative people are (stereotypically). For example, people from North Karelians or Savonians tend to be more talkative compared to Ostrobothnians or Kainuu folk.
😅 having a grandfather from Karelia, we have some of that in our family. I think you guys are definitely right, this, and many other personal aspects are impacted quite a bit by where you are originally from. Great point 👍
Very good point. I definitely agree on this one 👍
This was my experience as well. I spent time in Pirkanmaa and found people generally very friendly and happy to have a conversation.
😅 classic Pirkanmaa
Thanks again for all the tips, I've arrived in Finland 20 days ago and have found some rather unique people that I've begun calling good friends. But that's mostly because my chosen bachelor is kind of peculiar so the people here aren't exactly sticking with the stereotypes.
Thats so nice to hear! Some of the more unusual majors and fields also have very good communities around them because there arent that many people studying them in total.
True that
As an American I feel feel my own personal values and standards connect well with the Finnish people. I value the standards that you set.
Biologically I am 1/4 Finnish. But after watching this, I'd say culturally I'm close to 100%! I embody so much of what was presented here, it's uncanny! I have embraced my Finnish grandfather's culture for sure!
All of this is super sensible, more natural and preferable in my opinion. I don't like the way it is in the USA, even though I was born and raised in the US. Everything you discussed makes far more sense to me.
When I was younger and applying for work, I could not understand at all how people expected you to "sell" yourself. People advised me to change my behavior to meet the expectation norms. After watching this video, it's almost as if I had been born and raised in Finnish culture and needed coaching to comprehend the social norms of the country where I actually am from.
I have been blown away by the unexpected and baffling dishonesty from people, including misrepresentation of many kinds. Also the disrespect of not informing others of impending failure to meet a deadline, schedule or other sort of agreement.
Moreover, I abhor the intrusive cultural norm that is so common in the USA which causes people to presume that a lot of personal things (including finances), are suitable to inquire about or discuss, even with people you only just met.
There is one exception to the "money rule" - collectors’ social groups and similar interests. If you and a Finn you know "on good terms" are both vintage car fans, and he buys a vintage corvette, asking how much it was is within the "facts about old cars" category, not necessarily about how rich he is.
Interesting to hear the bit about introversion, mainly because the way I got to know about the Finnish introvert stereotypes was through other Finns who usually love to joke about Finns being extremely introverted.
What an organized mind you have! Everything is so well explained. And your level of English is excellent! Bravo!
I love Finnish people. Me and my family since I was born we run our lives here in the US the same way. My late mother and father advocated that when we had an appointment that we arrive early and when we would be in public to respect other people's comfort areas. I totally agree with the Finnish notion not to ask about another person's income, it's nobody's business.
I love this about the initiative. I'm a long time English fan of Finland and have always found Finnish people to be friendly, warm and with a great sense of humour. I get a bit sick of the endless stream of videos (usually made by Finns) about how you must never speak to anybody you don't know in public! You've hit the nail on the head! Finns are shy to take the initiative and to talk to strangers but in fact when somebody else breaks the ice for them and makes the first move they react really positively and are very friendly.
Exactly this.
Hi Oliver!
My daughter was accepted in University of Helsinki,Faculty of Science.Hopefully,she'll be there this coming Spring,can you please make a video featuring Kumpula Campus?Thanks😍
Oh wow Jyla, that is wonderful to hear! Please tell her congratulations from me 🥂. I would love to make a video about the Kumpula campus. You guys just have to start pestering the university communications team so that they'd give me a tour 😅. The universities in Finland are big organisations and its sometimes quite difficult to get to the right person, and to convince why it would be worth wasting some time to show me (and my camera) around 😏.
Good video for reflecting on why I get annoyed with behaviors in Canada. I left Helsinki at the age of 9 (back in 1958) and being reclusive natured I am probably twice as introverted as the typical Finn. What raises my critical ire in this country is the lack of reliability, unkept promises, forgotten commitments. I tend to be very friendly with the people I've gotten to know but I am quick to dismiss people who fail my expectations. Isolated I have tended to remain extremely Finnish in my attitudes. Thanks for this video. Very revealing.
When I worked for the EU, a nice, but silent or shy person was described: as talkative as a Finn.
Videoiden laatu paranee joka kerta, hienoa että katsojiakin on. Kiitos kun näet vaivaa näiden eteen, jopa suomalaisten on vaikea löytää netistä vastauksia moniin asioihin. Odotan jo seuraavaa videota! :)
Kiitos, olipa mukavasti sanottu. Arvostan 👍. Vaikka sisältö on suunnattu pääosin ulkomaalaisille opiskelijoille, olisi silti kiva kuulla myös mikäli sulla tai vaikkapa sun tutuilla on jotain kysymyksiä opintoihin tai alkuvaiheen urakehitykseen liittyen. Mieluusti otan nekin huomioon sillä monet suomalaiset opiskelijat pohtivat ihan samoja asioita kuin ulkkarit. Monesti suomalaiset opiskelijat osaavat jopa ilmaista nämä huolet tai kysymykset paremmin kuin ulkomaalaiset - heillä kun ei ole kokemusta monista asioista jotka tulisi ottaa huomioon näin uran alkuvaiheessa.
It was kind of funny to trace EACH of these traits deep inside me. And though as I live in St. Petersburg I'm not a man of Finnish culture, it's fascinating to see how my distant Finnish ancestry is so deeply ingrained in me (my dad is "inkerinsuomalainen" by birth, and I have a Finnish surname, LOL). Much love to ur country, guys
@Gary Allen no way. There are almost no Karelians in Karelia :( Stalin's repressions fucked the whole history of this region up
Time to dust off a hoary old joke about Finns.
- How can you tell the difference between a Finnish introvert and a Finnish extrovert?
- When he's talking to you a Finnish introvert looks at his feet. A Finnish extrovert looks at yours.
Thanks for the information. Even though I don't know anyone from Finland, you provided a very clear explanation about the Finnish people. 😄
My grandmother was Finnish. Her parents were from Laihia and Karstula. She was born and raised in Calumet, Michigan, USA. Some of my known Finnish surnames: Ahonen, Lehtola, Maki, Tapperi, Watilo.
Your coat reminds me of Jonas from the Netflix series: 'Dark'. 😄
By the way great information 👍
😅 i have to admit that i have not seen the show but perhaps i got to take a look now
@@RoadtoFinnish you should watch it:)
What I learned about Finns from social media online is the Finns I’ve encountered have a superb command of English.
They do. I think there are two main reasons. One is motivation. If your first language is one that is not spoken outside your own country then you need to be able to speak an international language. You'd be surprised for example how many specialist textbooks used in Finnish education at the higher level are English language ones because there isn't a viable market to produce them in Finnish. Secondly, they grow up listening to English language TV programmes and films in the original with subtitles so have been listening to English their whole lives.
My Grandmother on My Mother's side who was Finnish was definitely a Quiet somewhat Shy Lsdy. But once She got passed that She was a real People Person. Even though She died in the 90's People still talk about what a Lovely Warm Lady She was. She taught by example what it meant to be a Real Lady or Gentleman is. Basically Good To Everyone Also Simple Elegance. People tell Me I'm A Warm, Cuddly Lady as was My Mother. I once had a conversation about this topic with an Old Family Friend of German and Dutch Decent. Mentioned what a Lady My Mother and I are. When I mentioned My Grandmother came from Finland, She said "Now It Makes Sense!" I inherited Her Gift for Reading People generally My Instincts About People Are Right. I was a Shy Little Girl. But partly because of those Instincts, I'm more Outgoing than My Grandmother. I generally have a Dramatic Streak especially when I getting dressed up. It sounds like Modest Finnish People would fit in well in Australia. Over here if someone develops A Large Ego, We'll Put Them In Their Place. No matter who they are. Even Chris Hemsworth and Hugh Jackman are Modest, Approachable People even though they're famous. Unlike American Fans, generally We remember they're still People and Don't Mob Them. My only Phobia, The Fear Of Being Late sounds like it could come in handy in Finland. Sometimes I even have Mild Panic Attacks. Usually I'm ready to go in plenty of time, having planned ahead. Because I don't drive, usually other people make Me late. I consider it Good Manners to let people know if I'm going to be late or not going to be able to go somewhere. I'm careful about saying I'll do something, if I'm unsure I'll say Maybe. If I say "Yes!" to something you can take My word for it, if at all possible. I gave up trying to lie as a child.
0:48 Here in the Netherlands it's exactly the same and even more fast forward. No small-talk or other nonsens, just cut right to the chase. To us it's normal but most view the Dutch as blund and rude. I know some Fins here and they feel pretty much at home caus we share the same attitude.
My American son moved there 5 years ago and I can say that your advice is spot on!
We are finns. Humility and expressionless is our bliss, modesty and feeling of shame is our pride, Silent and quietly speaking is our politeness, being sulky, grumpy and self-underrating is our sympathy and honesty is our duty. You cannot know anything about real honesty if you don´t know some finns.
I only have known one Finnish woman and she surprised me with how outgoing she was, and had been rather wild in her early youth. I liked her very much, as she was honest and a hard worker. She and I got along very well.
Can I say I felt this in my bones?? My great grandfather was Finnish my grandmother 1/2. And now I know where we get it from. Lol.
Confirmed by a Finn. Every word is true. Good video!
The Nokia sub-topic is absolute funny 😂 I think, Finnish want to talk. But you must start first. They also doesn't afraid to voice their right, say if being duped by seller, in shop or just anything to stand with their principles - as long as discussion is genuinely educational and lead to somewhere. So sometimes you can hear, sometimes they just silent. I remember going to exhibition where you have to pay for admission fee, and this guy stopped a while and just not going out, though many already realized just few steps away it will be reaching the end of the tunnel. The logic is, it too pricey and just something not nice to practice around in touristic area. It might be the culture. Or selecting what good timing to talk, and if it won't improve anything better just stay silent and do your own business.
You did this on my birthday! It's a sign!
On to the next video of yours. Thank you. 😀 I forgot to say in my previous response that part of my MGPIS channel intro is from Finland, when I was there last. I'm glad I incorporated Finland into my YT introduction.
This video was sooo useful!!! Thanks!!! I really want to visit Finland one day as a tourist!!! It's 1 of my top destinations ever!!!
Thats really cool to hear! My pleasure 👌. Do you already have a list of specific places in Finland that youd like to visit?
@@RoadtoFinnish Not yet but I will!!! What kind of places would you recommend me?🤔 I do not know many things about Finland so i'm open in ideas.
Oh this depends. I think there are many wonderful places to visit and see both in the summer as well as in the winter. However, the focus shifts quite a bit depending on the season. Lapland is the obvious choice in any season and there are a ton of things that you can do in the large number of resorts that we have there. On the other hand, Helsinki is just lovely in the summer and i really recommend that you see the Finnish archipelago using boats or ferries. Its absolutely lovely. Another great location (just of the top of my head) for the summer would be the city of Hanko (specifically in the summer). Its basically the Riviera of Finland and its a really popular summer vacation destination for Finnish people. Not recommended during the winter though - its all dead and nothing happens during that time 😏
@@RoadtoFinnish Thanks a lot for your recommendations and your time to answer, I will take them into account!!! I really appreciate it!!!😊😊😊
@@RoadtoFinnish please am about coming to Finland to look for a job please can u help me get a house for me to stay for a month why looking for a job like one room . please reply my message
Your videos are great! They have a really good quality not only from the content. Editing and sound are also well done. I came to Finland one year ago and it would have been great to know your tips before! These ones will be helpful in future. :) Keep it up!
Hey Juliana and thanks so much for the lovely feedback - its much appreciated! Its great to hear that these (would have been) are useful for those moving in, but id also love to do more videos helping those who are already in the country. E.g. im currently planning a full playlist of videos about early career development, job hunting etc and it would be great to hear whether these would be helpful for you as well 👌
I'm not a Finn, but I can really relate to everything you say in the video 😂 The more I learn about Finland, the more I think it's the perfect country for me😊
This description of Finnish habits fits 1:1 to me, a German. I think Finns and Germans are generally quite alike, especially the facts about punctuality, finances and that we don't like small talk.
As a German I can say, that you are 100% right.
OTOH, Finns don't address anybody formally, maybe apart from the president. Titles, ranks and degrees are almost completely invisible, and only spoken out only when truly relevant. Maybe class background doesn't matter much in Germany, but in Finland it's basically nonexistent as something that would in itself define your position the society. Money doesn't define you either, apart from possibly cursing you.
I know people ranging from "homeless" (which isn't quite what it is in some other countries) to billionaires. People from aristocrat families to the extreme opposite. Those who struggled to get through mandatory education to those who have multiple PhD degrees under their belt. CEOs of relatively large companies to chronically unemployed. MPs and parliament party leaders to odd counterculture loonies. All these attributes tend to be irrelevant to them and the fellow Finn in the bar table as long as people behave well and respectfully (which probably adheres largely with the German view), and there are no requirements that would be set differently on basis of these attributes. I'm wondering if this really gets fulfilled to the same extent in Germany as in Finland. I think even Sweden, which is praised for equality, has an upper class with "different rules and sensibilities apply to us" that is simply practically nonexistent in Finland...
And both are extremely racist and xenophobic lol, another thing they share In common
Hello Oliver, Your are doing an awesome job in guiding and motivating people who are very ambitious about Finland, can you share some information about student accommodation in Tampere region?
Hi, Oliver has stated before that he has studied in the capital region and thus can't give advice on other cities. Look up "Tampere opiskelija asunnot" or "Tampere student apartments" and you should find some results. Hope this helped, good luck!
What Zit Tooya is somewhat correct here. I usually just refer people to Google when talking about other cities than those in the capital region. However, in this case id recommend that you check out TOAS. Its basically HOAS but for the Tampere region. The same concept, but a different organisation. Heres a direct link: toas.fi/en/
Yeah, Google is everyones friend in these cases 😅. Every time i get a question like this, i have to google the answer myself. Having said this, i guess its a bit easier for me to find the answer because i know a bit better what to look for.
i love your channel topic and ur uploads. my best friend from austria fell in love with a finnish woman and now he s there - so its great to learn from your channel about his "different life "
Thank you brother ❤️🤘
I hope to do my high education in finland ,thats video very useful me
You are most welcome! Do let me know if you have any questions about studying in finland and id be happy to give you some pointers.
As an American (more specifically Texas), I found this both very interesting and fascinating, from a purely complimentary point :) Thank you :)
Enjoying your channel; it came up as a RUclips recommendation after I watched a few clips about living in Japan. I'm not planning on studying in Finland, but look forward to visiting and learning about country through your clips. Feels like I'd fit right in (as an atypically reserved American.) Keep up the good work.
I would do SO WELL in Finland! People who are late makes me crazy and I agree, it's disrespectful of other people's time.
I had the honour to collaborating with some Finnish Freelancers as an artist, and I had been impressed. Besides the quality of Production, the communication and politeness (also cleverness) are such marking elements of Collaboration,
Never visited Finland, but I wish one day 🙏❤️
So I've lived my life in the US. Money: I find most people I know just don't discuss personal finances with others. Even within my family, talking about personal wealth (or the lack of it) is considered...It's none of your F&%@# business. Asking for help is a sign of weakness. (Only men don't stop to ask for directions, according to women...LOL). Punctuality, especially in business, is an absolute must! Like you said, don't waste my time, and regardless of when the meeting starts, it ends promptly as the designated time. A minute or two on either side is usually acceptable, as long as you explain your tardiness. Because the US is so large and diverse these things may or may not be important to you. I lived in Chicago, The City That Works! So, we did! Love your content. Bon Chance mon ami! Oh, on one of your other posts, I found the two doors really odd! I live in a building built in the 60's. We have solid core doors and only 26 neighbors....
I am American, and almost every point you make is considered common courtesy around the world. It’s just that a lot people in the US have become lax about observing common courtesies and teaching them in school, at work and at home. I think it’s fantastic that Finns are so disciplined, modest and empathetic. If only it were sunnier I would probably consider moving there!
It seems that Finns and Germans are quite similar, especially when it comes to the preconceived notions/prejudices, being distant, rather underselling themselves than overselling themselves, being punctual, sticking to a schedule ... 😊
My experience with Germans has been very different. When I worked for IBM in California, the Germans acted quite arrogant, demanded more than what others of similar jobs were given, and boasted quite a lot.
@@SherryEllesson Totally agree with you!!!! germans have nothing to do with Finns.
@@SherryEllesson Thank you for sharing your experience. I won't take it personally.
@@andrean8313 Thank you for sharing your experience.
Thanks for the great Video,Oliver. Its really informative as usual. I'm planning to apply to UoH this December and I always watch your video to get insight about Finland.
Glad it was helpful Laila! Ill definitely keep my fingers crossed 🤞 for you. I would love to know how the application process goes as you get started with it later this year 👍.
Meanwhile, please let me know if you have any questions about the process or anything related to studying and building ones career in Finland. Id love to make dedicated videos about such questions.
Wished my people would learn these from Finnish people a bit, especially with the not being overtly friendly thing. It's overwhelming how people where I am don't have any regards to one's personal space or privacy and EVERYONE from the store clerk to taxi drivers want to know EVERYTHING about you down to even your love life! -_- I gotta say tho, If I was a guest in Finland, I myself would preferrably refrain from initiating conversations to most Finnish people there for more or less the exact same reason you mentioned Finnish people don't initiate conversations. I'd be thinking that "Well I'm a guest here and maybe these people are just not happy with seeing me in their country so maybe I shouldn't bother them or force them to talk to me or even attract unneccessary attention to myself" or "I'm just some prancing all smiles relaxed tourist here with plenty of time to have fun and chill when these people live here and probably are very busy going through their chores and errands and busy days, so maybe I shouldn't get in their ways" and as someone from a dictatorship ravaged-in-the-name-of-nasty-religion country that's been doing abysmally for the past 45 years (Persia) while Finland is one of the most progressive and free and the best countries as we speak, I'd be thinking that the chances of me having to face even explicit racism from Finnish people would be pretty high (I almost never heard of Finnish people being racist tho, that'd just be one of my possible pessimistic worries generally speaking). So, if I was there I'd probably just try to go about my time keeping a low profile and trying not to bother anyone with any extra conversations and just do all the fun sightseeing stuff and learning and all that. Thanks for the vid.
Really cool, from my side i don't see them weird at all (these tips) 👌
👍 thats cool to hear Sérine! Anything that you would add, or was there something that made you wonder about Finns?
Lol, won't agree at least with the last one.
Always asking people here from uni about finances (even that i'm from Russia, where it's mostly considered really impolite for some reason, haha) and they're mostly super easy to talk about it. I was really glad about that :)
These things vary from age and culture. Fins are not the only people who don't do "small talk".
My expectation is that younger people will not approach older people out of respect, at least the young, and others of perhaps different class, people who are respectful, something that appears to be declining in some areas.
Self reliance and a willingness to help others may be found more in rural areas, in the USA for example. (experiances may vary)
Punctuality can vary too, In a book published some time ago (1980s?) in the US titled "Rules of the Thumb" there was a rule for when to expect guests to arrive at a party. If it was to start at 7 expect the younger people to arrive at 8 or 9 when the party is going well. While people over 50 who are invited might show up at 6 to help you set up.
Thank you for the excellent and informative videos. You have the perfect society with a set of good values
Even though I was born in America of 100% Finnish parents, (both sets of grandparents were immigrants here in the early 1900’s I think) I really identify with these things still!
What a great channel! For anyone who doesn't believe the Finnish strongly prefer punctuality, at 7:50 our Finnish host stops explaining THAT they do, and begins to explain WHY they do, and what ramifications your lateness may have on those whose time you didn't respect. I thought it was really funny, and I think the Finnish must be very pleasant to live among.
This makes me wonder how well Finnish people know each other before marrying each other (or even after having been married for awhile).
On the first topic you covered, I have an anecdote. I'm American, and I visited Helsinki in 2017 for WorldCon 75 (big sci-fi convention). I was there for about a week at the end of August. I stayed in an AirBnB a few miles away from the convention center and bused in each morning. One morning while waiting for the bus (silently! because no one at the bus station said a single word to anyone else), I saw two women across the street, both walking their dogs, in opposite directions. As they approached, the dogs went nuts trying to get at one another, barking, snarling, etc. In the US if this happened, either the owners would get into a yelling match about whose dog was at fault OR they'd apologize and commiserate about it before moving on. But neither of these two women said a single word. Each restrained their dog and both turned and went back in the direction they'd come from.
That was just totally bizarre to me. :)
Is that typical?
Yea quite typical
I didn't even know that could happen... if the dogs start barking at passing by stranger, do they also complain to the owner? I can't speak for everyone, but this is what I think: These little things aren't worth getting angry over. If you're having a good day, there's no point in ruining it over something like this. If already having a bad day, no point in making it worse. So... what I personally do if something minor like this happens to me? I ignored it and carry on. It's really not worth it to let it bother me.
I was told Finns won't initiate talks or even talk much, but today, just today, I took the initiative and asked my Finnish manager what's he up to, and he spoke very nicely about his family trips. Yes, we maintain good rapport with common interest so.
Very much enjoy these videos. You speak excellent English, btw.
Thank you very much Ruth, that is much appreciated! Im glad if the videos bring you some value or new information 👍
I'm a Finn and don't know why I'm watching this
You're bored.
You want to see if he is right.
😅 you're proud of your country 😌
Welcome to the club i guess 😅. The last video that i did about a similar topic had a 70% viewership from Finland. I kinda understand this because i used to watch a lot of videos about Finland as well - being interested in foreign peoples' takes on this country. However, now that im doing these myself, it feels really weird that the majority of these "about Finland" videos are being watched by my fellow Finns.
Lul same
Germany, Finland and Sweden are my favorite countries in northern Europe!🇵🇹👍🏻
Germany is not northern europe!
I do like that there is a country were punctuality is not just respected but appreciated.
Greetings from Italy
I'm from Philippines and I have Finnish friend😁 She's friendly but so introvert,I haven't met her yet,Hoping in the future.
About the 2nd point, I think the word "reserved" would describe us the best
I think this is a great way to summarise the whole point. However, that would not make a very good video 😅. Just kidding, i think you are right. Its not that we would be anti-social but rather a bit more reserved. So it takes a bit more to get through the shell but once you get through to us, most Finns are very warm and lovely. Would you agree?
@@RoadtoFinnish There's regional variation as well. People in Eastern Finland are in general more talkative than in Western Finland. And alcohol loosens people up, of course, but I think that's universal despite all the old cliches about Finnish drinking habits.
Oh sure i think you are totally correct. The one cool thing about the alcohol thing though - there are a lot of surveys from the past few years showing that the amount of alcohol consumed by students in Finland is decreasing rapidly. Thats kinda cool and i attribute a lot of it to a new type of a alcohol culture where people spend more money on craft beers, wine and whisky, and instead of just intending to get wasted, people enjoy the drinks more than before.
Finland sounds like a wonderful country, I think I would be very happy there. Oh to be young again and able to just up and move to a new country and a new life lol
I will watch some of your video. I am from Lismore North Coast NSW 20 minutes Byron Bay and 2 hour Gold Coast Queensland. I am civil engineer which I studied at University of Technology of Sydney, I completed my studies 1978.
I am the same way. I don't do late! A couple minutes is fine but anything after 10 minutes I consider rude. I am quite a reserved person so putting the social initiative in for me is not likely. I tend to be honest on my resume but under sell myself because of the whole lying thing and because I have been at college for 12 and a half years now (I am serious). I don't want employers to feel intimidated, think I will leave in a few months, or give the position a way to someone else.
Oh the last point really struck me... This is actually something that i really try to help people with so that they would feel more confident about themselves, and so that they could do better e.g. with job search. I think underselling oneself is a huge missed opportunity that can think people can learn away from. I understand this way too well because i used to be like this myself as well. However, ive over time learned to be more confident and to really understand the unique value that i can bring into a company.
Youve been hangning out in the channel for quite a while and every time i become more and more confident that you are a born-again-Finnish person 😅
@@RoadtoFinnish That's nice of you to say Oliver but not Finnish Russian well... not full Russian I am mixed descant actually but am well aware of the tension between Finland and Russia. However, in Canada a lot of us embrace the values of our ancestry and Canadian values as a whole. Also, one thing my Professional Communication professor told me was to tailor the resume to the job you want so I am trying to do that instead. And I decided not to go to school this semester. I know, it's unlike me but I need to be in the social atmosphere of being on campus. I missed the deadline so, if the school lets me I will take a hybrid course half online half at home but I am just unmotivated right now. Under normal circumstances for me to be not motivated is very rare.
Oh i totally get your point about the social atmosphere! Its one of the big things that i miss now that ive graduated. Its so easy to not interact with people if you are not at the campus and its sometimes hard on the mind not having that many interactions (especially with last year and all).
Also, your professor is 100% right. I would recommend you to always tailor your resume and especially your application/motivation letter. I would not write everything from scratch though. Rather, have a solid text that tells the most important things about you, and which you can then change slightly to tailor it to each employer. Its a lot of work but totally worth it 👍
@@RoadtoFinnish The thing is I am not fully an introvert or an extrovert. I am in-between person. Sometimes it's neat though because I can rely on my own hobbies and interests for fulfillment but I still need some social connection whereas other times I like, god why couldn't you make me one or the other? I have had that feeling strongly this year. After I finished my summer courses it hit me like a ton of bricks!
@@MDobri-sy1ce it's called Ambviert! :) And it's typical for ambiverts to be and feel torned between the two.
Some things are similar to Dutch people, e.g. be on time, stick to your promises and not overselling themselves.
As a Mexican, we need to learn a lot from Finns about respecting other people's time, but at the same time I believe it has its root in the weather and pacing of life... something that would require a long conversation to explain it. :D I vacationed in Finland in 2019 and loved it. Thank you for sharing these videos.
The emphasis on punctuality (from your various informative videos) makes me wonder what people were thinking and feeling when this happened to me: We were going to an opera in Savonlinna, and had taken a public dinner cruise which would drop us off at the venue in Olavinlinna Castle. The boat was late in docking, and from memory the performance was held up for us. From memory there was some suggestion that the captain might have been unfamiliar with the waters, maybe because they weren’t local?
I think that your way of life is great. You should visit the Island of Ikaria in Ellas (Greece)
Long life is enjoyed there.
Ahhh my spirit-people lol.. I do believe financial transparency is important within the same workplace, where you’re uncertain if equal pay (for equal work and duration of employment) is being upheld. Although Finland is an extremely equitable country by reputation, you might not have the same issues as one might have in the US- especially as a woman.
As a kiwi, I'm watching this video and thinking it sounds like my dream... Even if I have to unlearn some of the habits I've picked up dealing with recruiters in this country.
This is very similar to the U.S. It's considered rude to ask people how much money they earn, the value of their properties or investments, etc. In some cultures, people are more open about it, but it is very rude in America or Canada.
i liked all ur videos related to finland. Hoping to come for university studies.
What you talked about same in Netherlands.
Especially the time thing.
My Great Grandparents immigrated to America from Finland. I have always wanted to visit Finland. I have my Great Grandmother's diary but it is in Finnish. Any advice on how I can get it translated?
Hey Kristen and thanks so much for sharing this! Im sure you could have someone translate it for you for a fair price. If you are interested, you could e.g. reach out to the The Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters (SKTL) which im sure has some kind of a newsletter for accredited translators. They might be able to find you someone interested in taking the job 🙂: www.sktl.fi/in-english/
Contact me? 🥰
Ive been laughing about this thumbnail for 5 minutes 😂😂😂👋🏻 ure just awesome
Best of Finns: NO talks. Worst of Finns: NO talks. When it start, some very important was happened and it continue too long. Why is that? Finns was hunter-catchering, not long ago and silence is gold while hunting. To Finns, forest is safe place and no need owner permit to go forest for walking.
no i wouldnt say that now the current kids have grown up in an enviroment where this does not apply but they seem the same to me also yeah im finnish and have no idea why i wrote this in english
So its both good and bad that we dont talk that much?
your videos are very helpfull
Glad you think so! Id also love to get any and all feedback, and any potential video ideas that you might have. I have plenty of videos that ive done specifically because someone has requested them before. So let me know if you have any ideas that youd like me to consider for future content 👍
I’m more looking to move to someplace with better social programs, a more relaxed climate. I really just want to work, do my hobbies, start a family and watch my kids grow.
I think the first fact also kinda applies to Germans too in some way. At least I am not always that much into Small Talk, up to the situation and Person I'm dealing with. XD
The punctual is so german as well! I am always a bit earlier at the place than to late. I HATE waiting for someone to show up so much xD You finish people would hate my sister so much lol she's always late even tho we set a time to be together... xD
To me it sounds like Finish and German People are pretty simular in many things. Or at least that's how it seems to me. We don't like talking about money as well. XD
I hate small talk! I would love to go into a meeting and actually start the meeting on time!
If you bought something for a good bargain you can tell the price or ask about it. Even if price is secondary to us Finns, if we know someone would benefit from the same deal we will tell to that person. We just value more if something we buy is usefull, needed or is sentimental for us.If a 5000 euros couch is design and expensive we will tell it but also if it´s awful to sit that is gonna be highlighted, not the price. Same with cheaper couch. And being envy of someone who has it better than us as individual is not uncommon but comes from the fact of low selfesteem or modesty gone too far, not really how big a pay someone gets.
About my business yes all my customers must pay their invoices at due date and moneys must appear to my company back account at mean time i.e 10:30 O'clock sharp not before or after that time ;)
hey Oliver can you please make a video on pathway to Finland courses in edunation. thanks in advance enjoy ur videos
Oh Viswak, your request is going to be fulfilled faster than you think - i actually have a video about this topi currently on the table and i should have a video ready in a couple of weeks 👍. So please let me know if you have any particular questions about this topic and id love to include your question in the video!
@@RoadtoFinnish yup I was just wondering if this course would cary any value to those colleges wich are not in a partnership with education ?
So im not 100% sure if i got what you mean, but if you are asking whether the Pathway programme will give you access to other universities than those partnering with Edunation, the answer is no. The Pathway programme has a specific list of universities that you could get admitted to after passing all the Pathway courses. It does not hold any weight if you apply to other schools because its just those that are partnering with Edunation.
@@RoadtoFinnish ohh ok thanks , i was also wondering as i am applying for the year 2023(august), will my course be valid if i take it in 2022(february). And what would you suggest is the best time to take the course?Thanks in advance:)
Hmm this is a great question. Im not 100% sure so what i would recommend you to do is to contact Edunation directly about this. Their team will be able to give you an answer to this and you dont have to wonder whether they are correct or not 😅
I’m half Swedish, I miss matter of fact conversation, nowadays we get tons of fact free discourse focused on emotions.
this is a great video... I guess you are Finnish? your English is fantastic
6:24 I highly disagree with that part.
My wife since the first date she arrives late, neither her friends know what is get on time 😅.
alarms to wake up is minimum 15 sets every 5 min on two different devices.
There is always exeptions, Estonians are similar to Finns and if there is people who dont respect common rules they are considered rude.
...Huh. So outside of the whole straightforwardness thing, this really isn't much different from how japanese people behave; l guess that, wherever l'll go to, l'll have to be particularly punctual, huh? X~X;
Also, l should note that what you're really describing finnish people as is *asocial*; asocial people are more along what you'd call introverts and vice-versa -- antisocial is... well, *something completely different.*
Still, thank you for covering all these tips about Finland, especially for those of us who are already past the whole university/student circle.
Hey and thanks so much for participating in the discussion and for the feedback. You are absolutely right, asocial would have been a better term to use in this context. Didnt even cross my mind when planning the video so i do appreciate you bringing this up 👍.
Yes indeed, the whole straightforwardness thing is something that can be culturally a bit weird for some and i think its just a thing that one has to get used to over time. Im sure that this is not a bit deal for many people but some do get a bit baffled about this once in a while.
I do hope that this brings some value at least to some people thinking about building a career here 👍.
Olen suomalainen! Im from finland and thats true:)
Thats cool to hear, thanks for the feedback! Kiitos paljon palautteesta 👍
in regards to punctuality just remember if the say be there for half 10 they mean 9.30.
Great point!
I have been to Helsinki and have been associated with several Finns while living in Beijing--two Mika's and there was also Perko, Anti, etc, typical Finnish names. Lots of Mika's! They were ALL shy and introverted. I was also told that the Finnish originated in Siberia... Such a fascinating story of long migration of your ancestors...
Ah yes I recall being shocked moving from London to LA and finding people asked about the price I paid for things. That was 50 years ago but there's still a gap in poilite noseyness between Europe and the colonies
Kiitos
Also, in Finland, we do not talk with our hands (what are you doing?)
Oh man, you have no idea how dumb it feels to talk like this in-front of a camera. Goes 100% against my nature! 😅
Hi, oliver. Great content. Have been watching these forever. I have planned to apply for a finnish university. Specifically Aalto University. Could you help me with the motivational letter. I have written it, but wants someone who knows the university well to go through it and see if its something that the pannel would accept.
Keep up the good work!
Hey natz and thanks so much for the comment. I would love to help you out but im actually not the right person to do this. The university application system is totally different for Finnish nationals and ive actually never had to write a university motivation letter. I do have some experience in the recruitment market and on writing compelling motivation letters for job search. However, its quite a bit of a different from university applications and i dont feel comfortable giving advice because i dont want to be the one responsible for you loosing a spot because of bad advice 😕. I hope you understand.
In the title pic for this video, you make an extraordinary face. So, Oliver, I was wondering whether you had a gallery of faces you make during overall parties.
funny how fins are so sensitive about personal finance while its so easy to get someones tax sheets and find out everything about their finances from there (if i understood it correctly)
or not funny but... you get it
😅 i get it. its kinda ironic but then again, the day when peoples tax info are published is called the "envy day" (kateuspäivä in Finnish). About that, the amount of information that you are able to get about personal taxes is actually very limited. Its only a very small portion of ones tax information that you can get from the Tax Admin. To summarise, only the income and municipal taxes are public but nothing else is. So considering that those taxes only constitute a small portion of peoples' potential tax burden, it doesnt really tell you that much. You can read more about these rules on the Tax Admins website: www.vero.fi/en/About-us/finnish-tax-administration/data-security-and-information-access/public-information-on-taxes/public-information-on-individual-income-taxes/
@@RoadtoFinnish do fins have good English so i will be able to communicate or it's like this? ^^^
Oh you will not have any issues with English in Finland 👍. There are always people who are not that proficient but if you study in any of the major cities, you are going to be more than fine.
@@RoadtoFinnish tho its best to not try too much asking from childs and elders becouse childs are at start yet and elders maybe never learned english becouse when they were childs,english was rare and mostly only for university but in these days english is being teached early so in cities you can survive life with english
thats more ironic than funny but 100% true