international students study permit

[DraculcuCoarne]

civilize Friday? hm...i might think about it. Maybe...if he were you.

[DraculcuCoarne]

Thank you sinikettu for the beautiful words. Romanian wines...one of the few things i miss when i am in Finland In fact the only strange thing i found in Finland was this thing with Alko shops. In Ro. as you know there are no such things.i mean you can buy whatever kind of alcoholic drinks from a supermarket or ordinary shops. And some of them are opened non-stop. There are too people having problems with alcohol but not so many as in Finland...In fact i was quite shocked when i came by boat from Estonia to see a huge mass of Finns carrying huge loads of drinks I was like..what the f*ck is happening? After my first month in Finland it was clear to me

[Hank W.]

There are too people having problems with alcohol but not so many as in Finland...

Of course, we only have a problem when the alcohol runs out

[DraculcuCoarne]

I did not want to offend you Hank, sorry. It was just what i have noticed. I did not come to Finland with some stereotype in my mind and i did not have any kind of ''Great Expectations''. I came because i like the country. But the drinking thing seemed a little weird to me. ... especially when seeing stone-drunk chicks.

[Hank W.]

Heh, you need to study sarcasm, its well known what Finns bring from Estonia...

harbour market Hesburger on a trip though its not as priceworthy any more, I for one can't understand whats the idea of carting over beer.

especially when seeing stone-drunk chicks.

earth girls are easy

[DraculcuCoarne]

JESUS @-) brings back memories

hm...yeah... i am not the sarcastic-type, that fits you better i would say it is very hard to make me smile, surprisingly your sarcasm works at this one

[sammy]

But the drinking thing seemed a little weird to me. ... especially when seeing stone-drunk chicks.

It seems quite weird to many of us natives as well. If anyone thinks that what goes on, say, in and around the Hell-sinki railway station at weekend nights is somehow "admired" by the most of us Finns... well...

Again, what you have noticed is "those who have a problem". Hardly anyone notices those who do not behave like that, ie the 'ordinary' folks who may have had a beer or two only and do not shout, fight, puke, or p*ss on the streets. And this is exactly why stupid stereotypes arise, be it about Finns, Romanians, you name it.

Btw this does not change the fact that the drunkards (or beggars etc) are people, too.

[Hank W.]

But I am not being upset of the fact that these stone-drunk chicks are the "image" a foreigner gets from Finland. Its not a question if I like it or not, it is a fact. So I need to take into consideration when I meet some Romanian whose experiences have been of Finnish vodka tourists and then coming to the station and seeing alcohol not sold "in every store" that they're convinced we have prohibition. I just need to take it into consideration. That was my original point - I might not be a stone drunk but so many of my countrymen are it will not be surprised if people want to breathalyze me in the morning when I go work in Romania.

[sinikettu]

2 Quotes:
Both from Oscar Wilde...

"A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing."

"There is luxury in self-reproach. When we blame ourselves, we feel no one else has a right to blame us."

[sammy]

But I am not being upset of the fact that these stone-drunk chicks are the "image" a foreigner gets from Finland. Its not a question if I like it or not, it is a fact.

Yes, I agree - it's no wonder that such an image is prevalent. Similarly, it's no wonder that some Finns may think that "all Romanians are beggars". These image things, however tell absolutely nothing of individuals in reality; as you said, one just needs to take them into consideration... both ways. I mean, it's so typical to hear almost self-contradictory statements to the effect of "You Finns never understand that we (insert nationality here) are INDIVIDUALS!" (that's equally absurd the other way around)

[Hank W.]

Yes, i am upset of the chicks, but the stereotype formed I need to cope with. or with the "Finnish stereotype" you can "play with" - you can sometimes use it for your benefit, or then *not* to play with, and maybe adapt some other cultures "stereotype"...

[sammy]

with the "Finnish stereotype" you can "play with"

Why yes of course - what do you think of my suggestion for the new coat-of-arms for Helsinki?

[Hank W.]

I wonder if DraculuCoarne has seen http://www.greetings.fi (click on the picture)

[DraculcuCoarne]

Guys...it was a simple thought not my image about Finland. I've stayed here long enough to realize that not all Finns have this problem. It was just what i noticed a bit different from my home country. If others have stereotypes..fine..i couldn't care less. There were some who ''warned'' me about this problem before i left my country but my answer was a simple...BITE ME! What is so wrong in drinking after all? If some enjoy they have the right to enjoy
Gee, that was my only smile today, thx I haven't seen the images before. To be honest i never visited Helsinki, i just stayed in Vaasa and Kuopio for a while.

[DraculcuCoarne]

2 Quotes:
Both from Oscar Wilde...

"A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing."

"There is luxury in self-reproach. When we blame ourselves, we feel no one else has a right to blame us."

Lady Windermere's Fan and The Picture of Dorian Gray..am i right? the last is one of my favourites...i got it