what is you biggest culture shock? positive and negative

[mCowboy]

Positive:

Negative:
- It's impossible to flag down a taxi on the curbside.

Use the SMS taxi service. Works like a charm.

[Jukka Aho]

here is a part of a study about climate and happiness

We find that higher mean temperatures in the coldest month increase happiness

Sounds like a bit strange idea when applied to Finland considering that higher mean temperatures are directly responsible for the current grim and wet weather conditions here (i.e., there is no nice fluffy cover of white snow on the ground, and it is not possible to do outdoor wintersports, or for children to build snow castles or whatever in much of the country, at the moment.) I think people would be a lot happier if it was a bit colder right now and if we’d already get a proper winter...

[olofsson]

Sounds like a bit strange idea when applied to Finland considering that higher mean temperatures are directly responsible for the current grim and wet weather conditions here (i.e., there is no nice fluffy cover of white snow on the ground, and it is not possible to do outdoor wintersports, or for children to build snow castles or whatever in much of the country, at the moment.) I think people would be a lot happier if it was a bit colder right now and if we’d already get a proper winter...

Hear, hear!
Is it as bad in Vaasa as along the Gulf of Finland?

[Karhunkoski]

I almost forget to say that Finns not only make eye contact but they also smile at you in many, many situations in the street, shops, public transport, etc.

I agree with you Susan, although I have to add something to your statement... I think this smiling thing also depends on something else. Only recently have I noticed that if I'm looking sour-faced and miserable, nobody will smile at me. If I'm looking happy, positive and friendly, then people will often smile.

[Jukka Aho]

Is it as bad in Vaasa as along the Gulf of Finland? :(

You tell me. (I think the average daily temperatures have been bouncing about somewhere within ±1 °C from those of Helsinki.)

[agn71]

Many people have mentioned bad manners as negative side.
Perhaps you could tell little bit more detailed what you mean by bad manners and to what you compare it.

[Karhunkoski]

Many people have mentioned bad manners as negative side.
Perhaps you could tell little bit more detailed what you mean by bad manners and to what you compare it.

- opening a swing door, walking through, then letting it slam into the face of the person behind.

- not saying "thank you" or acknowledging someone who holds a door open for you.

- not using car indicators when approaching a T-junction, then turning right anyway, meaning the other car waiting patiently at the T-junction "Give way" sign, was actually waiting for not reason.

- when there is a nose-to-tail queue of slow traffic, most drivers close up immediately and do not let others join from a side turning.

- males burping loudly at the lunch table (even when ladies are present).

- when someone buys two beers, one for each of you. When both glasses are empty, simply walking to the bar and just buying yourself a beer, returning to the table to sit and drink it, leaving the other person staring into their empty glass.



But, as said before, once you get used to these small annoyances, they can be put in the shadow by the long list of things that make it nice to live in Finland.

[annekmc]

Negative: Having to go to sauna NAKED with a bunch of people after being brought up having to wear pyjamas and a dressing gown before leaving your own bedroom.

Positive: Not caring about having to go to sauna NAKED with a bunch of people after being brought up having to wear pyjamas and a dressing gown before leaving your own bedroom.

[raamv]

Many people have mentioned bad manners as negative side.
Perhaps you could tell little bit more detailed what you mean by bad manners and to what you compare it.

- opening a swing door, walking through, then letting it slam into the face of the person behind.

- not saying "thank you" or acknowledging someone who holds a door open for you.

- not using car indicators when approaching a T-junction, then turning right anyway, meaning the other car waiting patiently at the T-junction "Give way" sign, was actually waiting for not reason.

- when there is a nose-to-tail queue of slow traffic, most drivers close up immediately and do not let others join from a side turning.

- males burping loudly at the lunch table (even when ladies are present).

- when someone buys two beers, one for each of you. When both glasses are empty, simply walking to the bar and just buying yourself a beer, returning to the table to sit and drink it, leaving the other person staring into their empty glass.



But, as said before, once you get used to these small annoyances, they can be put in the shadow by the long list of things that make it nice to live in Finland.

Can the list mentioned above happen anywhere in the world..so what is so different here.!!

[Jukka Aho]

- males burping loudly at the lunch table (even when ladies are present).

Sounds like you’ve simply seen a random display of some äijähuumori, in the spirit of Men Behaving Badly.

There are families (and/or company, even with the “ladies” included – pardon me for disparaging their holiness and innocence) where fart and burp humor, all kinds of juvenile mischief and practical jokes are a part of everyday life, at least between the family members, and perhaps also between long-time acquaintances. And then there are... those other kinds of families that just don’t do anything like that.

Compare to families where all the family members curse like sailors while thinking nothing of it and those other families where that is Just Not Done.

[Tiwaz]

Many people have mentioned bad manners as negative side.
Perhaps you could tell little bit more detailed what you mean by bad manners and to what you compare it.

- opening a swing door, walking through, then letting it slam into the face of the person behind.

Well, most people tend to keep the door open for couple more seconds if you are nearby and clearly coming the same way. Else why bother?

- not saying "thank you" or acknowledging someone who holds a door open for you.

Generally replaced by slight nod.

- when someone buys two beers, one for each of you. When both glasses are empty, simply walking to the bar and just buying yourself a beer, returning to the table to sit and drink it, leaving the other person staring into their empty glass.

If you are good friends, they might ask if you want something. If you are acquaintances you are expected to be able to get your own beer.
Also might take place if person ignored has failed to buy beers for others in past.

Freeloaders are disliked even in company of friends.

[Karhunkoski]

Can the list mentioned above happen anywhere in the world..so what is so different here.!!

Yes, I guess it is back to the point that it depends what sort of eyes you view them with. If you (meaning "one" not you personally raamv) were raised in a pigsty it would appear quite normal.

[Karhunkoski]

- males burping loudly at the lunch table (even when ladies are present).

Sounds like you’ve simply seen a random display of some äijähuumori, in the spirit of Men Behaving Badly.

There are families (and/or company, even with the “ladies” included – pardon me for disparaging their holiness and innocence) where fart and burp humor, all kinds of juvenile mischief and practical jokes are a part of everyday life, at least between the family members, and perhaps also between long-time acquaintances. And then there are... those other kinds of families that just don’t do anything like that.

Compare to families where all the family members curse like sailors while thinking nothing of it and those other families where that is Just Not Done.

Yup I know what you're getting at with the MBB humour (I'm always up for a farting comp between the boys).

However I should point out that this particular complaint is not really one that bothers me so much, however it is something that more than one Finnish lady has commented to me about. And they experience this in the workplace canteen......

[mCowboy]

Suomalaiset on metsäkansaa...

[raamv]

Suomalaiset on metsäkansaa...

anteeksi...suomalaiset on apinankanssa...apina on metsänkanssa!!