Culture shock!!

After being here for almost two months, I can say I've had my fair share of culture shock. So I thought today I'd write about ten major cultural differences.

1. Tap Water

This is the very first thing that shocked me in Finland. As soon as I arrived in Helsinki Airport, I asked where I could buy water. But then my Australian oldie said to me, "You don't need to buy it, just go fill a plastic bottle from the bathroom sink." Drink water from the bathroom sink? Of an airport? In a foreign country? I really didn't think that was a good idea, but desperate times call for desperate measures. So I tried it, and who would've thought it tastes no different from any bottled water (maybe even better). But I suppose that's why Finland is nicknamed "the land of a thousand lakes". Important thing to know, never waste money on bottles of water. Because most of time you will accidentally end up buying sparkling water (after three failed attempts, I can finally figure out which one is regular water)

2. Shoes

I thought it was fine that finnish people didn't want you wearing shoes in their homes, no big deal. But it really surprised me when I had to take them off to enter a classroom, the gym, some churches, and other public places. 

3. Engagements

I don't know if this is true for all of Finland or just from what I've experienced, but finnish people seem to take engagements very lightly. I know atleast three people in my school who have been or still are engaged. One of my friends was engaged at 15 years old! I don't understand this?! But she has told me that for them it's almost like what a promise ring is to us in the states and they will still wait many years to get married. Also some kids that are 16, 17 years old, already live on their own/with their boyfriends. Insanity.

4. Sidewalk Ettiquette 

Finnish people tend to stay to themselves, that's fine. But I was really shocked when I was riding my bike on the sidewalk and the people coming towards me didn't even acknowledge me. I am always waving and smiling and saying "Moi!", but rarely a response. Or if I do get a response it's some sort of dirty look. Finnish people need to lighten up ;). I think I am really embarrassing to my friends when we walk together, but it's just too funny. I love the Finns reaction to "the happy American".

5. Eating/Food

I have a lot to say on this subject. At least in my family in America we only eat with a fork and knife when there is some meat you need to cut. But here it is really impolite to eat with just a fork in your right hand. My host parents noticed it immediately when I got here (I've caught on quickly). But now I am so used to always using both and never switching hands, almost no matter what (even with pizza and fries). Next thing about eating, is that Finns eat dinner incredibly early. My host mom almost always has dinner ready by 3 or 3:30. It took some getting used to, but I actually like it better this way now. Or sometimes we will drink coffee just before dinner (I have never drank so much coffee in my life, it must be running in my veins). 

Finland is high on the list in candy consumption. But it makes sense. The candy is sososo good. Here are my favorites:

These are hard mint candies with chocolate inside.

The best chocolate in the world 

First time I had it, I spit it out. Now I can't live without it..

Licorice! They have it in a million different flavors.

And here are my favorite finnish foods

Makkara! (Sausage). With mustard. The mustard in Finland is so good too.

   Karelian pies. Very good.

These crackers they always have with lunch.

    Pulla!

6. Teachers/School

I've said this before, but everyone calls the teachers by their first names or even nicknames. This is odd, being someone coming from America where that's kind of a no-no. Also the teachers don't really care what you do in class. If you are on your phone the whole time, then too bad for you. It doesn't affect them much if you fail your exams. Teachers don't usually care if you do your homework or not, especially my math teacher. Every night she gives us four problems to do, but never once has she collected them or gone around to see if we all did them. Teachers will just cancel class if they can't make it to school. Fifteen minute breaks between every class. Sometimes I don't know what to do with all that time! Free school lunch!! Thank you tax payers!! No detentions either. If you do something really stupid, then you're expelled. But that's how school is able to run when everyone there actually chooses to and wants to be there.

Something else I really wanted to throw in are these calculators everyone had to buy. They cost 170 euros and are absolutely insane. You can get on the Internet with them and play games and do lots of other unnecessary things. 

7. Transportation

Finnish people really like to follow road laws, of course that's a good thing! But sometimes it's really funny. For instance, when we're in the city and the sidewalk light is red, NO ONE moves. Even if it is completely dead, middle of the night, clearly no cars to be seen, a finnish person will stand and wait for the green light to walk. My friends and I are always just crossing when we know it's clear, but of course there will always be dirty looks given from Finns. 

I'm king of living a dream come true with the transportation in Finland. I can walk to school, the store, the bank, the coffee shop, the ice rink, the park, and pretty much anywhere else in my little town. It's so great! And anywhere else I want to go, I can walk to the bus stop which is right next to my house.

The buses are always either ten minutes early or ten minutes late (in my experience). My favorite thing is when I get on the bus and say which city I want to go to, and the bus driver panics because they know I must be a foreigner (from my terrible pronunciation of city names). It's also nice when they give me the student discount (even without a student ID). Usually it is no problem to ride the bus. Luckily most people speak English and will help you if you are lost, you just have to ask.

It's also possible to take the train (much cheaper). But unfortunately I think the nearest train station for me is in Pori so it's really only necessary if I'm travelling farther north or east.

8. Playgrounds

Finland has the best playgrounds I've ever seen in my life. The U.S. really needs to step their game up. Us exchange students spend 75% of our time in parks/playgrounds, so I take notice in the superior quality of swing sets/slides. Common playground equipment in Finland:

Also some cool playgrounds I've been to:

   Angry birds park

   Sastamala

   Tampere

9. Minä Rakastan Sinua

Finnish people never express their emotions. But what really surprised me is that they NEVER say "I love you". The only exception is occasionally to your boyfriend/girlfriend, but that's it. I was in a restaurant with my finnish friends Friday night and they told me that they have never said they loved their parents or vice versa! They said "Why do you need to say it? You should already know it." They have a point, but still. They even have a game where you stand in a circle and have to tell the person next to you "Minä rakastan sinua." without laughing or smiling. So now I make it a big deal to say it to all my finnish friends in public and they think it's just hilarious. 

10. Halloween

The last thing that shocked me (and also broke my heart alittle) was that they don't celebrate Halloween in Finland! How insane is that! I don't know why I figured the whole world celebrated it by now. But it's okay, as an exchange student spreading my culture, I will still be celebrating of course. Some of my Finnish friends promised to carve pumpkins with me (if we can even find any).

That's all. Here have a picture of some trees in Pori from today :D

Moikka ^.^