Cultural habits / Dos and Don´ts

We live this space to young people who are already living in Finland as students or volunteers to tell about Finnish cultural habits. If you want to know more about Finnish cultural habits please visit the links below.

Cecilia Castro, Peru
International Master`s Degree Student
It’s hard to choose which good experiences are the best to write them down here. I’m very happy to be in Finland, is the wisest decision that I could take. Finnish people in general, are very kind and ready to help you if you have some problems. As an example in the supermarket, when I didn’t know any word of Finnish, many people helped me a lot. It’s amazing that here, almost everybody speaks English very well, so don’t be afraid of the language if you are not Finnish speaker. In this few months that I’m living here I’ve got many Finnish friends. They were so kind and warm that I really ought them my integration to Finnish society. Here, tolerance is a key factor for the healthy relationship between natives and foreigners; and my friends have made me feel in home.

The next remarkable good experience here is the delicious Finnish food. Have you tried poro (reindeer)? Or hirvi (elk)?  Try them and you’ll give me the reason. How about the fish? Salmon, if you don’t try salmon and you haven’t completed your culinary experience. Berries, I’m a berry lover, since in my home country these fruits are exotic and are very expensive. But here, you can catch them from the forests for free! So, I’m expecting the summer time in order to get some for me. Finally, another feature of this wonderful land is the bicycle culture. You can reach many parts of the cities by bike, and thus make some exercise good for your health. Even in winter, is nice to contemplate the landscapes. Silence and a quiet atmosphere will surround you, if you like this, I’m pretty sure that you’ll enjoy the Finnish experience!

Veron Lee, Singapore
International Master`s Degree Student
From dawn till dusk, and seeing how the daytime gets shorter and now slightly longer has become one of my favourite pastimes in Finland. However I am still waiting to catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis. The wonder of such changing elements in nature is something that I would not get to experience back home in Singapore. The friendliness and helpfulness of the Finns, the magnificent view from the lakes in autumn to walking on it in winter, a visit to Santa Claus to experiencing the husky dogs sled rides in Lapland and not forgetting the simplicity of Finnish food have given me a colourful and memorial experiences that are beyond words to describe it.

Magda Karjalainen, Poland
Graduated of International Master`s Degree Programme
Looking at the map of Europe I had always felt attracted to that country in the north with so much green and blue, but I had never imagined that I would study and found my family here some day. If one considers studying abroad, Finland is definitely a good choice, especially nowadays when more and more study programs are available in English. High-quality education, devoted and knowledgeable teachers, flexibility and freedom given to students in planning their studies, as well as good facilities are factors that made my studies in Finland extremely valuable and interesting.

What is more, Finland is just simply a great place to live. What I like the most is that even though you live in the city, you do not feel it as such. Every day I ride my bike through the forest. I can even pick up mushrooms on my way to the university (which I love to do in Finland). Besides, I feel safe and free here. Finland is also a paradise for cyclists. The routes are excellent. Can you believe that for the first two years in Finland I had not used a bus even once? The sauna, bright summer nights and really snowy winters are other things I love about Finland. In fact, I truly appreciated the relaxing value of sauna only recently when I became a first-time mother. So, my latest Finnish experiences are related to being a mom and frankly speaking I cannot imagine a better place for raising my baby boy. Finland and its social system seem to me very child and family friendly, and wonderful nature and peaceful surroundings make Finland a perfect place for growing up.

Tímea Tipi, Hungary
EVS (European Volunteer Service)
In Finland people are very nice, kind and helpful. If you need a country, where you will not be alone with your questions and problem for sure Finland is the right place for you. In Finland you can get all the help you need which makes you to feel you are already at home. If you know just some words in Finnish (like me) but speak English, even if you aren’t perfect, it’s sure you will manage everywhere, in shops, offices, banks etc. Most of the people speak English and if they say they speak a little bit, usually it means their level is intermediate . If you want to have a walk in the park or forest at night, just go ahead! Do not worry! Nothing bad will happen to you! Finland is a very safe place so if you think about coming to Finland, stop thinking, pack and come now!

Fadilla Apristawijaya, Indonesia
International Master`s Degree Student
I was wondering how my life is going to be in Finland. I arrived to Finland in the fall. It was still green. Day by day green vanished and the sky became darker. I saw the first snow of my life in Finland. Winter turned out to be the time I enjoy. One day, I went to the lake behind of my flat. It was so beautiful. We tried snow fight, made angle mark on the snow. Now I know why winter in Finland is worth seeing because it is so beautiful and peaceful. That was one the best experiences ever!

Last Updated on 11.01.2010