American REACTS to Finnish Life | Finland Is INCREDIBLE
2020 ж. 25 Қыр.
232 856 Рет қаралды
Foreigner REACTS to Finnish Life | Finland Is INCREDIBLE. An American girl's view on living in Finland (Finnish food, culture, language, etc.)
Comment below things you love about life in Finland!
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#Finland #Finnish #Suomi
Idk why but always when someone that's not finnish talks about finland, they sound like they explain aliens 😂
Maybe it is because we usually do need to explain to aliens.. ;)
Because they usually don't even know that Finland exists...
They are on to us!
@@setatampio9016 Is it time to leave?
Kui
In Finland there still is something left of the old fashioned mutual trust. A local paper wrote about a tourist lady who had lost her purse in Helsinki, in a tram. She was sure the purse was gone forever. But it was returned to her hotel and all the money, her passport and other valuables were there. There was a note written in English: "I just took a mint. Bad breath". Sounds very Finnish, straight to the point :)
Oh this happened to me too! I left my purse on a park bench and cried because it had my money and passport in it. Someone found it and gave it to the police right away and the police mailed me my purse and kept in contact with me until they knew I had it a few days later.
I have lost my wallet more times than I care to admit, and every time I think "surely this time it is gone forever" but somehow I have alwasy gotten it back with everything still inside
I'm Finnish and I've lost my wallet a couple of times. Never saw it again. We tend to look our country through rose colored glasses every time when a video like this is made, or an article is written about us etc. We are just like any other country, we are people, we are jealous, we are selfish. We're not that special out of all the rest.
@@santerisalmivuori3872 People are people everywhere but repeating myself: I think in the Finnish society there still is something left of the old fashioned mutual trust. Little kids going to school by themselves, low corruption, the police is trusted. Not sure how scientific really but the Reader's Digest conducted a global, social "wallet experiment" a few years ago, Helsinki was the most honest there.
@@mikrokupu Well put. I stand mostly corrected.
I appreciate that you took time to actually learn Finnish. It is a hard language and most Americans don't bother to learn it.
Oona Silvia why should they, only a few people speak it anyway.
@@auvomesilampi6325 I know many Americans (and people from other countries) who have moved to Finland and lived here for several years, and who haven't bothered to learn it at all. I just think it's amazing that she did
I already know some Finnish would love to learn more.
@@auvomesilampi6325 The point isn't that they should, but that's just pure respect towards the country and civilization when they actually do that, at times to educate themselves.
@@wkdgrneyes perkele mitä mitä mieltä olet?
I am a foreigner too! 46 years in Finland... I don’t regret I left France in 1974. The whole country is nowadays a lunatic asylum. It’s very nice you wanted to learn finnish. Many Americans don’t....
Can relate. Left France for Finland 2 years ago and I'm not heading back.
Why are people coming here??? I came also, and regret it very, very much! Sadly there's no turning back anymore...
@@susannebrunberg4174 Sorry to hear you are so unhappy here in Finland. But you are not a prisoner, you can leave the country any time. Are you really sure you would be happier in the country you left (USA, Sweden, Germany????) ??
@@alainchiaroni5149 Yes it is very hard to understand how somebody can regret coming to Finland.
@Risto Kempas Hahahahaha! Just be honest and say you like girls better than boys. No shame in that. Granted, the Danes do sing more, louder, and sometimes at the most unexpected occasions. But I still managed to create a few hangovers after hanging out with (mostly male) Finnish colleagues.
The amount of finnish you learned in a year is just mind bogling. You're definitely on the right path. Well done.
MrTylerDurden agreed. Some people might be here a decade without learning this much
I have many co-workers who have lived in Finland for over 5 years but can't speak finnish basically at all, and understanding is very limited as well, because they never needed finnish for their work or anything else they never bothered even though they plan to live here the rest of their lives.
My wife and I visited Helsinki last summer. The vibe of the people was totally refreshing and so peaceful and calm. And free drinking water everywhere.
yeah why buy bottled water when we have great tap water
Kotipizza is taking money now days for water. Thats why I never enter their pizza houses. (tap water)
U have to go lapland at winter
@@democracyalways9801 Nope, it does not. PS. Was in kotipizza just last week and got free water.
Where here is free water? I pay every month for water.
I can see why people would think you were a Finn, you look the part!
I think she looks more baltic imho
Her nose is somewhat Finnish, they have a button nose that is flat and quite wide. The same kind of nose appears in Central-Africans too.
The rest of the face seems Dutch.
And speak mostly really well finnish 👍
@@thehilaryglow Dutch or Scandinavian. While there is nothing about her looks that tells she couldn't be Finnish, Finnish women often have pretty soft and round facial features, different complexion and sparse eyebrows without makeup. In Southwest people tend to look more Scandinavian, because the chances are they actually have significant amount of Scandinavian ancestry. However, to develop an idea of the general looks of Finnish people, one can always take a peek at Finnish social networking sites such as Kuvake or IRC-Galleria.
Knocking the door to speak about Jesus probably feels much more awkward to many Finns than opening the door just in a towel as you are in sauna 😁 But good video, thanks
So relatable xD
I never open the door when jehovah's witnesses are knocking.
What does it means?
That's how life is when you have a social safety net and not a society that will throw you away the second you can't produce a consumer product.
You look just like a Finn, not just by your colors, but even the face structure, proportions. So I wouldn't be surprised if some Finns started to speak Finnish to you and were surprised to hear English, or American accent in your Finnish. I would start to speak Finnish with you, if I didn't know you. Even now I have hard time believing you're not a Finn - or don't have Finnish roots. Well, looking more carefully the body language is American. So - OK, I', convinced.
I don't think she looks particularly Finnish, but there is nothing about her looks that tells she couldn't be Finnish either. I would likely assume she is from Western Finland and has some Scandinavian ancestry. However, her pronunciation is actually pretty spot on at times, so that's probably the another reason for the confusion. However, in general Finnish women often have pretty soft and round facial features, different complexion and sparse eyebrows without makeup.
Reason why some people say "no thank you" on streets when someone who is a stranger approaches them is that they might think you are trying to sell something. Finns normally dont approach strangers on streets - dont get offended by this though.
Here's a tip for everyone that's considering visiting Finland: Please, don't go just to Helsinki or Lappi/Lapland because there's so much more to Finland than that (sure those are both very beautiful places, especially Lappi/Lapland). Go somewhere that's basically in the middle of nowhere and just take your time to take a walk in a nearby forest or just explore the nature, it truly is beautiful :)
I'm glad you liked it here. Please feel welcomed any time.
After living for more than 12 years in Finland I must admit that your pronounciation is incredible!
Terve! I visited Finland in November of last year with my mother. We only spent a week there, but I loved it there, even under cloudy skies all throughout. There is a certain warmth to Finns once you get past their direct exterior. I will have to revisit for a longer period next time!
KIITOS!!!!
Nice! 😊 came again!🙏🏼
That's amazing :) Thank you, Finland will be welcoming you back warmly! :3
Kiitos. I've noticed that a lot of foreigners think of us as "cold" people even though the "coldness" is just our way of respecting peoples personal space and need for silence especially after a long day at work, we just want to go home to rest. It's an introverts paradise really! 😂
Wonderful people. Beautiful country. The Winter War made them deadly serious about protecting their democracy & territory.
You explain things so well. I'm finnish myself and just watching this warms my heart
As a Finn, I got really happy and humbled listening through the whole video :)
I also like finnish people, and I dream to move to them one day from Russia ps It's cool you speak Finnish so confidently, I'm learning it, it's not easy at all!
Miks aina eksyn tälläsiin vastaaviin videoihin?🤣 En kylläkään taida olla ainut😂
Donald Duck no et kyllä oo ainut xD
Et ole 😄😄
KZhead suosittelee kovasti tätä
Joka youtube videossa jossa ulkomaalainen puhuu Suomesta tai suomalaisista niin suurin osa kommentojista ovat suomalaisia.
Me vaa ollaa hirveen kiinnostuneita mitä muut ihmiset toisista maista ajattelevat meistä.
Excellent job with your Finnish with only one year in Finland. Ihan hienosti puhut.
Hi greetings from Venezuela let me tell you that Finland is a beautiful country and a progressive country, i would love to live there Finland has a great quality of life and a impressive educational system.
That car thing is not true. We have lot of cars and finns used to know "world fastest people" cause we have strong motorsport community. Look at formula one series and you see there is many finns driving, and old legends who has rode. Wrc series have allso many finns. Many young drivers start in folk race class, you can get racing license that year when you turn 15y. Not having car is only possible when you live centre of "big city"
True, but not in Helsinki.
Thank you for the kind words. I'm a Finn and your Finnish sounds really good. I sincerely hope that you have a chance to keep it up.
At 14:49 is called "Nordic walking" "sauvakävely" in Finnish :)
joka kerta ku joku mainitsee sanan ''sauvakävely''. tulee mieleen se pahuksen kaalimadon mainos.
I have also heard about dementia skiing😃
Ilona Lindroos What?
@@omnietyy Dementia skiing. Got the sticks but forgot the actual skis.
It's not a tradition though. It has been in fashion only recent years.
As a Finn i sometimes wakeupp and be thankful about living in this blessed country.
Love when you speak Finnish! Impressive!
Yes, muikku is the small fish they sell fried at markets, it's really tasty, and it's the same word we use instead of "smile" when someone's taking a picture.
Yes and muikku can be used the same way as "cheese!" when taking a picture :)
In English muikku (coregonus albula) is called the vendace.
90% tän videon katsojista on suomalaisia + ketään ulkomaalaista ei kiinnosta näin roska maa
Niilo Harjuntausta 🤣🤣 Voi olla totta !!
@@niiloharjuntausta7487 hahah totta
Your pronunciation is incredible considering how long you stayed in Finland
Finland has one off the lardgest amounts off cars per capita. Only in the lardgest citys and their metripolitan areas is it possible to go to work/anywere without cars.
Small towns are easily walked through on feet or a bike. Only if you live in the countryside you might need a car.
@@cadaver6665 Most of Finns have Summer cottages usually in a very rural areas without any public transportation options. That is one of the main reasons why Finnish families have cars. On average every Finnish family has more than 1 car.
Her pronunciation is fantastic!! She totally sounds Finnish and looks the part too.
I don't agree. She definitely has a foreign accent and she doesn't pronounce double consonants correctly.
Thank you so much for your kind words about our country and people. You are more than welcome back here! It is very exiting to hear what foreigners thinks about our things and habits. 😊 And btw, finnish is one of the most difficult languages in the world, and you speak it very very well! Like you have been here many years. 😊 I wish you all the best. 🙏🏼☀️
I love EVERYTHING IN FINLAND because I live there.
Glad it was seemingly good experience and welcome back some day. Seems like your take on nature and world is similar to ours. 😊
Lohikeitto ja ruisleipä yhdessä nam.. 😋 Salmon soup and Rye bread nam.. 😋
No, Thank you for visiting. I am a bit disappointed that we never met, seems that you are really genuine also.
Gotta watch these kinds of videos regularly so I remember to appreciate Finland and not to get bored and done with it 🤣🤣
Thank you for the kind words about our country :)!
I actually think I met this lovely person in Tampere! Still think of it fondly! Such a beautiful soul, loved the vibe! ❤️
Finns are chill people who appreciate people being proper and feel sorry for the ones who fail at it
Thank you for this video, it was a gift. You are a very pleasant person and have good integrity. I hope you come back to Finland in future,clearly it has a spot in your heart. :) Ps. Yes, honesty and valueing right things in life is very Finnish.
As a finn I found it fascinating to hear from you. Your finnish at the end was really good! You caught me off guard there haha
And why would you be so fascinated to hear from her? Could it be that flattering feeling because she was full of positive compliments about finns?
Thank you for this awesome positive rendition of our country! 🙏🇫🇮
Tbh I’ve never really expected to get up to see you first on my feed. But when it were about Finland the curiosity kicked in. Of course I did enjoy this experience to. After all you’ve been a great host explaining things on the show. So you take care of yourself you hear and thanks for sharing those experiences
Wow. Just one year in here and you speak so well. Nice video!
Thank you for your beautiful words! This made me feel proud of our country.
Thankyou very much for your positive description of Finland and the finns. This was a really good video, wish you good luck in the future.
Kiitos erittäin paljon! Glad you had a good experience✌️🇫🇮
Thank you. Nice words 🙏🏻 Greets from 🇫🇮❤️
When I visit the candy-section in a shop outside Finland, and I see the chocolates and the fruit-candies, but no salmiakki, I always think to myself "Guys, you are missing one third of available candy!"
Not in Holland, we don't ;-)
Awesome job with the finnish at the end of the video! Kiitos käynnistä ja tervetuloa uudelleen!
Awesome that you had a good time here! Kiva kuulla että sulla oli hyvä kokemus täällä!
Thank you for quite accurate description of Finland and its people : ) ! And VERY well presented. I’m quite sure, you did find out, that we Finns are ’allways’ very interested in what example foreign people think of us and our country.... It’s often said to have something to do with Finnish peoples’ claimed low self esteem, but I personally don’t see it that way....first of all, I think it’s more about the country (not that much the people) , because we are very proud of what we have here, clean waters and nature as a whole, the Nordic style society with all it’s good things (but keeping in mind things too, that maybe aren’t that well here) and so on, that we find is on the positive side here. So maybe because of that we often want to know how non-Finns see all this,to find out if they have realistic picture (and hopefully positive one) of what we are and how we live our every day lives and so on. I guess it’s only natural intrest and common feature all over the world.... I also want to give you credit of speaking finnish amazingly good! I hope you are able to somehow benefit of your skill, or at least keep it up as good as it is. Maybe you got to come back, if not for other reasons, just to hold on to your newly learned skill : ) ! And you sure do have certain nordic looks, so you ’fit in’ to this corner of the world nicely : ). I guess it’s necessary to mention, that I, by no means, don’t mean that people looking different to nordic people would not fit in here or wouldn’t be welcome! So once again, thank you for your rational style storytelling .
I agree with what you said about how quiet it is. That was the first thing I noticed when I got off the plane and walked into Helsinki airport. Do you plan to go back or have you been?
The car thing i have to say is not really true. I actually don`t know anyone who does not own a car. And in most towns and smaller cities outside the Helsinki area, you need a car, there just is no other way to get around...
Main reason people were wondering if you were Finnish even if you spoke broken Finnish, is that 5% of Finns are actually Finnish-Swedes that often speak a strange mix of Finnish and Swedish when they are speaking Finnish, and with an English-like accent (due to Swedish and English being related languages) since their mother-tongue is actually Swedish
This is not true. Maybe 5-10% of that 5% fits the description. It used to be true. But in reality you wont notice that someone is a swedish speaking finn untill they start talking swedish to you. Its a common misconception though.
@@joojaa3927 You obviously haven't been interacting with a lot of Finnish-Swedes from the fully Swedish speaking areas if you think this is a misconception
@@Songfugel This is true, when it comes to people from for example Närpes (Närpiö). Not as often with people from Helsin.....😙
Well there are about 300 000 people who are counted as Swedish speaking of those about 90 000 live in the area around Vasa. Most of the swedes in other areas get enough influx from finns to talk fluently. So if we will be generous that about half of the 90 000 are ones that talk really broken finnish we get 15% lets add another 5% for old people. Then we get a upper limit of max 20% which admittedly is about 4 times my estimate. But could be as low as 10%. Admittedly i dont see as many people from Ostrobotnia as i did when i was a student or in military service (i did my service in swedish). But even back then people with recognizable accent were really in minority. Except in a few regions, where even the spoken Swedish was unrecognizable.
I used to live in Vaasa. No differences with the looks between swedish speaking and Finnish speaking ppl.
fresh birch leaves are even better for sauna and some even freeze the bunches (called vihta or vasta depending where in Finland one lives) for use during the winter months
In case you have to use dried leaves, keep the vihta in a bucket of warm water for some hours bedore you start using it. The leaves are supposed to be soft and they smell good. When you bathe, take cool/cold water in the bucket for the vihta. Dip the vihta in the water regularly to make it cool of. A hot vihta does not feel good at all. Happy Sauna!
Thank you for your kind review. And, wow, your Finnish is superb! ❤️
16:13 About grocery stores. There are so many different kind milks that it's overhelming :)
A lot of people are lactose intolerant too :D
vilestine Just like everywhere
Cow milk isn't for human consumption.
@@esaedvik humans can consume it, its for humans. And the milk sold in shops isnt pure milk.
I just went to buy toothpaste the other day, they had several brands and just one of them had 5-7 different "flavors" of toothpaste. How am I supposed to know what's the difference between "pure white" and "white system" , I just want normal toothpaste!
You’re right. Finland IS incredible. I loved living there in my late teens.
And we recycle a lot! All most every bottle and soda can is recycled and that is a huge thing compared to America. We have here very good recycling system for plastic and cardboard and paper and so on which is lacking in America
And we get money, when we return those bottles and soda can´s. It´s not much, but you can get a lot if you save a lot of them and return them at one time....
@@anu83 Actually we dont earn any money from them, the money we get back when returning the cans and bottles was included in the price of the bewerage as you can see from your receipts. If a 0.5L soda itself costs 2e we pay 2.20e for it and get the 0.20e back when we return the empty bottle. Its a pawn, not a paycheck. Its your own money. If one wants to actually make money from bottles and cans its possible by collecting other peoples bottles and cans from parks, streets, bushes etc.
@@Razid320 Depending on the state the same thing goes for the US. It can be anywhere from 5cents to 10cents but some stores will take any glass bottle or aluminum can and give you money for turning them in. Also recycling is quite common in the US, we recycle plastics, cardboard/paper, glass and metals. But again that can change from state to state on how available it is... But you have to remember the country of Finland has 3,000,000 less people than just the city of New York (just the city, not the entire state)
Kiitos videosta! Tervetuloa takaisin! :)
I appreciate you for learning language 😊 merry christmas from Finland 🎄 ❤
Amazing Finnish skills after just one year in the country. Wow.
...Aaand she look so Finnish!,..
Hi! I mean "Moi"😄 Tosi ihana kuulla sun mielipiteitä Suomesta. Tosi hienoa että arvostat asioita jotka on meille tärkeitä mutta samalla itsestään selviä. Kiitos kauniista sanoistasi ❤️
On erikoista kyllä kun osaa suomea ja englantia nii sitte tietää molemmista puolista😅😁
Street names are by areas because it's easier rescue persons to know where to go.
Kiitos Enkeli. Olet liian kiltti ja ihana!❤️ Thank you Angel. You’re too Kind and wonderfull !❤️
I do not at all understand why Americans would come to Finland to proselytize...You are not allowed to take a sauna bath? I would be very interested in the reasoning/justification for that.
@Agimus78 Ok, I must have misunderstood...What about my first question, I am even more interested in that?
Good idea to do it in a country with a cross in the flag
Wellcome back! 🇫🇮I have also lived in California as Fin..
Living here in Turku for almost a year. There's only 3 things I think FINN'S couldn't live without. SAUNA, POTATOES, BEER/ALCOHOL. love Finland. From Philippines
I really enjoyed your video. Next time you Come To Finland, you should visit Lappland too.
Great video!
That's a pleasure to hear, that you think Finland is incredible (I'm finnish). :)
Thank you so much!
best vihta made out of birch branches is actually a fresh one made around midsummer when the leaves are fresh. the dried ones are just for winter and the idea is that you soak them before use to freshen them up. So the end result is not pain, but wet leaves going slap-slap and imparting nice birch smell everywhere.
kzhead.info/sun/eLVsfadpkaZjra8/bejne.html
I love how she even tells ricepies are from Karjala! And btw she must have some ancestors from here, seems like one of our sisters in so many ways, not just looks! Stay safe.
only living a year in finland your finnish seems incredible.
You should use fresh birch in sauna. Dried ones are only used during winter when you cannot get fresh.
Well this is pretty much spot on. I laughed at the comment how we react to some stranger coming to talk at us at public place. They we're polite, usually you are taken for some crazy or foreigner.
Living without sauna makes me crazy and cranky. I take sauna abot 5 times /week. Especially I like it In winters time
Tämä
Tosi suomalaista
En oo ollut saunassa kahteen viikkoon send help
@@oonavuorio6247 en oo ollu kuukautee Kuolin
@@VintageRose_05 koulen kanssasi
Thank you for your kind words, they were really heartwarming. You sure are the most welcome anytime (when it's safe again). Take care!
We have really chill time here in Lahti. We like it like this.
hieno loppu videossa. kiitos
I think it's always interesting to hear from people who has spent time in different countries and those small oddities versus their own culture. I personally haven't got an opportunity to experience that but my sister has been able to. She spent year in U.S. and the host family was a devoted christian family and she had to go to church on Sundays. When she brought it up how in Finnish culture we view God in very different way and most of us don't believe on christian gods existence the host family was mortified. (The father was an pastor himself) Eventually they made an compromise where my sister went to church every other Sunday. She was in college and told to me that the education felt like he was in like 7th grade and when she came back to Finland she had to repeat that year in school. The language thing is strange when you spend longer time outside your own country, I was pretty much the only person she could speak normally and adjust back in Finnish since my parents can't speak English whereas I use English around 90% of my time in daily basis inside Finland, so she had the same difficulty as I do nowadays, forgetting words in Finnish but having a word for it in English straight away 😂
Kiitos,Thanks for the nice and kind words about our country. All true, except of the car´s ;) Welcome back anytime. It`s a small coutry and ours grandparents have fought for it hard against Soviet`s, back in days. So proud of this piece of land,people and history. Hyi silakkaa purkissa en syö :)
This was lovely.
Good video and good things about Finland. Nice to hear that you liked your visit. Please come again :D Almost everybody owns a car here because distances are big here and public transportation works good only inside of big citys. Only people who lives in those areas (Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Turku, Tampere) won't nessassary need cars but everybody else definetly needs.
silli = herring suolattu silli/suolasilli = pickled herring Glögi is normally made from wine and spices, the non-alcoholic glögi imitations that supermarkets sell are made from different kinds of fruit juices - never seen a cranberry one though, not sure how that would work!
I LOVE pickled herring! My Finnish mum had it in the house all the time. :)
I think me and Finland would get on so well.
You look like a finn yourself 😀 Your attitude towards other people and other cultures seem to be impeccable. Being adaptive, kind but still not naive, is the best way to meet other people. Btw, when you said " Olen kiire" then you're saying I am hurry.... Olen = I am ...but I'm busy = Mulla on kiire (or Mul on kiire) Litterally I Have busy.....but really, you're doing a great job in speaking finnish. I'm very impressed. Wow!
WOW you speak finnish really well!
I liked your Finnish R’s. PeRfect.
Your Finnish is very good.... especially if you learned it in only one year! Amazing!
My theory for the youth looking skin is the lack of facial expressions.
Sauna
It is the lack of sun. You know, sun ages you
😂😂😂
:|
Finland is number one on my bucket list. One day I will board that plane and my dream would have come true.
Friends for ever ❤️
I'm from Virginia, and we put labels on food that's local. It a little more expensive, but to know it came from a farm locally, I know it's quality. And if you like wine, Virginia makes amazing wine.
Fes IRL The local foods are popular here too, but I personally don’t care where it comes from as long as it’s good and of quality. Supporting locals is not good if the products for the price are not as good as bought elsewhere in the long run. It just lowers competition and quality.
Tosi hyvää suomea puhut ,, ja vaikutat olevan kaunis ihminen niin henkisesti kuin ulkonäköisestinkin. Stay safe. Greetings from a Finn living in Sweden.
5:25 "Olen kiire" = I am busyness "Olen kiireinen" or "minulla on kiire" = I am busy