Why I Love Finland So Much

"A lot people speak Russian" is pretty relative and perhaps even subjective perception. In Finland, about 1.5% speak Russian as their mother tongue, in cities like Helsinki (2.7%) and Lappeenranta (>4%) there are relatively more speakers, but not many percent.

Interesting, thanks! About Finns and alcohol: Finns actually consume less alcohol per head than the Germans, French, Brits, not to talk about the eastern Europe. The alcohol consumption has been declining for many years now, especially the younger generations drink less these days. But yes, there still are Finns who like to drink. About the Russian language: I don't know where in Finland you live but rather few native Finns speak Russian, it has always been a rare language at school. Russian speakers make the largest immigrant group in Finland, though, many of the them live in eastern Finland. Finland has received around 60k refugees from Ukraine, some of them speaks Russian, too.

Watch the statistics in the video "Country alcohol consumption comparison." In Europe the highest alcohol consumption countries are: The 1st Moldova. The 2nd Lithuania. Tge 3rd Chechia and the 4th Germany. Finland's alcohol consumption is in the middle of Europe. For instance Russiaa, Latvia, Estonia, Hungary, Romania, Belarus, UK, Ireland, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Andorra, Cypros, Serbia, Poland, Portugaletc. Are ahead of Finland.

I don't agree that Finland is a difficult country to live if you don't drink alcohol. In day to day life, alcohol is not present in any way. People often drink milk with the food instead of wine. Water, soft drink and juice are also popular drinking options. If you are invited to a cocktail party, there is always a non-alcoholic options, since somebody has to drive home, and most people are responsible enough to not drive under the influence. The hosts are aware of this, and always provide alternative drinks. So you could easily live without alcohol if you want to. Though Finland does consume quite a lot of alcohol per capita per year. That is because when finnish people drink, they really drink. It is unbeleavable how much some people can drink. Occasionally it breaks the newsbarrier how somebody was over 3‰ drunk. I think I would be dead if I was that drunk, but those people must be at least semi-professionals to develop a tolerance like that. Even those drinking parties is acceptable to participate sober, by being the designated driver. So even that part of society is open if you don't drink alcohol. I try to think of a place where you couldn't, but even the vine of the sacrament in the church has non-alcoholic option provided. If there is a situation where you have to drink alcohol, I cant figure one out, so please help me with it? Actually what is much more difficult drink to avoid is coffee. That is everywhere, several times each day, and you are viewed as a difficult person if you request something else. It's even baked into the language, breaks are often calked coffee breaks, if you don't drink coffee you are an outsider. If you ask someone to come with you to a date, you often ask if they would want to have a coffee with you (even when neither of you actually drink coffee) Sometimes in events there is a tea option also, but again you are a second class citicen, having just hot water and then having to brew your own tea, and then have to figure out what to do with the thrash. There is an option to make a readily made tea that anybody could just take, but that is rarely an option, the messaging is that the event is primarily a coffee event, tea drinkers are lucky to have anything at all as an afterthought.

Thank you for your kind words. You are spot on with the drinking culture, as someone who drinks 1-2 times a year, sometimes it's hard to find new friends and connect. For the winter, I always leave when it gets to dark.

Nice to hear you liked your stay here in Finland. I dont agree with people speaking russian though, I only know a couple native finns who do, and they´re from Lappeenranta which is next to the border with Mordor.

Swedish is the second official language of Finland. Almost everyone can speak english. Russian language is not very commmon.

Greetings from Finland😎

Taking about salaries in Europe compare to US, I d say that in EU standard deviation in salaries is lower then in States, so it’s hard to be rich here but otherwise salaries for ordinary job don’t differ so much from salaries of qualified specialists as it is in US. Europe is not for people who want to earn a lot of money, over all vibe here is more relaxing.

We're happy to have you here! Glad you've enjoyed your stay!

You should do more on Finland and Finnish! Interesting to me, a Finn, who found your channel as you study and speak Russian as do I. :)

There is public information about income and income tax, but not about personal wealth in Finland. But if your wealth is based on publicly traded shares or public companies or property, such information is available. Other asset classes are more hidden from the public.

I love how you even question if Finland is more or less developed than the US. The US is a third world country compared to Finland.

As a Finn I feel that you would be crazy to choose Finland over the US. Interesting video, I subbed. About drinking, I'm an older dude lol but I wouldn't offer you vodka as I have never used alcohol unless it is embedded in a Runeberg tart or ice cream. I never saw my issue with not drinking as a problem, I just considered people into drinking as mental midgets and started to avoid them at an early age.

Спасибо большое за новое видео! Ставлю лайк! Как всегда интересно! 🙂

Hahah! That was funny! There has not been a third winter and I can speak Russian if they don't speak English. You might be a tipping off an edge soon. Just enjoy the summer before you do! 🤩

Suomi Perkele 🇫🇮 Finland is nice place to live . We don't do "small talk" it's unneccasary😂😂😂. And winter is not terrible , you just need good clothing😂😂😂

I appreciate if people shut up in saunas, dammit. I read that Japanese teahouse allows only two topics for discussion: tea and all the tableware used to serve tea. I think sauna should have the same rule: you can only discuss löyly and vasta and how sauna is built.

Mikaela, thank you! It was very interesting, but tooooooooo fast! 🙂 The main problem is that you change your thoughts and topics so quickly that it's too hard to follow and remember what you said a couple of seconds before!

На английском ты так быстро разговариваешь, не успеваю понимать. 😂