A holiday in Finland is unimaginable without a sauna
Actor Ville Haapasalo, the local 'Santa Claus' Joulupukki, fishing, life without hustle – some of the things that come to mind when you hear the word Finland. But, as the publication "This is Finland" notes, there is much more to discover.
1. Friendly cashiers in Finland
This is not a coincidence, but a deliberate policy. Supermarket job ads state: "We are looking for quick, cheerful people who can get along with others." Slow and gloomy people simply won't be hired as cashiers.
2. Forest and animals within city limits
Well-fed hares munch grass in the center of Helsinki. They are used to it, and it is not unusual for passersby: in Finnish city parks you can meet not only hares, but also squirrels, pheasants, foxes. Nature in Finland is not separated from the city, and green islands of parks push back the concrete jungle. According to Finnish law, anyone can pick mushrooms or blueberries there.
3. Finns are honest people and take others at their word
An oral agreement in Finland has the same force as a contract sealed with stamps. That's why many Finnish companies don't have stamps. A phone left on a bench will very likely return to its owner: the finder will hand it in to the police if they can't contact the owner. And proverbs teach: "Better to be an honest sinner than a pious deceiver," "You can deceive another for a day, yourself for a lifetime."
4. You can drink tap water
In Finland, even small children drink tap water. This is sensible: studies prove that water from Finnish taps contains 100 times fewer microbes than bottled water. This probably world-record purity is ensured by multi-stage purification and pipes that are kept in good condition.
5. Many dogs, but no traces of their activities
There are no stray dogs in Finland, and dogs that walk their owners are often seen. Every fifth family has a dog, but this tailed army does not dirty the streets. The secret is in the owner's pocket: a special plastic bag. The used bag is thrown into a special trash container.
6. Police do not take bribes
More than 90% of Finland's population trusts the police – a figure higher than trust in the president, parliament, and government. The police have earned this trust through professionalism, friendliness, and incorruptibility. Here it is impossible to bribe a police officer to turn a blind eye to a violation of the law. Finns know for sure: the guardian of order will not take a bribe, and will arrest the one who offers it.
7. Even 7-year-old children go to school on their own
Finland is a safe country. Nothing proves this as much as a first-grader walking home from school without parents. It is not unusual to see little ones with backpacks even in the early winter darkness.
8. You can freely enter parliament
You can enter the parliament directly from the street without any documents and observe its work from the public balcony. You just need to leave your belongings in the cloakroom and turn off your mobile phone. Photographing with a mobile phone is not prohibited, and visitors are kindly provided with a printed agenda and a seating plan of parliamentarians in the hall.
9. Even small towns have swimming pools and ice rinks
In the city of Outokumpu in northeastern Finland, there are just over 7,000 inhabitants and a wonderful sports center. Similar centers with swimming pools, and often with ice rinks, are found in almost every Finnish town. For 5-6 euros, you can swim, enjoy a hydromassage, and even slide down a water slide for 2-3 hours. And, of course, take a sauna – in Finland, swimming pools are not built without one.
10. Everyone can speak English
Since the 1960s, English has been the most studied foreign language in Finland. Today, more than 99% of high school students study it. To the delight of international students, Finnish universities offer courses in English.