Ville Haapasalo, Joulupukki, fishing, life without fuss – these are some of the things that come to mind when you say Finland. But you can find much more here, notes the website "This is Finland".
1. Friendly cashiers in Finland
This is not a coincidence, but a deliberate policy. Job advertisements for supermarket staff state: "We are looking for nimble, cheerful people who can get along with others." Slow and gloomy people simply won't be hired as cashiers.
2. Forest and animals within the city limits
Plump hares munch grass in the center of Helsinki. They are used to it, and passersby are not surprised: 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 trust others' word
An oral agreement in Finland has the same force as a contract sealed with stamps. Therefore, many Finnish companies do not have stamps. A phone left on a bench will likely return to its owner: the finder will turn it in to the police if they cannot contact the owner. Proverbs also 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 show 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 well-maintained pipes.
5. Many dogs, but no traces of their waste
There are no stray dogs in Finland, and dogs walking their owners are common. 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
Over 90% of Finland's population trusts the police – this figure is higher than trust in the president, parliament, or government. The police have earned this trust through professionalism, friendliness, and incorruptibility. It is impossible to bribe a police officer to overlook a violation of the law. Finns know for sure: the officer will not take a bribe and will arrest the one who offered it.
7. Even 7-year-olds go to school on their own
Finland is a safe country. Nothing proves this more than 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
Straight from the street and without any documents, you can enter parliament and observe its work from the public gallery. You only have to leave your belongings in the cloakroom and turn off your mobile phone. Taking photos with a mobile phone is not prohibited, and visitors are kindly provided with a printed agenda and a seating chart of the parliamentarians in the hall.
9. Even small towns have swimming pools and ice rinks
The town of Outokumpu in northeastern Finland has just over 7,000 residents and an excellent sports center. Similar centers with swimming pools, and often ice rinks, exist in almost every Finnish town. For 5-6 euros, you can swim, enjoy a hydromassage, and even go down a slide for 2-3 hours. And, of course, have a sauna – in Finland, no swimming pool is built without one.
10. Everyone can speak English
Since the 1960s, English has been the most studied foreign language in Finland. Today, over 99% of high school students learn it. To the delight of foreign students, Finnish universities offer courses in English.