25 Weird Things about Life in Finland (American POV)

Let me be the first one to say that I love my life in Finland. In this video, I share 25 things that were "weird" to me at first when I moved to Finland from the USA.

So many of these unique things about life in Finland make me love my life here!

Consider the word "weird" to just mean different 😊 Which is the most interesting "weird thing" to you?

Follow along my journey as an American in Finland on

[hopoheikki]

I believe the (second) inner door prevents cold air getting in that easily in the winter. Sort of like an airlock in a spaceship etc. :)

[sebastiansandvik]

Regarding soda at lunch - I moved from Finland to the US (D.C.) and lived there for some time. Never got used to soda at lunch. My job had a cafeteria, and soda was included in the price of the meal, but water from the soda fountain wasn't. So you actually had to pay extra to drink water. That was very weird to me!

[pauljmorton]

People who want a quick coffee in car will usually make their coffee at home and put it in a thermal bottle that they'll be drinking from in the car.

[sonjavilenius]

Jokamiehenoikeus "every man's right" applies to privately owned forests too. If it's not obviously someone's yard (clearly maintained, lawn, my grandpa has an old toilet seat near the summer house...) then you're allowed to forage (without damaging moss or trees or other stuff that takes over a year to grow back) without needing to find out who owns the forest. If you find yourself lost or hurt and freezing, you may damage trees to save your or a companion's life.

[eerohorila]

3:35 Tuulikaappi. "Wind closet". In the winter when it is -10 to -30 centigrade and it is windy and snowy, that space will take the hit and not the whole house. Ingenious👌

[sampohonkala]

I think the Moomin characters are so popular because the original Moomin books are something that adults can relate to. They are exactly weird novels that go rather deep into people's feelings, fears, joy and imagination and the characters may represent different moods; I may want to pick a certain mug depending on how I feel or even to change my mood.

[Gibbetoo]

you definitely can find adhesive bandages from grocery stores.

[BoloH.]

Drive-through coffee shop wouldn't be fiscally viable, every coffee drinker downs at least one cup at home before leaving and there's free coffee at work. If there isn't, resign. Immediately.

[MarifromKuopio]

I've been travelling to the US many times, and I found it funny, that the waitors and waitresses introduce them selves. It felt like they want to be my next best friend. Of course it is because the tip system, but feels weird for a Finn. :)

[lyondragons]

I was just at the mall the other day and realized that even tho I was surrounded by people, I could hear the humming sound from all the electric devices in there, bc people were so quiet. Personally I love it a I also love Finnish forests and spend time in them every day.

[HerraPlagu]

That radiator is part of central heating system, most of houses have central heating, AC is rather rare, and the radiators are in front of windows because rising hot air from the radiator creates sort of "air barrier" in front of windows and prevents draft feeling from window.

[undertasty]

Interesting points! But I feel like I should point out why Finns might feel so brand concious, as opposed to say, US citizens. I think it's because we are so we aware of the fact how small our nation is in the grand scheme of things. The whole population of Finland is something like 60% of the population of New York City! So whenever we make something that proves to be popular or of good quality or noteworthy in any way, it seems we go to TOWN, wether it's Angry Birgs or Moomins or Marimekko or the superior linens of Finlaysonl.

[ImFromFinland]

I find it always interesting to watch videos about people living here and hearing their opinions!

Also, you pronounced "juustohöylä" really well!

[halmond]

About turning to the right at red light. I think the reason why that is not okay in here comes from how much we have pedestrians and bikers. You would end up stopping in the middle of the intersection so often that it would create more issues than solve them. In US it is more rare that you have people walking or biking to the places that it is not really considered in there. You move everywhere there with car. And what comes to the cheese slider that thing is star with slicing cucumber too when you want thin slices on top of you slice of bread.

[tapio_m]

Everyman's right allows you to forage even at private forests. No one can really deny people from walking in forest unless it's like right next to someone's home.

[MsBestPilotEver]

Typical lunch is considered healthy, so soda doesn't really seem appropriate 😊

[jpalan]

How hot it is inside at the summer, depends on the house. Older, properly built wooden houses are not that hot even in the hottest summer, but an apartment can be a 24/7 sauna in the summer if the windows point south.

[ismoouu]

I have seen many of these kind of videos through the years, but I like that you managed to tell these opinions without sounding condescending, smug etc. However, you still were able to say also things that aren't your favorite, but you did it in a polite way.

[OutiHamara]

Bandages are available in nearly all markets yet contact lens solutions are usually available only in bigger supermarkets.

[rasa]

It's common sense that you can't turn right or any other direction when red lights are on