5 shocking differences between Finland and USA

Today, I’m joined by my American friend Jade to tell you all about what life’s like in Finland compared to the USA. Join us as we talk about 5 shocking cultural differences between USA & Finland.

Here are our topics with specific & funny examples about each:
#1 difference: communication ( 0:35 )
#2 difference: food ( 2:50 )
#3 difference: coffee & water ( 5:25 )
#4 difference: vacation time & work ( 8:25 )
#5 difference: holiday celebrations (12:51)

Wanting to learn more about Finnish culture? Try out my free Finnish Culture class right here:

What cultural difference was the funniest to you? Let me know in the comments ⬇️

(Psst come say moi 👋🏻on Instagram @her_finland )

[ACofficialvlogger]

Finland is the finest place like heaven 🥺❤️

[BuffaloLuxuryLiving]

I work in property management here in the USA (Texas) and I feel like I would thrive more in Finland. I show apartments here all the time and it never occurred to me that I should be giving a step by step tour. I just open the door and allow the guest to walk around the unit at their leisure and if they have any questions I am happy to answer them. Being autistic I feel like I am less aware of social norms and that does hinder me at times. One day I hope I can live in Finland and finally live in a society that makes sense to the way I operate. Everything in Finland seems so logical and structured well.

[AlenMalen-qe]

I didn't know that you don't get payed extra in USA for work on Sunday... In a lot of Europe countries you get fully payed for being at home if your kid is sick... but Finland definitely has one of best working conditions in the whole world.

[gregdelaney]

I enjoyed this video a great deal, both from the standpoint of hearing about cultural differences and from having the sharing and discussion be so friendly and pleasant. There is so much divisiveness here in the USA right now and it was so fun to see you two ladies have a good time explaining some of the differences. It was very nice to bring some focus back to my Finnish heritage through Varpu's friendly and enthusiastic demeanor.

[sillymystic]

The two of you are so adorable and have such nice personalities! I'm really, really, really hoping I can visit Finland either late 2022 or 2023.

[katytedmon-bury]

So fun & informative as always 💕 Love seeing these differences!!

[candacetallent]

We have been conned in the US to think that our tap water is not good to drink. but it is fine almost everywhere. Good observations!

[traceymccullough]

I don't know how I missed this one! I love your chemistry together and knowing some of the differences such as Finnish sandwiches. In America, we would call them open-faced sandwiches which are usually smothering in gravy or sauce! P.S. I like the Finnish sandwiches better!

[historygal]

This was very interesting! I am American but I come from a Mexican-American family in south Texas. We drink coffee day and night here. It must always be fresh! Never microwaved. If it's been out for a bit, a fresh pot will be put on. It is customary to offer coffee to visitors and would be considered in bad taste to give them anything other than fresh. Asking for a fresh pot of coffee to be brewed in restaurants is not unheard of here at all. It's just common courtesy. Also, in my family, Christmas Eve is the big celebration for us. All gifts were opened at midnight or for those of us that attend religious services, after church or after midnight mass. Or for the young ones, they would be opened before bedtime. Christmas day was the day to be spent with immediate family at home and is meant to be a relaxing one. Another one would be ice cream...it used to come in box containers up until the early 90's perhaps. So, it is not an uncommon sight for those of us who were around back then.😊 There are other similarities to Finns but one thing I will point out is the labor laws here in the US. Unfortunately, not all employers follow them. Yes, we do and should pay differential for working overnight shifts but there are variances that should be stated in your employment contract in accordance with US labor laws. Any chances we could see you both in a live session listing more differences? I really enjoyed this!

[maribelcosta]

This is a great! Planning a trip to Suomi in 2022 and I am soaking this all up! Kiitos!

[lyrigageforge]

I am a Finn. In my family the gifts were always from Joulupukki aka Santaclaus. It just isn't a thing really to brag that 'I gave this' just like the thing that once you gave that gift it is absolutely not yours to ask after or make any comments about it's use. As for things like bottles of something alcoholic which may at times come as a gift from work friends or well others too - if your family like mine does not use any of that stuff and has no use for it - then we would simply put it in cabinet and pass on to someone else after putting in another a gift bag making sure there is no sings that someone gave it to you. Or the thing that you NEVER look at a gift horse in the mouth - meaning - you never but never complain a word about a gift if you like it or not. So if you don't - then you will just like with the alcohol in my family - simply pass the thing on to someone who can use it or may like that kind of a thing. I would really feel deeply insulted being returned a gift - cause it is not really about any object, or a thing - but about the thought that you put into taking the person in consideration.

[jaxturner]

I really enjoyed this video! You ladies are wonderful to watch!

[danielbeach]

Young Lady - your command of English is very good. I love hearing you draw out your "U"s! Thank you for your hard work on these videos. Your happy demeanor is a very nice gift. I hear Jade's drawl a little bit, being from Missouri.

[davestrasburg]

Finland, Land of a Thousand Lakes. America, Land of the Free, Home of the Brave. My two favorite countries! l have citizenship in both.

[squidcaps]

Bread, butter, meat, cheese. The cheese holds open sandwhich together, and you can grab it if you want and you don't get sausage/cold cut fingers. The only exception is lenkkimakkara sandwhich with mustard.

[sherryljo]

Thanks so much for this amazing video. You both are lovely and so informative! I would love to know more about Finnish education for school children.

I am a Finnish American, and my Finnish cousins choose a vocation at age 15 or 16.

Here in our family, we celebrate Christmas Eve as our big holiday with dinner, church, seeing holiday lights, opening gifts to each other by the fire. Christmas morning we have stockings from Santa overfilled with small gifts and treats and have a big breakfast.

Keep up the great work 💜

[Halli]

The first difference is one I love about Finns (I'm Icelandic): If a Finnish person has nothing meaningful to contribute, he/she will simply stay silent! The hidden flip side: If a Finn says something without being asked, it will be quiet and unassuming, but you had better LISTEN and HEED his/her words! There is likely a compelling reason for such "effusiveness" on behalf of a Finn.
The purity of the tap water is simply a Nordic thing. ALL the Nordic nations have spring-like tap water. Period!
I believe the same goes for the main Christmas Celebration Binge (food and gifts), all the Nordics start the binge at 18:00 on Christmas eve, some even at 17:00. Christmas day proper is reserved for lying back, moaning about the overeating yesterday and in our case in Iceland, having a coze with one of the Christmas gift books (a Dane would say "hygge sig med en bog").

[loramuer]

Ice cream always came in a box growing up in the 60s and 70s in Minnesota

[fenghuanglin]

This was so fun! I am very curious to know more about Finnish sandwiches! My brain can't wrap my head around them! :)

[RodrigoXV]

6:25 So when it comes to coffee, Finns are like Brazilians. Coffee all day, wants more coffee, make new coffee. I can't imagine someone putting coffee in the microwave in Brazil.