Why I Love Finland So Much

In case you were wondering

[mikrokupu]

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 in schools. 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.

[cinderellaandstepsisters]

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.

[Tyrisalthan]

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.

[SamiNami]

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.

[leopartanen]

"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.

[Hannu_H]

I would love you to do more videos in English. Again short comment 😄

[lutcaah]

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.

[llssneN]

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

[maxdashiev]

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.

[samhartford]

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! 🤩

[nikolayvyalykh]

you are beautiful hello from Lancaster PA amish country))) or Cranford NJ

[vladimirtomin]

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

[ImForwardlook]

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.

[justtube]

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.

[Gwahlur]

Thank you for the nice words about our country! :)

About the Russian language though, that is definitely very regional, as also mentioned in other comments. I also know Russian and hear it frequently in Helsinki and the bigger cities of Eastern Finland. But if you come to the west of the country you almost never hear it. I can immediately tell that you just happened to be in the few places where Russian speakers are somewhat more common.

[РушанШигапов-не]

ЕЛЯ, ТЫ ПСИХОЛОГ ВЫСШЕЙ КАТЕГОРИИ , ПАЛКОЙ ОСИНОЕ ГНЕЗДО ПОТРОШИЛ МОЛОДЕЦ ДЕВКА, РЕЙТИНГ ПОШЕЛ ПО ВЕРТИКАЛИ И САМОЕ ГЛАВНОЕ ПУСТЬ ГАДАЮТ ❤❤❤❤❤

[arihulkkonen]

Hello Mikaela❤ vieläkö olet Suomessa 🇫🇮🌞🌼

[infernalstormrider]

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😂😂😂

[EiraAimo]

Per capita, i wonder where this idea comes that you cant be rich on Finland or in Europe. Lets be real, 99% of people fail with their american dream. They wont be rich. Not even close, even when you dedicade your whole life to work. I actually think its easier to achieve pretty decent (upper)middle clas life in Finland, with just basic effort and lots of free time and benefits.

One thing with money and Finland is modesty. You see people around you, while missing out totally how good life they live. Group of millionaires can be hanging out at gas station and drinking coffee wearing crocs like anybody. There is lots of hidden money in Finland, but when you dont see all the richness, cars, mansions, white parties, yachts you think it means richness dont exist. In US, many of those things are not even real, but founded with huge debt and other things. Yeah, it seems more flashy than it really is and vice versa in Finland.

[cinderellaandstepsisters]

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