6 CULTURE SHOCKS Moving BACK to AMERICA from FINLAND | NOMAD LIFE

[@Splattis1996]

You said in a video that there is nothing finnish people enjoy more than having a foreigner talk about Finland. Well. I’m from Norway, and us small nordic countries get so little attention that it is even enjoyable to hear a foreigner talk about another nordic country.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Splattis1996 Ahh makes sense. You all deserve the attention ❤️

[@Splattis1996]

Thank you for that! The nordic countries are quite similar in many ways. Like the social codes and much of the politics.

[@mistylee717]

I’m here because I’m throwing a Finnish themed party. I’ve never been but I wanted to learn about another country and this time it’s Finland. So I’m watching all the videos I can about your wonderful country. Now I want to live there!

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Misty Lee that is so cool! Sounds like fun. Yeah Finland is a really great place.

[@MsWill813]

I appreciate Norway giving Finland attention.

[@saltyfinn4512]

One big difference from Finland is also DRINKABLE TAP WATER. That factor alone reduces plastic use considerably.

[@WhiteTiger333]

True. But I live in the USA and drink filtered tap water, with a stainless steel carry-around bottle, with the occasional indulgence in expensive VOSS water in glass bottles. :) (I love water, and VOSS water is a special treat for me, with its clean, rocky taste). Americans could easily use filtered tap water (which is really what most water bottlers do anyhow) but somehow prefer to squander money and the environment on billions of plastic bottles. Go figure!

[@USUG0]

In US they use tap water too! To dilute sodas at the fountain in fast food. So everything tastes like chlorinated pool water! LOL

[@oakstrong1]

@@WhiteTiger333 Standard water filters like you buy from supermarket doe not get rid of all contaminants. Water in Flint for example, is still dangerous to health after putting through water filter: people are forced to drink bottled water like in some 3rd world countries.

[@WhiteTiger333]

@@oakstrong1 You are right - standard filters are only to improve the flavor of already potable water.

[@MattiasWirf]

What, the tap water in US is not drinkable? I thought that was only a thing in third world and old soviet countries. / Swede

[@brukernavn3409]

About the loudness: I'm Norwegian, and one day I took the bus, there entered a couple of American tourists that were SO loud. Even though they only had a normal conversation, the volume was so much louder than anyone else on the bus. But they didn't seem to be aware that they were the only ones being that loud.

[@mikeymcmikeface5599]

Sounds like Americans...

[@PezQ84]

@JS 09 That's partly true yes..But, as a Finn i can confirm you that often times Americans do tend to stand out here a bit due to their "loudness"...But as for myself, i don't mind at all actually. I find it refreshing. It's nice to take the bus and listen to a lively/loud conversation that cuts trough the depressing silence we Finns are so accustom to.

[@just42tube]

@JS 09 , given that the British seem to have the same impression, language alone doesn't explain all. American accents and dialects are very recognizable, it can be partial explanation.

[@kimuvat2461]

I think it is researched and delibarate: the louder the music, the higher the stress level and anxiety, which you ease by eating and buying more.

[@brukernavn3409]

@JS 09 I hear multiple languages on the bus each day, but none are as loud as they were.

[@svenssonefternamn7044]

I never got why Americans Don't take their shoes off 🤷‍♂️ 🇸🇪

[@MrLady]

Agree 🇫🇮

[@langtidsminne]

Cannot imagine how dirty their floors are at rainy days. 🇧🇻

[@b.benjamineriksson6030]

Most Americans I've met are really nice but shoes inside? That is just weird... And every time I meet Americans in groups, at a conference or similar, they are SO LOUD. You don't have to scream, I can hear you. If I would visit I guess a small town in the north would do HAHA.

[@krec1kpol]

@@langtidsminne Just dirty? What about the bacterias?

[@someotamatonewithayoutubea9478]

@@MrLady ootko suomesta??

[@yohanbeck8172]

I met a chinese girl who I took out for a romantic getaway to our summer house. This place is minimum 30 km from nearest village. The silence is almost deafening there, and you can hear a bird caw 10 km away or the aspen tree in the wind several hundred meters away. It was the first time she hear echo over the water. No car, no airplane, no engines or radio, no people in a 20 km radius a silence so strong it feels like you'd be in a sound-studio. This can be quite an emotional experience for those who hasn't experienced it before. respecting the silence is very important for Finns and the purity in that is a wonderful thing.

[@stevenjohnson7086]

@yohan beck. The first time I experienced that was on a frigid winter afternoon in northern Illinois. It was such a powerful experience. That was almost 30 years ago. Now when my neighborhood gardeners arrive with enough machinery to save the mechanized army from certain frozen death, all I get is irritated and angry. Silence is golden.

[@mistylee717]

I honestly would hate that. I cannot stand silence. Maybe it’s the American in me. Or maybe it’s my tinnitus. But silence always feels like it encompasses me and makes my brain too loud.

[@ivylasangrienta6093]

@@mistylee717 You get used to it.

[@it7238]

Weird flex but ok

[@makipri]

My cottage is just 30 km from the centre of Finland and during the summer you can hear what song a couple are playing on the radio a mile away over the lake during nights.

[@aerpk]

You make some interesting and flattering points on Finland. Apparently you have gained a good insight to the Finnish landscape of mind. Welcome back when it suits you!

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Petri Kaurinkoski thank you!

[@geraltrivia951]

Should've touched on the selfishness/narcissism that runs rampant in America. It just seems that it is a fight to the death to have more and more, it really could drive someone not adjusted crazy.

[@pundewhee]

Good way to reduce plastic bottle waste is the pantti/pant/pfand/deposit system. You pay a certain amount (5-40 cents) extra for your bottle of whatever, but when you return it and they recycle it, you get the deposit money back.

[@toffotin]

True. I was just at an Offspring concert and they had a 1€ deposit for every beer can, I'm sure cleaning up after was much easier. Although, it does look weird to see all those plastic milk bottles. Just why not cardboard? Feels so weird to use plastic when you don't have to. And don't get me started on bottled water, that stuff is just pure evil.

[@terhei]

I'm pleased that in Finland we have that pantti/deposit system, can you imagine those piles of bottles if we didn't..the way we drink 😁😎

[@HaraldHofer]

In Austria we don't have a deposit system and collecting bottles works well. But we work on it since the 70s...

[@stefank677]

"Cartboard" is less eco then plastic, because it is cartboard, aluminium and plastic pressed together/ hard to recycle.

[@pundewhee]

@@stefank677 Mate, what are you on about? Never even mentioned cardboard, nor "cartboard", and you pulled that recycling difficulty thing out of your bumhole.

[@Arkkis27]

It's insane how every video you make makes me to love Finland more. Like living in here (Finland) these things and our way of life is something I apparently was taking for granted... I'll appreciate my opportunity to live here more from now on. Thank you for continuing opening my eyes

[@birgitk6518]

Arkkis I am not finnish, but have lived in Finland for six years and every time when I come back to Findland from trip and no matter where I relaise every time “damn its good here, silent and clean and a lot of other good things” 😌

[@suolainenomena7631]

Veit sanat suustani. Yoy stole my words! It's really odd how these videos about my own country (Finland) make me happy about my country. Usually when I think of my country, I think of our politics and all the negative thoughts surrounding it. But your videos show us wthat really matters: the little big things.

[@reineh3477]

And it makes me happy to be a Swede. (We have a lot in common with Finland)

[@robertheinrichvonseyfenste267]

iin most European tap water is drinkable, high quality

[@janvloggaa4920]

Finland is welcoming you back, when ever you are ready. :)

[@jackbart1960]

Having lived in Finland myself for a bit you couldn't be more on point. I haven't been back in ten years and still miss it.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Jack Barter do you live in the states? I miss it too!

[@MariaElena51185]

go back !!

[@marknewton6984]

Go back

[@steffsilverstam]

So you came home as an environmental ambassador. That’s quite something! Cheers from 🇸🇪

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Steff Silverstam pretty much ... yep 😄👍🏻 greetings from Texas ❤️

[@vanlifeforgoldenrhodes]

Ha ha ha totally relate! I'm an American living in Sweden for almost 20 years now. The few times I've been back to the US I felt the same way.

[@reineh3477]

As a Swede I can confirm that Sweden and Finland have a lot in common. Ha en trevlig dag.

[@vanlifeforgoldenrhodes]

@@reineh3477 JAPP

[@holoholopainen1627]

Sweden IS alot like Finland - Even They speak another Language !

[@nonomiga1]

I can't believe how much I can relate to every thing you mentioned. I've visited Finland 4 times in the past 2 years. It is a beautiful country and I plan on going back.

[@xskippysticky5092]

When someone asks you "what do you think about americans?" Everyone responds that they are very loud 😁

[@jaskajokunen8733]

And outgoing

[@simonaivancic528]

Italians are also very loud...Croatians too....and its annoying often

[@zackgeorgly5099]

Then I've met very unusual americans, because I don't remember them being that loud.

[@creativeandaliveat65]

... and stupid - or at least lacking depth.

[@simonaivancic528]

@@creativeandaliveat65 ohy you can say that about many cultures and countries.

[@MagdaH97]

Wow, you really absorbed the Finnish spirit during your stay x'D

[@703Bella]

Young people tend to be a bit 'noisier' nowadays. They are more open and I guess that the school system encourages them not to be so afraid to express their thoughts and feelings any more. They say that Finland is Europe's number one country to imitate USA in many things. We'' see ow this noise thing developes.. ;)

[@Tony-md7dk]

Doesn't Finland have a major depression and suicide problem?

[@KossuJahvetti]

@@Tony-md7dk www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/duncanmadden/2019/03/28/ranked-the-10-happiest-countries-in-the-world-in-2019/amp/

[@raslema7794]

@@Tony-md7dk yeah we're happiest country because all depressed people just kill themself so no problem on that :D

[@fulcanelli8352]

I've really enjoyed your videos on Finland. I'm from Arkansas and I'm going to vacation in Finland a week from now. I'm really excited. Your videos make me more excited.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Fulc Anelli nice!! I hope you have an awesome trip!

[@paristo]

So how did your trip go? Assuming that trip is in the past....

[@fulcanelli8352]

@@paristo It was fantastic! Spent a few days in Helsinki. Went to Porvoo and Lahti. Spent most of my time in this smallish town call Orimattila.(friend there) My friend's father is an English teacher and he was very interested in comparing Finland with the US so I learned a lot from him. The public transportation was amazing really. Driving through the country I noticed bus stops in the middle of nowhere. I could talk for hours about the trip, but anyways Finland is a great place to vacation.

[@paristo]

@@fulcanelli8352 Funny thing, my farmhouse is in Orimattila! But don't take so rosed idea about the public transportation. 20 -30 years ago our public transportation was paid by taxes. And we had almost everywhere in Finland 6-12 schedules per day so you could go everywhere really. The bus stops were if I recall correctly designed to be 2km apart, so you had at most 1km walking to them. And schools were all build 5km apart so that 2.5km was your maximum walking distance for children's. But in the last 20-30 years public transportation was privatized and now you can have just couple schedules per week, one direction per day, twice a week. And many places nothing anymore. And even main road schedules can be one or two a day and those even just between major cities. Lots of things has been destroyed by just capitalisation. Schools moved or ended etc... Huge areas unpopulated and just young people moved to cities, mainly to four main area, Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Oulu. 5 million people ain't much to populate large area.... :(

[@fulcanelli8352]

@@paristo I can understand your frustration, but here .. there is no public transport. i live in a town pop almost 6k .. the ONLY public transport is the greyhound stop which is a gas station about 5km from where i live. It's almost impossible to keep a job here without a vehicle. My town is about 150km from any city larger than 20k. There is no Uber here .. no taxis. I would love to have the kind of problems you speak of.

[@squirlmy]

Loved it when you rolled the 'r' in a Finnish word! Scientific studies have been done that when a larger variety of products are offered, more get sold. Whether it's a restaurant menu or soft drinks, the chance of an impulse buy rises greatly with variety. We live like rats in a consumer lab in the US, and we passively accept it. This is what freedom looks like?

[@carbonara2144]

I just loved to hear you say "ruisleipä" :)

[@gabyinparis9695]

Ruisleipä god how I miss that bread! I used to spend summers in Finland when I was younger and that it the best bread in the world (even better than the french ones which is where i'm living)

[@WhiteTiger333]

I am American, born and raised, and I can identify with every one of your points! Having traveled in Europe and in India, my perspective is permanently altered. While in Europe, I quickly learned that Americans tend to stand out in a cringing sort of way. When Germans/Austrians learned I was American, their first comment was always - you don't look/act like an American. When I returned home, it was a relief to go places and not have to occasionally struggle with a language I had learned well enough for casual encounters, but was hardly fluent in for complex conversation. And after I returned from India, it felt horrifying to go into a church with my shoes on! It felt profoundly disrespectful. Of course, I just silently tamped down that urge and carried on. Loud music in public places, especially restaurants, is massively annoying for sure. And I hate air conditioning, too. If it weren't kept so freezing cold, it would be okay since it does remove humidity. Back in the early '80s, my aunt's family in KY hosted an exchange student from Finland. Lovely young lady (high school) who, of course, already spoke multiple languages and was way ahead in every discipline, landed in the middle of rural KY. Culture shock for her! When I visited, we spent time going on long walks and letting her get her frustrations out of her system, as well as answering questions about the local people that they could not answer, having no perspective other than their own hometown. I do feel very grateful to have had opportunities to get out of my America bubble to discover other perspectives. We are such a large and homogeneous country, we really often don't understand or appreciate human diversity.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

WhiteTiger333 thanks for sharing! I enjoyed reading about your experience❤️

[@thomasmitchell198]

I really can relate to your experience especially with the plastic waste, since I live in Switzerland and my wife is from Brazil. It still shocks me every time i'm there how bad the plastic waste is in south america as well they pack three items in bag and you end up with over ten Bags for the whole shopping, the afterwards i'm at the beach and see these same shopping plastic bags swimming in the Sea!

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Thomas Mitchell thanks for sharing. That’s sad :(

[@FreedomLovin]

When I clicked on this video I was hoping you'd comment on noise levels! I only spent 10 days in Finland but I quickly LOVED the general quiet that exists there everywhere. I would easily live in Finland if not for the cold weather.

[@texasson7950]

As a Texan, I'm glad to know that you still love TEXAS. I left a comment in one of your previous videos. I shared how I could relate to a lot of what you experienced in Finland. I had similar experiences in Sweden, where I lived for a number of years. (Jag är amerikan av svensk härkomst. = I am an American of Swedish descent.) By the way, in my part of Texas, we do recycle our trash, including plastic. I agree with you that a significant number of Americans are LOUD. When I was a child, I was forbidden to be so loud in public. Of course, there are times when it is acceptable to be loud, such as at a sporting event. As a child, I can remember times when my family and I were dining out at a restaurant. I was expected to keep my voice level within the confines of our table and to have good manners. I really don't recall Americans being so loud in the past as they seem to be now. I think this is a more recent phenomenon in modern American culture. I partly blame youth who try to emulate celebrities who display this loud, obnoxious behavior. Personally, I can't stand it, and I find it very low class. While I was living in Europe (Sweden and Germany), many people were surprised to learn that I was an American, because I didn't speak loudly in public and call attention to myself, plus I look Scandinavian/German. I enjoy hearing your take on your cultural experiences in Finland. I'm sure I will listen in on more of your videos. Hejdå och/und Tschüss = Bye in both Swedish and German.

[@themouse487]

Fellow Texan here! :) WoW! I completely relate 100% with everything you said. It's nice to know that I'm not alone feeling this way. I lived in Norway for six years and moved back to Texas in 2015 as well and holy smokes was it a major adjustment. Til this day, I still am getting adjusted and like you, I definitely picked up some ways/habits that I miss and makes me feel out of place here in Texas. I love Texas, born & raised and lucky for me Norway is my second home and one day I will be back. We should definitely exchange stories sometime.

[@Kyosti5000]

From the bottom of my heart I love my country and my fellow Finns. Surely there are other awesome nations, but I love mine and our way of life. Surely we have our own problems but that is life, everyone has problems.

[@smilewithnomi]

Each and every point I can relate to. Born in India, but last 2 years here gave my heart so much peace ☮️

[@ClemensKatzer]

I am born German and live in Finland since 1999, and I am absolutely certain I will be buried in Finnish soil. I am not interested even visiting Germany, if it wouldn't be for our children to meet their relatives (or some of the rare few good or interesting things in Germany).

[@roland11110010101]

Why is Finland so much better than Germany?

[@torbenpetersen8983]

Most of what you say covers Denmark, Norway and Sweden too. It looks as you've fallen in love with the scandinavian wellfare model and our way of life (I'm danish) ...

[@doloresmey]

It´s a european thing. The same in Germany. I am german. :)

[@oh2mp]

You're sooooo welcome back to Finland in the future :)

[@yujitsuzuki5439]

Yesssss! I lived in Estonia and I used to visit Finland occasionally! I totally agree with you! When I went to the U.S from Helsinki International airport, oh my god, the noise level was actually pretty overwhelming lol After coming from Nordic to U.S for study and all, I realized how much my eating habit was changed...America loves snacking do you agree?

[@thatdude226]

Im from Finland and living abroad for the past five years. It is great to hear you sharing your experiences. You are such a genuine person.

[@ReiviFIN]

For some odd reason I find it refreshing to hear how foreigners view us Finns and our country. Some things I can agree and some I find suprising, like how we have a low crime rate, since it just doesn't feel like it :D. But then again, I haven't been traveling outside western europe. I do enjoy your videos, all of them. I get the feeling that you are who you are in these clips and don't pretend. I wish all the best for you and your family :).

[@thewhat531]

I'm thinking about visiting Finland. This made me more intent on going.

[@Horzuhammer]

Wow, didn't quite expect to be this weirded out seeing *milk being sold in plastic bottles.* :D The whole concept just feels wild to me.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Horzuhammer One of several reasons I choose almond milk! ☺️ greetings from Texas

[@squirlmy]

Those bottles are recyclable. A recycling truck picks it up once a week at homes in many (most?) parts of the country. Note also we don't irradiate our milk and so it must be refrigerated. I got weirded out seeing milk on shelves, in cardboard, not refrigerated, in Europe.

[@alexxhristova]

in canada, we buy our milk in (plastic?) bags. xD

[@Horzuhammer]

@@squirlmy Non-refrigerated milk sounds equally (if not more) bizarre! Where was that?

[@Horzuhammer]

@@squirlmy Also, I'd never heard of milk irradiation before. Apparently they don't do that here in Finland, but man.. The things you learn. :D

[@0Flow0]

I'm Finnish and I've been to Texas. I also noticed the AC thing in Texas and the consumerism. They also drive everywhere and there's no sidewalks. I was offered a ride in a suburb just because I was walking. People compliment you quite a lot even if they don't know you and say hello, even little kids. 😀 They were pretty friendly! It's too hot there for me. I liked how there was a free swimming pool and jacuzzi in the apartment complex. It was also cool to see humming birds and other exotic animals. I also noticed how all building were super new and modern, like a movie set. I prefer the romantic old buildings in Finland. Also you can't take candy to the movie theater in Texas and you can't reserve your seats. You have to pay to go to a national park which feels weird. Here are some differences

[@deizi666]

been to america myself once. that was really a culture shock for me as a finn

[@siperianlilja]

Greetings from Helsinki, it's already getting darker and colder here now, leaves are turning yellow and red and birds are moving to southern countries for winter. Nature is preparing itself for winter. It's kind of wistful but very cozy and beautiful at the same time. Have a nice day in Texas!

[@marknewton6984]

Too cold for me.

[@Ramon40340]

You know us Finns, when we find something tha we like, we are faithful... Love all your videos seems that you are growing as a person so much after living in Finland. :D

[@halfdeath9259]

Absolutely happens to me too....sound,crowded,too much choice...normally took me a week in my country and I start to miss Finland again....16 years in Finland now

[@ladyjackrabbit]

Everything you say, I agree 100%. I'm Finnish and when living in TX these are the things you really notice!

[@susancrawford5927]

I agree with you on too many choices, like pasta sauce. I feel the same about shampoo and conditioners.

[@tolvana]

You just get funnier, and more insightful every time. I enjoy your ramblings more than I should. Keep on with the courage girl! Never stop. I enjoy it too much.

[@BackHomeToHeart]

Wow! That was a surprise to me? I admire that you loved Finland that much so you are planning on going back! My cousin lives also in Texas from Lithuania. I live in England - dreaming on relocating back one day. But it's so different for you in Europe - like you said how different it all was - I am so interested how quickly you have adapted to a new life. Thats crazy!

[@WildwoodVagabond]

After receiving many negative comments suggesting that I’m complaining/nagging in this video I watched the video again myself. I can see where it may come across as complaining. HOWEVER, I wasn’t at all meaning to complain. I love Texas so much and I’m grateful to be here right now. My intentions for this video were to highlight the differences between Finland and Texas coming from and American/Texan perspective. In no way was I trying to complain or nag about my home state. I WAS HOWEVER complaining about the amount of plastic used for packaging in the country. It’s excessive and unnecessary. We have to find a solution to this. ALSO, yes the audio is loud in this video. NO, I wasn’t screaming. This video was recorded on a new camera that I wasn’t used to and it was recorded in my bathroom which has laminate floors. So there was a lot of ambient noise and I wasn’t used to how good the mic on the camera worked. Thank you for watching! Much love ❤️

[@OneManOneCamera]

I understand your points. I lived in Asia for a number of years and returning to The States was a shock to the system. Car alarm level music in some restaurants, litterbugs, giant portions of meat for sale at the supermarket and yeah, people wearing shoes in doors. Reverse culture shock!

[@Crystalheard]

I have been living in a small Finnish city for over 20 years. This place is my destination.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Otto chaogao nice! Where are you originally from?

[@MrBehemode]

Kiitos. Oli mielenkiintoista kuulla tarinasi. Keep up the good work. And welcome back, when you are ready.

[@Visukinttu1000]

Really nice words of Finland and finns, you are very welcome here 😊 👍

[@YoGranDaddyEvil]

I've been living in Estonia for 20+ years now. Cannot see myself moving back to the States anymore. Nice place to visit.... :-) I've had my AC on most of this summer keeping my flat at 21c. lol

[@lizakerr4733]

Never heard of that country.

[@beejaybertelsen]

It would be interesting to see how you would like the south of Sweden and Denmark. The climate is much milder and people not so reserved compared to Finland. Perhaps you could say it's a little bit the best of two worlds.

[@Ziralea]

You are so sweet! You make me miss Finland, too! I moved OUT from Finland to chase my dreams in Spain. Very interesting to see the differences between US and Finland. I wish I could have known you back in Finland!

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Laala thank you!

[@pricillasanders2330]

Texans Forever thats me, glad my daughter back from Finland it was so far away.

[@Angela-vn7sz]

Thanks god I clicked on this one! Really loved your comparisons 💛 I truly needed those to keep the had up through the next 4 month of total darkness and cold. 🥶But yeah, after all this IS a Dreamland to live in. Especially if you’re like me - super Introvert, who loves everything quite &simple.

[@srxhypah]

Wow, the juice was cheap in Texas for sure. I absolutely agree with you on the food. Bringing food for three people, for one person does not make any sense. Texas needs to learn that resources are limited and have to be managed in a rational way. It's also very disappointing to see that (if I understand you correctly), most of the plastic bottles are not recycled? The cardboard boxes make alot more sense too. I live in Norway by the way and finland is only 20 km from me.

[@kirsilehtonen3597]

Listening you talk about Finland makes me apreciate my beautiful country more. Haven't thought about it thourougly before hearing you talking about it. Thank's for that, welcome back here

[@finnishbeast_]

Another awesome video. Keep up the good work. ☺️🇫🇮🇫🇮❤️

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Finnish Beast thank you for being so faithful and encouraging ❤️☺️ hope the heat wave in finland isn’t bothering you too much!

[@finnishbeast_]

@@WildwoodVagabond little bit, not used for this hot weather. 🥵🍺

[@thefullshilling742]

The origin of taking shoes off at other homes is winter and removing snow covered and clogged boots to then sit comfortably. Bet they do the same thing in Canada and North America. Alaska? That's what they did in northern Finland when I was there a good few years ago. The most amusing thing I witnessed was my (Finnish) girlfriend waiting for pedestrian lights to go green to cross a small empty road at two in the morning. Hope you tried skiing. Have you told us how that was for you? Best regards from London.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

The Full Shilling I tried cross country skiing. It was fun! Greetings from Texas ❤️

[@MrAatami]

There's a plastic island size of Texas(bigger actually) in the Pacific ocean. I heard a story, not sure how true it is, but a guy from Finland was on a cruise from Indonesia and on-deck trash thing was full, so he mentioned it to the crew, some guy came and threw the bag into the ocean. This I know happens, but following, not sure. A Finn lost it and threw that crew member off the boat. I wish it was true. I'm not a treehugging shortsighted asshole, but I love nature and I wish people could see it as I do.

[@myrskylintu1]

Your english is very clear and easy to follow. As a Finn i don't mind cold, but darkness during the winter is depressing. Once i spent three weeks in Florida during the summer and the heat was just bit too much for me, with that humidity. Over 30C is tolerable if it's dry air. With jungle-like humidity over 30C is hard.

[@marknewton6984]

Florida is great. I would not live any place else. I hate snow and winter. On to the Beach!

[@marsinafrica]

I moved away for 15 years. I cannot imagine moving back to the land of fear and the unfree.

[@andreaziz5499]

Thanks for the honest observation ,when I moved from Oregan to Europe back after 35years found significant changes

[@MirkaHK]

I like how you can see good in both countries. :) ~ from a Finn living in USA at the moment :)

[@anubeadle8993]

Totally acreed. I felt same but opposited when moved back to Finland from Uk. Everything felt so quet in good way and food was so clean and healthy at Finland. I´m glad I found your video.

[@DonTiamo]

This video is so nice for me to see that even one american sees the things, I've wondered for years. And I dare to say that someone as smart, decent, pretty and warmhearted is always welcomed as the citizen of Finland. You look really pretty by the way. Greetings from Finland.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Tim O ah thank you!!

[@joro5748]

It will be great to have you back!

[@laurentius11]

Very interesting video, as always. And based on this and other videos i've seen from you, we would be lucky to have you back with us in Finland.

[@hisbigal]

I’m also an American who moved to Scotland many years ago. The few times I’ve been back to the states was a real shock to me. Scottish people are far more gregarious, even in the cities, like Glasgow where I live, and Edinburgh. Sure, it can be loud here at times, but the nice thing about Scotland is that the most amazing scenery on the planet is only a bike ride away at times. She’s right about food portions. I do like the coolness about Scotland, even though it rains most of the year (I’m a New Englander, so I don’t like heat). I can’t imagine life back in the states.

[@MariaElena51185]

Same thing happened to me returning to US after being in Slovenia. Noise level was astounding in my home town (and its a small town!), I don't eat out in the US, nothing is healthy here, but in Slovenia food is healthy fresh off the farm and brought to Market daily, and meals are inexpensive there, and elegant. Culture and taste. YES< Slovenia uses far less plastic , that's how it is in Central Europe and probably most of Europe. US is dumbed down = plastic. Don't fool yourself. All TX has to offer is sunshine...once you've been in Europe you know you have to go back! Glad you can go for a visit soon. In US people are fat and depressed and escape through food, entertainment, drugs...its awful here, I plan to move back to Central Europe, where I feel quite at home with the reserved, quiet peaceful people there with their lovely architecture, culture and food. Quietness and kindness..

[@كاظمحسين-ق8م]

You're so beautiful.

[@holoholopainen1627]

Many People Cant tell The Difference between Slovenia and Slovakia ! Which one IS which ?

[@newjawn9004]

"... be mindful..." Yes. Yes. I was so happy to hear you say this.

[@edwald4056]

A bit different from your experience but here we go. I lived in Texas for 17 years. I moved back to Kenya. I almost went crazy for the same reasons you did. I moved 4 months later to Switzerland and oh dear God. Same stuff but on the opposite

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Ed Wald oh man lol Thanks for sharing!

[@Kaffemosterful]

About plastic. It´s a good material. Keeps food fresh and reduces the amount of wasted food very much. But you need to take care of the waste. In Scandinavian countries almost 100% of plastic waste is recycled or burnt for heating. None ends up in the seas. I´m from Sweden.

[@davidbutler973]

I'd love to travel to Finland, we're going to make it happen someday. Love their language, learning that alone would be awesome:)

[@WildwoodVagabond]

David Butler I hope you get to go soon! ❤️❤️ the language is hard but possible and it is a fun language to learn. Greetings from Texas!

[@davidbutler973]

@@WildwoodVagabond I betcha it is WildWood, but in North America, The United States of America is literally my favourite country in the world, well besides Canada of course. I love America and Americans, after 9/11, I became obsessed with the USA, I have so much clothing, books, DVD's and much more Memorabilia of the United States. And the honor of having a piece of the World Trade Center, God Bless you and God Bless the United States of America:) Loves the USA I do ♥️♥️ Greetings from NL, Canada.

[@lostostados-freedomchannel1655]

Thank you Wildwood Vagabond, we Finns love you so much!

[@kolobara08]

I have moved a few times in my life time and with ''move'' I mean starting a new life in a new Country and in my experience, after 5 years the ''new'' country finally feels like home. After 4 years of living in Finland, I can see you as being adapted to the country and its customs, no wonder Texas felt somewhat strange at first. Old continent is different mentality than the new world :))

[@nathan2813]

You'll probably like to know that milk jugs biodegrade in sunlight. I learned this from cutting the tops off to grow plants in. The pots I made from plastic soda bottles endured, but the milk jug pots crumbled away within a year or two.

[@OpEditorial]

The cultural differences can be pretty extreme, the near complete inability to measure a normal human portion size is a fascinating aspect of eating out in the USA, as is the waiter asking how your meal is you while you're chewing your food 🤔

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Remedy 😂

[@shoEpaholic]

I am so happy you want to come back one day and thank you for all the lovely words and also thank you for bringing up consumerism.

[@torpmorp1324]

Well, I’ve been to Texas for a few times and lived in the US for over 4 years in a row. I too experienced the culture shock not before coming back to Finland. I hope you’ll find your peace somewhere (and maybe it’ll be Finland or some other EU country). It’s great you want to be with your parents too. Take care!

[@dosetti]

I think Finland misses you as well, thats how well you got into the finnish state of mind :)

[@Deadtired83]

In Finland we have this saying "To born in Finland is like winning a lottery" and I really could not agree more. It's not the perfect country. Winters are tough, taxes are high, people tend to be quite jealous and tend to complain pretty much about everything etc. But all in all we have a country where things tend to work and common sense is widespread, where people are honest and hard working, which is very safe and which does give you possitilities to succeed even if you haven't been given the best hand in the game. Usually after saying this last one some locals snort but compared to many other countries, I would say we are in a pretty good position since we have pretty good understanding about the meaning of support and healthcare which is offered for everyone, instead of just letting some percentual amount of people rot into their own poverty and decadence. Really can't stand the climate at times but for the country and it's people I am proud of.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Mika Pilke Nailed it!

[@Deadtired83]

​@@WildwoodVagabond Hah, thanks. I do think I have some kind of points at least. To dig it a bit, and how I see it there, for example, is a reason for our low crime rate which by the way has been archieved with very strict gun laws (Individual cannot basically own a gun here without very good argument, such as hunting). And lower amount of guns -> less stupid moves with them. Simple as that. It's just very basic math. But the main point regarding to Finnish and usual northern society is pretty much that people should more widely accept themself and others as human beings, which tend to be fallible, messed and fragile. No one will make it to the line without faltering and I guess it is just how it should be. And little mistakes on your road should not ruin your life. After all productivity creates wellbeing and then again wellbeing creates productivity. In this sense too, people should be threated proactively when problems occur. Which do occur, always. In it's deepest, what good are we if we are messing around or dead, instead of living, earning, paying taxes and actually creating our own life? This is something we should never forget. It's always cheaper to act proactively and it will serve the society as a whole. When you don't have a need to do monkey business, you likely don't do it. :)

[@mottee]

@@Deadtired83 It's not the number of guns in Finland that matters, in fact we have quite a lot of them in respect of population. But because of the licensing system they are mostly in the hands of responsible people - like me :-)

[@Deadtired83]

@@mottee Yes, I do agree. In Finland ordirany people don't have guns due to very strict regulations. And that's one of the reasons why we rarely have any kind of problems with them. But of course not the only one. Being very glad to live in a society where you don't actually need to own one to feel safe etc.

[@mottee]

@@Deadtired83 Well, there are about 5.6 million people living in Finland, of which some 700 000 are gunowners who own about 1.5 million licensed firearms. So, among the gunowners there must be a lot of "ordinary" people, who just happen to hunt or have sports shooting as a hobby. It is possible for just about anyone with a clean criminal record to get a gun permit, one just have to have an accepted reason, defined by law, to own a gun. In case of certain gun types like handguns and high capacity semiauto rifles one has to jump through extra hoops, like practising two years with a shooting club's gun. This need of seriousness and persistence, and of course the background check that is a part of the licensing process, appear to be good factors to weed out most of people who are not suitable for owning a gun. As for the difference between the situations in Finland and in the US: all I can say is that different societies need different measures. If I lived in the US I probably would be carrying, if legal. In Finland I definitely believe we are more safe as it is, when carrying a gun in public is almost entirely prohibited.

[@hansstromberg5330]

Though I am from Sweden, much of your comments are valid also for my country. (After all, Finland was, for many centuries, up to1809, the eastern part of Sweden and we more often than not - sports being the only exception - think we are siblings, despite the language barrier, since the Finnish and Swedish languages are not related to each other at all (mind you the Swedish language is an official language in Finland).I am glad that you like the pantti/pant system. I suppose you have also a preferece for the recycling efforts, aimed at reducing landfills to the benefit of - at least - using waste as an energy source, if not actually re-using or re-cycling it. And, yes, Americans, more often than not, can be heard "talking" I.E. shouting miles away. Welcome back to our part of the world, whenever, as a visitor or a resident (But I hope your parents will lead a long and happy life, A/C or not) Hans Stromberg Sweden

[@GorGob]

Great video welcome back to Finland! :D

[@WildwoodVagabond]

GorGob thank you!

[@77sailordude]

Welcome back anytime! Tervetuloa takaisin 😊💓

[@debbieprince7622]

I really enjoy your Finland videos! I hope that I will be able to move there one day, myself.

[@timoja2538]

As a finn I agree with you that relation to and responsibility for the environment is one key difference. But I think there are also many things in common. Wellcome back, often!

[@finntastique3891]

Totally agree with #5; I got the flu on two holiday trips, one to Dubai the other to New York. The reason was too efficient air conditioning.

[@jarikiviranta3734]

Wellcome back to Finland. And thanks for the vids

[@77moonwalker77]

20-22C is regular inside temperature here in Finland, above that is uncomfortable! I wear crop top and mini shorts and still feel kinda hot inside

[@Hienonen]

I have lived my whole life in the city in apartment houses and nowhere has the temperature been set so low. I'd freeze to death. But of course you can set it low yourself, that's what the thermostate is for.

[@paulm2467]

I'm from Northern England and that temperature was when we went swimming in the local rivers and lakes as kids , ideal temperature for life.

[@montanerdz]

I guess the bigger deal is that it will be 21C in the building in the middle of summer here while outside it's 35-45C and that contrast makes it so you have to take a jacket everywhere in the summer for indoor use (a bit excessive) or freeze

[@johnp139]

The a/c also needs to run to bring down the humidity levels.

[@scrubsdelight7203]

Shoe thing.. totally relatable .. Gross!! -thanks From Nepal

[@nofait1984]

we have plastic bottles in finland(soda and others), but we have really good recycling system in here and you get money for returning the bottles :)

[@squirlmy]

I was wondering about that. Our milk isn't irradiated and needs to be refrigerated, shipping in plastic saves fuel costs. We still only get 5 cents for glass bottles aluminum cans, which is a travesty. Used to be homeless people could earn money from collecting them, but there are times turf wars break out about who gets to collect in certain areas. There's actually really complicated sociology about this, but plastic=bad is way too simplistic.

[@colleen33408]

I'm sure it depends on the city, but in the U.S. we have really good recycling that's picked up at the same time as our trash and generally there are recycling bins in many public places.

[@nightwolfblues6624]

You are making good points. :) Happy to watch your video. Thank you and terveisiä Helsingistä. :)

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Nightwolf Blues Terveisiä Teksasista ✌🏼❤️

[@SiiliViin]

This loud thing seems to be big countries thing as I am Estonian and in Estonia, we have huge amount russian occupants from soviet era and they always talk, even kids, so loud, you can hear them from 100 meters away.

[@tarmo6375]

#3 Distance from A to B. Come try out Estonia. It's located 80km south of Finland. The country is so small that you can drive diagonally from end to end in like 6h. But I love it.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Tarmo that’s awesome!

[@marinarassin4231]

The same in the Netherlands

[@fintrollpgr]

However if you don't live in Helsinki it is exactly the same as in Texas regarding the distance. You need a car to get around and it can take hours to get somewhere.

[@subniggurath4873]

This shoe thing is always bothered me, if i use my shoes 8h+ in my work and come home, and don't take my shoes off, that would be disaster =). And that cold feeling is just because you haven't adjust to our weather, it takes few months to get in, like i'm super uncomfortable in hot weather (here was few days over 32 and i was dying. Cardboard milk is thanks to Sweden. Tetra Pak is swedish innovation.

[@Otokichi786]

1. Noise level! 2. Food: Many options, large portions. 3. So far away... 4. Take off your outside shoes? 5. Arctic-level air conditioning 24/7? 6. Plastic waste.

[@yaroslavmiroshnikov]

Thank you! It helps a lot!

[@iLoveTheseRemoras]

It's not really the wall thickness, it's the windows. Nordic houses and apartments practically always have triple glazed windows. In the US even single glazed are common. The difference in noise insulation is immense. Triple glazed also has a more massive frame. Lived in the US for a while and suffered from street noise even at the 12th floor. You can get proper windows fitted in the US too if you ask for them. But by default the level of construction and materials used is unfortunately very much lower in the US. Even electricity cables are run inside walls without shielding 😐

[@arkhiej]

I'm very happy to see, that someone in the America can think of the nature and our "consumerism" affecting it. I also hope you can turn some heads back there

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Ari Jantti I hope so too!

[@RoadRunnerMeep]

I'd like to go to both places, but I have such a desire to go to Finland, I think I'd die happy

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Road Runner I hope you can go. It is an amazing experience

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Road Runner Finland I mean

[@RoadRunnerMeep]

@@WildwoodVagabond thanks. I've never travelled before Finland is the first place I want to go

[@ovelillas]

I remember going to Barrie, Canada (close to Toronto) and almost freezing to death inside because my hosts thought I wanted it to be cold inside. Finnish homes are actually very warm but few people realize that. Thanks for another great video!

[@MrsMilli]

All that amount of plastic with no return system? I'm kinda shocked. It really makes me think about how small my efforts are while recycling all plastics in my household. Just think about how great result it would make for the planet if even half of american plastic waste could and would ne recycled! And we both call ourselves civilized nations...

[@sporasparel5032]

@Andrew If you have a chance to wake some Finns up without seeming pushy then please do it. Our nation has such a high trust level that this globalist propaganda designed to make us dependent on EU works like a charm. We are already one of the cleanest countries in the world and the ammount of work we do to fight pollution is insane. These people want our industry completely gone

[@rathelmmc3194]

Kirsi Mäkinen-Heikkilä, most cities in the US have recycling programs that will recycle plastic.

[@lexyabby1047]

First time I have seen you..nice to hear American perspective on what Finland is like. I've been to GREECE sooo beautiful there! Completely get how it feels to come home after experiencing a more layed back life style that is More family and neighbor friendly too! Thanks for recording your experiences!