5 Things To Avoid In FINLAND

[@0Flow0]

I'm Finnish and I dont find bragging rude but embarrassing. 😀 It makes people look insecure or narcissistic if they need to brag.

[@chryssalidbait8765]

It is one of the leading causes of myötähäpeä.

[@carolusmartellus6552]

Exactly. A person bragging about his / her achievements, makes a Finn suspect he / she is not very good in his / her job

[@holoholopainen1627]

@Firstname Lastname Is That Your Real Name - or Artist Name ?

[@Ama-Elaini]

I think it's the case of "empty barrels make the most noise" or in Finnish "siitä puhe mistä puute". There's no need for bragging when deeds, not the words, often speak the loudest. Your work should be good enough to speak for itself.

[@emppu1012]

I agree. In Finnish culture actions speak so much louder than words, and humility is gold. If you're good at something you should just show it, and even when you are supposed to "sell" yourself and your abilities(like in work interviews etc.) you should do it with humility and realistically, and not oversell. Because you are expected to follow up to every word you say

[@Norpal]

The human brain is an amazing device. It can take in and analyze vast amounts of information in a heartbeat. One of the prime examples of this is when a Finnish person steps onto a bus and sees that there are no empty pairs of seats, so they'll have to sit next to someone and must, as quickly and nonchalantly as possible, take measure of every single passenger to determine who would be the least awkward to sit with. It's like that scene from The Terminator where Arnie steps into the bar and his cyber eyes start scanning the clientele for threats, just with more anxiety.

[@loofy9147]

Or just stand up the entire way. That too is a thing.

[@NetAndyCz]

Is there a country where people tend to sit with stranger rather than next to empty seat? Most of the Finnish behaviour seems normal to me, though I have slightly reduced personal space preference.

[@OhertRasmus]

If all of the seats are taken, just stand the whole trip.

[@ania4683]

@@NetAndyCz Yea, it's the same thing in Poland.

[@pundewhee]

Slight clarification, we do say "hi" (hei, moi) if we happen to come across neighbours in an apartment building staircase, but that's usually about it. However, I usually listen carefully and look through my peephole to make sure no-one is in the staircase before I exit my apartment, but accidents happen and you meet someone.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

pundewhee hahaha

[@TurreTuntematon]

Wildwood Vagabond Actuallu this is true. People go to great lenghts in Finland just to not have to be social 😂

[@neuwwin8169]

Haha, same! Oh the horror when you have to share an elevator with one of your neighbours

[@AkunPulivari]

@@neuwwin8169 That's why you don't use the elevator unless you absolutely HAVE to. Stairs are also risky but the danger is shorter due to moving in opposite directions.

[@erisonyt]

Well I'm an _introvert Finn_ so I don't say hi to neighbours even if I lamentably have to use the staircase when they are near. They do the same though. At the office I often say hi to people I know well. If I don't, then just sometimes, or try to reply quickly when walking past if they happen to greet 😅 Seriously, I know dozens of people at work. It would be terribly bothersome to have to greet all of them. Btw, the English feel the same about skipping in queues than Finns, and in many other respects.

[@kirsh2036]

The queue for free coffee is only beaten by the queue of the free buckets 😂😁

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Kirsi Huotari haha

[@marihonkanen9876]

I was just about to mention that!! 🤣🤣🤣 We Finns ourselves laugh at this too! Hilarious! 😅😂😆

[@Kimble81]

Never ever attend a happening where they are serving free coffee from a free bucket!

[@kirsh2036]

@@Kimble81 🤣

[@Kimble81]

@Firstname Lastname a cup? 🤗😛

[@ihavetopowerofgodandanimeo2551]

8:11 oh just wait till they start giving buckets

[@WildwoodVagabond]

TableForkTheThird oh yeah the bucket thing lol

[@jukka-pekkatuominen4540]

@@WildwoodVagabond The bucket thing is probably a joke that has gone way out of hand. Yes - Tokmanni gives away (free) buckets when they open new stores and people line up for them. So funny. Hardly ever have I seen it mentioned that the buckets are full of the stores goods which some are worth more the 250 euros.

[@anttimakela9127]

buckeeeeets!

[@Kyosti5000]

Yeah, for some reason old people have a thing for those free things. Go figure.

[@deadtriple]

Bypassing the queue can lead to a fight if you are drunk and queuing for fast food. Often the local police watch this beautiful Finnish Saturday morning event at 4am

[@Emilyletters]

😂

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Haha 😄

[@JormaKovanen]

The same can happen when you are waiting for taxi.

[@humppapomppa1186]

It is not haha, it is unfortunately so true that there occur fights and even deaths around queue especially when there are drunk people.

[@yorkaturr]

Regarding personal space. I have been a Finn all my life, so I'll tell you a secret. I secretly hope that someone more extroverted than me would start a conversation at a bus stop or a grocery store or wherever people casually bump into each other, as long as they have something nice to say, especially if that person is a foreigner. It makes me feel special, bumps my self-esteem and carries a long way.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

yorkaturr thanks for sharing! I can imagine you’re not the only one who feels this way. Hope your weekend is going well. Greetings from Texas!

[@KaiKiFI]

Same!

[@KK19825]

C'mon guys! There's a lot these extroverted Finns around, at least here in eastern Finland. I casually strike up a conversation with people in a bus or train, if they have a dog then a conversation is guaranteed!

[@neuwwin8169]

I'd argue a lot of ppl enjoy a stranger striking up a conversation in the right circumstances. Personally I hate it. Don't want to talk to them but don't want to seem rude either. It's a question of personal preference and I find it almost odd whenever someone claims finns are quiet and don't talk to strangers. At least in my experience it's not true at all. Kinda wish it was tho😂

[@zoolkhan]

as a finn who has seen other places, i suggest you move to the netherlands. Dutch people are honest and direkt like finns,but minus the shyness. They would suddently speak to you out of nowhere to make a comment about the weather or the product you just put in your basket.. etc. I love the dutch people, very different from i.e. the germans.

[@michabach274]

When I was studying abroad, I lived in the same apartment complex with a lot of American students. They were very friendly and liked to suggest we should do this or that together sometime. Initially, I would respond in the way that Finns often do if I was not really interested or had already made other plans. I would say, "well, I don't know" or "I don't know if I can make it on that particular day", by which I tried to signal that I didn't think it was a good idea. But then the Americans would usually ask "why not?", and I would have to answer that question. So, I quickly learned that the easiest way to get out of that conversation was to say "yes" to everything and accept their invitation everytime they suggested we should do something together. We never ended up doing it anyway because they would already forget about it before the next time I would see them. They were just used to a different culture. They didn't understand my subtle Finnish way of turning down their invitation, and it took me some time to understand their way of making plans without actually following through on them.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Micha Bach good comment! Thanks for sharing

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Classy Like Me haha... well I don’t really. That’s one reason I don’t have friends or hang out with anyone 😄

[@Antto]

Well in aparment building where you live in you should always greet your neighbors because it's good manners. 99% of people will say 'Moi' or 'Huomenta' if it's early morning. Thank god we are not forced to make any excuses to talk to our neighbors. If I am busy or neighbor is busy then I will not say anything and let them go. Irrelevant chit-chat or small talk is not needed because it does not make any difference to anything, it's just words after words of nothingness. Nobody got time for that.

[@birgitk6518]

Antto Here in Finland I can assure that everybody in every starecase in every building are saying “moi” even if you are not a neighbour but just in the staircase. I have done homecleaning and yes moving a lot in a different houses and always I get hi wich is very nice :) cus I am from Estonia and this does not happen there. Sometimes my long time neighbours didnt say hi when I lived there. And it suprises me when people say that finns prefer not to talk, cus its not true what comes to older people and everybody here are very helpful. Once I had a situation that I was looking for some building in Pasila and I think I looked like very confused and looked around me and one finnish lady ask by herself to I need help. I was like, oh thank you so much but no, cus I almoust knew where I have to go but looked more like I didnt😂😂 I love Finland and finns :)))

[@1trucker79]

Thank you for your videos. Finally someone explaining us so others can understand why...

[@WildwoodVagabond]

You're so welcome! Thanks for your support

[@lukeearthwalker7970]

Oh yeah. That bus stop pic... you just nail it. Any where, any age, ...

[@flymb3358]

You forgot to mention, when they were giving away free buckets, the queues were also really long

[@Angga19]

that is so true. I laughed. Thank you :D you must be finn or you know us too well.

[@holoholopainen1627]

Grand OPENING - This is The Way to get NOTICED ! FREE SOMETHING ! This is The BEST - MARKETING STUNT in Finland ! Watch Video BENGALIN TIIKERIT on KZbin - and even it was done 2013 People still talk about it ! Many still have The Dvd - but NEVER SEEN IT ! It Not about The Tigers - but ALL THE FUZZ - around it ! Those were FREE ( NO MONEY ) but the STUNT ITSELF !

[@rexpalus7455]

I loved that you know 'jokamiehen oikeudet'-concept. Respect!

[@uunikorni]

Nowadays it's called "jokaisen oikeudet" like every person's rights ♀️♂️

[@zoolkhan]

I wish some finns would actually respect the nature as much as you do. I have a "mökki"-neigbour nearby and i can always tell when he has been around by counting the beer cans and trash that i suddenly find in the environment (i live in the forest, respect it and it almost causes me phyiscal pain when i see this disrespect)

[@deeznuts4703]

@@uunikorni nah, jokamiehen oikeus is still completely valid and good term. Y'all just love to get offended by every word

[@ozsfi]

Just be careful if you are picking berries in a forest that you do not go too near to a house, like someone's summer house.

[@jeansodarc8552]

There is actually a lot of stories about Finnish refugees who went to USA after the war and immediately bonded with native Americans due to the respect and love for nature.

[@just_jouni]

I feel that the hugging when meeting is changing with younger generation. I would say people under 30 it is not that uncommon to hug when meeting your friends. Loved your video!

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Jouni Turunen do you feel like the younger generation is also a bit more social compared to the norm? I’ve heard that is changing a little too. Thanks for watching!

[@villep6356]

@@WildwoodVagabond Mee likes you and beautiful ass

[@christopherharrisii1010]

I find hugging friends was common. now that most are married and don't do it anymore but my single friends still like hugs.

[@TurreTuntematon]

Really good video! I think you really grabbed the essentials here!! 😊 You have great skills of picking up the differences in cultures!

[@TheAzynder]

Yeah, I hate those guys... Well I hate that aspect of them ^^

[@JuupelisJaapelis]

But seriously, who doesn't think someone is a jerk when they cut the line?

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Judit Ginzboorg here it can be annoying when someone cuts in line. But many times people give up their place in line to be courteous but of course if someone cuts in front of you it can be annoying

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Freezed Eve haha

[@_Juke_]

@@WildwoodVagabond it true still my dad's uncle died in a drunken knife fight with his friend

[@JJiMedia]

There are people who really don't say anything if you do cut in line but you would be dead in a fraction of a second if looks could kill, that's certain. Also, there are some people who will let you know if you cut in line and rest assured, it's not going to be a friendly choice of words, although it's in Finnish.

[@zoolkhan]

@@freezedeve3119 grilli kioski has an own set of rules and culture :)

[@jacobw.5340]

Yes, you're absolutely right. We finns do love and respect the nature. And I just want to stress that if you as a foreigner are picking up berries or mushrooms in Finland, do NOT go and pick in areas where there are houses closeby, like within 100 meters, because - obviously you're not only trespassing and picking up their berries, but what's worse, you're also violating their privacy and for that reason it can become unpleasant for you. This is mostly for the Asian,Russian and Ukrainian people who don't seem to understand the way it goes in Finland.

[@NetAndyCz]

That reminds me of my trip to Scandinavia... I think there is a rule that you can camp in nature anywhere but at least 200 m away from any house, but the damn Finns (and other Scandinavians) do not build normal villages with houses together, and vast space between them, but they space their houses like 300 m apart, so it is really hard to find a spot that is away from everyone... and to be honest it is really hard to tell if someone lives 100 m away.

[@jannehietanen8932]

@@NetAndyCz Depens were you are. Youre mostly welcome to finland, pick berries or mushrooms, oh how they writen anyway. Just come.

[@bambae7669]

Fun story about queues in Finland: The Coca Cola christmas truck came to Oulu, Finland and gave a can of coke to everyone who came to visit. The queue to the truck was so long (over 5 miles in most aerial directions) that it completely halted the traffic for the entire southern side of the city, including the freeway and the airport. People waited in queues in the traffic for hours just to see the truck, since there was a separate queue at the site for the can of coke. There was also a recycling event there, for bottles and cans. P.S when your face got closer to the camera, i instinctively nudged a bit backwards on my couch, thanks for the laughs.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Bamba E haha 😆 that’s funny! Thanks for sharing

[@caravb5906]

You got too close for this English person XXX lol xxx

[@miyolinux]

As an American, I've never understood why people don't respect other's personal space here in the US. Thank you for the videos about Finland; I've always had a dream to visit there.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Miyo Linux I hope you get to visit!

[@miyolinux]

@@WildwoodVagabond Thank you. ☺

[@FINNTIN]

@@miyolinux You're very welcomed to come in here

[@miyolinux]

@@FINNTIN Thank you!

[@jarnettifritjof2246]

OKEY, tnx. :) *ITS,* hey.. ' kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6O9kGNvjc-em5o ' ..ONLY, *for* You! *(..youknow?* ;))

[@anomnom3144]

Whatever they are giving for free, Finns will queue in masses there :D

[@pahakasvivenuksesta2653]

xD that´s a meme. Inside joke :)

[@almakatariina3467]

Especially buckets

[@holoholopainen1627]

Before ALL Elections - You have Party Meetings at Market Places ! By dealing out free coffee & pulla - They have a job for 4 years - to take care of Your LIFE !

[@tylsimys67]

I don't, but know the psychology about it: we have everything but also don't want to waste anything (an opportunity included :D). All things may be useful, always recycle, never mess with the environment... It's not that we are holier than others, doing otherwise just don't make any sense.

[@Raikon87]

what about free hugs?

[@katja7568]

Oh yes, the number one. I have got into trouble with my directness with americans even if i have warned them i am "brutally honest" but i guess that means different things in usa and finland :D

[@mikakorhonen5715]

How many times they shot you?

[@annarasmus8737]

Yeah I guess....✌️🤗🇫🇮

[@zoolkhan]

@@mikakorhonen5715 they only shoot you if youre black - katja is safe

[@lesliefranklin1870]

@Katja: "Honest" sounds good. "Brutally honest" doesn't sound so good. It is like you're using it as a weapon.

[@pepperfairy2104]

@@lesliefranklin1870 that's the thing. If i say i am honest, i don't think people i have talked to really understand what honesty up here means. So to enhance the message i have added brutally honest, so the point gets through. I assure you, i do not mean to be mean or mean to hurt people when i am being honest. Being honest just seem to mean different things here and compared to there.

[@squidcaps4308]

The free coffee thing, it is known here as "free buckets". It is more of a joke, people went to get free buckets from a mall opening, cues formed until it got silly and then we embraced that silliness in full. Now people sometimes camp to get pretty much nothing.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

SquidCaps 😄

[@helenakoivisto4459]

All that You said was truth. Thank You for a Video. You have find a Finnish soul. Just that way we live. Your Vlog is wonderful.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

helena koivisto thank you so much!

[@tuikkur.5655]

Thank you again for this very observant video about us Finns! You clearly have learned about us way more than an eye can see. 💙 What I really like your videos is the genuine feeling, and I think that resonates to these Finland videos too! You lived here and you learnd. You may have a different point of view, but you know our point of view and you understand it. You're not just saying that this thing is weird or bad, but you explain it. You make us Finns seem like we are; friendly and welcoming but hey, not so close! 😂😂

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Tuija Roininen thank you for your encouragement! I appreciate it so much! I truly adore Finns and Finland and I’m so grateful for the opportunity I had to experience it. These videos have allowed me to connect with Finns again. ❤️

[@jasonevans8403]

It's really rare that an american has this kind of real knowledge about the finnish ways and truly gets "it" 😊 I was gonna hold this back till the next snack tasting video, but whatta hell.. I love you Raakkeli 🤗 I'll most def give you a solid hug if you come to Finland next summer. U R awesome! 🙂 ps. That Trump part got me 🤣

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Jason Evans ah, thank you so much! Makes me happy ❤️☺️ It would be nice to meet you and receive that hug too! I appreciate you.

[@andeluvianspeeddemon4528]

Every Nordic country, except Denmark, has some form of everyman's rights. In the history, majority of people in Nordic were relatively free peasants who partly relied in fishing, hunting and foraging to survive so land ownership didn't evolve to be as strict as everywhere else in Europe. In many parts of Europe, wilderness is population lives more densely and feudal aristocracy had much more power and land under their control.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

AndeluvianSpeedDemon interesting! Thanks for sharing

[@caravb5906]

If you can camp anywhere in the forest round the lake, what do people do for bathroom breaks?

[@ivylasangrienta6093]

@@caravb5906 find the nearest bush and go.

[@andeluvianspeeddemon4528]

@@caravb5906 Like Ivy said, people go to bush for bathroom needs. I don't think it's a rule in everyman's rights but usually people cover any poo they leave in the nature. I've also heard some persons using bio-degradeable plastic bags (usually sold for picking up dog poo) for short camping trips, which they will dispose when they return to civilization.

[@davinaginstrom321]

Hi, I'm from Finland. I looove your videos!! It is fun to se how a foreigner see us, and I'm glad you have lived here so you know for real how it is. 👍👍😁

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Davina Ginström greetings from Texas ❤️✌🏼

[@lainstate6798]

You are making me fall in love with not only this channel but you. You take so much note about Finnish living, nature and personality. About the personal space you have a correct view with it. On the second thought it also means we start our relationships from the very start. The Finnish behavior is almost always tied to the situation that he or she feels is interesting. In this case the progress of the relationship always creates situations in which we have to react and adapt, and that makes new sensations. It keeps it real from scratch! Love from Finland ❤️

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Lainstate awesome! Thank you for sharing. Much love from Texas ❤️

[@seneca983]

I think hugging as a greeting is pretty common, at least among people who know each other. Kissing on the cheek though isn't.

[@karibordi2082]

Only with very close friends and relatives. Very very very close

[@seneca983]

@@karibordi2082: I've hugged plenty of people I've just met the same day as a farewell.

[@karibordi2082]

@@seneca983 well I can't deny what you're saying but I guarantee that you wouldn't hug me or the people I know. If you'd somehow managed to do that it would be considered extremely rude. But what do I know what kids do nowadays. Maybe younger generation doesn't care

[@zoolkhan]

@@seneca983 and you will be forever known as the silly hugger :-)

[@seneca983]

@@karibordi2082: Of course I don't hug without permission, but doing it (with permission though obviously not asked separately each time) seems common. Also, I'm 35 so I don't think I would count as a "kid", though a generational difference seems possible.

[@nihoggr2392]

About queuing in Finland there has been a lot of stories when people are waiting in a line at grills and sausage kiosk and someone (usually) a drunk guy has skipped a line which lead into brawls

[@scarletmorgan7015]

She's very genuine and presents information interestingly. It's hard for people to capture my interests, but she did.

[@StardustEarthing]

I might be a little tired, but the "almost camping outside for free coffee" made me laugh so hard xD P.S. It's so cool IS made articles about you! :D

[@WildwoodVagabond]

skye hey! Thanks for your comment ❤️ I hope your weekend is going well! Btw... it is FREAKING HOT here. And it’s only the beginning of July! It’s gets worse in the end of July and August.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

skye i was thinking about you the other day bc it was so humid and hot and I hope it won’t be too much for you when you come. But it’s should be better by then

[@smailliw5243]

'Jokamiehenoikeus' or in Swedish 'Allemansrätten' (in English 'Everyman's Right), is also law in Sweden and Norway and a few other European countries. It's been common practise for hundreds of years.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

산 테리 that’s cool! Thanks for sharing

[@finnishbeast_]

Thanks for making such good content about Finland. 🇫🇮😊☺️

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Finnish Beast ☺️❤️

[@mikaelliedes3493]

As a Finn, I often find it interesting how people from other countries see and experience Finland. You described it very accurately

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Mikael Liedes thanks for your feedback! I appreciate it

[@siisihqdaa]

"You don't wanna make anyone feel akward" Good luck with that in Finland.

[@bror8228]

Congrats... in four years you have learnt more about Finnish habits than I in twenty years...keep on...!!! I was born and lived in Finland 23 years...

[@hennii-1874]

We were practicing personal spacing for corona virus 🙄

[@jounipenttila9908]

Please, do not come too close, I need my space!! 😁 Thank you about this video. You know us very well.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Jouni Penttilä 😁❤️

[@heidileinonen3767]

Please do a video for Finns who are either going to visit or planning to move to Texas about what to remember or to do in Texas. Sort of a guidevideo about culture in Texas. Thank you! :D \o/

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Heidi Leinonen great suggestion! Will do!

[@mattinakynen6139]

Try skipping line after bars are closed and there is que to a fast food grill. Somebody will probably say something or maybe hit your face with a fist :) I guess younger generations hug more but I don't think they do more small talk. I think it depends more of the region you find yourself. Alcohol usually fixes absence of small talk.

[@jasonwright1687]

Nice! You explained that pretty well, I think. Friends of mine mostly don't understand why I want to move to Finland so bad, it is because I am also very much that-way, the way the Suomi are. My one difference is that if it is someone I do already know, I am big on hugs. Good hugs, not flimsy little tap on the shoulder type hugs. Ones that convey my care for my friend, and how much I cherish them in my life. To that extent, I don't really fit in so well here in America, since it has become the society of "we should totally never run into each other for coffee sometime". Still, I like how you explained the "cutters" or line jumpers. I have seen it happen too often out here. I have even seen someone cut in front of a little ol grandma. I have a hard time not saying something... Especially if someone does it to me. It makes it easier when they do it to me, but here I can just easily tell them there is a line and I am already in it... If one wanted to stand up for themselves against the line jumper, over in Finland, how would/could one do it. . . what could one say that will not cause a fight, yet assert the point? Anyways, going to share this one to FB for my friends who don't understand why I would be a perfect fit for Finland. Lol Keep up the great videos, and don't give up on your gardening... Having grown up ,partly, on a ranch I can share all sorts of tips and tricks for all natural way of doing things that produces better/healthier specimens and takes less money (but a little more time and sweat). I guess just PM me if you are interested, i can explain everything you need to know for a home garden. The one thing is, assuming that your husband is working a lot, he may have to lend a bit of help on a day off here and there to do some of the heavy sifting and whatnot. Some things really can't be done properly by one person alone, sorry bro. Anyways, sharing the vid and staying tuned. Much love to you all, and to the furry friends as well. ♥

[@chans_babycurls]

I`m a finn and i love to hug some of my friends when i see them. And same i love the real like loving hugs too. There are both kinds of people here so i think you would fit in well :)

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Jason Wright thank you so much! It was great to hear from you. Sure I can send you a PM. I appreciate your offer to help and give tips! I hope you get to experience Finland soon! You’re the one who asked me to do a 10 must do things in Finland video, right? I’m working on that and it is coming up! I don’t think it would cause a problem in finland to inform someone they cut the line. Mostly people are non confrontational. Like the exact opposite actually. I would just politely say “excuse me but I was next”. Something like that. At least someone said something like that to me once when I accidentally cut in line. That’s so interesting you grew up on a ranch! I’ve always been interested in that kind of lifestyle. I would like to have an off grid self sustained homestead one day after we get all the wanderlust out of our system. Take care Jason! Thanks for saying hi.

[@jasonwright1687]

@@WildwoodVagabond , Yes. That was me. I'm honored that you remembered that. . . I look forward to seeing that one. I will have to take notes. Lol i know there is A TON of amazing wildlife, lakes, mountains, all that... But the other stuff, the crazy fun Finn stuff.... Yeeeeah. Anyways, i made a chat called Lettuce Talk Gardens And Farms ... Can't copy the link here for some reason. Trying to figure out how to chat privately without using comments... -facepalm-

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Jason Wright can you send it through Instagram?

[@jasonwright1687]

@@WildwoodVagabond will do.

[@karibordi2082]

Queue jumping can result with acute nose bleeding

[@WildwoodVagabond]

haha

[@jadeauburn9220]

Many of us like to greet with a hug if we know the other person already. The queue is sacred though, and many people will say something about it if you jump in front of a line without asking. The dumbest and most ridiculous thing is that every now and then some general stores give out FREE BUCKETS and people go crazy!! At those moments I'm so ashamed of being a Finn :`)

[@Middela1]

I think that hugging is becoming a too normal thing in Finland. 😬 - Finn who doesn't like to be hugged. SO is exception. -

[@petterituovinem8412]

I am Finnish and I have never hugged my dad or he hasn't ever hugged me

[@ilarious5729]

I hugged mine when my brother died and it was so akward I'm not doing it again no matter who dies.

[@wardeni9603]

I was 20 years old the first time my dad said he was proud of me xD

[@annigranroth7554]

Dats awkward

[@WildwoodVagabond]

This makes me sad. I want to hug each of you. I’m not your dad but I could still give hugs in their place ☺️ OF COURSE if it was welcomed! I’d definitely ask first 😁 My dad gives me hugs only if I hug him first. But he has only told me 2 times in my life that he was proud of me and each time I almost lost it and had to work hard to hold back tears. Anyway, much love to you all ❤️

[@valtterianttila5986]

Personalspace will be eliminated almoust completly in 2 places. Sauna and movie theater. Noticed this when visiting usa. Ppl would move when i sitted too close in theater.

[@jaanawashburn4196]

My grandparents are from Finland and they always greet us and say bye to us with a hug.

[@KronosIV]

Correct! Some of us don't particularly like to be hugged by non-family and close friends; we want to nod or shake hands. In Southern California many people are immediately offended if you back away from or decline a hug, so it's a great way to make un-friends, people who won't hang out. Very challenging for personal space oriented people! We could learn a thing or two from Finland. Also Healthcare, education, personal safety, mass transit, marriage equality, farming practices, snow removal . . .

[@marshmallowpie42]

I recommed the comic Finnish Nightmares by Karoliina Korhonen. It has funny yet quite accurate depictions of Finnish day to day life (like the waiting for a bus).

[@WildwoodVagabond]

marshmallowpie42 I love those comics!

[@Leima1]

Hi, i'm Finnish man and one thing what people in USA say make me almost mad is calling me "Brother or Bro" we finnish people use thos words only for real Brothers in family... It makes me feel like sheap car seller is try to get me bye something....

[@WildwoodVagabond]

FinnBushCraft Eriksson I totally understand that. That is annoying even to me just hearing it

[@annarasmus8737]

Thanks for making legit content about the culture in Finland. Highly appreciate it!! ✌️🤗🇫🇮

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Anna Rasmus thank you for your feedback and support ☺️❤️ I appreciate it!

[@CarWash811]

With all these facts in mind I am amazed how Finnish people manage to find their life partner wife or husband. I am one lucky one and that happened when we both were slightly drunk. I guess that's why :D

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Carwash Finland haha

[@mt03ya87]

I asked once a Finnish friend how they build couples. Her answer was, they get drunk. So prittey much what you said.^^

[@CarWash811]

@@mt03ya87 Nightclub + drunk = Finnish way of finding partner :D

[@DemBombaclot]

That bus stop image is a meme like Russians brushing their teeth with vodka. Yes we respect the fact that people behind us in a queue don't physically have contact with you with their bellies and that should be fine anywhere around the world. Good points though.

[@wardeni9603]

Well, it's also accurate. It's not just in Finland either, I've seen the same sort of distance between people in Norway and Sweden

[@wellthen...1539]

You REALLY do understand Finland and the finnish mentality in a deep way. What you say is completely accurate. Im impressed how well you've absorbed the cultural aspects. I thought it would be difficult for someone from abroad to understand these things so deeply, but i do notice you get it completely.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Ville Juusela thank you for your feedback. I appreciate it. I have to admit ... at first I didn’t get it and it was a challenge for me, but I try to keep an open mind. So after the initial shock wore off and I started to really appreciate the differences.. it all sort of clicked. I love Finns so much. And actually these days feel like I relate way more to Finns than Americans. Much love from Texas ❤️✌🏼

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Ville Juusela thank you for your feedback. I appreciate it. I have to admit ... at first I didn’t get it and it was a challenge for me, but I try to keep an open mind. So after the initial shock wore off and I started to really appreciate the differences.. it all sort of clicked. I love Finns so much. And actually these days feel like I relate way more to Finns than Americans. Much love from Texas ❤️✌🏼

[@wellthen...1539]

@@WildwoodVagabond I wish you a good day in Texas. I will come back to see more videos :)

[@Kayaz48]

I have discovered that I just love your videos. I’m fascinated by Finland and might go some day, but your delivery and narration are just so charming and fun to watch.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

tim kenney Thank you for your feedback ☺️❤️ I appreciate it!

[@kansaIainen]

My neighbor just told me that her mother is died. I asked her if she needs some vacation to sooth her feelings. Met her an hour ago again. Not a word about her mother. She told to have argued with her sisters. I adviced to sell "the house of mother" and deal the money. Then we discussed some about of owls and hawks. Hawk had killed all little eagles in the nest (there was a camera sending 24/7). Hugs.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Jaakko Laurila ah, I’m glad she had you to be there for her. ❤️

[@HeysiriB]

So good video, you really got the essence of being Finnish! Love you Rach and hi to the dogs

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Siri Termäs Thank you my dear friend! Love you ❤️

[@AnZeLmItO1]

Finnish bus stop image is what we call hajurako. when you step inside of the bus, things get intresting. you realized that all window seats has taken and when you sit next to someone, you noticed that person next to you, act like you are thin air. I love my country. Love it.

[@lotta2001]

I was going to watch one of your videos. This is probably the fourth or fifth one :D I'm a Finn and I'm so glad that you've had great time in Finland. You really seem to appreciate and UNDERSTAND our people and culture! I've traveled a lot (at least in 20 countries including US) and experienced many cultural shocks but these videos really made me think about things that I've taken for granted. It's so refreshing to hear opinions from someone who hasn't always live in Finland. Sometimes it's extremely boring to see a video about someone just talking alone but your videos are interesting and somehow make me feel very comfortable :)

[@stephanecharbonneau3071]

It's weird to see how different Finland and USA are. Beeing from Canada, I think we, here, are a mix of the two. Big (as for the consumtion but aware af the impact on the planet so we too have the " Bring your own bag thing" and are recycling plastic bottles as much as cardbox). We too wait in line, not skipping at bus stops (but at the same time are not 20 feet apart each other.Same for the shoes and for appointments (If you say 8 o' clock then it's 8 o'clock not 8:10h. I think we Canadians are a mix between american and nordic thinking people. Awesome! Thanks for your videos, they are so interesting!

[@sqstate8342]

Well, Canada is also a northern country, so at least you can share the climate in common and all the psychological, mental conditions going out of that with the Finn.

[@marknewton6984]

@@sqstate8342 I'll stick to Florida.

[@BarbCyberSurf]

That personal space photo is hilarious, coming from a hugger in New York city - I would need a major adjustment 😊

[@TrueAnise]

I just love how your dog is goofing around with the cushions behind you :)

[@K4175U1979]

1. keep your hug's to yourself... MY SPACE!! 2. personal space is to unknown people 1,5 arm lenght and people we know it's arm length, it's safety thing. 3. jokamiehenoikeudet dont means that you can go someones yard. 4. just wait and see if somewhere is free buckets and then you will see THE MADNESS!!. ...well thats all folks :)

[@kokolinmaria]

I find it very funny too - all that queuing only for getting something very cheap for free: a cup of coffee (1-2€) or a plastic bucket (2-3€) 😁 Never done that (and I'm a Finn!), but it's on my bucket list now 🤣 I want to experience it! This picture at the bus stop must be exaggeration and organised on purpose?, because I have never been seen in my life that dramatic way funny line on a bus stop - even in the winter morning when people are in cold and still sleepy and a bit more grumpier 🤣 It's true we value our personal space but that picture is a winner! Thanks for the great video!

[@andeluvianspeeddemon4528]

I think queuing for free coffee and hoarding free plastic buckets is more of a thing for older people who have experienced the scarcity and rationing of post-war times. Also, in more rural Finland there isn't that much happening and life is very quiet. So, when a local convenience store gives out free stuff that practically counts as a festival and is a good excuse to socialize (as in, drinking free coffee in a group of friends/relatives and occasionally muttering something about gasoline prices or weather).

[@tombson1770]

Asking for a hug is a call for awkward situations since people will think its rude to say no but still kinda dont want to.

[@leilavarano8556]

Hey beautiful! ❤️❤️❤️ So true! But I would exchange that free coffee in a free plastic buckets! Finns love them! Not me, but those others...! 😁

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Leila Varano hello! I’ve heard about the buckets! That’s so funny

[@leilavarano8556]

@@WildwoodVagabond Yeah, and really embarrassing! 😁

[@tonimathlin1186]

Greetings from Finland! :). We also have Palpa pawn system for bottles to save nature 👍.

[@jouniantero]

Eversince I was a child, I thought it was the norm everywhere that you take your empty bottles and return them to the grocery store for some money. It really struck me when I got older and was travelling around that we are one of the only countries that have this system. Just visited Warsaw (Poland) this summer and a lot of broken glass in the streets there... Plastic bottles and tin cans just thrown to the trash. Not good. But at least its great that we and some other nordic countries have this system.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Toni Mathlin such a great system. I wish we had it here in Texas

[@ionetxarte696]

Don't be late! If you have agreed to meet somebody at 12, be there at latest 11.55. If you can't make it at time, call or send a message at least half an hour before the meeting, so the other person don't wait for you in vain. I used to work in HR department in a big company and our company policy was that if someone arrived one second late in the interview, he/she didn't get the job. Even if he/she was the best candidate otherwise. If you arrive late without informing the other person, it shows you don't respect the other person. I'm talking about people over 30 years old, I don't know what is the situation with younger people.

[@denkikaminari155]

I'm one of those people who don't like hugs.. And my friends well... *they like hugging too much*

[@Aurinkohirvi]

I once saw a funny video about personal space. A Japanese and a Finnish person were talking in a room. They sped up the video, and you can see how they walk around the room, the Japanese person coming closer and the Finnish person moving backwards. In Japanese culture the personal space sphere is obviously smaller than in Finnish. Yeah you're right about sugar coating or trying to avoid upsetting someone's feelings. I was chatting with my German friend once about how in American TV/movies people don't say someone died, they stand quietly and let the other person draw conclusions. Never been in the States nor in such situation, is that actually true? Ah, nice viewcount in some of your videos, congrats!

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Aurinkohirvi lol... I haven’t really ever thought about that in American tv or movies but yeah I think that’s kinda true now that I think of it. Thank you btw!

[@Aurinkohirvi]

@@WildwoodVagabond Oh I thought it (the death thing) might be true, because you can see it so many, many times, or when someone got seriously sick. That's definately a cultural difference. When that happens in movies/TV I'm always super annoyed. That reminds me another thing we wondered, unrelated though. When ending a phone call, people in American movies/Tv often end the call without saying bye. My German friend had noticed it too. What do you think, is this a real thing?

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Aurinkohirvi In my experience for the most part we say goodbye when hanging up but not as many times as Finns do.... lol HOWEVER, we tend to hang up a lot faster. So many times at the end of a call I have literally hung up on someone in the middle or me saying goodbye or them saying goodbye. This happens often. We sometimes don’t even finish saying goodbye before we hang up. My mom is the worst at it. She hangs up on me often before I can say goodbye.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Aurinkohirvi 😄😁

[@peanuts4723]

Coffee? Yeah, maybe. But have you heard about the legendary buckets?

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Peanuts haha yeah 😄

[@melaniatrump2166]

5things2avoidinfinland: 1don't speak swedish 2don't speak swedish 3don't speak swedish 4don't speak swedish 5don't speak swedish

[@l.f.fpetitjean76]

I actually felt a lot of what you say when I moved to the US (from a French perspective) but the other way around : the absence of straight to the point talk, the small talks, the many many hugs, etc...

[@azzy__films]

My mom is Finnish and so is her entire side of the family and she immigrated from there to America. Now she’s thinking of actually moving our family to Finland and I’m making a pros and cons of moving to Finland (I’ve found 11 pros and only 3 cons 💀)

[@ainohautamaki2648]

Oh dear, if someone approached me with a conversation early in the morning when I'm taking the bus somewhere I'd be REALLY bothered by it. Thank you, dear fellow Finns, and all the lovely foreigners for not wanting to be a bother, and letting me have my thoughts in peace. Also for the next door apartment neighbors, it's quite true: I've lived here for seven or eight years, and "know" (tiedän VS tunnen) two or three other people living in the apartment building. Not their names, but their faces, and like "oh that person, she lives in some floor above us" or "that man owns the white dog... right?", that's it. I always hope I get outside or back home without running into anyone in the stairwell too... If I do and they greet me, I'll greet back, but I think everyone here has a mutual agreement to not do such bothersome things. :P And none of this is considered weird here, on the contrary, it's comfortable.

[@kyrayc9388]

I second this.

[@stef1896]

But what would happen if, for example, building went on fire? Would you check if your first neighbor left the building?

[@heikkigeddon]

I'm finnish, a very native finnish, and I can tell you most of finnish people are just shy and very used to being in their personal space/alone, and some are just assholes. But we are nowadays starting to get used to the "southern proximity" :) We love hugging and being hugged (especially, drunk, just ask a permission first ;) but we do never kiss each other on the cheek, unless it's our veryvery loved one. And yeah, bragging is rude/embarrassing, we love silence and peace, but we do like talk with long thinking periods, so we say things that are thought thru :) And east-finnish people are more convergent, west-coast people are hard to get known to/have a friendship

[@martinstore5808]

One of your videos was featured in the Swedish speaking radio channel X3M In Finland the other day.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Martin Store oh wow! Interesting. Do you know which video? Probably the culture shocks one?

[@martinstore5808]

@@WildwoodVagabond yes, it was 10 CULTURE SHOCKS | FINLAND...

[@mmay3346]

Quite recently I was queued up to home affairs in South Africa, we were there for two hours before opening to make sure we don't have to wait in line because the line will be huge by the time the place is actually opening so even though you wait long for it to open, you'll wait longer if you don't go much in advance anyway I'm blabbing, we were first in line when it did eventually open but these guys who had arrived much later RAN past us through the gates (everything's behind electrified fences and gates there, so much crime) and to the door and man... I was fuming as a Finn. Then, inside the building they were just chatting to us like they didn't JUST COMMIT A CRIME AGAINST ALL ORDER! Lol. It was very weird to me but it's normal among the blacks in SA and perfectly fine, you run or cheat or even fight to get whatever it is you're trying achieve, first.

[@arska77]

Not saying any names and lol. That was funny😂✌️ Good vid again👍

[@WildwoodVagabond]

arska7708 lol thanks 😄❤️

[@ralfhaggstrom9862]

"Personal space" can give a feeling of "freedom" ...............

[@MultiKalmer]

Those skills for waiting in a line is taught very fundamentally, even at schools. I'm also Finn but sometimes it makes me laugh that we are like robots there and if someone's skipping line there's always someone who protects his or her place until the end :D Thanks for doing these videos!

[@Yrsaize]

Hello from Sweden, I really love your videos. I'm partly Finnish to. Kuulemin ❤️

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Hi Kerstin! Greetings from Texas ❤️✌🏼

[@tinge1954]

You are right about the personal space It is about a meter to each direction ( 3 foot appr.) If somebody comes nearer than that we get nervous, anxious and frustrated, because somebody dares to invade our privacy. And possibly ur nose will bleed.

[@Yupppi]

"Let's go have a coffee some time - you must stick to that plan" now according to that I have perhaps 50 coffee dates on hold for like 10 past years. What you describe "let's hang out" and you never call is exactly what's always been happening in Finland at least for the length of my life. What you need to know about queuing in Finland: be a store, promise free anything, buckets (actually happened), needles, paper sheets, whatever you can come up, and watch a queue form up before opening hour. A long queue. So long that not everyone is even gonna get that free item. Just like you said, for a small cup of coffee. Idk what it's about, I don't know anyone who would queue for free whatever, let alone a long wait in a long queue. But it happens a lot. It's crazy, like mass psychosis, but super orderly.

[@walterthorne4819]

Hello, Love your presentations! You are great in front of the camera. I worked in Finland during the 1980. Amazing culture and people. I would visit again.

[@Redfizh]

I haven’t paid attention to queuing before, as I took it for granted. Now I notice and you are right. We don’t politely discuss turns and keep our distance. Everyone is telepathically aware of their place even if we don’t even form a queue. For example, elevators. 8 people would fit in the elevator, still only 1-2 step on board and the others are waiting their turn. Everyone remembers who was before them and thus the understanding is born in complete silence. We're crazy.

[@chrisrose3967]

I always hated people who brag almost as much as people who doesn’t greet you when you did. I also hate lines and I refuse to wait in a line, if I had to I just go away and come back when the line is almost gone

[@stef1896]

I do agree that both extremes are bad. On the Balkans mostly older neighbors can be quite annoying, for example. Nevertheless, I think this kind of videos are exaggeration and spreading stereotypes. Seeing people in the comment section how they find it normal avoiding neighbors just in order not to say Hi is really depressing, and I don't really believe it's accurate. When it comes to queue, I find it absurd making a big deal out of it. People in Serbia don't like queue, but when they need to, they do it orderly. There's no place when you can just overpass others who come before.

[@ATrainHC]

I don't know much about culture over in Finland, but I do LOVE the Finnish bands I've seen in concert over the years. Swallow the Sun, Turisas, Apocalyptica, Children of Bodom, Amorphis, etc. I've never met any of them, but they seem very humble when not causing a moshpit. ;-)

[@chans_babycurls]

5:44 I was seriously starting to get uncomfortable when u got closer xdd Greetings from Finland lmao and i loved the video! :)

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Kpop Flower haha 😄 thank you!

[@kyrayc9388]

As a Finn, I feel this is very accurate, and a safe way to go.

[@tsogobauggi8721]

9:14 That pillow is alive!!! ;) Also: this was a nice video. :)

[@Polydeukes68]

Jokamiehenoikeudet (everymans rights): yes, hike in the forest and eat the berries but do not approach any house closer than 100 meters (~110 yards). The 100m barrier is considered "yard" or "farmyard" and within those barriers "kotirauha" is in effect - you cannot disturb anybodys "kotirauha" which translates something like sanctity of home. That is punishable by law. So, don't think you can enter anybodys yard or (while on a lake) land on anybodys pier and camp or cook there. Also making an open fire anywhere without landowners permission is forbidden by law. Study the laws on this before coming to Finland, they are not that complicated - takes couple of minutes and saves you lots of trouble afterwards.

[@Robbini0]

The only time we don't care as much for personal space, is when we're trying to get into public transportation or otherwise have to fit several people through one door quickly or the weather outside is somewhat bad. Then we resemble penguins. One large group of people, waddling slowly towards the one entrance that only lets one person through at a time, and the order somehow being decided by the frontmost members in some order that isn't repeatable in the same situation later. Or atleast that's how it is for schoolyards with the people trying to get into schoolbuses (not the american type, but actual buses that are mostly exclusive to schoolkids (each has a specific route , with some variations on the passengers, but anyone who wants to catch that bus can do it as well)). If it's an actual bus trip that each person has to pay for , there's a list to be checked or it's just not one massive group of hormone-driven kids or teenagers, then a queue will be naturally formed by the people closest to, or waiting for the longest, or maybe elderly people who might not be as able to stand for longer periods of time.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Robbini0 haha! Thanks for sharing!

[@ekaterinav8253]

You are awesome!!!! That is all I have to say! Love your charisma, language, humor and content! I am not Finish not Texan but I enjoy so so so much to see the amazing differences, they are so accurate and the crazy thing is how we can learn and embrace a different culture and language and way of life and make it our own ❤️❤️😎more power to you😘😘😘 Beautiful creature. I live in Miami FL and i am russian but the differences are so simular between what i experience going back to Russia and coming here again ;) to me Miami is home now, but I still get shocked by noise here ;)

[@mitsusah2612]

"Some people don't like to be touched." True. I've lived in Finland all my life and my childhood best friend basically never lets me hug her. She is close with me and many others, but never physically. That's just how she is.

[@mitsusah2612]

@@pvahanen Enkku on silti paljolti youtuben valtakieli, joten mä koen paremmaksi käyttää sitä varmuuden vuoksi. Jos ketään nyt ikinä kiinnostaa lukea ihmisten kommentteja.

[@rikuleinonen]

Are you sure that personal space is that important? I mean yeah, but when you go into a sauna personal space gets shot out of the window and erased from existence. (I'm a finn.)

[@Cherubi-chan]

Sauna is an exception.

[@TheDrearyveil]

My fathers side of the family is a huggy one. I really never cared for that, but my fathers ancestors came from Carelia and from the eastern part of it (after WWII it was given to Russia). They have strong hugging and even some cheek-kissing culture. That gives me the chills but I like to kiss my son goodnight and so on. So the hugging/kissing thing is meant just for the immediate family, not for the cousins, aunts, uncles etc.

[@drunkonkerosene]

Jokamiehen oikeudet and the thing about queues are similar here in Sweden , but i believe/hope people in Finland generally has greater respect for nature.

[@dxkotaslads]

There are some things to avoid but some things to not avoid and the things to not avoid are very fun!

[@dxkotaslads]

Yeah

[@TS-zl7wl]

Mentioning the "jokamiehenoikeudet", especially without mentioning its restrictions might not be such a good idea. We now have tourists (and even Finns) intruding into close proximity of ppls private yards strolling around, picknicing, bbqing, fishing and littering. Jokamiehenoikeudet works well when people have truly understood its content and genuinly adopted the idea of private space. And that space is huge in the nature!

[@ShagytheMan9683]

Good job again. So nice to hear fact of us. I hate trashing a lot. Sometimes I just pick trash from the street and put thash where those belong. And yeah nature is important to us.

[@WildwoodVagabond]

Sami Melasniemi Thanks for your feedback ❤️ i hope you’re doing well!