Is Finland a culture shock to a Dane? By Clara Robin from The Thousand Tales
By Clara Robin from The Thousand Tales
I came to Finland for the first time as an exchange student in the spring of 2023. Back in Denmark, a lot of people were surprised that I was going to Finland. I’ve lived in Belgium, too, where a Belgian laughed and said that it was quite unusual for a Nordic girl to be going even further north. Even in Finland, Finns have asked me with some curiosity mixed with amusement: "What are you doing here? Why here, of all places?"
In truth, I didn’t know much about Finland prior to my arrival. Finland seemed to me like that cousin who occasionally shows up to family gatherings, but mostly just stays at home. The introverted family member who you might see around the holidays (and who arrives with awesome, Moomin-themed presents). They’re a part of the family who’s cherished and cared for - but also someone you just don’t know that well. To be fair, I’m sure Finns feel similarly about Danes.
So, I came to Finland without really knowing what to expect. Was it a culture shock to me? Not really. For one thing, there were enough familiar establishments around town to make it feel like home to me; Normal, Espresso House, Heidi’s (the latter of which doesn’t exist in Finland anymore, now, but it did then), to mention a few. I come from Aarhus, the second-largest city in Denmark, so moving to Turku didn’t feel unfamiliar, either; though it is a smaller city, it’s still a student city. The Finnish drinking culture didn’t surprise me, either - the prices did, but not the culture. I recently had a conversation with a Finnish friend of mine about how a Finn would probably be able to drink a Dane under the table when it comes to liquor, whereas a Dane most likely would win a beer drinking contest. All in good fun, of course.
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However, there were also cultural differences that did surprise me. Our tutors joked about how social distancing wasn’t really difficult to establish in Finland during the pandemic since Finns would already be standing far enough apart at bus stops (and anywhere else). This is a common joke and stereotype, of course, but there might be some truth to it. Finnish culture can come across as introverted to a foreigner; and yet, is that only because I don’t speak the language? Perhaps the perceived shyness is caused by an awkwardness around speaking English. If someone isn’t used to speaking a second language, it’s understandable that they might feel self-conscious about it, after all. With that said, I’ve almost always been met with kindness by Finns; even if someone is shy, it doesn’t mean that they’re unkind.
I think there’s a general stereotype that Nordic people are more reserved than other Europeans. There’s some truth to it and I don’t think Danes are the most extroverted Europeans, either.
So why did I fall in love with Finland?
It started with the quiet. I arrived in the dead of winter, the snow seemingly absorbing most sounds. Finland is the opposite of claustrophobic: it has wide, open streets and you won’t be accidentally bumping into people on the sidewalks. There’s a kind of wild nature with unpolished rocks and tall, evergreen trees that seemed to me raw and new. It was refreshing. The differences between Finland and Denmark were big enough to make everything feel new and exciting, while similar enough to also feel familiar. It was a gentle step outside my comfort zone.
The endless Finnish summer nights were fascinating to me, too, though I must confess I prefer Finnish winter to summer. I like to be able to see the stars at night. I like that winter in Finland truly feels like winter. Perhaps there’s a nostalgic aspect to it: it reminds me of being a child in Denmark, when the snow went up to my knees and I’d be greeted with hot chocolate at home after an afternoon of going sledding in the winter time.
In Danish we use the now well-known term "hygge" to describe something cozy and nice. There’s a distinctly "hygge" aspect to winter in Finland.
Overall, I believe that Finns and Danes have more in common than we’re set apart. Though the Danish winters aren’t always as cold as the Finnish winters, there’s a certain mentality in the Nordics that we have in common. We prefer to sit with an empty seat next to us rather than with a stranger on the bus. We’d like a heads-up before meeting new people. We’re used to the cold, so sometimes it might take us a little while to warm up; but if given the chance, once we do, we’ll be sure to include our friends and chosen family in all the cozy, "hygge" activities.