I have seen every kind of candy imaginable: Marianne mint chocolates, salmiakki salty licorice, cola-flavored gummies, raspberry sour-coated dates and dozens more.
Some other things I get at Finnish grocery stores include riisipirakka, a type of rice-filled rye pie. I also love Fazer brand chocolate bars because they make the best chocolate!
The grocery store, Lidl, sometimes has an American-themed section. When I went, they had "Hot Dog Sauce". I don't think I've ever seen something in U.S. grocery stores called that! Have you?
Also, there are similar brands in grocery stores, such as Pepsi, Oreos, Kelloggs, Pringles and Doritos. Sometimes, they change the packaging to appeal to a Finnish audience. For example, the light-blue Doritos are Cool Ranch flavored in the U.S. while in Finland, they're Cool American flavored.
3. Language
Do you remember what Finland's two national languages are? Hint: neither one is English!
Most of the signs I read and announcements I hear aren't in English. I used to translate everything at the grocery store with Google Translate, but now I know my staple grocery items in Finnish: banaani (banana), omena (apple), jogurtti (yogurt), peruna (potato) and pasta (that one's the same as it is in English!).
4. Trash Sorting and Waste
In Finland, they have seven different waste types: mixed waste, biowaste, plastic containers, cartons, glass, metal and paper. It took me weeks to figure out a good sorting system in my apartment! However, now that I'm used to it, I really appreciate how thoughtful Finns are of waste disposal.
Finns are also very mindful of consumption. Second-hand shops are common in Finland.
