There is even a popular app called Tori where people sell furniture and clothes. I got all of my furniture second-hand for a very affordable price. As a sustainable chemistry research scientist, I am mindful of recycling and reusing things in my personal life, too.
5. Respect
Finns are known for following rules and being respectful. When I cycle and have to wait at a red light, everyone waits in line in the order they arrived. It would be considered very rude to move ahead of someone who was at the light before me. People also never walk or cycle across a street while the light is red, even if there are no cars coming. They're very safe!
It's also very common to take off your shoes indoors. At the gym, you have to change into indoor shoes or just wear socks. I have had to take my shoes off in study rooms, at a youth basketball game and at every person's home I enter. It keeps floors much cleaner! Do you take your shoes off at home?
This is not an exhaustive list of cultural differences between the U.S. and Finland, but these are the ones that come to the top of my mind. Are you surprised by any of these differences?
