Now that I have lived in Finland for almost 10 months, I have noticed some cultural differences between the U.S. and Finland. Can you think of some cultural differences between Finland and the U.S.?
Let's see if you had the same observations that I have had!
1. Social Behavior
The U.S. is a very social country compared to Finland. Finns generally don't interact with strangers or make small talk.
In the U.S., I would normally have a short conversation with a cashier at the grocery store. Maybe I'd ask them how their day was or what they had done over the weekend. In Finland, the cashier usually says a greeting (like Hei!), tells me how much I need to pay and that's it!
It felt weird at first, but I've gotten used to it. I appreciate how quiet and peaceful Finland is. It's even really quiet on buses and trains! Do you like small talk and interacting with strangers?
2. Food
One of my favorite things to do when visiting a new country is to go grocery shopping. There are always unique items that I can't get in the U.S. In Finland, there are entire aisles of every grocery store dedicated to pick-and-mix candy, called Irtokarkki in Finnish.
