The truth about living in Finland | An American's point of view
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- čas přidán 9. 12. 2019
- The truth about living in Finland | An American's point of view
American reacts to life in Finland.
A U.S. foreigner's view on living in Finland (Finnish food, culture, lifestyle, language, first impressions, etc.) Living in Finland vs living in the USA.
Comment below things you love about life in Finland (Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Vantaa, Oulu, Turku, Jyväskylä, Lahti, Kuopio, Pori, etc.)!
Download the Lifey app to watch tons of travel vlogs about Finland!
When you ask a Finn what it's like to live in Finland: "Cold and dark".
When you ask an American what's it like to live in Finland: You get a 20 minute speech.
Finland is safe, but don’t leave your bike unlocked. It will get stolen.
Depends on whether you live in a bigger city like Helsinki or in a small town.
It's absolutely bizarre to me why anyone would keep their shoes on inside and track dirt all over. Makes no sense.
Pulla is not bread, it is a sweet bun.
yep. It always annoys me when people call it a cinnamon bun though. yeah there's cinnamon in there but its mostly cardamom and if you were to tell an American its a cinnamon bun they'd probably think of something that tastes totally different (and in my opinion much much worse)
It's also overrated and boring, it's got cardamom unfortunately making it even worse. You can however find excellent donuts style cakes at Arnolds in and around Helsinki to make up for this crappy sweet bread.
When you consider that american white bread is full of added sugar, it tastes more like our buns than our white breads. So in their eyes, our buns are bread.
I think pulla gets mostly translated as sweet bread though. I agree it's not but that's a general word
That "there's always a dessert" thing applies only when you have guests over. People don't have a dessert at home unless it's an occasion.
Any families with children do have desserts after a meal many times a week in Finland.
@@hardowider5054 Eihän kaikki semmost jaksa harrastaa! Ja kalliiks ha sekin käy jos sillee vaa syä.
All Finnish people going "actually" in comments
Who wants to keep shoes on all the time? Thats just crazy!
When i get home i immediately take my pants off also
Me too haha
Even truck drivers take shoes off on long trips.
Well it is rainy and snowy in Finland so no one wants that tracked all over. Where I live it’s almost always nice and sunny and only rains a bit over 60 days a year. But when my hot tub is up ppl have been known to start removing their clothing at the door.
It's actually a relatively high paying job to be a doctor here in Finland and quite high amount of the upper secobdary school students try to get in medical studies in uni. And the medical care is not poor quality. Sometimes there might be long waiting times especially for dentist appointments but by no means is the cheap medical care assisted by coverment funds poor quality. We even have our own systems for students where medical care is even cheaper than the basic coverment medical care and perfectly modified for students needs.
I agree. Finnish health care system is one the best in the world. But uni. health care sucks.
Suomi mainittu, torilla tavataan
I'm glad you like our country :)
Jahvat tulloo.
This tori thing getting old.
Toi on niin kulunu juttu. Me vaa sinne torille!
Oliko hiljaista torilla?
Well I live in Finland, and you are wrong about 1 thing, Bicycles gets stolen. you will get your lost wallet or lost i-phone back but bicycles no.
We don't eat mämmi because we have to, we like it! Well, at least I do.
Sussa on jotain vikaa🤔🤔
@@jeminadalen8270 itekki tykkään
Actually finnish healthcare is one of the best in the world.
I would say like in top 10.
It is also ALMOST free for people that have a job and totally free for poor people who don´t have a steady income.
Healthcare in Finland consists of a highly decentralized three-level publicly funded healthcare system and a much smaller private sector. Although the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has the highest decision-making authority, the municipalities (local governments) are responsible for providing healthcare to their residents.
Finland offers its residents universal healthcare. The prevention of diseases and other types of health promotion have been the main focus of Finnish healthcare policies for decades. That has resulted in the eradication of certain communicable diseases and improvement in the health of population.
The quality of service in Finnish healthcare is considered to be good; according to a survey published by the European Commission in 2000, Finland belongs to the top five countries in satisfaction: 88% of Finnish respondents were satisfied, compared with the EU average of 41.3%.
To back these up some news article (Its from Yle so take it with a grain of salt) and WHO report yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/study_finlands_health_care_system_among_best_in_the_world/10276968 and Part 5 of www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/355979/Health-Profile-Finland-Eng.pdf?ua=1
True, Finland has a good healthcare, within top 10, but there is still much to improve, especially as large portion of the Finnish population is soon retiring.
Finland's universal healthcare system is the one of the most cost-effective in the world, but at the same time it is fairly fragmented and is one of the most unequal healthcare systems in EU between socio-economic population groups.
yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/study_finlands_health_care_system_among_best_in_the_world/10276968
yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/report_fragmentation_weakening_the_finnish_healthcare_system/10994015
thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/-/european-observatory-s-review-fragmented-health-system-decreases-the-quality-of-services-in-finland
www.ttl.fi/blogi/kaikki-tyoikaiset-tarvitsevat-tasa-arvoiset-terveyspalvelut
sosiaalivakuutus.fi/suomen-terveydenhoitojarjestelma-eun-epatasa-arvoisimpia/
This also means that satisfaction is not the best good measurement of good universal healthcare when people are using services differently. Workforce and rich people use healthcare more than non-workers and low income people, and they are happier to what they receive. Working people tend to use employer's private services, while non-working people use public services. People who do not receive as good healthcare, especially public healthcare users, may not be fully aware of what they are missing.
The situation is getting worse every year as population is ageing, meaning that public healthcare is getting more customers as large portion of population is retiring. This will mean that costs will be getting higher and cause strain to government's budget. Something to keep in mind when looking at the future of Finland somewhere near year 2040.
thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/statistics-by-topic/finances-in-the-health-and-social-services-sector/health-expenditure-and-financing
No its not. You have to wait 12 hours to get emergency Dr . In Holland The heakthcare is The best Look it up
Tell how fantastic that healthcare is to all my deceased relatives who all died prematurely because they were denied treatment. When you are in retirement and don't work anymore you are not worth a penny and the government is more than happy to see you gone. The same goes for the death panel doctors who are cold as ice and don't give a shit about their patients. If you can't afford or don't want to pay for your treatment the second time (since you have already paid dearly in super high taxes) you are up shit creek.
top 3-1
talking about Finland and no mention of sauna! did you avoid sauna (naked people are scary for most American's)
the finnish healthcare system is actually very good
American: Finns have pulla!
Swedes: 👀
Finn's are best people they genuinely respect your privacy and never speak with you I mean neighbor's, I have been living for 19 years in Helsinki I really appreciate this behaviour.
Actually professions related to medicine are the most popular here.. so much competition and it's hard to get into med school here. And the salary of doctors is one of the best here in Finland.
How it's like to live in finland?
Finn: cold, dark and vituttaa
American: 20 minute speech
I like this dude! To learn so much and well about another culture. Respect! Greetings from Oulu, Finland.
He's *actually* quite insightful!
Medication is not free, but partially compensated. The great thing is the payment limit, which is slightly over 500€ per year; after that, society pays it all and you just have to pay some cents for the delivery per purchase.
Foodwise, ymmv. Desserts and soups are not traditional in every family, sounds like this chap has been fed well.
"Except the drunk people on the street, thats pretty scary" :D
Did I misundertand or did he call Lappi the north pole?
If you learn to love my favourite Finnish song, you will have a nice life in Finland. I am 25%Finnish and I LOVE the song "Säkkijärven polkka". During WWII the Finnish troops played it on the grammophone to disturb the Russians tele contacts between their troops. They played it 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 12 months a year during the war. The Russians must have gone crazy....
I also love liver casserole (maksalaatikko), it's my favourite with lingonberry jam. 🖤
Doctors. High quality everywhere in Finland. When. Have insurance you go private, doctors same just cost 10 times more
Finland has progressive income tax. Good video BTW
Taxation is theft
thanks for your point a view. Im an american finn...born in the usa both parents finnish. Been living in Finland for over 30 years
The last explanation of the spoken language was pretty accurate. When you say "I like this" in proper Finnish it would be "Minä tykkään tästä". And like you said, when that is spoken, Finns chop the first word "I" or "minä". That's because the pronoun is already stated in the verb with then ending of "ään". Minä tykkään (I like), sinä tykkäät (you like), hän tykkää (he/she likes - Finnish has no gender denoting).
This spoken words dropping makes speaking faster, which can be seen funny as Finnish language has already fewer words in sentences than, for example, in English. And then there's the slang-like word chopping as well, like with "tästä" -> "täst" (this).
However, this fits well with Finns mentality, no chitchat, the less speaking the better, and silence is gold. :)
Finnish is a effective language??.. Seriously.. When I read the name of some products it sure don't come across like that.. e.g. Read the name on a orange juice box in Swedish, Danish or Norwegian the name is somewhat the same in those languages.. In Finnish however it looks like someone slept on the keyboard.
Lentokonesuihkuturbiinimoottoriapumekaanikkoaliupseerioppilas..
Why would you ever have the need to create words like that?.. And what's up with the many repeating letters..ii oo tt aa kk ee pp.. It looks like someone had a stroke while typing..
I allways thought that the table manners were universal. Like fork in the left hand and knife in the eight one and waiting for others to get their food.
Isn't this just good practise at anywhere?
In Canada (Quebec) it is disrespectful too to wear shoes inside. Many countries are like that.
forgot to unlock my bike, it was gone within the night :D i guess it depends what part of finland you live in. :D
Nice video. Mostly very accurate observations. Thank you!
It's ridiculous how right he gets all of that.
Yeah, some of it is up to personal preference/opinion, but all in all, he really makes no harsh mistakes. All of it good and true.
The healthcare is actually high quality, like in the top 10, many want to become doctors or something similar
I don't get why would anyone use shoes inside their home... Thats just wierd and messy
Ive always said to ppl who come here to not sweat too much with trying to learn the language since you get by with speaking english. Ofc with older people its different, but the finnish language such a flexible thing that you cant really fully learn it without living here for years and years.
And I personally rather talk eng with foreingers than listen to their broken finnish.
The language is like poetry with some finns, because its so flexible, we bend and mix stuff so much that it can be really difficult to follow.
This paints a very rosy picture of Finland ;) Largely true but not the complete truth.
Excellent ideas about Finland
I sat in an Helsinki restaurant looking out the window. For 45 minutes I watched hundreds of people walking everywhere. At some point I noticed I had not seen one obese person. When I left the restaurant, 20 minutes later, I still had not seen an overweight person.
I decided to subscribe and see every new video. These youngsters speak so clearly, are educated and polite towards other cultures. No cursing, which I like a lot, as young people do tend to curse a lot these days. Very nice videos. I'll be learning a lot about many cultures, thanks :)
Sometimes it's hard - even for a Finn - to understand our different dialects.. :D I must say this guy summed up many things better than I would have done.. Though, medicine ain't completely free.
how sweaty socks u guys have in states if u wear basketball kicks all day ? just asking
Wow, I like your taste for food! It is definitely well suited for Finland. 🇫🇮
I've never been to either Finland or Japan,but removing your shoes before stepping inside their home is part of their tradition.
Nice vid. All I want to say (because it might actually matter) is: Don't leave your bike unlocked... okay you can in SOME smaller places. But don't. Seriously. Why people put gloves, scarfs and such to a visible spot near where someone dropped them: The society is built so you don't have to steal something like that. You'd only do it to be mean. Why people steal bikes: Because it's easier than walking, and there's always that one bad person around who doesn't care that it hurts others. You will see abandoned stolen bikes here and there sometimes, they aren't usually stolen to be sold. The police actually collects them, and sometimes they auction off "found things" that nobody's come to claim, with lots of bikes among them.
great knowledge.. Kiitos
Couldnt imagine anyone liking our food culture
I wonder what would happen to Finnish food if it became popular abroad like Chinese or Mexican cuisine has.
Wow this is sooo detailed and accurate and kind. Including mämmä -- yak! Oh and like another reviewer said they're from Laitila -- yeah good luck understanding that. Or Rauma dialect 30 km North.
Amazing knowelege of grammar, impressive!
Even in Asia people take off their shoes inside homes
I learned new things as a finn my self😂 no but jokes aside, i've never heard of the dessert rule, or it being rude to forget someones name... But maybe those are more of a unsaid rules? Of course I'll wait if theres someone eating their main course to start my dessert, but most of the time they don't even serve it before everyone is done. And then you just tuck in... No waiting necessary. But these kind of things vary alot among the families and how fancy of a meal or event you are having.
Also the health services aren't totally free.. to a somepoint you can go to have your self checked for free, yes. But as soon as it takes a specialist or a doctor to do stuff you pay fees. But to say they are "free" propably means, proportionally they are free :D I paid for Streptococcus examination 40€... But if you want to see certaind specialist especially on a private clinic the prices shot up to a level a common Finn is not very loose to pay.. we are still talking about a hundred euros and up...so fairly cheap in comparison to different countries
I think someone maybe told you already but Mämmi is actually made with malts.
and yeah if it´s after 2000 made house, there is no need for shoes, floor heating is quite common on concrete base houses.
Actually, Finns always give dessert when there's a guest but if not, there normally isn't
I admire this intelligent and perceptive young man so much. He must have been a tremendous asset in the mission field.
Mission field?
Mämmi...it almost looks like [changing subject] Haha oh my! I actually like the taste if I don't eat it too much.
So good video!!! :)
Santa lives in Korvatunturi
Kippis 😊🤙🏻 Thank you
The healthcare is very high guality
Savon murre on paras 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 Suattaapi olla...
Taxes are 24%, and u pay for doctor and medicines if u are able to.
Liver casserole with raisins. Amazing. No raisins not so good.
"Pulla" is bun
Nice vid. But i would argue about healthcare - its top class. And that dessert/5 ppl rule , you made it up, right? :)
Oh he is so cute 😻
I'm from Finland and I speak finnish
Well the older generations hated the russians but the younger ones not so much.
I want to know the economic of this country depends on what exactly ?
Hyvä hyvä
I enjoyed how you have obviously studied Finnish culture, people and history. But.. when you said "mäki" it took me a while to understand as I heard "mäkki" and was wondering if that was the slang word for McDonald's :) Anyways, you are impressive in this presentation.
One major error. Medical treatment here is high quality. If you get hospitalized in Finland you will be in good hands. As Finnish citizen I can't think any other country where I would feel more comfortable if needing to visit doctor. I know other countries with similar level of professionalism, but not any with really higher quality.
If in foreign country and you hurt
You lucky if in Finland
They fix you
Peapol in Finland use lot of spise, just like many old people don't.
I think this is nice!!
They had high tax on butter, sugar and flour. Then you don't get lots of bakery like Sweden, Denmark, Austria.
I like this guy.
Coffee 🧐 sauna 🧐 & 🍺 👂🏽
Its not disrespectful to wear shoes inside, its just disgusting taking account of what all the shit the shoes have walked on.
Nice video!
awesome talk
" the beginning of the word is usually the same but the ending of it defines the meaning"
"Dialects cut off the endings and stuff..."
😂😂 I'm so sorry for you guys
Lonlyness and darkness is the bigest issue here 😐😐
if you compare with states then everything is good in finland except the weather. wearing shoes inside the house is really a bad habit. but food in finland isnt good if compared with any indian/mexican/thai food. scandanevia is the only part of the world where this food isnt easily available because there are very few immigrants are settled in finland. but finland is best when it comes to safety, law, education, cleanliness etc.
The language is related to Hungarian as well I think.
Lol his history part was awesome!
Finnish trance artists are quite the pleasure. Darude, Orkidea, Miikka Kuisma (is he?), Miikka Leinonen, Heikki L, Joonas Hahmo, Tempo Giusto...
And of course, Paavo Siljamäki of Above and Beyond.
Is this the guy from American Pie?
Excellent notions
Suomi mainittu
👍👍👍👍👍
Don't worry Finns don't understand Finnish grammar either
Medicine & hospitals are not free. The price isn't huge. But it is not free.
And it renews every year, so you do need to pay for it every year. Nowhere near american prices, but still not free.
Sisulla suomalainen selviää!!!!💪
"You leave your bike unlock for days and no one take it" Fins listening this: 😆😬🙅♀️
Im finn and it feels like americans think nudity equals always something sexual and they don't like saunas because you usually are naked in there. For finns tho, nudity is really natural and most of us are comfortable being nude in sauna.
Mämmi.. Just say it out loud, it looks like sh*t. :D
Also, Xmas in Finland is on the 24th.. Was odd for me when I was in the USA and Xmas was on 25th.. The presents and all..
So how did you escape?
Some profeccionals actually think saami people might partly origonate from somewhere in asia. They're the most "asian europians" I don't remember exactly how much asian there is in saami people but in finnish dna there is 5% wich is more than anywhere else in europe (if saami people don't count they have even more)
Very spot on I think. But I think you should never start eating a course of meal that everyone wasn't served yet unless they tell you to go ahead. I thought that was a thing in all of Europe, not only in Finland. When it comes to other table manners in Finland, nobody will bat an eye if you ditch the knife and only use your better hand and a fork. Germans are much more strict about this I think :D
I live in finland and I honestly have had "sausage soup" for like three times in my entire life