Finnish people don’t smile at strangers
interesting, maybe times have changed. I have never been to Finland, but I lived in Stockholm for almost five years back in the mid-sixties, and the ones that consistently smiled at me were "finska flickor". That was at dance clubs. The ones I knew were student nurses at the Karolinska. Back then, one became a close friend and we went out with each other, she was from Turku.
Masks - we even have to wear FFP Masks in Austria (also in Germany). I only wear it where I legally have to. I hope this spook is over soon and we can be leading a normal life again.
Sweden is more ”European” than Finland, especially Stockholm, and the people moving there are not the typical Finns probably 😅 Obviously these are just stereotypes.
I think it’s gonna take a lot before we can live a normal life again. Well, I’m not normal to begin with so doesn’t effect me as much.
"not normal" - well, I can say the same - and others have said that about me as well. As far as Swedes are concerned, they are different in different places as well. I found they were a lot friendlier anywhere else but Stockholm. People from Lapland cross over into Finland, and I did find them very nice also. Leena was very much Finnish, she also spoke several languages fluently. When she mentioned she was looking at a job with Finnair, I encouraged her to pursue this (better than changing bedpans, lol). Later I emigrated to Canada, but we corresponded for a while after, and she was happy in her new job.
btw, I worked as side job at a nightclub on the waterfront, and there were many Finns that went there. So I learned some swearwords from them, so together with Hungarian ones I have a repertoire to use when I am pissed off.