3 months / Culture shocks

It's been a damn long time since I've even thought of writing here, one thing led to another and I had just kept putting it off!
A lot of what you read here won't exactly be chronological but more an amalgamation of my experiences and opinions after three months in Finland.
In this segment I'll focus more on the cultural difference and tidbits and next time an overview of where I have been and what I've done.

In a lot of ways Finland is very different to Ireland, but not in any huge ways it's all the little things.
Here are a few I can think of off the top of my head!

-Small talk: In Ireland the vast majority of us can talk about nothing and it's normal, but Finns for the most part won't say anything that doesn't need saying. This took me some getting used to and has thought me to think a bit more before I talk, so not a bad thing. Be it in conversation or in nature most Finns enjoy a nice bit of peace and quiet.

-Coffee: No matter how early or late, whether its before or after food or if they're happy, sad, in a rush or relaxing! Offer a Finn a cup of Coffee and they'll take it. Finns from what I've seen drink more Coffee than us Irish drink tea and that's saying something.

-Shoes off: Enter any Finns abode and you'll quickly be taking your shoes off! Probably one of the most widespread differences from Ireland. Here you are expected to take your shoes of it would actually be rude not to if you're delving further into the house than the hallway. This is second nature now.

-Sauna: Oh man where do I start.
Alina was worried I might not be able to sit in the 80-90*c heat without melting but not only do I handle it but I've embraced it with both hands.
Sauna regardless of social class, gender, age or creed is an absolutely integral part of not only Finnish culture, but life.
Someones celebrating, someones sad, someones died, it's Saturday, it's cold out.
Finns will Sauna for absolutely any reason, as if they need one.
This is one difference I wish more of the world had. Oddly enough going from 80+ to -2 isn't bad, its quite a relaxing way to cool off before heading back in,
but I'll never forget the kick into the heart of adrenaline I got when I went from the Sauna to rolling in the snow!!

There are many more things that are different here than Ireland, hundreds more! But having been here for three months these were the immediate and consistent differences that I saw.

That's all for today folks thanks for reading and pop by within the next week or so for a loose recollection of where I've been and what I've done.

Peace & Love,
Gregg.

Suomessa - In Finland: Tampere

Moi!

Me ollaan oltu Suomessa nyt lähes kolme kuukautta.

Kaikenlaista on ehditty tekemään. Ainakin itse oon ollut toistaiseksi ihan tyytyväinen paluuseen ja Gregg on kyllä tuntunut viihtyvän, vaikka uusia asioita ja kokemuksia on ollut paljon, uskaltaisin sanoa, että toistaiseksi sauna on niistä ollut parhain.

Hi all, we've spent a while in Finland.

We've already done so much but on the other hand we could have done a bit more too. Anyhow, I'm glad to be back for now and Gregg seems to get along very well even though there's been a lot of new things and experiences he wouldn't have had before. He says the Sauna has been the best thing ever for him.
-A

Lähtöpäivä / Departure

Veli tuli tyttöystävänsä kanssa hakemaan meidät Helsingistä ja jatkettiin siitä Tampereelle, missä viivyttiin muutama seuraava päivä.  Käytiin Pyynikin näkötornilla katselemassa Tamperetta yläilmoista ja kierreltiin pitkin kaupunkia.

My brother and his girlfriend came to pick us up from Helsinki airport and brought us to Tampere where we stayed the next few days which was lovely as the weather stayed nice and we got to look around a city we both weren't used to .
We went to Pyynikki where we could climb the tower and see Tampere from above.
-A

Pyynikin näkötorni

Seuraavatkin päivät kului kaupunkia kierrellessä ja ilmakin sattui pysymään aurinkoisena ja lämpöisenä. Mukava paluu itsellekin syksyiseen Suomeen.

Tampere was sunny and warm - what a nice welcome for us in the country I was expecting to be already cold as it's autumn after all.
-A

Tampere

Torni - Tower sky bar