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Hello from Finland

FinnFox

FinnFox

DP Veteran
Joined
Apr 27, 2019
Messages
745
Reaction score
314
Location
Finland
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Progressive
I live in small town & small country (Finland's population is only 5,5 million). Sometimes I talk with one translator (in bus or bus stop) who moved here from America 25 years ago. Less than week ago we talked last time and she told that Finland changed lot from what it was when she came to Finland. For example it's easier to find English speakers, what it was back then. Finland is bilingual country (Finnish & Swedish) and English is most common third language at school (it can also be something else and some people take fourth language in high school, French, Spanish, German, Italian, etc). At this point I have to say that I'm not highly educated person, but I like to read and learn things, trying to understand what life is about and how different views open for new ideas.

I'm interested in American culture. For me, it's very young culture (we have buildings lot older than America as Country) and if you go to Europe, you'll see some 1000 year old stuff. Europe and Africa is like mother's of America - how people traveled from those places and took space from natives. That's unique short history with all hardship and amazing evolving to what America is now.

My narrowed view what I think American culture is:

1) Fast paced, go, go, go, with hope that working hard is way to elevate people to better (whatever it is for individuals). Same time I'm hearing rumors that most of those jobs are relatively low wage jobs - so you take another job to get enough income? Not getting too tired? Still enough time to relax, have some fun with friends, time with family, so on?

2) That fun political situation when Republicans seen as Nazis and Democrats as Communist (a bit too far stretched?). I've seen also some "enemy is X" -talk or "you're anti-American" -talk - well, you Americans all live in America and why some people would like to blow it by turning against own interests? (living in America and having American life style) Is that situation like that or just my imagination?

3) High level of consumerism. By that I mean: big cars, big houses, big portions, big stores, about everything is big and in America BIG = Beautiful ? That's also kinda fun to me, because I'm thinking what I really need, so I'm not buying something just because I can buy it - trying to find out really good reasoning for getting something new. Idea is to separate real needs from delusional way of life where you buy whatever, when it's not even remotely useful (In last election, I voted Greens in Finland). Not sure if Americans are like that, but it's just what I think it is.

those are main ones, but some smaller odd things are like bragging culture, Trump is kinda Extreme in that with "I have big brains", "I'm like smart person", "I'm very stable genius", so on.. well, Trump say he's expert (know more about things than anyone else) in almost every possible thing.. well, now you might know what I think about Trump and how I see Trump is pretty common view in EU and Northern Countries (including Scandinavia).

America is still great in so many ways. Lot of beautiful nature and I like to see some of it with my own eyes. Diversity, POP -culture, better understanding what good service is, lot of interesting things - mostly read or talked about those, so I don't have any first hand experience yet. America is also highly advanced in so many areas, by that i mean, medicine, space programs, military, intelligence agency (CIA/FBI) - so being at top in so many different areas is interesting and I hope America keep researching new stuff and fund enough science programs - even in Trump era.
 
FinnFox said:
I live in small town & small country (Finland's population is only 5,5 million). Sometimes I talk with one translator (in bus or bus stop) who moved here from America 25 years ago. Less than week ago we talked last time and she told that Finland changed lot from what it was when she came to Finland. For example it's easier to find English speakers, what it was back then. Finland is bilingual country (Finnish & Swedish) and English is most common third language at school (it can also be something else and some people take fourth language in high school, French, Spanish, German, Italian, etc). At this point I have to say that I'm not highly educated person, but I like to read and learn things, trying to understand what life is about and how different views open for new ideas.

I'm interested in American culture. For me, it's very young culture (we have buildings lot older than America as Country) and if you go to Europe, you'll see some 1000 year old stuff. Europe and Africa is like mother's of America - how people traveled from those places and took space from natives. That's unique short history with all hardship and amazing evolving to what America is now.

My narrowed view what I think American culture is:

1) Fast paced, go, go, go, with hope that working hard is way to elevate people to better (whatever it is for individuals). Same time I'm hearing rumors that most of those jobs are relatively low wage jobs - so you take another job to get enough income? Not getting too tired? Still enough time to relax, have some fun with friends, time with family, so on?

2) That fun political situation when Republicans seen as Nazis and Democrats as Communist (a bit too far stretched?). I've seen also some "enemy is X" -talk or "you're anti-American" -talk - well, you Americans all live in America and why some people would like to blow it by turning against own interests? (living in America and having American life style) Is that situation like that or just my imagination?

3) High level of consumerism. By that I mean: big cars, big houses, big portions, big stores, about everything is big and in America BIG = Beautiful ? That's also kinda fun to me, because I'm thinking what I really need, so I'm not buying something just because I can buy it - trying to find out really good reasoning for getting something new. Idea is to separate real needs from delusional way of life where you buy whatever, when it's not even remotely useful (In last election, I voted Greens in Finland). Not sure if Americans are like that, but it's just what I think it is.

those are main ones, but some smaller odd things are like bragging culture, Trump is kinda Extreme in that with "I have big brains", "I'm like smart person", "I'm very stable genius", so on.. well, Trump say he's expert (know more about things than anyone else) in almost every possible thing.. well, now you might know what I think about Trump and how I see Trump is pretty common view in EU and Northern Countries (including Scandinavia).

America is still great in so many ways. Lot of beautiful nature and I like to see some of it with my own eyes. Diversity, POP -culture, better understanding what good service is, lot of interesting things - mostly read or talked about those, so I don't have any first hand experience yet. America is also highly advanced in so many areas, by that i mean, medicine, space programs, military, intelligence agency (CIA/FBI) - so being at top in so many different areas is interesting and I hope America keep researching new stuff and fund enough science programs - even in Trump era.
Click to expand...

I suppose it all depends on who you speak to and where in the US you visit....there are just as many places that are the polar opposite of what you describe.

The US is a large nation, which means ( contrary to some beliefs) we are very diverse in our views, culture, politics, and overall philosophies.

Anyway, welcome aboard.
 
Howdy Doody, FinnFox!! Welcome to DP.

Well, you present a LOT for people to talk about. Heck, almost every sentence, by themselves, could be a thread. But hey...I don't mind. If you really want to talk about America, start threads on America. I'm sure you'll get people to respond.

One suggestion, though: America is a BIG country. LOTS of people. Because of that, making broad brush conclusions about America or Americans is probably a mistake.

For example. "Fast paced, go, go, go...". Is America like that? Certainly. In some places. In other places, no. We have our hustle and bustle of the cities, we have our quiet Southern towns, our sleepy Western towns where the most excitement is the 15-member high school marching band in the 4th of July parade. We have places where you can spend your whole life and not need to leave a couple square mile area of city...ever...because you can see the entire world right there. And we have places where the young people can't WAIT to get old enough to leave...even if they have to hitch a ride...because NOTHING ever happens.

If I HAD to make a broad brush statement about America, the only thing I could say is this: Whoever you are...whatever kind of person you are...whatever you want out of your life or not...you can find it somewhere in the USA.
 
FinnFox said:
I live in small town & small country (Finland's population is only 5,5 million). Sometimes I talk with one translator (in bus or bus stop) who moved here from America 25 years ago. Less than week ago we talked last time and she told that Finland changed lot from what it was when she came to Finland. For example it's easier to find English speakers, what it was back then. Finland is bilingual country (Finnish & Swedish) and English is most common third language at school (it can also be something else and some people take fourth language in high school, French, Spanish, German, Italian, etc). At this point I have to say that I'm not highly educated person, but I like to read and learn things, trying to understand what life is about and how different views open for new ideas.

I'm interested in American culture. For me, it's very young culture (we have buildings lot older than America as Country) and if you go to Europe, you'll see some 1000 year old stuff. Europe and Africa is like mother's of America - how people traveled from those places and took space from natives. That's unique short history with all hardship and amazing evolving to what America is now.

My narrowed view what I think American culture is:

1) Fast paced, go, go, go, with hope that working hard is way to elevate people to better (whatever it is for individuals). Same time I'm hearing rumors that most of those jobs are relatively low wage jobs - so you take another job to get enough income? Not getting too tired? Still enough time to relax, have some fun with friends, time with family, so on?

2) That fun political situation when Republicans seen as Nazis and Democrats as Communist (a bit too far stretched?). I've seen also some "enemy is X" -talk or "you're anti-American" -talk - well, you Americans all live in America and why some people would like to blow it by turning against own interests? (living in America and having American life style) Is that situation like that or just my imagination?

3) High level of consumerism. By that I mean: big cars, big houses, big portions, big stores, about everything is big and in America BIG = Beautiful ? That's also kinda fun to me, because I'm thinking what I really need, so I'm not buying something just because I can buy it - trying to find out really good reasoning for getting something new. Idea is to separate real needs from delusional way of life where you buy whatever, when it's not even remotely useful (In last election, I voted Greens in Finland). Not sure if Americans are like that, but it's just what I think it is.

those are main ones, but some smaller odd things are like bragging culture, Trump is kinda Extreme in that with "I have big brains", "I'm like smart person", "I'm very stable genius", so on.. well, Trump say he's expert (know more about things than anyone else) in almost every possible thing.. well, now you might know what I think about Trump and how I see Trump is pretty common view in EU and Northern Countries (including Scandinavia).

America is still great in so many ways. Lot of beautiful nature and I like to see some of it with my own eyes. Diversity, POP -culture, better understanding what good service is, lot of interesting things - mostly read or talked about those, so I don't have any first hand experience yet. America is also highly advanced in so many areas, by that i mean, medicine, space programs, military, intelligence agency (CIA/FBI) - so being at top in so many different areas is interesting and I hope America keep researching new stuff and fund enough science programs - even in Trump era.
Click to expand...

Hi neighbour! Nice to see you here. I'm a Brit/Swede dual national, living near Uppsala. I readily concede that these days Finland is better than Sweden in many respects.
 
FinnFox said:
I live in small town & small country (Finland's population is only 5,5 million). Sometimes I talk with one translator (in bus or bus stop) who moved here from America 25 years ago. Less than week ago we talked last time and she told that Finland changed lot from what it was when she came to Finland. For example it's easier to find English speakers, what it was back then. Finland is bilingual country (Finnish & Swedish) and English is most common third language at school (it can also be something else and some people take fourth language in high school, French, Spanish, German, Italian, etc). At this point I have to say that I'm not highly educated person, but I like to read and learn things, trying to understand what life is about and how different views open for new ideas.

I'm interested in American culture. For me, it's very young culture (we have buildings lot older than America as Country) and if you go to Europe, you'll see some 1000 year old stuff. Europe and Africa is like mother's of America - how people traveled from those places and took space from natives. That's unique short history with all hardship and amazing evolving to what America is now.

My narrowed view what I think American culture is:

1) Fast paced, go, go, go, with hope that working hard is way to elevate people to better (whatever it is for individuals). Same time I'm hearing rumors that most of those jobs are relatively low wage jobs - so you take another job to get enough income? Not getting too tired? Still enough time to relax, have some fun with friends, time with family, so on?

2) That fun political situation when Republicans seen as Nazis and Democrats as Communist (a bit too far stretched?). I've seen also some "enemy is X" -talk or "you're anti-American" -talk - well, you Americans all live in America and why some people would like to blow it by turning against own interests? (living in America and having American life style) Is that situation like that or just my imagination?

3) High level of consumerism. By that I mean: big cars, big houses, big portions, big stores, about everything is big and in America BIG = Beautiful ? That's also kinda fun to me, because I'm thinking what I really need, so I'm not buying something just because I can buy it - trying to find out really good reasoning for getting something new. Idea is to separate real needs from delusional way of life where you buy whatever, when it's not even remotely useful (In last election, I voted Greens in Finland). Not sure if Americans are like that, but it's just what I think it is.

those are main ones, but some smaller odd things are like bragging culture, Trump is kinda Extreme in that with "I have big brains", "I'm like smart person", "I'm very stable genius", so on.. well, Trump say he's expert (know more about things than anyone else) in almost every possible thing.. well, now you might know what I think about Trump and how I see Trump is pretty common view in EU and Northern Countries (including Scandinavia).

America is still great in so many ways. Lot of beautiful nature and I like to see some of it with my own eyes. Diversity, POP -culture, better understanding what good service is, lot of interesting things - mostly read or talked about those, so I don't have any first hand experience yet. America is also highly advanced in so many areas, by that i mean, medicine, space programs, military, intelligence agency (CIA/FBI) - so being at top in so many different areas is interesting and I hope America keep researching new stuff and fund enough science programs - even in Trump era.
Click to expand...

Howdy from Texas and welcome to DP. Trying to determine from afar what "American culture" is like is as futile as me trying to determine what "Finish culture" is like (by reading the observations, opinions or anecdotes of others?) as I sit here in Texas having never been to Finland.
 
ttwtt78640 said:
Howdy from Texas and welcome to DP. Trying to determine from afar what "American culture" is like is as futile as me trying to determine what "Finish culture" is like (by reading the observations, opinions or anecdotes of others?) as I sit here in Texas having never been to Finland.
Click to expand...

Finland is homogenous country with relatively small immigrant population, so it's not that hard task to draw some side lines or layout what Finnish culture is.

America is way much bigger and that's reason why you can't do it and say "look at that, that's American culture in one picture".. Maybe it's better think what culture is in different states? More meaningful that way? Still trying to find some of those things what majority can take as American way of life - what's like an signature thing, when you see that you'll know that has to be American.
 
Welcome to DP FinnFox
 
FinnFox said:
Finland is homogenous country with relatively small immigrant population, so it's not that hard task to draw some side lines or layout what Finnish culture is.

America is way much bigger and that's reason why you can't do it and say "look at that, that's American culture in one picture".. Maybe it's better think what culture is in different states? More meaningful that way? Still trying to find some of those things what majority can take as American way of life - what's like an signature thing, when you see that you'll know that has to be American.
Click to expand...

Nope, because Texas is (and has been since its founding) a diverse community. There are many areas in the US (and Texas) where traveling a mere 30 miles (e.g. from Austin to rural Caldwell or Hays County) can change the "cultural" setting considerably. I guess the best that I can do for you is to say that while the majority of the US population is urban, US "culture" is greatly influenced by those in living suburban and rural areas.
 
Welcome to the board! I will be very interested to read and discuss with you. As was pointed out above, your very interesting post could make a dozen threads for discussion and I'd be interested in all of them. I've lived or at least spent time in every corner of our country and all through the middle. There is just too much to bring down to a few sentences.

I'd love to see you start a thread or two of your most interested points and see the feedback you get. I bet you'd get a ton of input.

Welcome again and we look forward to having you!
 
Keridan said:
Welcome to the board! I will be very interested to read and discuss with you. As was pointed out above, your very interesting post could make a dozen threads for discussion and I'd be interested in all of them. I've lived or at least spent time in every corner of our country and all through the middle. There is just too much to bring down to a few sentences.

I'd love to see you start a thread or two of your most interested points and see the feedback you get. I bet you'd get a ton of input.

Welcome again and we look forward to having you!
Click to expand...


Thanks. I just wanted to open slightly what I think about those things and I'm using feedback as tool to estimate how far or close I'm with my claims. For me this is like starting point, first post, and I'm going to read what kind of topics is under discussion. Maybe I start one about American Culture, but there is so much going on already - as n00b, it will take some time to figure out even half of that.
 
Welcome aboard FinnFox :peace
 
Sweden said:
Hi neighbour! Nice to see you here. I'm a Brit/Swede dual national, living near Uppsala. I readily concede that these days Finland is better than Sweden in many respects.
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Hi neigbour! Nice to see you too. I've been in Sweden around 10 times so far, but mostly in North when I'm in hiking trip (it's usually once/twice per year thing for me). I think some people from Finland are in Uppsala University? My Friend is in Stockholm (or nearby), she's a chemist. She told that it's hard to find interesting enough job from Finland. Funny thing is that you get good education from Finland, but you don't have job - I know some people with degree (academic) who's doing really boring work. Do you know Aalto University? One friend is doing PhD (chemistry) and I'm pretty sure she's moving from Finland after that.
 
FinnFox said:
I'm interested in American culture.
Click to expand...

My post from another thread:

ecofarm said:
Clearly we need to start with "what makes someone an American". The answer to that is far more simple than some would like to believe for various agendas: being enlightened.

An enlightened individual, one who recognizes natural rights and seeks to validate and realize them, is an American. That's what the Enlightenment, The American and French Revolutions, The Constitution of the US and the foundation of the Western world and law as we know it is all about.

America is not a nation of geography or religion or ancestry. It's a nation of philosophy. A nation founded on a rock, the brotherhood of mankind.
Click to expand...
 
FinnFox said:
Thanks. I just wanted to open slightly what I think about those things and I'm using feedback as tool to estimate how far or close I'm with my claims. For me this is like starting point, first post, and I'm going to read what kind of topics is under discussion. Maybe I start one about American Culture, but there is so much going on already - as n00b, it will take some time to figure out even half of that.
Click to expand...

Totally understandable. Unfortunately, you still find yourself with the problem of hard to narrow down. Let's do this. What is your biggest interest in America? What is it that you are most curious about? It's easy to gather information, but again, we are a huge country with lots of life styles and views. You might be surprised how many answers you get.
 
FinnFox said:
Hi neigbour! Nice to see you too. I've been in Sweden around 10 times so far, but mostly in North when I'm in hiking trip (it's usually once/twice per year thing for me). I think some people from Finland are in Uppsala University? My Friend is in Stockholm (or nearby), she's a chemist. She told that it's hard to find interesting enough job from Finland. Funny thing is that you get good education from Finland, but you don't have job - I know some people with degree (academic) who's doing really boring work. Do you know Aalto University? One friend is doing PhD (chemistry) and I'm pretty sure she's moving from Finland after that.
Click to expand...

I'm very old and retired so I do not know about the jobs market at first hand. I've heard that in most Western countries there are now so many graduates that many of them end up with lower level jobs than they had expected.

I have nephews here qualified as construction worker, electrician and paradmedics. They are never without work.

I've been to Åland many times but beautiful Helsinki only once.
 
Hello, you from the land of bread cheese and however you pronounce Kaalikääryleet. I love the stuff.
Oh, and welcome.
 
Lovebug said:
Hello, you from the land of bread cheese and however you pronounce Kaalikääryleet. I love the stuff.
Oh, and welcome.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Kaalikääryleet (cabbage rolls) are good with lingonberry jam :)
 
FinnFox said:
I live in small town & small country (Finland's population is only 5,5 million). Sometimes I talk with one translator (in bus or bus stop) who moved here from America 25 years ago. Less than week ago we talked last time and she told that Finland changed lot from what it was when she came to Finland. For example it's easier to find English speakers, what it was back then. Finland is bilingual country (Finnish & Swedish) and English is most common third language at school (it can also be something else and some people take fourth language in high school, French, Spanish, German, Italian, etc). At this point I have to say that I'm not highly educated person, but I like to read and learn things, trying to understand what life is about and how different views open for new ideas.

I'm interested in American culture. For me, it's very young culture (we have buildings lot older than America as Country) and if you go to Europe, you'll see some 1000 year old stuff. Europe and Africa is like mother's of America - how people traveled from those places and took space from natives. That's unique short history with all hardship and amazing evolving to what America is now.

My narrowed view what I think American culture is:

1) Fast paced, go, go, go, with hope that working hard is way to elevate people to better (whatever it is for individuals). Same time I'm hearing rumors that most of those jobs are relatively low wage jobs - so you take another job to get enough income? Not getting too tired? Still enough time to relax, have some fun with friends, time with family, so on?

2) That fun political situation when Republicans seen as Nazis and Democrats as Communist (a bit too far stretched?). I've seen also some "enemy is X" -talk or "you're anti-American" -talk - well, you Americans all live in America and why some people would like to blow it by turning against own interests? (living in America and having American life style) Is that situation like that or just my imagination?

3) High level of consumerism. By that I mean: big cars, big houses, big portions, big stores, about everything is big and in America BIG = Beautiful ? That's also kinda fun to me, because I'm thinking what I really need, so I'm not buying something just because I can buy it - trying to find out really good reasoning for getting something new. Idea is to separate real needs from delusional way of life where you buy whatever, when it's not even remotely useful (In last election, I voted Greens in Finland). Not sure if Americans are like that, but it's just what I think it is.

those are main ones, but some smaller odd things are like bragging culture, Trump is kinda Extreme in that with "I have big brains", "I'm like smart person", "I'm very stable genius", so on.. well, Trump say he's expert (know more about things than anyone else) in almost every possible thing.. well, now you might know what I think about Trump and how I see Trump is pretty common view in EU and Northern Countries (including Scandinavia).

America is still great in so many ways. Lot of beautiful nature and I like to see some of it with my own eyes. Diversity, POP -culture, better understanding what good service is, lot of interesting things - mostly read or talked about those, so I don't have any first hand experience yet. America is also highly advanced in so many areas, by that i mean, medicine, space programs, military, intelligence agency (CIA/FBI) - so being at top in so many different areas is interesting and I hope America keep researching new stuff and fund enough science programs - even in Trump era.
Click to expand...

welcome to the forum.
 
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