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everything you've ever wanted to know about Finland!

eMMIeMMI Posts: 6,262
edited January 2008 in A Moving Train
ask me. :D
anything, anything at all. but still do try to behave! :)
and I may not be able to answer every question regarding politics, but I shall try.

I desided to create this thread because every now and then there are some interviws with various artists (or other people) who think we have polar bears here. and we don't, just so you know. ;)

so, ask me. :D

and yes, Conan O'Brien looks a lot like our president, I admit it. :D
"Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
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Comments

  • eMMIeMMI Posts: 6,262
    aww, you guys.!
    too afraid to ask? ;)
    don't care? :(
    "Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
  • OutOfBreathOutOfBreath Posts: 1,804
    OK, I'll bite.
    Is it true that you all have knives, and drink vodka like it was water? And how much snow do you actually have?

    :)
    Peace
    Dan
    "YOU [humans] NEED TO BELIEVE IN THINGS THAT AREN'T TRUE. HOW ELSE CAN THEY BECOME?" - Death

    "Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
  • eMMIeMMI Posts: 6,262
    OutOfBreath wrote:
    OK, I'll bite.
    Is it true that you all have knives, and drink vodka like it was water? And how much snow do you actually have?

    :)
    Peace
    Dan

    we don't all have knives. :) I'm actually afraid of them.
    knives are sorta a part of some national costumes, but it's nowadays illegal to carry big knives around. but the Swiss army knives (like the one MacGyver has) are a big hit. :D

    well, vodka. some people do drink it like water and drinking is quite a big problem here. especially amongst middle-aged men.. but not all of us are drunks.
    we do have people who don't drink at all. but that whole vodka-thing, it's something we're known for.. sadly. :( I guess the whole drinking-thing is.. should I say, misquoted.

    snow. we have a lot of snow in Lapland (you know, where Santa lives. :) ) and of course in winter a lot here in south too. I guess the situation is like in Norway. not huge amounts, but quite much (especially in Lapland). depending on the winter of course.

    satisfied? :)
    "Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
  • U-RU-R Posts: 223
    ok, if youve got the formula for producing teemu selannes and saku koivus, why only make one of each??
    if you love somebody, set them free. if somebody loves you, don't fuck up
  • eMMIeMMI Posts: 6,262
    U-R wrote:
    ok, if youve got the formula for producing teemu selannes and saku koivus, why only make one of each??

    I sure don't know!! :D

    I guess right now we're consentrating on the Formula hero(es).
    we have the mumbling Kimi Räikkönen (whatever he speaks is incomprehensible!) and the almighty Mika Häkkinen.. I personally think they're both quite lame.

    the Finnish athletes aren't doing good now. worldwide.
    actually, they do quite suck, don't they? :(
    I wish we could stop Selänne and Koivu from aging!
    "Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
  • OutOfBreathOutOfBreath Posts: 1,804
    eMMI wrote:
    we don't all have knives. :) I'm actually afraid of them.
    knives are sorta a part of some national costumes, but it's nowadays illegal to carry big knives around. but the Swiss army knives (like the one MacGyver has) are a big hit. :D

    well, vodka. some people do drink it like water and drinking is quite a big problem here. especially amongst middle-aged men.. but not all of us are drunks.
    we do have people who don't drink at all. but that whole vodka-thing, it's something we're known for.. sadly. :( I guess the whole drinking-thing is.. should I say, misquoted.

    snow. we have a lot of snow in Lapland (you know, where Santa lives. :) ) and of course in winter a lot here in south too. I guess the situation is like in Norway. not huge amounts, but quite much (especially in Lapland). depending on the winter of course.

    satisfied? :)

    Ah, santa-land. I've been there. Outside Rovaniemi isn't it? Man that place sucks. It's an enormous souvenir shop where you can take your picture with santa. Sheesh. Was on a drinking-trip to Rovaniemi while in the army in northern Norway. You got cheap drinks though. Is that why you drink? ;) That's how our government reasons at least. But I guess it's more cultural actually. So you're sorta like the russians then, are you? Or at least you kinda share stereotype there?

    Peace
    Dan
    "YOU [humans] NEED TO BELIEVE IN THINGS THAT AREN'T TRUE. HOW ELSE CAN THEY BECOME?" - Death

    "Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
  • kevinbeetlekevinbeetle Posts: 361
    Why is it called Finland?
  • polarispolaris Posts: 3,527
    kimi raikonnen (sp?) has had a good F1 season ... and you guys are always good for a few good ski jumpers! ... :p

    ok ... my questions: what are your basic Fins thoughts on environmental issues? ...
  • eMMIeMMI Posts: 6,262
    kevinbeetle wrote:
    Why is it called Finland?

    hahaha. :D

    I don't know why you people call it Finland..
    hell, I don't even know why we call it Suomi.!

    hey, I'm gonna try and find out.
    I'll get back to that! :)
    "Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
  • eMMIeMMI Posts: 6,262
    OutOfBreath wrote:
    Ah, santa-land. I've been there. Outside Rovaniemi isn't it? Man that place sucks. It's an enormous souvenir shop where you can take your picture with santa. Sheesh. Was on a drinking-trip to Rovaniemi while in the army in northern Norway. You got cheap drinks though. Is that why you drink? ;) That's how our government reasons at least. But I guess it's more cultural actually. So you're sorta like the russians then, are you? Or at least you kinda share stereotype there?

    Peace
    Dan

    Santa Park? never been there. never will go. :)

    yup, boose is cheap! :D that probably affects the drinking here. actually there has been conversation about wherther wine should be sold in regular grocery stores instead of liqour stores.. I think it shouldn't.
    "Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
  • Drew263Drew263 Birmingham, AL Posts: 602
    eMMI wrote:
    ask me. :D
    anything, anything at all. but still do try to behave! :)
    and I may not be able to answer every question regarding politics, but I shall try.

    I desided to create this thread because every now and then there are some interviws with various artists (or other people) who think we have polar bears here. and we don't, just so you know. ;)

    so, ask me. :D

    and yes, Conan O'Brien looks a lot like our president, I admit it. :D

    what's life like there? meaning for the everyday person? is it a fast paced life or more a relaxed/laid back style of life?

    one of the founders of the company I work for is a Consulate to Finland. I think we have a lot of work and employees there. I've always wanted to visit.
  • eMMIeMMI Posts: 6,262
    polaris wrote:
    kimi raikonnen (sp?) has had a good F1 season ... and you guys are always good for a few good ski jumpers! ... :p

    ok ... my questions: what are your basic Fins thoughts on environmental issues? ...

    environment is very important to us Finns. we have a lot of forests and they're really important. many Finns make their living off of forests and wood.
    also we have many lakes (Finland, the country of a thousand lakes).

    protecting the nautre is really close to our hearts.
    we even have schools that have these special "environment courses". protecting the environment is something the children are told about quite early on in school and kid's programmes.

    we also recycle a lot. :)

    umm, is that a good answer?
    I can/will get back to this later? :)
    "Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
  • OutOfBreathOutOfBreath Posts: 1,804
    eMMI wrote:
    environment is very important to us Finns. we have a lot of forests and they're really important. many Finns make their living off of forests and wood.
    also we have many lakes (Finland, the country of a thousand lakes).

    protecting the nautre is really close to our hearts.
    we even have schools that have these special "environment courses". protecting the environment is something the children are told about quite early on in school and kid's programmes.

    we also recycle a lot. :)

    umm, is that a good answer?
    I can/will get back to this later? :)

    It must be added, that this is a scandinavian thing, not just finnish. :)

    Peace
    Dan
    "YOU [humans] NEED TO BELIEVE IN THINGS THAT AREN'T TRUE. HOW ELSE CAN THEY BECOME?" - Death

    "Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
  • eMMIeMMI Posts: 6,262
    polaris wrote:
    kimi raikonnen (sp?) has had a good F1 season ... and you guys are always good for a few good ski jumpers! ... :p

    oh lord. ski jumpers.
    I couldn't care less, but I guess you've heard of Matti Nykänen.?
    he's grose.
    "Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
  • eMMIeMMI Posts: 6,262
    OutOfBreath wrote:
    It must be added, that this is a scandinavian thing, not just finnish. :)

    Peace
    Dan

    of course. I'm not trying to undermind you. :)
    hell, we even celebrated Norway's 100th birthday! :D
    "Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
  • polarispolaris Posts: 3,527
    eMMI wrote:
    oh lord. ski jumpers.
    I couldn't care less, but I guess you've heard of Matti Nykänen.?
    he's grose.

    name sounds familiar ...

    i already knew the norwegians, danes and swedes were environmentally conscious - was not sure about Fins ...
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    How expensive is it to visit relative to the rest of the region?
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • March to FuzzMarch to Fuzz Posts: 18
    polaris wrote:
    name sounds familiar ...

    i already knew the norwegians, danes and swedes were environmentally conscious - was not sure about Fins ...
    I've heard of Lasse Viren, the Flying Fin, won some Olympic gold medals in track and field years ago.
    Work, consume, work, consume...are you free?
  • eMMIeMMI Posts: 6,262
    Drew263 wrote:
    what's life like there? meaning for the everyday person? is it a fast paced life or more a relaxed/laid back style of life?

    one of the founders of the company I work for is a Consulate to Finland. I think we have a lot of work and employees there. I've always wanted to visit.

    well, I like life here. and I think that's a common feeling.
    life here, like in the rest of the world, is getting faster-paced all the time.
    technology is a big thing and it's challenging us all the time.

    luckily we still have places we can go to relax when life gets too hectic.
    we can always drive to the countryside and enjoy the simple things in life.
    yeah, simple things. :) I think that's something that makes our life quite laid back.. not forgetting about sauna, you know it? probably the most finnish thing in the world, I think. :) I also think sauna says a lot about us. :)

    so life is relaxed here. usually we don't worry about a lotta things, it's more like "we'll see"/"time is the best healer" and so on.

    you should visit Finland. that way you'll get the best idea of life here, I guess. :)
    "Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
  • eMMIeMMI Posts: 6,262
    polaris wrote:
    name sounds familiar ...

    i already knew the norwegians, danes and swedes were environmentally conscious - was not sure about Fins ...

    Nykänen was quite well-known in his time.
    now he's just.. dunno. a sad case..

    we are environmentally conscious. :)
    now you can be sure. :D
    "Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
  • eMMIeMMI Posts: 6,262
    Pacomc79 wrote:
    How expensive is it to visit relative to the rest of the region?

    umm. I'm gonna find out. okay? :)
    but I think it's cheaper here than in at least Norway..
    "Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
  • eMMIeMMI Posts: 6,262
    March to Fuzz wrote:
    I've heard of Lasse Viren, the Flying Fin, won some Olympic gold medals in track and field years ago.

    yup. :)

    somehow, all the athletes like him have disappeared. I personally blame doping!
    "Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
  • bostonloubostonlou Posts: 2,849
    how's your nuppa??

    is that how you spell it?? My Nana was Finnish (last name Aimo - from Visu Vesi I beleive) and "How's your bellybutton" was the only Finnish I ever learned... she swore at me a lot too but I don't remember it :)

    I've very proud/fond of my Finnish heritage

    Someday I hope to make a trip. I've talked with BrotherLoveBone on here about it...
    Don't Believe Everything You Think
  • hippiemomhippiemom Posts: 3,326
    I read somewhere that Jacques Chirac said the Brits had the worst food in all of Europe .... with the exception of Finland. Is this true? What do people eat over there?
    "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." ~ MLK, 1963
  • _Crazy_Mary__Crazy_Mary_ Posts: 1,299
    eMMI wrote:
    Santa Park? never been there. never will go. :)

    yup, boose is cheap! :D that probably affects the drinking here. actually there has been conversation about wherther wine should be sold in regular grocery stores instead of liqour stores.. I think it shouldn't.


    Is there any alcohol sold in regular grocery stores? Beer at least? Why don't you want wine sold there?
    I really screwed that up. I really Schruted it.
  • eMMIeMMI Posts: 6,262
    bostonlou wrote:
    how's your nuppa??

    is that how you spell it?? My Nana was Finnish (last name Aimo - from Visu Vesi I beleive) and "How's your bellybutton" was the only Finnish I ever learned... she swore at me a lot too but I don't remember it :)

    I've very proud/fond of my Finnish heritage

    Someday I hope to make a trip. I've talked with BrotherLoveBone on here about it...


    my bellybutton's just fine thank you. :) it's spelled napa btw. :)
    why is "how's your bellybutton?" the only thing you've learned? :D but I guess Finnish actually is a quite difficult language to learn..
    well, I think I shouldn't really swear here, so.. :D

    you should be proud of your heritage! :) we all should be proud of our heritage, no matter where we live. :)
    you know when Finland's independence day is? *pop quiz* :)

    make that trip! in fact I think all of you should come to Finland, I welcome you! :) BLB too? great, the more the merrier. :D
    "Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
  • eMMIeMMI Posts: 6,262
    hippiemom wrote:
    I read somewhere that Jacques Chirac said the Brits had the worst food in all of Europe .... with the exception of Finland. Is this true? What do people eat over there?

    he did say that.. :(
    it caused a lot of commotion over here, but I guess that's not very surprising..

    we eat home cooked food. :)
    potatoes (a lot of potatoes), meatballs, sausages. porridge. :)
    peasoup with pancake-dessert. a lot of dark bread, not burnt, it has rye in it. :)
    umm, what else..? :)
    home cooked meals. :D

    we also have our own "special" candy, salmiac. which many other countries don't have. okay, at least the US doesn't have it. the same kind we have. :)
    "Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
  • eMMIeMMI Posts: 6,262
    _Crazy_Mary_ wrote:
    Is there any alcohol sold in regular grocery stores? Beer at least? Why don't you want wine sold there?

    in grocery stores we have cider, beer and long drinks. the mild stuff, you know.
    I don't think wine should be sold there because there's no need for that..
    we have nicely working liquor store business thingie ( ;) hard to explain, at least in the US it's very different) and there are liquor stores everywhere, in the same buildings with the grocery stores and supermarkets, so wine and that sort of stuff isn't hard to get if you want it.

    as I have mentioned, drinking is a problem here and I don't think it should be made any easier to get the drinks.. (cause some drunks drink almost only wine)
    besides, in everyday grocery stores there isn't the time or the resources to check the age of every client. I'm not saying it's better if the under-aged get "only" beer and all that, but..

    finally. cause we have this liquor store thing here, the people working in those stores are trained professionals. they know about different wines and so on.
    I know, I worked in a liquor store for a summer. :)
    "Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
  • eMMIeMMI Posts: 6,262
    kevinbeetle wrote:
    Why is it called Finland?

    okay, I asked around a little.
    and because I had only my friends as sources of information, this isn't very accurate. but this is the best I can do for now. :D

    apparently many many many years ago some Roman dude sailed around the world.
    as he was sailing, he somehow ended up all the way here and found some people. he then named these people Finns.
    afterwards (or during the sailing, dunno) this guy wrote a book. there he mentioned everything he had found on his wonderful journey.
    and there it was, FINLAND mentioned for the first time ever! :)
    naturally, he didn't call this place Finland and he mentioned this place like once, but still.
    apparently the naming was in latin, Finn or something.. :D

    the rest is history. :)

    satisfied? ;)
    "Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
  • OutOfBreathOutOfBreath Posts: 1,804
    Is this by any chance a "vinminopol", or as I believe it was called in Finland: "Alko"? Those places rock. We have them in Norway too. Instead of giving up the state monopoly on these things, we have rather built a lot of them. And their selection is marvelous.

    Peace
    Dan
    "YOU [humans] NEED TO BELIEVE IN THINGS THAT AREN'T TRUE. HOW ELSE CAN THEY BECOME?" - Death

    "Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
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