15 Jul 09
Originally posted by ivan2908They just don't know how to get drunk.
I met Finnish teacher on some masterclass last week. He said to me that countrary to beliefs of southern Europeans, Finnish people are very temperamentic. Is that true ? He told me that is very easy to be involved in the fist fights !
15 Jul 09
1 edit
Originally posted by ivan2908Finns are temperamental... but introspective. That is why Finland has one of the highest suicide rates. Alcoholism is also the national disease.
I met Finnish teacher on some masterclass last week. He said to me that countrary to beliefs of southern Europeans, Finnish people are very temperamentic. Is that true ? He told me that is very easy to be involved in the fist fights !
Re: fist fights? Nah, only when really, really drunk... and out of the civilization. If you're into music, then you'll be in Helsinki, in the Sibelius Akateemia, which means you won't get a lot of fighting, but instead a lot of drinking.
Finns are good people. You'll like it here, though don't expect lots of emotions and a vibrant & cosmpolitan social life.
15 Jul 09
Originally posted by Palynkathat we do know!
They just don't know how to get drunk.
but yeah, everything seitse said before about us is very much true. I'd like to add that we show a lot of emotion, it just happens in very different situations to latin or american cultures. there's practically no emotions wasted on superficial situations. even a 'thanks' or 'please' is often a lot to ask. (just look at us two sunshines, me & jusuh for example.)
an american 'loves' everything, a tv-show, donut, that color, 'your hair' etc, but when a finn loves something we're talking about all-burning furnace of mad desire, which destroys the object of love, the lover, and a number of innocent by-standers. which is also why we don't talk about love.
it might also help to think of finns as some kind of round-eyed japanese. similar work ethics, precision, same melancholic soul, and heavy drinkers.
15 Jul 09
Originally posted by wormwoodHaha, I knew you'd pick up on that.
that we do know!
but yeah, everything seitse said before about us is very much true. I'd like to add that we show a lot of emotion, it just happens in very different situations to latin or american cultures. there's practically no emotions wasted on superficial situations. even a 'thanks' or 'please' is often a lot to ask. (just look at u ...[text shortened]... japanese. similar work ethics, precision, same melancholic soul, and heavy drinkers.
I also found the Finns that I met had some interesting similarities to Japanese. Especially the weird (at least for me) pauses during a discussion, which make the flow of conversation completely different.
15 Jul 09
Originally posted by ivan2908oh yeah, about that... growing up in a small town was about ducking daily possibilities of getting into fights. but in cities it's almost unheard of.
I met Finnish teacher on some masterclass last week. He said to me that countrary to beliefs of southern Europeans, Finnish people are very temperamentic. Is that true ? He told me that is very easy to be involved in the fist fights !
then again, finns are very gentlemanlike about fighting. you'll get a bloody nose as a worst case scenario. and the guy might even buy you a beer and become your new best friend. no guns or extremes, unless it's about the 'burning mad desire' of course. in which case the weapon of choise is a knife or an axe. shotguns are reserved for suicide and driving the wife & kids into snow at christmas.
if you pass out and drop your wallet, you'll likely find out that someone tucked the wallet back into your pocket and brought you a pillow and a blanket during your blackout. (has happened twice to my friends).
15 Jul 09
1 edit
Originally posted by Palynkahahah. 🙂
Haha, I knew you'd pick up on that.
I also found the Finns that I met had some interesting similarities to Japanese. Especially the weird (at least for me) pauses during a discussion, which make the flow of conversation completely different.
have no idea what you mean with the pausing. do you mean we construct english sentences (and discussion) in some weird seemingly unintuitive way like the japanese? I assume you don't mean the usual slowness of flow everybody tends to have when speaking in a non-maternal tongue.
16 Jul 09
Originally posted by wormwoodNo, the English tends to be very good (to me). I mean pausing the conversation before beginning to speak. I say something...pause...still pause...reply begins. In southern Europe it's more immediate and sometimes even before the person finishes (if the point is already clear).
hahah. 🙂
have no idea what you mean with the pausing. do you mean we construct english sentences (and discussion) in some weird seemingly unintuitive way like the japanese? I assume you don't mean the usual slowness of flow everybody tends to have when speaking in a non-maternal tongue.
I guess it's more the flow of conversation than language itself. Sometimes it feels like they're making sure I'm done and will not interrupt me by starting to speak.
16 Jul 09
Originally posted by BlackampLOL! What's with your obsession with my sexual life? First glory-holes, then casual sex in parks and now slumber during sexual acts.
more likely they've fallen asleep waiting for you to finish.
oh, did that remind you of your last sexual experience?
You can't even be consistent about it.
16 Jul 09
Originally posted by Palynkawhat's inconsistent about it? haven't you ever wondered about that snoring sound coming from the next cubicle?
LOL! What's with your obsession with my sexual life? First glory-holes, then casual sex in parks and now slumber during sexual acts.
You can't even be consistent about it.
16 Jul 09
Originally posted by Palynkaoh, right. it indeed is considered very rude to interrupt someone in finland. to a point where the italian/spanish and I guess portuguese way of talking over other people is generally found very weird, even hostile. not that we thought you were being rude, which mainly applies to finnish people. (not that it's ever stopped me from talking over others)
No, the English tends to be very good (to me). I mean pausing the conversation before beginning to speak. I say something...pause...still pause...reply begins. In southern Europe it's more immediate and sometimes even before the person finishes (if the point is already clear).
I guess it's more the flow of conversation than language itself. Sometimes it feels like they're making sure I'm done and will not interrupt me by starting to speak.
to me, watching spanish soaps seems like they were all doing speed. 😀
we also have longer personal talking distance, which sometimes manifests in rather ridiculous ways. like the latin guy trying to get closer to the finnish guy, and the finn desperately backing up trying to get that 20cm farther. 🙂 also kissing and touching is a no-no, and will drive the finns nuts even though they'll say it's okay. then again, nudity between strangers is perfectly normal, even expected in some situations. there's a long history of ridiculing foreigners wearing clothes in sauna. 🙂