- Jorge Reyes had never been to Finland before moving to Helsinki from Bogota, Colombia.
- Although he was prepared for extreme weather, he was shocked by other aspects of Finnish culture.
- Naked saunas, not wearing shoes at work, and acceptable dating protocols all caught Reyes off guard.
This told essay is based on a conversation with Jorge Reyes, 27, who moved from Bogota, Colombia to Helsinki, one of the happiest countries in the world. Edited for length and clarity.
I moved to Helsinki without ever visiting Helsinki. happiest place on earth.
When I moved to Finland from my hometown of Bogota, Colombia, I experienced a completely different lifestyle. We knew the weather would change a lot, but there were other interesting surprises along the way.
Finns don’t wear shoes at the office.
It’s not uncommon to take off your shoes before entering someone’s home, but most offices in Finland also have a no-shoes policy. Some offices provide “slippers,” but most of the time, your co-workers will wear socks.
When I first moved from Colombia, I didn’t bring socks because I was from a warmer climate. I had to go buy some interesting and fun socks in different fabrics and styles for work. I bought Pikachu socks and socks with funny logos.
People all over the world style their wardrobes for the workplace, and in Finland they style their socks.
Is it normal to go to the sauna naked with friends or colleagues?
Finland has a deep-rooted sauna culture. Usually everyone has a sauna in their home or residential building, and many offices also have saunas at work.
What’s interesting, and I didn’t realize it until I moved, is that it’s a cultural norm to go into the sauna naked. People take off their clothes and chat and talk inside the sauna. Nudity is not considered taboo here, so it’s normal. There are no awkward glances or eye rolls as people have a high level of respect and courtesy towards each other.
Personally, I have only used the sauna in my own building. At first I wore swimming trunks, as it was not compulsory to take off my clothes. As time went on, I became more comfortable being naked.
Investing in good blinds is essential
In summer, especially in July and August, there is little darkness and the sun always shines. At 2am, the sun will be shining brightly outside.
I’ve found it surprising how much time and effort people spend choosing the right blinds and curtains. However, I quickly realized that it was difficult to sleep without the right material. I had to install additional curtains on the blinds to get a good night’s sleep without negatively impacting my sleep hygiene.
Summer is also the time when people are always outside because the sun is rare. When I first moved in, it was difficult to manage the amount of light, especially when the sun didn’t set for weeks.
Bear and reindeer meat is often served in markets and restaurants
In most parts of the world, especially where I’m from, you can’t eat bear or reindeer meat. However, here it is served as a meal in markets and restaurants.
Cook reindeer sausage as a kebab. The reindeer meat was very tender, had a rich earthy flavor and was very tasty. I have never eaten bear meat, but I hear that the texture is similar to pork.
It is a popular dish in Finland and is often eaten during winter holidays. Reindeer meat is mainly found sold at local markets in the city.
The culinary scene is evolving, as there are still plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans.
Using public transport is very easy
I was impressed with the variety of public transportation options and how easy it was to get anywhere. In Helsinki, you can choose between trams, metro, trains and bicycle rental.
Colombia only had subways and buses, which were difficult to use and didn’t allow us to get anywhere. Here, transportation has direct access to the airport and there is a central station where all modes of transportation converge.
I ride my bike everywhere in the summer, but it’s very cold in the winter, so I choose these other modes.
Finns are happy to buy second-hand goods
People here are fashionable and well-dressed, but are comfortable wearing second-hand clothes as an eco-friendly option. People seem to be less concerned about wearing expensive clothes and prioritize comfort and personal preference over big name brands and price tags.
In Colombia, it would be unusual to wear second-hand or recycled clothing. I don’t think there are that many stores I want to go to.
Save dinner for the second date.
Finns use similar dating apps like Hinge and Bumble just like the rest of the world, but one key difference is how they handle first dates. I was warned early on that going to a nice restaurant on a first date could be considered “over the top.”
In Colombia, on the other hand, first dates tend to be a nice dinner at a restaurant. Here, we recommend going to a bar or cafe for your first date.