By the way, Finland isn't as dangerous as you said, about fights and alcohol. Those don't happen very often. Maybe in Helsinki or other places like that, but usually a little further away to the north there is not so much fighting or criminals, some alcoholics maybe but usually they are not dangerous or raving mad. It's pretty safe here, you won't get beat up unless you say or do something provoking.
He didn't say it's dangerous, he said that late at night there is lots of drinking and to be cautious. The rest of the world is not used to being around such drunk people. He said it is safe and well organized, but the drunks are a big shock to many, and provoking them, could just be your foreign existence. In my experience, this is universal in the Nordic countries.
Megsu Okay, I misunderstood him a little, I'm sorry. But anyways, people aren't as xenophobic here as people often seem to think, it is just the black people and gypsies who they don't like. Actually Finnish people often are very friendly and interested in foreign people, except for the ones I already mentioned. But even if you are black or gypsy, you'll stay safe here if you don't provoke someone, it only happens sometimes, but not as often as you would think, that people would beat up you just because you're black. It happens vice versa pretty often actually, I have heard black people or gypsies beat up Finnish people for no reason here. Some have even took a random victim and asked him or her for his nationality, when answered "Finnish" they would get beat up and their money was stolen. But drunkards aren't really usually raving mad here as I already mentioned. They are pretty friendly usually.
Well yes, probably. I wouldn't say reindeer is best... bear meat is even better but very rare. Pigeons and ducks taste good but are too small... moose is a bit dry, but still something I'd consider... well thanks to my father being a hunter we do get moose regularly. Reindeer-- well, it is the only meat with flavour that's readily available all around. At least if I moved to Lapland.
Pigeons...Yakkk...Americans don't eat pigeons..They are the most dirty and nasty of birds in the world..Not only they shit everywhere and they also eat excrements.. I guess there is nothing better to eat in such a low country. When the country ran out of pigeons you are only welcome to America so you can catch the millions we have here shitting everywhere..
Finnish homefood is fucking awesome.. In Finland the are only few really good restaurants with traditional finnish food but real "old" finnish homefood is just great
the first country ive ever visited in europe is Finland and i did not regret it! im from Singapore and not many asian will put finland on their list when it comes to travelling to europe! finland is so beautiful and one of the most beautiful moment in my life is having a campfire overlooking the moon rising at the puumala lake. check out my vlog on my channel!! :)
iqahjasmine Wow, great post! I'm glad you enjoyed Finland. If you come back, make sure it's either in the middle of summer or in the middle of winter! That's when it's as beautiful as possible. I see it was probably spring when you visited, not the ideal weather yet :) P.S. Finland is more popular among Asians than you think! ;) Especially in Japan.
My take on Finnish food: less than a hundred years ago we still had a strong countryside culture. We can farm only a small variety of things, so food was plain, simple and greasy. We were poor and made food from whatever we had (so no wonder bloodcakes came to be). Nowdays, many traditional foods aren't that popular, but the food style has preserved. As a Finn, I love my food simple, but foreigners may think our food is plain and boring.
I have been to Finland and his assessment is right on point (even the way he says 'sauna'). I enjoyed the 3 weeks I was there and got to experience everything he said. I met up with a Finnish friend in Helsinki, went up north to her parents summer cottage, went to sauna (I asked what do you wear in the sauna? They all got a kick out of that), saw the midnight sun. And as a black woman in a country where there are very few...I was welcomed heartily. Would return in a minute!! Yo!!
Hii, can i make a question? You said you are a woman, right? And if you didn't agree with the sauna ritual, like being naked, and you said: "no", what do you think would be their reaction? Because i guess the day i am going to do this... I will ask if i can wear a bikini?! I am Shy =[
My Finnish friends were very understanding and expected my response to being naked. They said all the Americans they met asked the same question...'what do you wear in the sauna?'. Wear what you want :)
It's kind of funny how defensive and butthurt a lot of my countrymen seem to get from this video. At least considering some of the comments. People, the title isn't "Things I only hate about Finland". He is not slandering us. He is giving honest opinions from the point of view of someone who wasn't raised here. And I would much rather see this man explore finnish countryside than say A. Bourdain(that Finland episode was a disgrace). I'm a barefoot finn, born and raised on the south-east coast on traditional foods and folklore. I hope you come to Finland many more times, you will undoubtedly find good traditional foods as well. But hey, at least in "hit & miss" 50% is the hitting part, right ? :D I liked this video, points for saying "sauna" a lot better than any (non-finnish) traveller I've heard it say yet, haha. usually it's always "Soona".
That always happen no matter what country you are speaking of. If you say "I don't like A because of B", then there is always someone trying to disprove you.
I see country from your name :) anyway, everybody walks their own way. For me, everyday sauna is too much. (I can still do that, i'd like to have it only on fridays)
But reindeer is delicious, together with smashed potatoes and lingonberry (cowberry) jam!!! We also have the best bread in the world in Finland, which is made of rye and is called "ruisleipä" or 'rye bread'! That's usually the first thing that a Finn living abroad will start to miss from Finland after a while, together with sauna and a treat called "salmiakki", which is a variety of liquorice flavoured with ammonium chloride. Also I didn't really get your point about homicides and violence - the drunken people are mostly harmless and mind their own business. The weather is not always that bad! In the spring/summer-time there are usually plenty of sunny days! It rains alot morefor example in England than in Finland ;)
So, Finland is expensive, the food is shitty, it's dark and rainy all the time and everyone is drunk and depressed... Sounds exactly like England! I bet I'd feel right at home there. Srsly tho, I'd definitely want to go to Finland if I had the money; Finns somehow come off as being much cooler than, say, Swedes.
helsinki is safe, just don't move alone in Kalasatama, Central Railway Station or in Kallio during night time :) Arabianranta is a really beautiful district to check out!
About the costliness: if you live in Finland and you know why everything costs so much, you will feel grateful for living here and get used to it. Finland is expensive because of taxes. And those taxes provide Finland with 1) free health care - basic health care is free, such as dentist, first aid, basic vaccines, so on 2) free school - I'm not kidding. And know that Finnish school system is ranked top of the world almost everywhere. The lessons themselves are free from preschool to university. Food is free from preschool to high school/vocational school (in universities the food costs, but is very affordable). Books, notepads, pencils and so on are provided by school from preschool to junior high (but you can get most high school and university books from libraries). Basically "the basic school", that is required for everyone to finish (elementary and junior high school), and preschool (which is not required) is 100% free, after that it can cost but it is possible to graduate from university in Finland without paying anything than the covers of your thesis, which is about 30€. I recommend eating at universities and buying your high school books and then re-selling them, it makes things a lot easier. Btw, university ("yliopisto" or "ammattikorkeakoulu") cafeterias are actually open-for-EVERYONE homecooking restaurants, and like I said, very affordable! There is usually lunch (around 11-13) and dinner (around 15-18) with 1-2 options, including salad, main course, drink (at least milk and water) and bread, occasionally dessert, there is pretty much always lactose-free option and vegetarian option. Highly recommend these! 3) Kela is Finland's social insurance institution. Basically it's an institution owned by Finnish government that provides Finns with money in different situations in life. These situations are for example full-time student, out of job, stay-at-home mom/dad, having children (you get amount x for 1st kid, then slightly higher amount for 2nd, again higher for 3rd, and then 4th and so on you get same amount than from the 3rd kid), sick leave (long time), retirement, or if you're disabled. The amounts are not big, but you'll live with the support of them, I've lived with full-time student financing for the last 3 years. Kela may sound a dream come true, but most Finns hate it, because Kela is slow and you have to be very careful that you have all the required paperwork for them and that they know every little detail about you (where do you live, with whom, where you study at, what do you study, do you have a job... list goes on and on). But I'll rather wait at their office for few hours and tell them all they need to know than try to survive without their support. 4) Parishes are funded not by the people, but by government (evangelic-lutheran and orthodox) and they offer free daycare for kids (varies from parish to parish how much) and other free activities for youngsters, families, adults and the elderly. So that is why everything costs so much in Finland. Want to take advantage? Eat at universities when you visit and check what the local parish has to offer while you're here. :)
Because usually people go to a doctor and complain about something that goes away with rest and mild pain meds like Burana... And Burana is under 8€ for a package of 20, I don't think it's that much...
yeah, I know. but that's one pill at a time, and what if you're not at school when the headache occurs? it's good to have some burana at home just in case.
Yeah, like Burana is actually bad if you have the flu, because with flu you should get rest in order to get better, and Burana takes the pain away so you feel fine and you're still with flu actually... So I only take Burana for small head/stomach/etc aches (if they won't settle by drinking water or any other natural way), or if I'm so sick and in pain that I can't sleep. Burana takes the pain away and I can rest and get better. Did she tell them that these stomach problems occurred so often? If she did, then I think the doctors have been very stupid! They should have looked into it better, see what's really wrong with her. Usually they start with burana, send you home, and ask to give them a call if the problems won't go away in few weeks. Wikipedia says reflux should be treated with meds (something to neutralize the stomach acid, and ranitidin (I think that could be the translation to 'ranitidiini' in Finnish Wikipedia)) and if it gets real bad, then with surgery. If Wikipedia knows it, Finnish doctors should know it, too! >:(
Just came back from Helsinki, and I love the food and the people, especially the Hakaniemi market with all it's food. I did not try Hesburger though but Arnolds bakery, which was incredible awesome, especially their lemongras Smoothie. And you also can get affordable apartments there, with kitchen etc. included, wich makes the whole trip cheaper. The weather was warm and nice and the air is so fresh. And I felt safe the entire stay there, more than in Germany, especially in the late evening.
+meisseli mjaaha kyl vitus. Makaroonilaatikko 10/10... makkara grillattuna ja turun sinaapilla 10/10... karjalanpiirakat munavoilla 10/10... listaa vois jatkaa vaikka kuinka.....
We are in China right now filming some basic China videos :) Beijing, Great Wall, Xi'an and a few smaller towns. They will be coming out in September I am guessing. Maybe August depending when we get back to the US. All the best to you! And I am Glad to hear you like the videos. It is great to hear :) And thank you for the kind words on the family. I love 'em lots :)
Awesome how your pronounciated sauna correctly! The food? Nothing special, yes, but there are good things too. Even for me as a Finnish vegetarian, I love the Finnish spring potatoes and the chanterelle sauce (or other mushrooms too). Actually when Finns eat out, they usually go to "ethnic restaurants" (Chinese, Thai, Nepalese, Indian etc). There are a few restaurants in Helsinki that serve traditional Finnish cuisine, but they're probably the most expensive in town!
2 things that I love about Finland is the great music (mainly Heavy Metal) and the personalities of the people. Their personalities are very similar to my personality.
My wife is a Finn. They are some of the most resourceful, rock solidi, kindest, honest and sincere people that I've ever met anywhere. Highest literacy rating on the planet. Best education system in the world, Huge fans of ice hockey, Teemu Selanne of the Anaheim Ducks is a national hero, soccer & auto racing. Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask is from Savolinna Finland. Best hockey goalie coach in the world is from Finland. If i could I would move from the U.S. to Finland in a second. I love it there.
you have no idea about Finnish food/cuisine it is amazing anthony bourdain said that don't listen to the people who say Finnish food is bad because it is awesome. also u have mistaken finland about the weather it does NOT rain all the time. also all countries have drunk weirdos in the streets at night but wouldn't say its dangerous anyway its one of the safest countries in the world waaay safer than the u.s.a.
Spent year and a half living there... the food was pretty ordinary to bad from my experience. There were the occasional standout but the average was pretty poor. Still preferred living there to most other places in the world.
And most Americans, when they visit Finland, they think that in the sauna 60 degrees Celcius is really hot, and when Finnish people visit america, they think that 60 degrees Celcius is not even warm! :D
its worth a stop by. I would recommend putting it into a swing around northern Europe tour, Stockholm, ferry to Turku, train to Helsinki, boat to Tallin, bus to Riga, bus to Vilnius. That is a fun trip too.
In vaasa its ben 30 degrees for the last week and a half. No rain no anything. There is a little bit of rain at June but late june and the whole july should be great. Finland is cheap compared to spain and america and all these other popular places. The food is great. There are other foods than reindeer and blood pancakes.
Finland is a wonderful country I was in Lapland a few months back and will return to Helsinki soon. The people , food and natural beauty make it a perfect destination .
#4 is true. We actually have this national sport called "taxi queue brawl", helps us stay warm when leaving the club at 4am in the morning while its -25 degrees celsius outside.
This is also closely related to the 'you're cutting in line at the fast food kiosk'-brawl initiated as a rite of passage among many male and/or female consumers of alcohol. ;)
kiitos! I loved my time in finland, heck I loved my time in finland everytime I was there :) a year in 1994-1995, then visits in 1998, 2002 & two in 2013,
Great video overall! Really good points, and I liked the fact that you spared the lovable things last. I also liked that you pointed out that Finnish people are not as quiet and emotion-bottling as many think. As a Finn I naturally like this video with the lovable things, and the odious things are something I really have to agree with also.
Im finnish/ Australian (live in Aus) and obviously the two cultures and climates are opposite, however i absolutely love Finland. At first the people are a bit 'cold' as foreigners would say, but once you know them, they are lovely and accommodating. Ive spent summer in Finland, and it hardly rained, the lakes and the green is beautiful, unlike anything in Australia! Also the food, i love karelian pies and such, i never had blood pancakes though? haha. So pretty much, this video is correct, he isnt saying that Finland is a bad country, just giving it from a different perspective and what changes people should expect :) Can't wait to visit the lovely country again!
I find it funny you said you love midnight summer and hate dark winters... Because of without dark winters we wouldn't have light summers! To have something to enjoy about, you have to stand something you barely can stand - it's a fair swap, like in everything in life ;) ...and actually I do love dark winters as well myself. Time for home, candles, handcrafts, northern lights and nearly mystical white forests in the darkness... there's two world's in Finland; cheerful one and atmospheric one, and I love both of them :)
Moose is better id say but lil bit rare because its mainly available when hunting season is on. That one thou needs to be cooked slow in owen with some good seasoning. One restaurant near hietalahdentori sells allso some bear meat based meals. Never had that myself but one day i must check that out. For tourist coming here summertime should go for daywalk at Suomenlinna. Its small boat trip away from kauppatori. Sunny and hot it is one of my favourite choises to spend day in here as local person.
Don't usually comment on videos but I felt he need to here. I am British but have been living in Finland for 2 years now. 1) Finland is amazingly beautiful. Summers are fantastic, I'm staring at the sun right now. The forests and lakes are incredible. 2) The food is the best I've ever tried. There are so much more organic/vegetarian options, and I've never felt so healthy and 'regular' 3) The people are politely quiet, they respect each others space 4) Yes, most things are priced higher than other countries but in return the country is very clean and services including transport are really reliable.
The Food In Finland (if you are and tourist) should be a part of the experience... You might not like everything but Finland has its own foot culture and it is senserily awesome! Mac Donalds! Come on... extend your little world abit...
I can completely understand what you mean. I lived in Turku and it was definatly different and the other places I was at in finland. we are hoping to stop back up there in summer 2014 so hopefully I can show the family more of the country
I really don't understand the food part. What we eat here is the same western world mainstream food that is eaten throughout Europe and North America. Meat, fish, pasta, soups... Of course we have our traditional specialities, which are not eaten often and which many finns don't like themselves. Great video nonetheless
I think he meant the traditional food. It's really hard to get though since (at least when I was in Helsinki) there was not a traditional Finnish restaurant to be found. Luckily I was staying with a family and they were ready for me to eat all sorts of reindeer and salmon dishes.
WeirdViking For the most part, yes, but Finland is very safe place to even in a nighttime. IDK about Helsinki though, but in general you don't need to worry about wandering around the streets at night in Finland.
you are very welcome. I really enjoy finland and wish I could visit more often (its just a bit pricey to get to like I said) but hopefully we can get back next summer.
About the food, Im not sure, why you put the food on "bad things" , so many turists has said that the food damn delicous in here, Finland, my country side. I can tell you as finnish person, the FOOD IS GOOD
I was in Helsinki and Turku and wandered all over drunk and sober through late april and early may ( May Day Hurrah) of 1999 and never felt unsafe or threatened except when some drunk guy in a dive bar thought I was Russian and wanted to kick my ass, except his sister liked me and intervened and we all ended up being pals. Plus I met a lot of swell other Finns as I was there in the "off" season and had a interest in their country. Wonderful country and wonderful people.
Loved Finland! They speak very good English, friendly lot and the food was part of the travel experience. The overnight ferry docked in Turku due to no slip space in Helsinki. The area while small, is clean, very, very green and worth the visit. I loved my all too brief visit to Suomi.
I have gone to finland many times and i find it is a great place to visit, summer or winter. with great food, seriously interesting culture , wonderful people. I don't see the point of this guy writing things that he does not like about finland. it is a great place to visit, and people come back over and over again, even if only to eat the late night lihapiirakka.
Sorry to hear about your experience. I lived in Turku and was in Helsinki a lot too and there were not too many issues. Hope the rest of your time in finland can be a bit better. big hug from china (where we are filming now)
As a finn I can't recommend hesburger, if I had to guess they make it entirely from stuff they got out of mcdonalds dumpsters, and added some extra mayo and 25% to the price.
normaali amerikkalainen :) ei tykkää suomalaisesta ruoasta. vain hampurilaiset ja pannukakku kelpaa ;) eikö amerikassa sitten syödä muuta kuin roskaruokaa ?! :o ei millää pahalla. älkää tuomitko :) and i like america because its big country and it has really big history, but i dont like really much to the texas : D
I am hoping to be in Poland next May in Krakow for a week and then I will try to get a few Poland videos done. 5 love hate, top 10 cities, a few "learning polish for tourists" videos and such. We are trying to get there :) thanks fro the support!
The US originally, but I have lived in Australia, Finland, Austria, Argentina, Germany, Lithuania, Brazil, Portugal and China. But now I am back in the US. Hope all is well.
Well, taxes are a bit higher than California (state plus federal). Overall prices are higher as well. Salaries are good though and a lot of the social system takes care of some expenses you have in the US. Getting a job would depend on what you do and your experience as that would make it easier to get a job in finland.
I tried to restrain myself, but..."rains a lot ? Not in summertime, in fact the summer in Finland is something everyone should experience. Even South of France can't compete with it. Suicide rate...not as high as the guy said.. Alcohol use..well, according to recent studies Finland ranks as 17th in the world. I've seen worse; .both UK and USA are ranked higher than Finland. Over and out.
I heard a funny thing some time ago from a friend. He said "there was a american man interviewed on a radio, and he was asked what experience did he have about Finland and he said "well when i got here they told us that number 1 rule is not to talk to strangers in trains or in buses" and i think that some of you got that but to you who didn't i'm gonna say that some finn's are shy well most of them are so that is pretty much rule number 1.
That's somewhat true. People get startled sometimes if you try small talk, which is quite funny. The country is and has always been very scarcely populated so we've always had our personal space..which for a Finn is about 1m whereas almost all other cultures are well under 1m.
Shy, well kinda... But, the buses and stuff is pretty much true.. in closed spaces we finnish people really don't like to usualy speak or to be spoken to. And most tourist's do the most common mistake that you REALLY should not to do, like Timo E said, our personal space is so much bigger and we really don't like to be touched by an stranger unless its a hand-shake. So i don't suggest you do shoulder tapping or hug and stuff unless you know the person well enough.
This video is a realistic and truthful description of this country. Very well put; I especially appreciate the honesty about the negative things (you already must know that we generally appreciate honest and blunt talk). Thank you. :)
This video is terrible. Yes Finland is more expensive then some countries, but it's not ridiculously expensive like Norway. Just because someone tricked him into eating Mämmi doesnt mean our food is bad! It's not something that we actually eat every day. We have great food, it's healthy and tastes good. He specifically says he likes Hesburher which pretty much means he is used to eating shit that isn't good for you.The kind of food they eat in the states isn't even allowed here because it's so bad for you. The weather isn't bad, you just have to dress right. :) Finland is one of the safest countries in the world. Wherever you go there are going to be late night drinking you just have to use your brains. That is another thing I find hilarious coming from an american. I am not really offended by this video, everyone is allowed to have their own opinion, but I don't like it when people say things about Finland that are actually not true.
Bad example, at least in my case because I have never really liked french food that much. I mean it's alright, but they have to make everything so weird. But maybe I am just weird. But however that was not my point. My point was that he was fooled to eat mämmi and all that crap that foreigners can't handle (we like to feed our weirdest and at the same time very traditional foods. Like salmiakki/salt liqourice a candy we eat here. The taste is too strong for most foreigners.) and that is why he is now declaring in youtube that finnish food is bad. And I hardly think that is fair. We eat mostly the same foods as people around the world, but they are not so processed. When I was in the states, I was suffering the whole time because it was so hard to find food that I would dare to eat. Even milk is so horribly processed that I had to distract myself from the thought of what was in it. (I gained a lot of weight there even though on most days I just stuck with a salad) But here we have amazingly pure and healthy food that actually tastes good! And we are proud of it, we'd be fools not to be. So I hate when the junkfood people come here and say our food isn't good enough because they think it should be all grease and/or sugar.
Wow, it's seems the Finns in the comments section are a bit triggered because you don't like some of the food! I shall make a note that Finns can't take criticism lol
We are only pissed when people dont know what they are talking about. "Mämmi" isn't proper food and saying something about food culture in finland based on that is just retarded.
...and also saying food prices in Finland are expensive based on eating on restaurants is also probably the most stupid thing you could say. Basic groceries are almost even with the US prices, excluding dairy products and vegetables which are cheaper in Finland.
I have lived in this country for just over 23 years. Originally from Montana, USA. I do have some of my ancestral roots here. Food is great. One can find any kind to one's liking. It is expensive to be here as a tourist but if you take the off-beaten path you save a lot. Transportation inside the country is great, expensive yes, but one can always get those family cards which reduce costs. One should never say what you will hate or like. Everyone is different. Come and make the best of it !!
Ok just wante to put it out there that finland has great food, very similar to swedish food. I can prob count on my two hands the times ive had the dishes he listed in this video, i definitely dont think we have bad tasting food ehat so ever - we eat very healthy + home made.
You also grew up on the food though. If you had never eaten it and then someone put all of it in front of you I assure you there are going to be a few things you turn your nose up at.
never said that. i said that those food examples are uncommon - not everyday food, and in the video it's made to seem as it is something we eat for dinner often, which is false.
yea a lot of our food comes from sweden, meatballs, pyttipanna etc. thats 'normal' food to me and people that aren't from here knows that food as typical swedish food
He is very accurate in the description of Finland. I went to Helsinki last summer (precisely in June) and I really like the country a lot. I wish I could live there for at least one year so I could lose all this weight. In the 10 days I stayed in Helsinki I lost almost 5 pounds for not eating. I am pretty sure if I am there for one year I will be fit. The food was so bad, I only had breakfast everyday, but I did not care because this place is beautiful so I was outdoors almost all the time. Finland is the place to be in perfect shape.
This guy has some good points about Finland but I have to disagree strongly about the food part. Some of the best meals I ever had were in Finland, including blood pancakes, reindeer meat, and especially smoked hirvi in autumn. If you prefer 'junk food' the Finns have great makkara, pizza and other things that are so much better than the boring and bland crap they serve at Hesburger. If you are daring enough to try something else than the average deep-fries crap, Finnish cuisine will delight you!
Our food doesn't deserve to be called food. Our sausages, what you call makkara, doesn't even get close to anything you can get from Poland or Denmark, or Italy for that matter. Finns hate food, good food is prepared with love, and you do not find that here. Just look at how much white pepper is used, white pepper at least the one you get here in Finland taste the same as our fields smell when they have spread out dung as fertilizers. Cow dung to be precise. And that we use in our foods. It is though possible to get good food at a few restaurant's but then it's not traditional Finnish dishes. And if you travel inside the country out from the coast lines, that been more exposed to foreign influences, the 50/50% hit and miss will become a 100% miss. When meat is prepared it's usually way overcooked, dry and with too little seasoning. With a few exceptions, as smoked reindeer, but then that is not Finnish food culture at all either. That comes from the Same culture, the natives of Finland and Scandinavia who been driven up north by the invaders long ago. When it comes to elk, what you called hirvi it really is an hit and miss depending on how it was hunted down (adrenaline affects the quality) to how it was prepared. Quite often people mix elk meat with pig and or cow meat. Just not to fail totally. That should tell you something about how good we actually are at preparing food out of elk. There are exceptions to everything, but in general finns prepare their food with little love, and that is why foreigners like the one posting this video complains about the food, and he's 100% correct. Except the part about Hesburger, ok its better than McDonalds but common it's hardly food at all.
T Est I am sorry to hear you have had such bad experiences with Finnish food. And to be honest I’ve had a few but it doesn’t mean you can’t get good Finnish food if you know where to go to get it. Also I have tried several restaurants at random and was usually not disappointed, even when I’m a rather picky customer. Personally I love Finnish sausage, especially with tar mustard (another specialty from Oulu) but if you don’t, to each his own. I have never been to a place where the use of white pepper ever bothered me, but then I have never eaten cow dung so I am not sure about your point there. About seasoning, it is a matter of taste. Reindeer and especially elk I prefer with very little seasoning because I love the natural taste of the meat. The same goes for pike, it has a subtle taste that is easily lost if you put in too much herbs. The elk meat I am referring to came from a friend of mine who is a hunter and gave me some nice chunks of the elk he and has friends shot, not the 95% pig and 5% elk (if you are lucky) you can get in a can anywhere (that is a waste of good elk meat indeed). It was well smoked and there was nothing dry or overcooked about it, and that is just one example. I guess you must have been very unlucky so far and I very lucky, or you and I have a very different taste in food.
siccosaurus I was talking about what you get in general. I do know you can get good elk meat etc, pike also. But that is not what a foreigner will notice when they visit us in Finland. I'm born in Finland, I am a fin, our food in general is not good. Most restaurants prepare the food worse than I do myself. Then you find those who has incredible good chefs, but how will a foreigner find those pearls among all the restaurants?
yes we are. I really would like to take my family to brugges and around there as I really loved it. my last trip to Belgium was before I started my videos so I havce lots of pictures from a few visits but no video :( but we will get there. any advice for a traveler? aside from tasty food and beer? :)
Good and informative video here Mark, except maybe for the food. So much hate for Finland here in the comments. How'bout you people go to Finland and see for yourself? It's funny how half the people making accusations have never been there and the other half generalizes their own bad experiences to the whole nation. Internet can sure bring out the worst in people.
PickYourPoison I loved living in finland. it was a great time. I enjoyed the people and the nature was outstanding. all the best to you! and yes the internet does not always bring out the nicest in people. ;)
I know you posted your comment 5 months ago but here is my take on it. I have been to Finland many times and go as often as I can. I love everything about it including the food. I love the food, the culture, the people, the climate, the language and yes I even understand the laws and rules of Finland too. I am even aware of the problems Finland currently has and still the country is perfect to me.
Marylyn Tippeconnic Yes indeed, I understand that your experience of Finland has been good but if you scroll down to see other comments, there's people spreading their false stereotypes. I'm Finnish and have lived in Finland almost 30 years so I have a very good perception of what is true and what is not.
I am an Estonian and there are so many things I love about Finland and Finnish people. Finns are the best neighbours to have!
Thanks, Nordic friend!
Thanks for a nice comment. :D We love Estonia too. :D
***** Päivän naurut! Mutta hyviä pointteja, räikeästi tuotu esiin.
kallutibu what about russians ?
No... just no...
By the way, Finland isn't as dangerous as you said, about fights and alcohol. Those don't happen very often. Maybe in Helsinki or other places like that, but usually a little further away to the north there is not so much fighting or criminals, some alcoholics maybe but usually they are not dangerous or raving mad. It's pretty safe here, you won't get beat up unless you say or do something provoking.
He didn't say it's dangerous, he said that late at night there is lots of drinking and to be cautious. The rest of the world is not used to being around such drunk people. He said it is safe and well organized, but the drunks are a big shock to many, and provoking them, could just be your foreign existence. In my experience, this is universal in the Nordic countries.
Megsu Okay, I misunderstood him a little, I'm sorry. But anyways, people aren't as xenophobic here as people often seem to think, it is just the black people and gypsies who they don't like. Actually Finnish people often are very friendly and interested in foreign people, except for the ones I already mentioned. But even if you are black or gypsy, you'll stay safe here if you don't provoke someone, it only happens sometimes, but not as often as you would think, that people would beat up you just because you're black. It happens vice versa pretty often actually, I have heard black people or gypsies beat up Finnish people for no reason here. Some have even took a random victim and asked him or her for his nationality, when answered "Finnish" they would get beat up and their money was stolen.
But drunkards aren't really usually raving mad here as I already mentioned. They are pretty friendly usually.
Or something good about the Swedish hockey team ;).
Will I get beat up for Swedish or a hurri?
Yeah, usually if there are drunken people they are just walking around and falling.
reindeer is bad? if I would have to choose one meat to eat the rest of my life I seriously would take reindeer.
Well yes, probably. I wouldn't say reindeer is best... bear meat is even better but very rare. Pigeons and ducks taste good but are too small... moose is a bit dry, but still something I'd consider... well thanks to my father being a hunter we do get moose regularly. Reindeer-- well, it is the only meat with flavour that's readily available all around. At least if I moved to Lapland.
Pigeons...Yakkk...Americans don't eat pigeons..They are the most dirty and nasty of birds in the world..Not only they shit everywhere and they also eat excrements.. I guess there is nothing better to eat in such a low country. When the country ran out of pigeons you are only welcome to America so you can catch the millions we have here shitting everywhere..
vicksss he didn't mean those pigeons mate :)
reindeer is the best meat.
I love reindeer
Finnish homefood is fucking awesome.. In Finland the are only few really good restaurants with traditional finnish food but real "old" finnish homefood is just great
the first country ive ever visited in europe is Finland and i did not regret it! im from Singapore and not many asian will put finland on their list when it comes to travelling to europe! finland is so beautiful and one of the most beautiful moment in my life is having a campfire overlooking the moon rising at the puumala lake. check out my vlog on my channel!! :)
+iqahjasmine Funny how I just drove past Puumala today and now I read this comment :D Truly a beautiful place, especially now in autumn colours.
+Box0rz oh how i wish to visit it again!
i blog about it at bealittlewild.blogspot.sg/2016/01/found-in-finland.html :)
iqahjasmine Wow, great post! I'm glad you enjoyed Finland. If you come back, make sure it's either in the middle of summer or in the middle of winter! That's when it's as beautiful as possible. I see it was probably spring when you visited, not the ideal weather yet :)
P.S. Finland is more popular among Asians than you think! ;) Especially in Japan.
+Box0rz Oh yes. The japanese do talk alot about Finland. I read a novel once by a famous japanese writer who talks abt Helsinki. haha
+iqahjasmine Bit of a difference when compared to a densely populated built-up island city state, eh? ;)
My take on Finnish food: less than a hundred years ago we still had a strong countryside culture. We can farm only a small variety of things, so food was plain, simple and greasy. We were poor and made food from whatever we had (so no wonder bloodcakes came to be). Nowdays, many traditional foods aren't that popular, but the food style has preserved. As a Finn, I love my food simple, but foreigners may think our food is plain and boring.
I'm from Finland and in my opinion this is actually one of the safest places so yeah it's not that dangerous.
I have been to Finland and his assessment is right on point (even the way he says 'sauna'). I enjoyed the 3 weeks I was there and got to experience everything he said. I met up with a Finnish friend in Helsinki, went up north to her parents summer cottage, went to sauna (I asked what do you wear in the sauna? They all got a kick out of that), saw the midnight sun. And as a black woman in a country where there are very few...I was welcomed heartily. Would return in a minute!! Yo!!
Hii, can i make a question? You said you are a woman, right? And if you didn't agree with the sauna ritual, like being naked, and you said: "no", what do you think would be their reaction? Because i guess the day i am going to do this... I will ask if i can wear a bikini?! I am Shy =[
My Finnish friends were very understanding and expected my response to being naked. They said all the Americans they met asked the same question...'what do you wear in the sauna?'. Wear what you want :)
Oh, thank you. =] i imagined they would respect this. XD
i think it would be even more awkward wearing a bikini, speedo or swimming shorts in a sauna.
Hahah so cute Smile Me... :)
It's kind of funny how defensive and butthurt a lot of my countrymen seem to get from this video. At least considering some of the comments. People, the title isn't "Things I only hate about Finland". He is not slandering us. He is giving honest opinions from the point of view of someone who wasn't raised here. And I would much rather see this man explore finnish countryside than say A. Bourdain(that Finland episode was a disgrace).
I'm a barefoot finn, born and raised on the south-east coast on traditional foods and folklore. I hope you come to Finland many more times, you will undoubtedly find good traditional foods as well. But hey, at least in "hit & miss" 50% is the hitting part, right ? :D
I liked this video, points for saying "sauna" a lot better than any (non-finnish) traveller I've heard it say yet, haha. usually it's always "Soona".
substantive comment and very substantive video i liked i and i wasn't any "butthurt" and ofc i'm from Finland
That always happen no matter what country you are speaking of. If you say "I don't like A because of B", then there is always someone trying to disprove you.
if you visit Helsinki its 40% of the cities in Finland
Not surprised at all. Many Finns and even foreigners scratch their faces off every time one gives any negative feedback about Finland. Grow up!
Im from finland. Im going today to sauna. I go there every friday.
I see country from your name :) anyway, everybody walks their own way. For me, everyday sauna is too much. (I can still do that, i'd like to have it only on fridays)
kai työ juotte kaljaa ku käytte saunas?
***** No sit ette oo suomalaisii
du är en skitstövel
Hanna-Mari Hartikainen will you marry me ?
But reindeer is delicious, together with smashed potatoes and lingonberry (cowberry) jam!!!
We also have the best bread in the world in Finland, which is made of rye and is called "ruisleipä" or 'rye bread'! That's usually the first thing that a Finn living abroad will start to miss from Finland after a while, together with sauna and a treat called "salmiakki", which is a variety of liquorice flavoured with ammonium chloride. Also I didn't really get your point about homicides and violence - the drunken people are mostly harmless and mind their own business. The weather is not always that bad! In the spring/summer-time there are usually plenty of sunny days! It rains alot morefor example in England than in Finland ;)
Sc0pee Reindeer is super delicious :)
Moi means hi.trust me i live in finland
Hehehehe that's what she said ;)
+Sc0pee Spot on. I understand your pain, everyone says English food is bad and that we drink a lot. A total misconception.
are you finnish? i am a finnish bosnian
So, Finland is expensive, the food is shitty, it's dark and rainy all the time and everyone is drunk and depressed...
Sounds exactly like England! I bet I'd feel right at home there.
Srsly tho, I'd definitely want to go to Finland if I had the money; Finns somehow come off as being much cooler than, say, Swedes.
:)
The food is not shit, you are shit
@@avab2015avab ui juna, en tiennytkään että sääkin oot täällä (°`v'°)
helsinki is safe, just don't move alone in Kalasatama, Central Railway Station or in Kallio during night time :)
Arabianranta is a really beautiful district to check out!
Juho Uusi-Hakimo Thanks for the heads up!
Also never go to the subway and travel to east-Helsinki ;)
jengaaaaa Jos tarkotit metrolla matkustamista nii miks ei kannattais muka?
About the costliness: if you live in Finland and you know why everything costs so much, you will feel grateful for living here and get used to it. Finland is expensive because of taxes. And those taxes provide Finland with
1) free health care - basic health care is free, such as dentist, first aid, basic vaccines, so on
2) free school - I'm not kidding. And know that Finnish school system is ranked top of the world almost everywhere. The lessons themselves are free from preschool to university. Food is free from preschool to high school/vocational school (in universities the food costs, but is very affordable). Books, notepads, pencils and so on are provided by school from preschool to junior high (but you can get most high school and university books from libraries). Basically "the basic school", that is required for everyone to finish (elementary and junior high school), and preschool (which is not required) is 100% free, after that it can cost but it is possible to graduate from university in Finland without paying anything than the covers of your thesis, which is about 30€. I recommend eating at universities and buying your high school books and then re-selling them, it makes things a lot easier. Btw, university ("yliopisto" or "ammattikorkeakoulu") cafeterias are actually open-for-EVERYONE homecooking restaurants, and like I said, very affordable! There is usually lunch (around 11-13) and dinner (around 15-18) with 1-2 options, including salad, main course, drink (at least milk and water) and bread, occasionally dessert, there is pretty much always lactose-free option and vegetarian option. Highly recommend these!
3) Kela is Finland's social insurance institution. Basically it's an institution owned by Finnish government that provides Finns with money in different situations in life. These situations are for example full-time student, out of job, stay-at-home mom/dad, having children (you get amount x for 1st kid, then slightly higher amount for 2nd, again higher for 3rd, and then 4th and so on you get same amount than from the 3rd kid), sick leave (long time), retirement, or if you're disabled. The amounts are not big, but you'll live with the support of them, I've lived with full-time student financing for the last 3 years. Kela may sound a dream come true, but most Finns hate it, because Kela is slow and you have to be very careful that you have all the required paperwork for them and that they know every little detail about you (where do you live, with whom, where you study at, what do you study, do you have a job... list goes on and on). But I'll rather wait at their office for few hours and tell them all they need to know than try to survive without their support.
4) Parishes are funded not by the people, but by government (evangelic-lutheran and orthodox) and they offer free daycare for kids (varies from parish to parish how much) and other free activities for youngsters, families, adults and the elderly.
So that is why everything costs so much in Finland. Want to take advantage? Eat at universities when you visit and check what the local parish has to offer while you're here. :)
Yes it is, I've never paid anything besides the medicine, and even there Kela pays part of the cost.
Because usually people go to a doctor and complain about something that goes away with rest and mild pain meds like Burana... And Burana is under 8€ for a package of 20, I don't think it's that much...
yeah, I know. but that's one pill at a time, and what if you're not at school when the headache occurs? it's good to have some burana at home just in case.
Yeah, like Burana is actually bad if you have the flu, because with flu you should get rest in order to get better, and Burana takes the pain away so you feel fine and you're still with flu actually... So I only take Burana for small head/stomach/etc aches (if they won't settle by drinking water or any other natural way), or if I'm so sick and in pain that I can't sleep. Burana takes the pain away and I can rest and get better.
Did she tell them that these stomach problems occurred so often? If she did, then I think the doctors have been very stupid! They should have looked into it better, see what's really wrong with her. Usually they start with burana, send you home, and ask to give them a call if the problems won't go away in few weeks. Wikipedia says reflux should be treated with meds (something to neutralize the stomach acid, and ranitidin (I think that could be the translation to 'ranitidiini' in Finnish Wikipedia)) and if it gets real bad, then with surgery. If Wikipedia knows it, Finnish doctors should know it, too! >:(
I have a question, do Finns hate slavs,cause I'm a Slav and I've heard somewhere that they do. Is that the truth? Personally i don't hate Finns.
Just came back from Helsinki, and I love the food and the people, especially the Hakaniemi market with all it's food. I did not try Hesburger though but Arnolds bakery, which was incredible awesome, especially their lemongras Smoothie. And you also can get affordable apartments there, with kitchen etc. included, wich makes the whole trip cheaper. The weather was warm and nice and the air is so fresh. And I felt safe the entire stay there, more than in Germany, especially in the late evening.
Are you kidding me? The food is the best food in the world.
+FinnishArmy ei vitus
+meisseli mjaaha kyl vitus. Makaroonilaatikko 10/10... makkara grillattuna ja turun sinaapilla 10/10... karjalanpiirakat munavoilla 10/10... listaa vois jatkaa vaikka kuinka.....
Jarkko Makkonen mmmm, juu! Voi vitus, parasta ruokaa mailmasa! ;)
FinnishArmy ...niin ja unohdin mainita että makaroonilaatikko aromisuolalla tai ketsupilla on viel parempaa :)
Ja, perunalaatikko jouluna... mmmm
Is that the same building in the Darude- sandstorm music video!😆😂
Yes, good call! :D
hoh sis jaj ror yep it is
Yes Yes Yes ! Have You Watched it LATELY ? Over 150.000.000 has seen it - DARUDE RUN ! What is in that BRIFCASE - Everybody would Like to know !
We are in China right now filming some basic China videos :) Beijing, Great Wall, Xi'an and a few smaller towns. They will be coming out in September I am guessing. Maybe August depending when we get back to the US. All the best to you!
And I am Glad to hear you like the videos. It is great to hear :) And thank you for the kind words on the family. I love 'em lots :)
Awesome how your pronounciated sauna correctly! The food? Nothing special, yes, but there are good things too. Even for me as a Finnish vegetarian, I love the Finnish spring potatoes and the chanterelle sauce (or other mushrooms too). Actually when Finns eat out, they usually go to "ethnic restaurants" (Chinese, Thai, Nepalese, Indian etc). There are a few restaurants in Helsinki that serve traditional Finnish cuisine, but they're probably the most expensive in town!
2 things that I love about Finland is the great music (mainly Heavy Metal) and the personalities of the people. Their personalities are very similar to my personality.
My wife is a Finn. They are some of the most resourceful, rock solidi, kindest, honest and sincere people that I've ever met anywhere. Highest literacy rating on the planet. Best education system in the world, Huge fans of ice hockey, Teemu Selanne of the Anaheim Ducks is a national hero, soccer & auto racing. Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask is from Savolinna Finland. Best hockey goalie coach in the world is from Finland. If i could I would move from the U.S. to Finland in a second. I love it there.
im from finland and im proud of it
Pilar Car ok
Plz help me to come in from Sri Lanka..I'm trying hard myself but still need someone help..
Why? It's just a genetical accident. None of your achievements.
You should be proud of it.
Finland recently came 1st in _"World's Most Free Countries"_ on the Human Freedom Index.
Thank you. I appreciate the kind words. I loved living in finland and my wife fell in love when we visited this summer.
you have no idea about Finnish food/cuisine it is amazing anthony bourdain said that don't listen to the people who say Finnish food is bad because it is awesome. also u have mistaken finland about the weather it does NOT rain all the time. also all countries have drunk weirdos in the streets at night but wouldn't say its dangerous anyway its one of the safest countries in the world waaay safer than the u.s.a.
Word! :)
Spent year and a half living there... the food was pretty ordinary to bad from my experience. There were the occasional standout but the average was pretty poor. Still preferred living there to most other places in the world.
And most Americans, when they visit Finland, they think that in the sauna 60 degrees Celcius is really hot, and when Finnish people visit america, they think that 60 degrees Celcius is not even warm! :D
Everything else but the food part is true.
Reindeer meat is AWESOME for example.
its worth a stop by. I would recommend putting it into a swing around northern Europe tour, Stockholm, ferry to Turku, train to Helsinki, boat to Tallin, bus to Riga, bus to Vilnius. That is a fun trip too.
I am Finn 100%, live in other countries though, last few in the USA. In 3 days start my long yearly kesaloma Suomessa, LOVE that country.
I will agree. the food has gotten a lot better.
In vaasa its ben 30 degrees for the last week and a half. No rain no anything.
There is a little bit of rain at June but late june and the whole july should be great.
Finland is cheap compared to spain and america and all these other popular places.
The food is great. There are other foods than reindeer and blood pancakes.
Cheap?...you made me laugh :D For sure it's not cheaper than Spain..
Finland is a wonderful country I was in Lapland a few months back and will return to Helsinki soon. The people , food and natural beauty make it a perfect destination .
#4 is true. We actually have this national sport called "taxi queue brawl", helps us stay warm when leaving the club at 4am in the morning while its -25 degrees celsius outside.
TheKeisari that was a good one :)
This is also closely related to the 'you're cutting in line at the fast food kiosk'-brawl initiated as a rite of passage among many male and/or female consumers of alcohol. ;)
just support your local bar, fuck taxis.
kiitos! I loved my time in finland, heck I loved my time in finland everytime I was there :) a year in 1994-1995, then visits in 1998, 2002 & two in 2013,
Great video overall! Really good points, and I liked the fact that you spared the lovable things last. I also liked that you pointed out that Finnish people are not as quiet and emotion-bottling as many think. As a Finn I naturally like this video with the lovable things, and the odious things are something I really have to agree with also.
Yeah, I try to get the bad news out of the way first and then the loves show people I do see the good as well. thanks for watching and commenting!
Im finnish/ Australian (live in Aus) and obviously the two cultures and climates are opposite, however i absolutely love Finland. At first the people are a bit 'cold' as foreigners would say, but once you know them, they are lovely and accommodating. Ive spent summer in Finland, and it hardly rained, the lakes and the green is beautiful, unlike anything in Australia! Also the food, i love karelian pies and such, i never had blood pancakes though? haha. So pretty much, this video is correct, he isnt saying that Finland is a bad country, just giving it from a different perspective and what changes people should expect :) Can't wait to visit the lovely country again!
I find it funny you said you love midnight summer and hate dark winters... Because of without dark winters we wouldn't have light summers! To have something to enjoy about, you have to stand something you barely can stand - it's a fair swap, like in everything in life ;)
...and actually I do love dark winters as well myself. Time for home, candles, handcrafts, northern lights and nearly mystical white forests in the darkness... there's two world's in Finland; cheerful one and atmospheric one, and I love both of them :)
.
I am from the US, but lived in Australia, Finland, Austria, Argentina, Germany, Lithuania, and PORTUGAL :)
Reindeer is fucking good!
Amen to that!
Moose is better id say but lil bit rare because its mainly available when hunting season is on. That one thou needs to be cooked slow in owen with some good seasoning. One restaurant near hietalahdentori sells allso some bear meat based meals. Never had that myself but one day i must check that out. For tourist coming here summertime should go for daywalk at Suomenlinna. Its small boat trip away from kauppatori. Sunny and hot it is one of my favourite choises to spend day in here as local person.
Don't usually comment on videos but I felt he need to here. I am British but have been living in Finland for 2 years now.
1) Finland is amazingly beautiful. Summers are fantastic, I'm staring at the sun right now. The forests and lakes are incredible.
2) The food is the best I've ever tried. There are so much more organic/vegetarian options, and I've never felt so healthy and 'regular'
3) The people are politely quiet, they respect each others space
4) Yes, most things are priced higher than other countries but in return the country is very clean and services including transport are really reliable.
The Food In Finland (if you are and tourist) should be a part of the experience... You might not like everything but Finland has its own foot culture and it is senserily awesome! Mac Donalds! Come on... extend your little world abit...
The positive part is all true tho. :D
SamD forget mcdonalds... hessburger all the way ;)
hhhhh... whatever ;)
Well, theres a traditional Hese restaurant, and the factory is in my home commun!
Bad english
I can completely understand what you mean. I lived in Turku and it was definatly different and the other places I was at in finland. we are hoping to stop back up there in summer 2014 so hopefully I can show the family more of the country
I really don't understand the food part. What we eat here is the same western world mainstream food that is eaten throughout Europe and North America. Meat, fish, pasta, soups... Of course we have our traditional specialities, which are not eaten often and which many finns don't like themselves. Great video nonetheless
I think he meant the traditional food. It's really hard to get though since (at least when I was in Helsinki) there was not a traditional Finnish restaurant to be found. Luckily I was staying with a family and they were ready for me to eat all sorts of reindeer and salmon dishes.
I love the snowiness, darkness and coldness in winter. I just love it.
I love the fact this was actually accurate. So many weird stereotypes about Finland, but this really listed the pros and the cons well.
Kiitos :) I am glad you liked the video
WeirdViking For the most part, yes, but Finland is very safe place to even in a nighttime. IDK about Helsinki though, but in general you don't need to worry about wandering around the streets at night in Finland.
you are very welcome. I really enjoy finland and wish I could visit more often (its just a bit pricey to get to like I said) but hopefully we can get back next summer.
About the food, Im not sure, why you put the food on "bad things" , so many turists has said that the food damn delicous in here, Finland, my country side. I can tell you as finnish person, the FOOD IS GOOD
I think Finnish food looks good! I don't think I'd like rye pudding, but I love rye bread, and I really want to try reindeer.
I was in Helsinki and Turku and wandered all over drunk and sober through late april and early may ( May Day Hurrah) of 1999 and never felt unsafe or threatened except when some drunk guy in a dive bar thought I was Russian and wanted to kick my ass, except his sister liked me and intervened and we all ended up being pals. Plus I met a lot of swell other Finns as I was there in the "off" season and had a interest in their country. Wonderful country and wonderful people.
I live in finland and finnish food is great
Onhan se, mutta nää amerikkalaiset ei kato osaa syödä mitään muuta kuin burgereja, ranskalaisia, pizzaa jne. :D
there are some great dishes. anything with mushroom anything will be fantastic :)
I hate mushrooms >:( If there's one food that i don't like it's mushrooms!
woltersworld Did you try Karelia pie? It's amazing and it's not the typical finnish food that's quite disgusting when looking at a foreigners view.
Johansson Why am I opposite of everyone? I love mushrooms but I hate potatoes!
Loved Finland! They speak very good English, friendly lot and the food was part of the travel experience. The overnight ferry docked in Turku due to no slip space in Helsinki. The area while small, is clean, very, very green and worth the visit. I loved my all too brief visit to Suomi.
I have gone to finland many times and i find it is a great place to visit, summer or winter. with great food, seriously interesting culture , wonderful people. I don't see the point of this guy writing things that he does not like about finland. it is a great place to visit, and people come back over and over again, even if only to eat the late night lihapiirakka.
I know, that is what I meant about the northern lights being fantastic to check out.
Wolter: spend less time at Hesburger and the grilli. You might find that items #2 & #4 are less of a problem than you think.
Too Many Visotor find The FOOD Names quite hard to say - so They just have PIZZA & BEAR to Go !
Sorry to hear about your experience. I lived in Turku and was in Helsinki a lot too and there were not too many issues. Hope the rest of your time in finland can be a bit better. big hug from china (where we are filming now)
I'm going there tomorrow! Can't wait!
Kiitos! I am glad to hear it. and I really appreciate the views and comments! hope you will like and subscribe! mark
As a finn I can't recommend hesburger, if I had to guess they make it entirely from stuff they got out of mcdonalds dumpsters, and added some extra mayo and 25% to the price.
1873Winchester I know I know...
1873Winchester Your talking nonsense. Hesburger beats McDonalds any day of the week.
thanks. I appreciate that (and I mean it honestly). all the best to you! kiitos
normaali amerikkalainen :)
ei tykkää suomalaisesta ruoasta. vain hampurilaiset ja pannukakku kelpaa ;)
eikö amerikassa sitten syödä muuta kuin roskaruokaa ?! :o ei millää pahalla. älkää tuomitko :) and i like america because its big country and it has really big history, but i dont like really much to the texas :
D
Jep
There's also this black sausage "mustamakkara" food that is a very popular local treat in Tampere region. It tastes a bit like blood pancake.
Finland is cool with there blond ladies,deer meat,and ice hockey. Lol :D
I am hoping to be in Poland next May in Krakow for a week and then I will try to get a few Poland videos done. 5 love hate, top 10 cities, a few "learning polish for tourists" videos and such. We are trying to get there :) thanks fro the support!
reindeer+smashed potatoes🙌👌
The US originally, but I have lived in Australia, Finland, Austria, Argentina, Germany, Lithuania, Brazil, Portugal and China. But now I am back in the US. Hope all is well.
Just a normal american man that eats hamburgers for breakfast
that is 100% WRONG! I eat CHEESEburgers for breakfast. Silly Jermu!
with punainen majonaise!!! or however you say it ;)
woltersworld punainen majoneesi? :D red majonese? :P
woltersworld By the way i didnt mean to be evil =D
no worries ;) I was just answering silly
Well, taxes are a bit higher than California (state plus federal). Overall prices are higher as well. Salaries are good though and a lot of the social system takes care of some expenses you have in the US. Getting a job would depend on what you do and your experience as that would make it easier to get a job in finland.
but in finland the tax is in the price and they don't add it at the... well what you call it
that is one thing I love about traveling Europe. no hidden extra taxes or fees like in the US
Except the "Pfand" in Germany :D
thanks! much appreciated!
My late grandfather was 100% finnish and he ate some weird finnish food.
Greetings Ugric brothers from Hungary! ;) :)) (y)
Absolutely brilliant. There really is loves and hates in every country. I love honest reviews.
I tried to restrain myself, but..."rains a lot ? Not in summertime, in fact the summer in Finland is something everyone should experience. Even South of France can't compete with it. Suicide rate...not as high as the guy said.. Alcohol use..well, according to recent studies Finland ranks as 17th in the world. I've seen worse; .both UK and USA are ranked higher than Finland. Over and out.
Do not contradict the prude american talking on youtube...
If you take into account binge drinking, Finland is one of the highest ranking in the world. Not the highest even in this category, but close.
Very informative! Thanks!
I heard a funny thing some time ago from a friend. He said "there was a american man interviewed on a radio, and he was asked what experience did he have about Finland and he said "well when i got here they told us that number 1 rule is not to talk to strangers in trains or in buses" and i think that some of you got that but to you who didn't i'm gonna say that some finn's are shy well most of them are so that is pretty much rule number 1.
Well about that shy part they are pretty crazy fun and social people when they get used to you and stuff like that.
It's not about being shy, it's just a different concept of personal space and the right to not be disturbed.
That's somewhat true. People get startled sometimes if you try small talk, which is quite funny. The country is and has always been very scarcely populated so we've always had our personal space..which for a Finn is about 1m whereas almost all other cultures are well under 1m.
Shy, well kinda... But, the buses and stuff is pretty much true.. in closed spaces we finnish people really don't like to usualy speak or to be spoken to. And most tourist's do the most common mistake that you REALLY should not to do, like Timo E said, our personal space is so much bigger and we really don't like to be touched by an stranger unless its a hand-shake. So i don't suggest you do shoulder tapping or hug and stuff unless you know the person well enough.
This video is a realistic and truthful description of this country. Very well put; I especially appreciate the honesty about the negative things (you already must know that we generally appreciate honest and blunt talk). Thank you. :)
This video is terrible. Yes Finland is more expensive then some countries, but it's not ridiculously expensive like Norway. Just because someone tricked him into eating Mämmi doesnt mean our food is bad! It's not something that we actually eat every day. We have great food, it's healthy and tastes good. He specifically says he likes Hesburher which pretty much means he is used to eating shit that isn't good for you.The kind of food they eat in the states isn't even allowed here because it's so bad for you.
The weather isn't bad, you just have to dress right. :) Finland is one of the safest countries in the world. Wherever you go there are going to be late night drinking you just have to use your brains. That is another thing I find hilarious coming from an american.
I am not really offended by this video, everyone is allowed to have their own opinion, but I don't like it when people say things about Finland that are actually not true.
If you had to go out for your last meal... would you want to go to a Finnish restaurant or a French restaurant (talking about food)
Bad example, at least in my case because I have never really liked french food that much. I mean it's alright, but they have to make everything so weird. But maybe I am just weird. But however that was not my point. My point was that he was fooled to eat mämmi and all that crap that foreigners can't handle (we like to feed our weirdest and at the same time very traditional foods. Like salmiakki/salt liqourice a candy we eat here. The taste is too strong for most foreigners.) and that is why he is now declaring in youtube that finnish food is bad. And I hardly think that is fair. We eat mostly the same foods as people around the world, but they are not so processed. When I was in the states, I was suffering the whole time because it was so hard to find food that I would dare to eat. Even milk is so horribly processed that I had to distract myself from the thought of what was in it. (I gained a lot of weight there even though on most days I just stuck with a salad) But here we have amazingly pure and healthy food that actually tastes good! And we are proud of it, we'd be fools not to be. So I hate when the junkfood people come here and say our food isn't good enough because they think it should be all grease and/or sugar.
thanks
"i love Hesburger and hate reindeer meat!"
dangerous last words
Wow, it's seems the Finns in the comments section are a bit triggered because you don't like some of the food! I shall make a note that Finns can't take criticism lol
They are a bit too mad yes, but to be fair i don't think that the person who made this has tasted real finnish foods, just the gross ones.
painis cupcake
We are only pissed when people dont know what they are talking about. "Mämmi" isn't proper food and saying something about food culture in finland based on that is just retarded.
...and also saying food prices in Finland are expensive based on eating on restaurants is also probably the most stupid thing you could say. Basic groceries are almost even with the US prices, excluding dairy products and vegetables which are cheaper in Finland.
Queen Bellyellyelly nope but dont say our food is bad it is so different than us or uk food
I have lived in this country for just over 23 years. Originally from Montana, USA. I do have some of my ancestral roots here. Food is great. One can find any kind to one's liking. It is expensive to be here as a tourist but if you take the off-beaten path you save a lot. Transportation inside the country is great, expensive yes, but one can always get those family cards which reduce costs. One should never say what you will hate or like. Everyone is different. Come and make the best of it !!
herburger - our version of mcdonalds :D
Wolters world do more Finland videos. We can't get enough what its like to travel in our own country. We pay in views.
Ok just wante to put it out there that finland has great food, very similar to swedish food. I can prob count on my two hands the times ive had the dishes he listed in this video, i definitely dont think we have bad tasting food ehat so ever - we eat very healthy + home made.
You also grew up on the food though. If you had never eaten it and then someone put all of it in front of you I assure you there are going to be a few things you turn your nose up at.
never said that. i said that those food examples are uncommon - not everyday food, and in the video it's made to seem as it is something we eat for dinner often, which is false.
Emelie Ahlqvist "very similar to swedish food" ... ?
yea a lot of our food comes from sweden, meatballs, pyttipanna etc. thats 'normal' food to me and people that aren't from here knows that food as typical swedish food
AitoSuomiVideos
He is very accurate in the description of Finland. I went to Helsinki last summer (precisely in June) and I really like the country a lot. I wish I could live there for at least one year so I could lose all this weight. In the 10 days I stayed in Helsinki I lost almost 5 pounds for not eating. I am pretty sure if I am there for one year I will be fit. The food was so bad, I only had breakfast everyday, but I did not care because this place is beautiful so I was outdoors almost all the time. Finland is the place to be in perfect shape.
I want to go to finland and see if finns are as quite as people say
To be exact finnish food is really great and the winter time is the best because of the snow especially in lapland
This guy has some good points about Finland but I have to disagree strongly about the food part. Some of the best meals I ever had were in Finland, including blood pancakes, reindeer meat, and especially smoked hirvi in autumn. If you prefer 'junk food' the Finns have great makkara, pizza and other things that are so much better than the boring and bland crap they serve at Hesburger. If you are daring enough to try something else than the average deep-fries crap, Finnish cuisine will delight you!
Our food doesn't deserve to be called food. Our sausages, what you call makkara, doesn't even get close to anything you can get from Poland or Denmark, or Italy for that matter.
Finns hate food, good food is prepared with love, and you do not find that here. Just look at how much white pepper is used, white pepper at least the one you get here in Finland taste the same as our fields smell when they have spread out dung as fertilizers. Cow dung to be precise. And that we use in our foods.
It is though possible to get good food at a few restaurant's but then it's not traditional Finnish dishes. And if you travel inside the country out from the coast lines, that been more exposed to foreign influences, the 50/50% hit and miss will become a 100% miss.
When meat is prepared it's usually way overcooked, dry and with too little seasoning. With a few exceptions, as smoked reindeer, but then that is not Finnish food culture at all either. That comes from the Same culture, the natives of Finland and Scandinavia who been driven up north by the invaders long ago.
When it comes to elk, what you called hirvi it really is an hit and miss depending on how it was hunted down (adrenaline affects the quality) to how it was prepared. Quite often people mix elk meat with pig and or cow meat. Just not to fail totally. That should tell you something about how good we actually are at preparing food out of elk.
There are exceptions to everything, but in general finns prepare their food with little love, and that is why foreigners like the one posting this video complains about the food, and he's 100% correct. Except the part about Hesburger, ok its better than McDonalds but common it's hardly food at all.
T Est
I am sorry to hear you have had such bad experiences with Finnish food. And to be honest I’ve had a few but it doesn’t mean you can’t get good Finnish food if you know where to go to get it. Also I have tried several restaurants at random and was usually not disappointed, even when I’m a rather picky customer. Personally I love Finnish sausage, especially with tar mustard (another specialty from Oulu) but if you don’t, to each his own. I have never been to a place where the use of white pepper ever bothered me, but then I have never eaten cow dung so I am not sure about your point there. About seasoning, it is a matter of taste. Reindeer and especially elk I prefer with very little seasoning because I love the natural taste of the meat. The same goes for pike, it has a subtle taste that is easily lost if you put in too much herbs. The elk meat I am referring to came from a friend of mine who is a hunter and gave me some nice chunks of the elk he and has friends shot, not the 95% pig and 5% elk (if you are lucky) you can get in a can anywhere (that is a waste of good elk meat indeed). It was well smoked and there was nothing dry or overcooked about it, and that is just one example. I guess you must have been very unlucky so far and I very lucky, or you and I have a very different taste in food.
siccosaurus I was talking about what you get in general. I do know you can get good elk meat etc, pike also. But that is not what a foreigner will notice when they visit us in Finland. I'm born in Finland, I am a fin, our food in general is not good.
Most restaurants prepare the food worse than I do myself. Then you find those who has incredible good chefs, but how will a foreigner find those pearls among all the restaurants?
Finnish food is the best.. simple, delicious and straight from nature
mämmi is greaaaat. i buy it so often, couple times a month.
***** how rude.
+Not Legato TOMMI MITÄ VITTUA :DD
the reindeer is really good. We had it a few times :)
Why do you people always say "you" will love or hate this or that... Speak for yourself, don't force your opinion onto us! Thank you.
I really like your videos mate, I've been watching loads of them recently and im going to subscribe! keep up the good work!
Finnish food is the best food :)
yes we are. I really would like to take my family to brugges and around there as I really loved it. my last trip to Belgium was before I started my videos so I havce lots of pictures from a few visits but no video :( but we will get there. any advice for a traveler? aside from tasty food and beer? :)
Good and informative video here Mark, except maybe for the food.
So much hate for Finland here in the comments. How'bout you people go to Finland and see for yourself? It's funny how half the people making accusations have never been there and the other half generalizes their own bad experiences to the whole nation. Internet can sure bring out the worst in people.
PickYourPoison I loved living in finland. it was a great time. I enjoyed the people and the nature was outstanding. all the best to you! and yes the internet does not always bring out the nicest in people. ;)
I know you posted your comment 5 months ago but here is my take on it. I have been to Finland many times and go as often as I can. I love everything about it including the food. I love the food, the culture, the people, the climate, the language and yes I even understand the laws and rules of Finland too. I am even aware of the problems Finland currently has and still the country is perfect to me.
Marylyn Tippeconnic Yes indeed, I understand that your experience of Finland has been good but if you scroll down to see other comments, there's people spreading their false stereotypes. I'm Finnish and have lived in Finland almost 30 years so I have a very good perception of what is true and what is not.
Finland Sounds pretty awesome. I've never been out of American before, and want to at some point in my life.
1:49 what if i like rainy weather?
Finland is best greetings from Piteå, Sweden
(Y)
Suicide statistics are not at all so high anymore in Finland. Watch new youtube statistic of it.
some of the food was really good. I loved literally anything that had a mushroom or mushroom sauce on it. sooooooo good
Reindeer is good :P
fun times will be had I am sure of that :)