Vodka, snipers and Nokia.
Ikea
A challenging language
That and high quality of life.
It seems like a great place with a decent government and society. The few Finnish people I’ve met over the years have all been really cool and/or smart and/or hilarious.
Cold
salty licorice
As an ignorant American I’m saddened to say, very little. One thing that comes to mind is Simo Häyhä.
I cant forget Linus Torvalds. The third most influential person in my life behind Thompson and Ritchie. Without these three I would never have found one of my greatest joys, coding.
I think of the pictures of snowy landscapes crowned with ethereal lights dancing in the night.
Stories from my dad about a Finish violin maker who used to hitchhike everywhere dad used to give frequent rides to.
Great public transit, safe bike infrastructure (so safe they bike in the snow!), and a happy chill country that tries to be great for all their citizens (unlike the US which only cares about the rich)
lilyhammer because I keep confusing norway and finland.
perkele
Power metal, rallying, forests, snow, reindeer, personal space, a language with a very musical-sounding rhythm and grammar that I don’t understand in the slightest, and that one video of a man swearing at a bear because it’s in his garden
Hockey
Long place names like Äteritsiputeritsipuolilautatsijänkä
