Vodka, snipers and Nokia.
A challenging language
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
Ikea
That and high quality of life.
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.
perkele
Long place names like Äteritsiputeritsipuolilautatsijänkä
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.
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