Typical Finn

In spring 2009 I spent six months studying abroad in South Africa. First two weeks in a totally different culture was shocking - people were just too slow and social for a jogging Finn. For example we had 10 minutes between lectures and in that time some of us had to walk or run over one kilometer to another lecture hall. Of course I ran sweat dropping down my face and for me it looked like everyone else was just having a sunday walk. No hurry, just smiling and enjoying time with friends.

"Are you crazyyy, hurry up or you'll be late!", I screamed to my friends.
"Relax Jenni, no worries. We'll get there".

Uhm, what did you say? Finns are described as introvert and quiet people who work and party hard but don't spend too much time talking. Normally we do not speak with strangers and for some we may seem rude. And even when we talk, our speech sounds slow and perhaps also monotonous. Underneath this hard front Finns are perhaps best possible friends: caring and loyal. So take small hammers with you and hit every rude Finn you meet and you'll get a friend - or not.

But what about the looks? What does a typical Finn look like? One way to find out is to check two quite similar but at the same time totally different blogs. First one, Hel Looks is a lifestyle blog which introduces Finnish fashion (?) via trendy people found from the streets of Helsinki and other cities. Here's two examples:

"I like to wear clothes from the 20s and the 30s. At that time clothes were made to fit the body naturally. I found my style a couple of years ago, when I was looking for a new pair of trousers.” -Lassi, 20 (Source: Hel-Looks.com)

"Colours and fairytales inspire my style. I can't wear black, but any other colours I can mix freely. Yellow is my favourite colour, as you can see. Pippi Longstocking is my style icon.” -Heidi, 25(Source: Hel.Looks.com)

However few months ago Hel Looks got a competitor from Landelooks - a blog that shows pictures of people from countryside and as I'd like to see it - of more normal people. In a way Landelooks (=country looks) is a parody of street fashion focused Hel Looks but also a blog that shows the life and look of ordinary people in Finland.

"My outfit is inspired by work. My empoyler has chosen these clothes for me and strengthnesses of this outfit are durability and casualness". -Ismo, road. (Source: Landelooks.wordpress.com)

"I bought this jacket 15 years ago from sale because of hard wind. Mittens are from Tallinn, Estonia..I only dress for myself!" -Granny Marra, road. (Source: Landelooks.wordpress.com)

Pretty good looking people, aren't we? For the end I have to link also one video for you. It's a part of one Finnish movie Miesten vuoro (Men's turn) where Finnish men sit in sauna and simply talk about life. In this clip a man has just got out from sauna and his friend - a bear named Juuso - comes for a visit.

(Source: http://thumbnails.truveo.com/0018/50/1E/501E67A79A2C33917B1530_Large.jpg)

What do you think about us? What is your perception of Finns?