Author Topic: Ask about Finland - Niko answers (Read 3832 times)

Niko · « **on:** June 24, 2008, 03:55:27 PM »

Hi everyone - this new thread is about the country with thousands of lakes and islands:

FINLAND

In this thread you can ask from me whatever you want to know about Finland.

I will answer to you according to my knowledge.

Some basic knowledgement first:

- capital: Helsinki (Helsingfors)
- official languages: Finnish & Swedish
- Independence    from Russian Empire
   Autonomy    March 29, 1809
    Declared      December 6, 1917
    Recognised    January 4, 1918
- EU accession    January 1, 1995
- Area 338,145 km

mongol-boy · « **Reply #1 on:** June 24, 2008, 03:57:04 PM »

Let's say that I wanna go on vacation there for a couple of weeks.
(in Helsinki)

is it an expensive city?

Niko · « **Reply #2 on:** June 24, 2008, 04:07:03 PM »

To Danny:

Well - Helsinki is actually not the cheapest city in Europe, but not the most expensive either. In EU area Helsinki is quite expensive, but it is cheaper than Oslo, Stockholm, Rome, Paris and London for example. Lets say that it is somewhere in the middle.

But products made in Finland are quite expensive.

ijm123 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 24, 2008, 04:27:27 PM »

How much of Finland's economy is based on mobile phones & Santa Claus?

Niko · « **Reply #4 on:** June 24, 2008, 04:54:18 PM »

To Ian

- What a funny question!

But here is the answer from 2007

So, as you can see mobile phones are part of the 5th important exporting products and Santa Claus - I think it is part of services.

I liked your question, it was clever and funny!

source: Tekes (Finnish Funding Agency For Technology And Innovation)

ijm123 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 24, 2008, 05:02:13 PM »

Niko

Can you think of any real reason why the Finns have been less successful at certain things (sports (with the exception of Javelin & motor racing), ESC etc) than the other Nordic nations?

I have my own ideas regarding ESC - but your views would be appreciated

Relyana · « **Reply #6 on:** June 24, 2008, 05:04:36 PM »

We already talked about the educational systems of Finland, Romania and Russia on msn some time ago but I'm curious ... would (lets say) a Romanian tourist have problems finding English speakers in Finland (outside Helsinki) ?
Dull question I know but that's good to know.

Niko · « **Reply #7 on:** June 24, 2008, 05:31:05 PM »

Quote from: ijm123 on June 24, 2008, 05:02:13 PM

Niko

Can you think of any real reason why the Finns have been less successful at certain things (sports (with the exception of Javelin & motor racing), ESC etc) than the other Nordic nations?

I have my own ideas regarding ESC - but your views would be appreciated

I have been thinking that as well. I don't know if you have ever read statistics about it how well different nations have been doing in all kinds of international sport events. Anyway it shows, that before the WWII Finland got lots of medals in all kinds of sports.

But times have changed from that and there are nowadays much more countries in sports. Concerning other Nordic countries, Finland is indeed worse than Norwegians and Swedish - but I think we are better than Danish and Icelandic sportmen.

I guess one of the reasons for it is money (and maybe we don't have so effective and unseeable drugs as Norwegians and Swedish have

). In ice-hockey Finland and Sweden are quite equal. In ski-jumping Norway and Finland are quite equal too, but in skiing Finland is doing much worse than Norway. In figure skating Finland is much ahead of other Nordic countries.

Summer sports have been recently doing quite badly and also now, we have in Beijing only one hope: Tero Pitk

ijm123 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 24, 2008, 05:38:16 PM »

Of course there was the flying Finn - Paavo Nurmi - in the 20s... I forgot about him.

I agree about the ESC - the language posed HUGE problems for Finland IMO. I personally love the sound of Finnish (with Finland being my #5 country overall in ESC behind Germany, France, Denmark & Norway) - but apparently the juries didn't.

Niko · « **Reply #9 on:** June 24, 2008, 05:39:10 PM »

Quote from: Relyana on June 24, 2008, 05:04:36 PM

We already talked about the educational systems of Finland, Romania and Russia on msn some time ago but I'm curious ... would (lets say) a Romanian tourist have problems finding English speakers in Finland (outside Helsinki) ?
Dull question I know but that's good to know.

Relyana, thank you for the question.

I am sure that a tourist from Romania or any other country will find everywhere in Finland English-speakers. I heard in the news yesterday, that about 90% of all school-children take English for their first foreign language. This number is so huge, that now there is a danger that other languages will be forgotten! That is why the Finnish school pedagogues are now having very serious discussions about a certain limit for those who want to take English for their first foreign language.

Every schoolboy and schoolgirl are studying at least 2 foreign languages + Finnish and Swedish.

Also middle aged and older people are speaking very good English, possibly not in countryside, but at least in all cities and towns. Welcome to Finland!

Niko · « **Reply #10 on:** June 24, 2008, 05:41:48 PM »

Quote from: ijm123 on June 24, 2008, 05:38:16 PM

Of course there was the flying Finn - Paavo Nurmi - in the 20s... I forgot about him.

I agree about the ESC - the language posed HUGE problems for Finland IMO. I personally love the sound of Finnish (with Finland being my #5 country overall in ESC behind Germany, France, Denmark & Norway) - but apparently the juries didn't.

Yes, Paavo Nurmi, and maybe even bigger legend: Hannes Kolehmainen, the guy who ran Finland onto the map of the world.

ijm123 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 24, 2008, 05:46:20 PM »

Quote from: Niko on June 24, 2008, 05:41:48 PM

Yes, Paavo Nurmi, and maybe even bigger legend: Hannes Kolehmainen, the guy who ran Finland onto the map of the world.

Indeed - there were a few "Flying Finns" early in the last century.

Another question for you - this time a linguistic one.

As a linguist I obviously take note of things in language. I was wondering how the "dots" (umlaut in German) above vowels make a difference to the sound of the vowel - because there appear to be a lot of them in Finnish (El

Niko · « **Reply #12 on:** June 24, 2008, 05:56:41 PM »

Quote from: ijm123 on June 24, 2008, 05:46:20 PM

Indeed - there were a few "Flying Finns" early in the last century.

Another question for you - this time a linguistic one.

As a linguist I obviously take note of things in language. I was wondering how the "dots" (umlaut in German) above vowels make a difference to the sound of the vowel - because there appear to be a lot of them in Finnish (El

ijm123 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 24, 2008, 06:03:56 PM »

Got it - they do much the same in German

Niko · « **Reply #14 on:** June 24, 2008, 06:05:16 PM »

Quote from: ijm123 on June 24, 2008, 06:03:56 PM

Got it - they do much the same in German

Actually yes - that's right!

Centrix · « **Reply #15 on:** November 29, 2008, 06:24:39 PM »

Are all the Finns so lovely persons like you are? I never meet on internet a more nice person than you.

Niko · « **Reply #16 on:** November 30, 2008, 06:12:36 PM »

Quote from: Centrix on November 29, 2008, 06:24:39 PM

Are all the Finns so lovely persons like you are? I never meet on internet a more nice person than you.

Thank you.

I can't say anything here except that I am trying to behave well on internet, because I prefer to be treated the same way.

Martial · « **Reply #17 on:** January 11, 2009, 07:22:22 PM »

can i date a finn?

Centrix · « **Reply #18 on:** January 16, 2009, 10:46:58 AM »

If I will let Romania (for a more long period, but not forever) I would like to leave in a Nordic country. How much is the rent for a house with two rooms there?

Niko · « **Reply #19 on:** January 16, 2009, 03:55:08 PM »

Quote from: Martial on January 11, 2009, 07:22:22 PM

can i date a finn?

Depends on the finn!

Niko · « **Reply #20 on:** January 16, 2009, 04:08:18 PM »

Quote from: Centrix on January 16, 2009, 10:46:58 AM

If I will let Romania (for a more long period, but not forever) I would like to leave in a Nordic country. How much is the rent for a house with two rooms there?

It is quite difficult to answer in this. If you decide to hire an apartment with 2 rooms, kitchen and balcony in the centre of Helsinki, you have to pay for it about 800 - 1000 €/month - but only very rich people or stupid people live there - stupid, because they want to pay such an amount for rent.

Outside of Helsinki, you can get an apartment with similar equipments for about 300 - 500 €/month.

Everything depends though on several things: how old the house is, surroundings, general athmosphere etc, etc....

Martial · « **Reply #21 on:** January 16, 2009, 07:22:46 PM »

Quote from: Niko on January 16, 2009, 03:55:08 PM

Depends on the finn!

don't play smart @$$ on me, you knew who i meant :angel1:

mongol-boy · « **Reply #22 on:** January 16, 2009, 10:14:55 PM »

I'm probably going to Finland this summer.
Can I meet Niko?

Martial · « **Reply #23 on:** January 17, 2009, 07:52:10 PM »

oh my god you freaking lucky AAAAAAAARGH
well I'm currently trying to come to Finland this summer too

when do you expect to go? maybe it will end up being at the same time!

mongol-boy · « **Reply #24 on:** January 18, 2009, 04:34:14 PM »

Quote from: Martial on January 17, 2009, 07:52:10 PM

oh my god you freaking lucky AAAAAAAARGH
well I'm currently trying to come to Finland this summer too

when do you expect to go? maybe it will end up being at the same time!

I don't know yet

Somewhere in July or August. I don't know