Finland 100: 59 – Stoic by Nature

Generalisations are dangerous, especially when being used to describe a national trait, but I think I can get away safely enough with saying that Finns are by nature not particularly demonstrative. In fact, the word ‘stoic’ springs to mind, whereas ‘taciturn’ may be too much. If you put Italians near the top of the scale, then Finns would be somewhere at the opposite end. This is not a criticism! I remember when I first arrived here from London, I would leave my meetings without a clue as to whether the photos in my portfolio had impressed them or not. Then I would get the job. It took me a while but, eventually, I realised there would be no massaging of my ego here. I may even be a better person for it. Either that or the long, hard winters have toughened me up finally. I think I’ll go and find a pile of snow to stand in.