In the meantime, there are some random things about Finland that I find fascinating!
...pencils are often sold without erasers.
...it is so safe here that you routinely see bikes parked outside of stores and schools without any locks. In fact, I have made a game out of looking for bikes with locks.
...Finns will shovel snow into piles (for the kids) in the winter and shovel it out of piles in the spring (to help it melt faster).
...there are really nice family bathrooms/feeding rooms for mothers with small children complete with microwaves, rocking chairs, high chairs and toys in many malls and department stores.
...it is so safe that I recently saw one of the mothers using aforementioned bathrooms leave her (wide open) purse on the floor while she used the toilet!
...most people will wait for the walk light to turn green before crossing the street even though there is not a car in sight.
...when you have a baby, you receive a maternity box FULL of baby clothes and other necessities--and it's not just for newborns! If you choose to decline the box, you can receive a cash stipend instead. If you are curious, click here to see the contents of the 2011 box. (While you're there, browse through some of the other benefits for parents and families!)
...there are timers at almost every bus or tram stop indicating how long the wait will be.
...university is free. Yep, free. And, until now, it was free for foreigners too. But that gravy train, my friends, will soon end. It will still be free for Finns and residents of the EU, but the rest of us will have to pay!
...we live across the street from a public restroom that was converted into a Karaoke bar.
'nuff said.
I agree with everything except for the bikes. Most of the bikes would be locked but instead of large separate locks there is a small one that has been welded to the bike and will go between the metal sticks of the back wheel.
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