Show I 1 r Finland much more than an exotic country Marika Contributing Writer G th the eight weeks DIve DURING Ive I've been studying at as a foreign student from Finland Ive I've noticed that for most Americans Finland Finland Finland Fin Fin- land is only an exotic country of cold winters and hot saunas However Finland is much more than that Finland situated between Sweden and the Soviet Union has been independent since 1917 During this century it has created today's economical cal political and social situa situa- tion Private enterprises and ownership are the basis of the economy However railroads al alcohol alcohol alcohol al- al cohol stores TV and radio stations stations stations sta sta- sta- sta production of f oil and post traffic are owned by the state The state takes care of the health care and tion Politically Finland is a western parliamentary democracy with a president as the head of the state Lying between East and West Finland Finland Finland Fin Fin- land has tried to stay neutral One expression of this was the meeting of George Bush and Mihail in Helsinki capital of Finland in inthe inthe inthe the beginning of the Gulf crisis The weather isn't always cold in Finland The winters are cold but the summers are warm In Helsinki the average temperatures of the coldest and warmest months February and July were 20 F Fand Fand Fand and F. 64 The landscape is different different different dif dif- dif dif- ferent in different parts of the country In northern Finland in Lapland there are some low mo mountains The middle parts j of of the country have many lakes and forests On the seacoast you can find beautiful archipelago islands Although the way of living resembles I many other Western countries the Finns have some ome special habits Sauna a hot bath is a very strange thing for a foreigner but the Finns love sauna and every house has one Also many foreigners have found its relaxing warmth pleasant Some holidays are different different different dif dif- ferent in Finland and here We dont don't t celebrate Halloween and Thanksgiving But we have two popular festivals the 1st of May and mer The 1st of May is the festival festival festival fes fes- fes- fes of spring and it is a funny party like Halloween here Midsummer is in the end of June and that night the sun doesn't set at all in Lapland Also in southern Finland it is light through the night People are usually with their families and friends on the Lake shores We are not as talkative as Americans The Finns themselves have also some features different from other nationalities We Weare Weare Weare are not as talkative as Americans and not always as polite as Americans However if you hear a compliment from a Finn he or she really means it When you come to Finland Finland Finland Fin Fin- land you can notice that American hamburgers Italian pizza pop music and clothes from Europe and America Ameri a have invaded Finland However However However How How- ever the habits which make Finland unique from other countries still exist 44 S s tt r 1 a Y I 74 J 1 I d j y Tz Ai E This photo taken at 11 1100 00 pm p.m. represents central Finland in mer The sun sets around 12 11 pm p.m. in the summer months |