The video records a multiāspeaker, informal discussion among Asian residents and visitors at a community event in Finland. Speakers from the Philippines, Thailand, China, Myanmar, Indonesia, Japan, India and others share their impressions of Finnish life. They describe Finnish people as calm, honest, shy yet friendly, and note Finlandās safety, clean environment, and highāquality food. The conversation highlights the appeal of Finnish natureāsummer cottages, lakes, forests, and winter activities like skiing and fishing. Participants compare Asian and Finnish cuisine, mentioning sticky rice, pork satay, and even insects as novel foods. The group emphasizes Finlandās inclusivity, lack of racism, and supportive policies that make minorities feel welcome. A recurring theme is the happiness and contentment they find in Finlandās spacious, lowāpressure society. The tone is conversational and enthusiastic, with occasional humor about weather and insects.
Chapters
I was born in Asia, and as mentioned before, I feel grateful to live here in Finland. Now I'm on my way to an Asian event to see some other Asian people who love Finland.
Today have like Asia friendship and many. from like Philippines, Thailand, Chinese, Myanmar, and it's like Asia.
Host Thailand, and then we haveā we had Indonesia, China, Japan, Myanmar of course, and then Philippines, India. Everybody's really happy. We are occupying the whole Naringatori Campi.
What do you like about Finnish people?
They are very calm and Sometimes quiet. But I meet also many, many nice, nice Finns here.
They are so shy. And they are honest.
Honest, yes. I agree.
If you are with Finn people, you need to be honest.
Yes, I like that. What about Philippine people?
Oh, we are just blowing. Generous. Smiling, and we do a lot of chica chica.
Because mentality quite similar, Finnish people, Japanese people, that type.
Yeah, I agree. Why? Why is that?
Something I think related, maybe ancient time. We have same maybe blood or something, roots. Can be. What do you like about Finnish people? Because friendly.
You think Finnish people are friendly?
Friendly, yes. Always to me around everywhere, metro and my student, everywhere friendly service, cafe, friendly. Nobody like doing something to me, even drunk people. Even drunk people are friendly and interested.
I think Finnish people, they really appreciate about the ancient culture because It's also about the weather. It's a different type of food. It's also about the lady, I think.
I think about Finland, it's like a safety country and everyone is like friendly.
Yeah.
Finland weather is so clean.
Really?
Yeah.
Finland weather is clean? Yeah. What do you mean?
Like everything not too hot. Yeah. But sometimes it's coming so cool.
What about Finland winter? So cool.
My favorite thing about Finland? Nature. Can I say more than one thing?
Yes.
Nature and people and the air, the education, the food. I mean the food. Good food. Yes. The food is not as let's say full of flavors as from my home country, but the food here is clean and high quality.
Sticky rice in banana leaf with red bean. There's more inside. So now I have someā I think it's pork satay sticks and some more sticky rice. We never You never get bored of sticky rice. Look at this. Oh yeah, this one is plain sticky rice, not flavored, so that's why we have the meat to go with it. Okay, and what is this? Where is this from? This is pork.
These are from Myanmar. Bagan. Yes. Traditional. Yeah, thank you.
What is your favorite thing about Finland?
My favorite thing is I like this nature, this one. Yeah, this isā they have a kestƤvƤ. This one is summer.
Summer is the best, of course, because we have the chance to go to the countryside. We are very lucky we have a summer cottage, so I just spend one whole week With my son, he's writing his thesis at the summer cottage, and me also working, co-working with him with the beautiful view of forest and lake. So that's my number one.
Yeah, summer is the best and very beautiful here.
I like this winter time for ski. I yeah, I love ski and also fishing.
Yeah, when I come to Finland around September, yes, the weather is like seven.
It's seven, but we wear thin jackets and every day we wear them. They are laughing. Hi, now plus seven. Why you wear like this? And then I say that it's too cold. It's cold for us because in Myanmar in winter is 17. 17 is winter. We are so cold already. So we are thinking, hey, we still have the winter, it's minus 23. Wow! But we really, we learned how to pass the Finland weather and how to wear the clothes. And then now we know very well, we can, no problem for us now to winter in here. So it's okay.
Hey yeah, kita! Piano piano piano piano.
Finland is a great country for everyone. It's because of the inclusivity, the policy that is fair for everyone, and we feel welcome as a minority. And I don't feel any any racism, any prejudices, and everyone is treated the same. Everyone has the same opportunity. Like today, we have the chance to present our beautiful culture and. We get the full support from the Finnish community, especially Helsinki people.
Do you agree that Finland is the happiest country on Earth?
Yes, at least for me, it's a place where I find myself. For me, happiness is about being content with who I am as a person, and Finland has a lot of space, and here people don't tell you what you have to do. So all you have to do is like you figure out yourself, and that is where I find my happiness.
Have you had insects before?
Yeah. I love them.
You love them? Where did you have insects?
In Bangkok, my son's.
Okay.
And it's good to have them here as well. It's really good. I like the worms and then the, uh, the bodies of this because it's crunchy. You want one?
No thanks. Asian guy is saying no, but the Finnish guy is saying yes.
