Finland is a country in northern Europe with around 5.2 million population. Due to its geographic location , it is cold country. Finland was initially under the Swedish rule and later on Russian empire took from Swedish and rule till 1917. Finnish is a major language but Finnish and Swedish are the official language , 6 % percentage people speaks Swedish. Finland is a social democratic country and its politics and political parties only work for the welfare of its people and its always guided by welfare state.
I am living Finland since 2006 September. I came here to study my Master degree. I choose Finland because I heard it is a technologically advance , and education is one of the excellent in the world as well as free education to all. Now, I can say it is true what I heard in Nepal about Finland regarding the education, technology , research etc. I learn so many things from this country. People are very positive , kind and calm . Every one have respect here , no matter where are you from , what is your age like child ,young , old whatever, how you look like , what is your job or work , all can live with their dignity. No one comes to disturb you and say something bad. Finnish people seems very calm and don't talk much with foreigners still I don't have any bad feeling comes in my mind about this kind of Finnish way. It is up to you and your desire whether you talked or not. In my view , Finnish people don't have much topic to talk , they are just work for good and live their lives and try to do something new for their society , country and the world. In other countries , people seems much talkative because there will many topics to talk ranging from talking much more about politics, talking what is his/her neighbor doing, who is going to marriage in a society, who is doing what , religious matter blah blah blah..But Finnish people don't have that kind of nature to talk about such kind of broad things. Sometimes , they talk about climate and their own daily business. Therefore , they don't talk much.
Technology is a part of Finnish society, they love technology and use as much as they can. Therefore , they have sound service everywhere. Finnish education institutions and companies focus more to develop the new technology and invest more in research and development. Government is always supportive to those who wants to do something. Finland has very technologically sophisticated educational and research institutions , all universities and polytechnics have good education and latest , modern academic programs. That is very strong aspect of Finland in terms of technology and education. Due to its good education , technology development is possible here. I really impress from the Finnish recycle of garbage , they are using its for making power that is quite essential this modern era. Due to its recycle , Finland is very clean everywhere you can not see any dirty stuff.
People always follow the rules and regulations. It is a culture here. There is very less corruption , wherever we go they will provide you a service with established rules and regulations within a minute. People always conscious what he/she should not do and how to not make affect anyone. This is a very good aspect of Finland. No one scold children , never and people are very active from the childhood. They always guided by love , respect and not to harm or disturb others. Therefore, Finnish people are always different with other countries people. Democracy, welfare, respect, freedom, technology, calm and service is a characteristics of this Finnish society. Everything is well organized and well management and rules and regulations , it shows Finland a nice country to live. There is very less crimes. So , any one can live without fear. People have very open mind. Suppose, If one girl she is pregnant or something like that then she can not go to university , or college in Nepal or India ..may be same to other country, because everyone look at her and talk about her or tease her etc. and they think always in negative way. But here in Finland , it does not matter, no one say anything or even No one look at her or tease. There is no more class in a society. All are financially , socially equal.
Still, there is some bad aspects of Finland, but it is not that much bad , still bad is bad. Finland is very expensive country. I am not sure but may be due to high tax and tax policy, high living standard, technology , everything is expensive. If someone don't have enough money to live , then Finland seems horrible. Because everything is expensive. Due to its welfare state and society, some people works so hard , earn money and pay more tax. On the other hand , some people work not that much , and pay less tax or don't work at all but got same financial support from government. Some people they don't work at all and only depend on government support and spend funds from government not in constructive things rather drinking , going out etc etc. To some extend , welfare state may make its citizen to dependent. So, Finnish government should be aware this fact. I think so. It is very nice idea of welfare state with very good retirement pension or health service , education etc. But It should be check in some point for not to allow government funding for just be unproductive or useless.
Still, the country like Nepal , can learn so much things from this country regarding education, research and development , way of people's thinking and act, society , etc.
By Jhamak Thapa
