Thursday, 2 June 2011

Culture Shock Finland #1: Buying a coffee

I met a Scottish girl the other day who had read the book Culture Shock: Finland on her way over, and it inspired me to write the following post. I might even make this into a series for any non-Finnish readers out there!

This following conversation could be heard in most other countries, but I have chosen to set it in England.

Person 1: Hello!
Person 2: Hi! Could I have a coffee, please?
Person 1: That'll be one pound, thank you.
Person 2: There you go.
Person 1: Thank you. Here you go!
Person 2: Thank you.
Person 1: Have a nice day!
Person 2: Thanks, you too!

Now here's how us Finns do it (translations added for easier understanding).

Person A: Kahvi. (A coffee.)
Person B: Kaks viiskyt. (Two fifty.)
Person A: [hands over money]
Person B: Ole hyvä. (Here you go. [optional])
Person A: Kiitti. (Cheers. [optional, rarely used])

Welcome to Finland! ;)




EDIT: Seeing as some people (Finns) seem to be taking this way too seriously, I'll have you know that this is exaggerated, and supposed to be funny. It's not as bad as all that, but you have to admit, people in some other countries are better at being polite. That's all I'm saying!
Better now? :P

2 comments:

  1. I don't agree really. :/ Well, maybe sometimes yeah, but think about France for example. Its so much worse over there...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Maria Hernandez2 June 2011 at 22:03

    France is far better:

    - Bonjour, je pourrai avoir un café s'il vous plait.
    - Voilà, ça vous fera 1,40
    - Merci beaucoup
    - Merci à vous, bonne journée !
    - A vous aussi !

    ReplyDelete

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