Finland’s Surprising Realities: An Entrepreneur’s Two-Year Reflection Shared on LinkedIn

In a recent LinkedIn post, Artur Perrella Glukhovskyy shares his candid observations and surprising experiences after moving his business from Italy to Finland two years ago. Glukhovskyy details a series of cultural and practical differences that have shaped his perspective on life and work in Helsinki.

One of the initial culture shocks, as Glukhovskyy describes it, was the Finnish approach to public interaction.

“Nobody talks to you on the tram. I realized it’s a kind of respect. But after 2 years, I want to be disrespected. Badly. Talk to me, people!”

This observation touches on a broader theme of personal space and social interaction in Finland, which Glukhovskyy contrasts with his previous experiences in more densely populated European cities.

Navigating Finnish Realities: From Public Transport to Housing

Glukhovskyy highlights several practical aspects of life in Finland, including transportation and housing. While he notes an improvement in punctuality regarding public transport, he humorously points out a slight twist:

“I’m no longer late for buses. But buses arrive 45 seconds earlier. So I’m still late,” he writes.

On the housing front, Glukhovskyy finds Finland to be a significant advantage. He states that the cost of living, particularly for accommodation, is surprisingly affordable.

“You move 45 minutes from Helsinki center, and you rent a flat for €500/mo.”

This affordability, coupled with what he describes as a “boring economic situation,” pushed Glukhovskyy to build his business online rather than relying on traditional employment opportunities he might have found more readily in cities like Berlin or London.

The Challenge of Loneliness and the Search for Connection

Perhaps the most profound aspect of Glukhovskyy’s reflection is his experience with loneliness. He contrasts the constant social interaction of his upbringing and time in other European cities with the more solitary environment he found in Finland.

“For the first time in my life, I experienced loneliness. I grew up surrounded by people every single hour. Constant chat, constant jokes,” Glukhovskyy explains. He vividly paints a picture of Finnish social norms:

“Then I moved to Finland, where one of the national sports is standing two meters apart at the bus stop. Suddenly it was just me, my PC, and my partner.”

Glukhovskyy has found some solace in sports, specifically Padel, which he discovered recently. He credits friends Jules Davies and Elena Dyulgerova for introducing him to the activity. While Padel helps, he acknowledges it’s not a complete substitute for broader social engagement.

Geographical Isolation and Exploring Local Beauty

The geographical location of Finland also presents a challenge for Glukhovskyy. He expresses a dislike for being far from the core of Europe, where quick road trips to major cities are possible.

“From Helsinki, the same drive takes 2 to 3 days, and Finland keeps reminding me it’s the last stop before the Arctic. Makes me feel a bit isolated,” he notes.

Despite the sense of isolation, Glukhovskyy has found beauty in the Finnish landscape, mentioning a trip to the coastal town of Loviisa as a positive experience. He observes that even locals in Helsinki seem to perceive places like Loviisa, just a 45-minute drive away, as being very distant, a perception he contrasts with his commute experiences in Vilnius.

Embracing the Finnish Winter

Glukhovskyy also shares a positive outlook on the Finnish winter, describing it as gorgeous. He finds the darkness to be embraced by the city and even experiences the unique sensation of biking on a frozen Baltic Sea.

“Sun burned at -23 Celsius; it’s something that makes me feel alive,” he writes, adding a critical observation about the excessive use of blue light in homes back in Italy.

Glukhovskyy concludes his post by inviting engagement, asking his network about their own experiences when moving to new places and extending an invitation to play Padel in Helsinki upon his return.