Finnish people are warm, open and sincere, even though they might tell you otherwise
If you’ve ever met a Finn, chances are they’ve mentioned the reserved nature of their countrymen. Be not afraid – we’re not taciturn brutes. Finns are talkative and hospitable, but the myth of the withdrawn Finn is still alive and well within Finland. And Finns, with their self-deprecating wit, will be the first to let foreigners in on it. An example of a Finnish joke: “An introverted Finn looks at his shoes when talking to you; an extroverted Finn looks at your shoes.”
In some ways, Finns are a pretty peculiar people, and we secretly enjoy conveying that image of ourselves, even if it isn’t always true. A Finn will tell tall tales with a straight face, giggle internally and go on until the stories become too much for anyone to believe. Joking with someone (or even at someone’s cost!) is the Finnish way of saying “I like you.” It’s fair to say that Finns are friendly and sociable, but they have a funny way of showing it.