Welcome To Finland, Slumber Capital Of The World

IOL ^ | 12-11-2002

[blam]

Welcome to Finland, slumber capital of Europe

December 11 2002 at 03:35PM

Helsinki - Finns are the sleepiest people in Europe, with one-third suffering from sleeping disorders and 10 percent describing themselves as "sleepy" during daytime, said scientists on Wednesday following a survey.

"There is a high occurrence of sleeping problems, because Finns are not the best at processing personal problems, keeping them inside instead of talking to other people," said Markku Partinen, a professor at the Haaga Centre for Neurological Research and Rehabilitation in Helsinki.

"Compared to Spain, Italy, France and other European countries, Finns do not talk much about their problems with their friends and relatives," he added.

The Finnish survey found that 31,7 percent of Finns suffer from disruptive sleep at least three nights a week, by far the highest figure in Europe, he said.

'Eating dinner around seven is best for sleeping' He said the study was similar to other surveys conducted in other European countries.

While surveys have shown that between four and 10 percent of Europeans feel sleepy during daytime, the figure in Finland is 10 percent, again the highest in Europe, Partinen pointed out.

"It seems people are sleeping better in southern Europe than here, and we believe this is caused by cultural differences," said Partinen.

"Finns eat dinner very early, at four or five o'clock in the afternoon, while in France and other southern countries it's always much later, and we know that eating dinner around seven is best for sleeping," Partinen concluded. - Sapa-AFP

[blam]

I saw a one hour special about Finland (I think it was 60 Minutes?) about how shy and withdrawn the Finns are.

I think the are afflicted with SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, not enough sunlight.

[Fred Mertz]

I've heard that Finns drink like fish too.

[inkling]

I come from a Finnish family and we are replete with sleep-related problems. Interesting article.

I think I need a nap ::yawn::

[wideawake]

There 's a Swedish joke about Finns.

A Finn walks into an empty bar. The bartender looks over at him, picks up a bottle of vodka and raises an eyebrow. The Finn nods his head slightly and sits down. The bartender puts the glass and bottle in front of him.

For the next two hours the Finn empties the bottle shot by shot.

After he's done he sits there for a half-hour watching the bartender wash glasses, dust, etc.

The bartender finally break the silence: "Another bottle?"

The Finn replies: "I came here to drink, not to talk".

[blam]

"I come from a Finnish family and we are replete with sleep-related problems."

Try taking some vitamin-D suppliments.

[contessa machiaveli]

scandinavians have the world's highest suicide rate, probably because of the cold, long nights. i'm sleepy and morose in the winter (although i usually begin to feel better after the winter solstice on dec. 21st)and the next couple of weeks are the worst.

[blam]

I fixed that problem by spending two weeks at Christmas in Cancun each year. It worked!

[riri]

I can NOT function in the cold. I live in AZ now but even when I visit back home (east)...I shut down in the cold. Don't even like going anywhere.

[SoDak]

It's the lutefisk, even though I'm 100% Norse, I'd rather cut my own throat than east lutefisk.

[SoDak]

The only time I become morose and homebound is when I'm tethered to the A/C in July and August. I thrive in the cold. Somewhere between 0F and 10F is perfect.

[riri]

I wish I were like you! All the places I would prefer to live have cold climates...Alas, I am stuck south.

[LexBaird]

"It's the lutefisk, even though I'm 100% Norse, I'd rather cut my own throat than east lutefisk."


Lutefisk and Yams
by Ulf Gunnarsson

Hark and ware, oh Warrior!
Weird of Sven now hear you.
How good Lars he harried,
pestered him with questions.

Late at meadhall light burned;
Lars did strive to largen
belly with a bowl of
boiled fish his mission.

And some chunks of chicken,
cheese and bread and peasoup,
finally pounds of pancakes
paired with lingon berries.

Smallish snack he snuck while
woozy wife lay snoozing.
When inside there wandered
forth a fellow northman.

Lars did greet him greatly
for he knew the gruesome
tales of host who hasten
travellers forth from doorstep.

Lars did ask his name then.
"I am Sven," he mentioned.
"Sven I am," he stated.
"Do you like lutefisk and yams?"

"Nay." said Lars, "though largely
like I food most goodly, but
I do not like lutefisk and yams,
I do not like them Sven I am."

"Ah," said Sven most sagely.
"Would you eat them on a trip?
Would you eat them on your ship?"

"Nay," said Lars, "though largely
like I food most goodly, but
I would not eat them on a trip.
I would not eat them on my ship.
I do not like lutefisk and yams,
I do not like them, Sven I am."

"Ah," said Sven. "Then maybe
might you eat them on a raid?
Might you eat them with a maid?"

"Nay," said Lars most strongly.
"Like I food most goodly, but
I would not eat them on a raid,
I would not eat them with a maid,
I would not eat them on a trip,
I would not eat them on my ship.
I do not like lutefisk and yams.
I do not like them, Sven I am."

"Hmmm," said Sven, "Good fellow,
would you eat them on the field?
Would you eat them off your shield?"

"Nay!" cried Lars most wrothly,
"Like I food most goodly, but
I would not eat them on the field,
I would not eat them off my shield,
I would not eat them on a raid,
I would not eat them with a maid,
I would not eat them on a trip,
I would not eat them on my ship.
I do not like lutefisk and yams.
I do not like them, Sven I am."

Sven then looked most crafty.
He then slyly stated:
"Would you eat them served up cold?
Would you eat them if I paid you gold?"

"Well," said Lars, "since largely,
Like I food most goodly...
I might like lutefisk and yams.
I might like them, Sven I am."

Sven produced this Swedish
yam and lutefisk sample.
Lars did test this tasty
treat then longly pondered.

Stoutly Lars then stated:
"I despise lutefisk and yams.
I despise them, Sven I am.
I will not eat them served up cold,
I will not eat them if you pay me gold.
I will not eat them on the field,
I will not eat them off my shield,
I will not eat them on a raid,
I will not eat them with a maid,
I will not eat them on a trip,
And I will NOT eat them on MY ship!
I do not like lutefisk and yams,
I do not like them, Sven I am."
And he slew Sven.

Ulf Gunnarsson, as typed in by
Robin of Gilwell / Jay Rudin

[dighton]

... even though I'm 100% Norse, I'd rather cut my own throat than eat lutefisk.

Evidently there's something worse.

[SoDak]

Ha! Good one, thanks!

[SoDak]

Oh my God! I think you're right. The long winter nights apparently make for some interesting, yet disgusting, recipes. Thankfully, my mom drew the line at Lutefisk.

[Shenandoah]

My wife worked in Helsinki for a couple of years. I went and spent some time with her on occassion - a couple of weeks at a time.

Finns are unfriendly. They have their own little space and don't want anyone intruding. No eye contact is made between people as they pass on the streets. They are also world class drinkers. Groups of Finns and individuals can be seen regularly staggering around, totally drunk.

Most Finns, as is true in all of Scandinavia, speak English. Not only do they speak English, But they speak it with an almost American accent. English is used as the means to communicate between Scandinavians of different countries. Not a lot of Finns speak Swedish, and visa-versa, but they all speak English.

Outside of the wharf area, Helsinki is a depressing city. It reminds me of the Soviet block.

The most beautiful women I've ever seen in my life, I saw in Helsinki - flawless skin, perfect facial features. It seemed like every 4th woman I saw looked like Elke Sommer.

[Cogadh na Sith]

I've eaten lutefisk--my grandad was Danish. Pretty good.

(I've also eaten haggis, kim chee, balut, limburger, head cheese, blood pudding, Navajo sheeps head soup, powsowdie, Menudo con Pata, pickled baby octopi, crickets... Weird food is good food I say.)

(Someday it's my goal to try hung pheasant, fermented beaver tail, fermented sparrow (in a walrus skin), that Italian Pecorino cheese with the maggots, Puffer fish and some of the Thai spider dishes.)

Things are a 'delicacy' for a reason!

[Chemnitz]

Move to Phoenix. I have the door next to my desk wide open. The sun is streaming down on my back. I had to put up some shade fabric to keep from roasting.

I think there is a big difference between suicide in Sweden and in Norway. Sweden is quite high. Norway is quite low. The cultures are quite different too. Finns are quite differnt. I would not lump them all together because they are in the same area.

[Shenandoah]

My, what a small world, dighton.

One specialty I found in Finnland that is absolutely delicious is Salmon Soup. Yum!

They are also big on sandwiches. Finns eat a lot of sandwiches. Eggs and bacon are unheard of for breakfast, they eat sandwiches. And because of that, they have the most creative and delicious sandwiches with all different kinds of bread to choose from.

[Cogadh na Sith]

And because of that, they have the most creative and delicious sandwiches with all different kinds of bread to choose from.

Do tell! You're going to have to go a ways to beat a Maryland soft-shelled crab sandwich.

Scotland has some good sandwiches as well--prawn salad, cold sausage and egg, blood and tongue... but the UK can keep the 'chip buttie'--It's a french fry sandwich.