Today, exchange students invited to other class for discussion about different cultures. We made groups in each country. So my group discussed Japan and Finland. Our group’s theme was “How to be polite?”. It was very interesting. We talked eye contact, how to react listeners, how to answer “how are you”, how to call the name, which is important teamwork or personal work, personal space, and so on. Of course it’s depends but it is very different between.

First, eye contact is polite in Finland. I think many other countries are same. Japanese people knows it’s polite but it’s not important between friends or family.

Second, many foreigners add to speak even if someone speaks. Both Finnish and Japanese people wait if someone speaks.

Third, Japanese people don’t say “How are you”. Maybe it’s very interesting for foreigners. Japanese doesn’t speak our feelings. Some people get angry if someone speaks a lot of personal things. (Yes, “How are you?” always makes me confused lol) Some countries have to say fine even if they are not fine but Finnish say honestly.

Fourth, Japanese people doesn’t call the name. Also, we don’t have “you” or “he, she” in normal conversation. We speak only content. (Japanese is different grammar so we can skip to call names) Finnish people don’t call the name so much. If you say so much Finns thought you are angry. It’s same as Japan. (I guess)

Fifth, teamwork is very important in Japan. This is the most important in school and society. We have club activity in schools, we have same uniforms and classes. However personal work is very important in Finland. They have to do action for themselves. Some Finnish students said I like Japanese style because we can think and achieve with someone. I think both has good things and bad things. We should think which is good for yourself.

Sixth, Finland has very large personal space. Japan is also not so much closer than others but we have to be close in public place. For example, bus stops and train stations, we have to make a line in Japan. If you enter the bus before the person who came to the buss stop before you, it’s very rude. Therefore we have to make a line and we should be closer. Populations are very different between Japan and Finland, and there are different rules so I think it’s difficult to measure the personal space.

We will make a presentation tomorrow so I’m happy! My host sister taught me Finnish puhekieli which is Finnish speaking language. I knew it but I was not so much interesting in. However she said if you could speak puhekieli it’s like a people who lives in Finland long time. So my motivation to learn puhekieli is increased!