These are spot on observations of what is different around here! We used to have one president who had unlimited terms but after that the constitution was changed to allow maximum two six-year terms. We just had a parliamentary election and the 200 MPs are divided between 10 political parties! The new government has not yet been formed but they will need at least three parties to form a majority coalition. We've had "rainbow governments" with as many as six parties.
I think the schools still don't have lockers, the kids keep their belongings in those hooks or inside (unlocked) classrooms. Any alcohol stronger than 5.5% vol is still sold only in a state-run monopoly called Alko. Many coastal towns are bilingual and the law requires all the street signs to be in both languages. I have tasted peanut butter a couple of times in my life, I think I was over 25 years old when I tried the first time
Sauna is still done in the nude, also in public swimming halls, but nowadays mixed saunas are getting less common (or people wear a swimsuit) and kids might go to sauna with their parents only until they reach puberty, but this totally depends on the family. I don't know if it's about being progressive or just practical. Also in the past, clothes would tell a lot about your social status so the sauna was a place where the peasant and the landlord were equal.
Finland has been lagging behind in transgender rights and only recently they changed the law which required proof of infertility from anyone changing their gender (now one just needs to fill out a form). I think the majority of people are supporting transgender rights, though.
My favourite city in Finland is Turku. My favourite place is any place during a nice summer evening
Here's a picture of a rainbow at 11 pm at our summer cottage.
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