Finland. The frozen wasteland of the north nestled between Russia and Sweden. Home to Santa Claus and reindeer and the withdrawn, socially reclusive, silent Finns.

That’s the general misconception about Finland. Yes, it’s a Nordic country rubbing shoulders with Sweden and Russia, and Santa Claus does in fact have an entire village dedicated to him in the Arctic circle city of Rovaniemi complete with a herd of reindeer. But, though the Finns may come across reserved at first, give them a shot or two (more like ten) of kossu (the colloquial term for the Finnish vodka Koskenkorva) and you’ll see a whole other side to these people. [Read more...]