🅕 / Ⓕ Exchange_Note 芬蘭交換期心得
2022.08.18 — 2023.01.10 Finland, Nordic, Europe
🅕 - Pasila｜Böle
Medium ver.
€ 生活：以「複雜度」而言：飲食
就日常生活而言，我認為這絕對是交換當中非常重要的一環。如何從既有的生活模式去接觸並習慣截然不同的生存之道，芬蘭給了我相當實用的一課。
芬蘭的飲食讓我重新思考「吃」這件事情。在台灣，飲食選擇非常多元，而且到處都有在地的專屬美食。此外，買到好吃的食物是一件非常容易而且便宜的事情。然而不得不說，三餐是我在芬蘭遇到的第一道大難題。
這段期間以來，被迫得要訓練自己的廚藝，才能煮出一道道簡單且填飽肚子的料理。芬蘭的食物相當樸素，外食的門檻也相對的高。因此在這樣的情況下，飲食選擇不再複雜，照料三餐變成一件必要且直接的事情。不再過載的資訊，讓飲食重回簡單而單純的生理需求滿足。
簡單從三個面向來介紹芬蘭交換時的飲食：食材自煮、外食、學餐
一開始真的不誇張，解決一餐的方式就是到超市找麵包和微波食品，回來加熱之後就草草結束。可惜的是，超市不容易找到料理完的食物，而且通常又貴又難吃，因此這也不是一項長久方案。後來在朋友幫忙之下，找到一些食譜，然後又受到另一位朋友一句話的啟發：「要想辦法自己料理，不然你就會變成麵包的形狀😱」那時候真是打從心底感到恐懼，如果連肚子餓這件事都解決不了，其他方面想必是不能好好體驗了……
總之快速跳到後來的日子，經過一段時間的摸索與嘗試之後，有了幾道能夠穩定產出的料理！蜜汁/香料烤雞腿、白醬/紅醬義大利麵、香烤馬鈴薯、蝦仁炒花椰菜、鮭魚馬鈴薯、法式香料烤蔬菜、披薩、鍋子煮米飯(?!)……還有各式混搭的料理不時會跑出來！在這過程中完全能體會每一道菜之中的辛苦，也因此更珍惜食物（吧。
其實後來想想，反而感謝當初遭遇了三餐的問題，在這因緣際會之下，意外了獲得新的技能之外（料理手法＋逛N遍超市），對於飲食也更加重視，從源頭的採購、料理的過程、吃飯的儀式感等等，這些都構成在北歐生活中的一環。飲食進而影響到了生活樣態，乃至於在那段期間特別的社交方式。
在芬蘭的外食反而相當簡單！因為價格高昂加上好吃的不多XD 所以基本上就三大選項！一是著名的老農貿市場中的SOUP+MORE Vanha Kauppahalli，超級好喝的鮭魚湯！絕對是初來芬蘭的遊客必喝的～一碗湯加上麵包吃到飽是大約€15。選項二則是Phở Việt，價格合理、好吃、份量多的越南料理！常點的品項是河粉和炒飯，價格大多€13.5起跳，真的是聚餐首選之一與唯一XD 至於最後一個就是各式連鎖的吃到飽餐廳！在芬蘭有許多吃到飽料理，不同於台灣的是，這裡的品項大多是日式壽司與西式熟食，也常有其他國家的料理。雖然不是走精緻路線，但價格卻是相當友善！平日午餐落在€14–15，假日與晚餐也大多不超過€20，所以相對來說其實是一個經濟實惠的選擇。
最後一大常見的飲食選擇就是學生餐廳啦！學餐的組合大多是：一盤沙拉、一個主餐、一個主食、一兩份飲料、麵包。學餐也可以算廣義的吃到飽，不過只能夾一次。只是主食的部分通常沒那麼討喜，通心粉、某種餅、某種醬或泥……偶爾會遇到還不錯吃的就會特別開心哈哈哈！學餐的價格大部分由政府補貼，所以落在一份€2.8–3.2左右，算是非常友善的選擇！
總結來說，回應以複雜度的觀點來看待基本生活所需，從踏入芬蘭的那一刻起，似乎就注定要顛覆我過往的飲食習慣了！從最根本的飲食觀念，到整體市場所提供的食材、外食選擇，處處都與過去充滿了差異與優劣。在我不斷懷念台灣美食的同時，也經歷了一段完整的學習過程，從水土不服到能夠煮出一道道溫飽又讓人喜歡的料理，我想我會非常懷念這段時光的！
€ 生活：以「複雜度」而言：消費
或許是因為語言的隔閡，在這接收的資訊量相對於在台灣減少了許多。不論是在新聞、購物、廣告等等的媒介上，我感覺沒有像以前一樣，被迫接收很多不必要的資訊，甚至最後難以做出選擇。身處異地，許多事情反而變得相對簡單。而本地人就一如往常的生活，或許就如同我在台灣的生活方式。因此在這樣的過程中，我也重新反思資訊的複雜度對於生活的影響。
具體來說，同一類型商品不會有過多浮濫的選擇，促銷活動也不會很複雜，通常都是簡單而粗暴的降價。再加上簡潔的設計風格，廣告不會如此的惹人厭，也不會充滿所有視線，一切就如同配角點綴在生活中。最重要的是，結帳相當的簡單，不會被問會員、載具、集點、什麼Pay…😂 那時候回想在台灣的消費過程，真的覺得怎麼會這麼累。
但從整體消費環境來說，芬蘭的商業活動真的是很不發達。就以台灣來說，也真的是完全無法比較。周邊鄰國如瑞典與丹麥，皆具有很完整的商業發展，不過這當然還是因為歷史與經濟等等的因素所致。總歸來說，還是想強調芬蘭給人一種「簡單、純粹、清淨」的感受，不只是源自於人們的互動，同時也受到整體環境所影響。
然而回歸到最重要的物價之上，當然相對於服務業來說，各類生活用品沒有那麼貴，甚至在一些便宜促銷的店可以輕易找到比台灣便宜很多的東西。不過整體來說因為高額的稅率，物價還是相當高。幾個有趣的現象，鮮奶與奶製品真的相當便宜！以牛奶來說，就是台灣的二分之一到三分之一價格，狂喝！肉製品只要有骨頭的都會便宜許多，據說是歐洲人不喜歡吃有骨頭的肉？！
另外一個是我最喜歡的一點，那就是這邊到處都是二手店！在這愛物惜物的風氣相當盛行，二手店的物品也都會經過很完整的處理，人們也相當接受二手物，因此二手市場的捐贈與購買都非常的流行。最重要的是可以在二手店撈到很多便宜的寶，降低不少財務上的壓力！二手衣物也不會被視為是不乾淨的東西。總之，我見識到了如此完善的物品循環過程，也在其中受惠不少而有所讚嘆。不過我覺得這不容易在台灣複製。民情、氣候、潔淨程度都是一大阻礙吧！所以我就帶回一件二手店買到的雪褲作為紀念囉！
總的來說，雖然對於歐洲生活有很美好的幻想，但實際在這裡生活後，發現很多事情是很實際的。無論是外國人還是本地人，都需要想辦法在這個環境生存下來。而芬蘭給我一個相對來說「簡單」的生活模式。當生活變得單純與簡化之後，我們並沒有失去任何一個必要之物，反而獲得更暢通的思路。
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€ Life: In terms of “complexity”: food and drink
In terms of daily life, I think this is definitely a very important part of the exchange. Finland has given me a very practical lesson on how to approach and get used to a very different way of life from the existing one.
The food in Finland made me rethink about “eating”. In Taiwan, the food choices are very diverse and there are local specialties everywhere. In addition, it is very easy and cheap to buy good food. However, I have to say that three meals was the first big problem I encountered in Finland.
During this time, I was forced to train my cooking skills in order to cook simple and filling dishes. The food in Finland is quite simple and the barrier to eating out is relatively high. So in this situation, eating choices are no longer complicated, and taking care of three meals becomes a necessary and straightforward task. The information is no longer overloaded, so the diet is back to simple and purely physical needs satisfaction.
I would like to introduce the diet of Finland during the exchange from three aspects: self-cooking, eating out, and student cafeteria meal.
At the beginning, it’s really not an exaggeration to say that the way to finish a meal is to go to the supermarket, find bread and microwave food, come back and heat it up, and then finish it hastily. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to find finished food in the supermarket, and it’s usually expensive and bad to eat, so it’s not a long-term solution. Later, Tino helped me find some recipes, and then I was inspired by Yazi’s words: “Find a way to cook for yourself, or you’ll end up in the shape of a loaf of bread 😱” I was really scared from the bottom of my heart.
Anyway, quickly jump to the later days, after a period of exploration and experimentation, there are a few dishes that can be produced steadily! Grilled chicken thighs with honey sauce/spices, Spaghetti with white sauce/red sauce, Roasted potatoes with spices, Cauliflower with shrimp, Salmon potatoes, Roasted vegetables with French spices, Pizza, Rice cooked in a pot (?!) …… There are also a variety of mix and match dishes that come out from time to time! In this process, I can fully appreciate the hard work that goes into each dish, and therefore treasure the food even more (right?).
In fact, when I think about it later, I am grateful for the problems I encountered with the three meals at the beginning, and by chance, I accidentally gained new skills (cooking techniques + shopping at supermarkets many times) and paid more attention to food, from the source of purchase, the cooking process, the ritual of eating, etc. These all form a part of life in the Nordic countries. The food and drink influenced the way of life and even the special way of socializing during that period.
In Finland, eating out is quite easy! Because of the high prices and not many good food XD So basically there are only three main options! One is “SOUP+MORE Vanha Kauppahalli” in the famous Old Market Hall (Vanha Kauppahalli), a wonderful salmon soup! Absolutely a must for first-time visitors to Finland! The second option is Phở Việt, a reasonably priced, tasty and generous portion of Vietnamese food. The most popular items are pho noodles and fried rice, most of which start at €13.50, which is really one of the best and only choices for dinner parties. In Finland, there are a lot of all-you-can-eat restaurants. Unlike Taiwan, most of the items here are Japanese sushi and Western deli food, and there are often dishes from other countries as well. Although it’s not a fine line, the prices are quite friendly! Weekday lunches range from €14–15, and most holidays and dinners are less than €20, so it’s actually a relatively affordable option.
The last common dining option is the student cafeteria. Most of the student meal combinations are: a salad, a main meal, a main course, a drink or two, and bread. The student meal can also be considered as a wide range of all-you-can-eat meal, but only once. It’s just that the main part of the meal is usually less appealing, macaroni, some kind of cake, some kind of sauce or puree …… Occasionally, I’ll be happy when I come across something good to eat HAHAHA! The price of the school meal is mostly subsidized by the government, so it costs around €2.80-€3.20 per serving, which is a very friendly option!
In conclusion, in response to the complexity of the basic necessities of life, from the moment I stepped into Finland, it seems that my old eating habits were destined to be turned upside down. From the fundamental concept of food, to the ingredients offered by the entire market, and the choices of eating out, everything is different from the past and full of advantages and disadvantages. As I continued to miss Taiwanese food, I also went through a complete learning process, from being uncomfortable to being able to cook a warm and enjoyable meal. I think I will miss this time very much!
€ Life: In terms of “complexity”: consumption
Perhaps because of the language barrier, the amount of information I receive here is much less than in Taiwan. Whether in the media of news, shopping, advertising, etc., I don’t feel as forced to receive a lot of unnecessary information as I used to, and I even find it difficult to make a choice in the end. Many things have become relatively simple when I am in a foreign country. The locals are living their lives as usual, perhaps just as I did in Taiwan. So in this process, I also rethought the impact of the complexity of information on my life.
Specifically, there are not too many choices of the same type of product, and promotions are not too complicated, but usually simple and brutal price cuts. With the simple design style, the ads are not so annoying and do not fill all the eyes, everything is like a supporting role in life. The most important thing is that the checkout is quite simple and you will not be asked about membership, invoice, collection points, what Pay… 😂 At that time, when I thought back to the process of shopping in Taiwan, I really felt how to be so tired.
But in terms of the general consumer environment, the business activities in Finland are really very underdeveloped. In terms of Taiwan, it is really not comparable at all. Neighboring countries such as Sweden and Denmark have a very complete commercial development, but of course, this is due to historical and economic factors. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that Finland gives people a “simple, pure and clean” feeling, not only from the interaction of people, but also from the overall environment.
Of course, compared to the service industry, all kinds of daily necessities are not that expensive, and you can even easily find things that are much cheaper than in Taiwan in some cheap promotion stores. But overall, prices are still quite high because of the high tax rate. A few interesting things, fresh milk and dairy products are really cheap! Milk is about one-half to one-third of the price in Taiwan, so drink up! Meat products are much cheaper as long as they have bones.
Another thing I like the most is that there are second-hand stores everywhere! In this area, the culture of loving and cherishing things is quite popular, and the items in the second-hand stores are also very complete, and people are quite accepting of second-hand things, so the second-hand market is very popular for donations and purchases. The most important thing is that you can get a lot of cheap treasure in second-hand stores, reducing the financial pressure! Second-hand clothes are not considered to be unclean things. All in all, I have seen such a perfect recycling process and have benefited a lot from it. But I don’t think it’s easy to replicate in Taiwan. The people, the climate, and the cleanliness are all big obstacles, right? So I brought back a pair of snow pants from a second-hand store as a souvenir.
Generally speaking, although I have very good fantasies about living in Europe, after living here, I found that many things are very practical. No matter foreigners or locals, they all need to find ways to survive in this environment. Finland has given me a relatively “simple” life style. When life becomes simple and streamlined, we don’t lose any of the necessary things, but we gain a clearer way of thinking.
編按：
Pasila/Böle
是我住宿的所在區域，宿舍的旁邊就是赫爾辛基/芬蘭第二大的車站，
與赫爾辛基中央車站僅有一站之差，所有路線的火車都會經過本站。
與車站共構的賣場Mall of Tripla據說是北歐最大的賣場，
基本上所有生活所需都能在這解決。重點是離宿舍僅有三分鐘的路程！