Culture shock

People say, that drinking culture in Finland is a bit different from other countries: Some cultures connect “social drinking” to one or two drinks - quite a difference from traditional Finnish partying!  This might come as a shock. The adjustment process can lead to some questioning of one’s self and self-doubt. “My drinking habits have changed, Am I becoming an alcoholic?” or “ I’m not drinking so much, but drinking much differently than I would if I were in my home country”. It can get confusing, stressful and also add more pressure to one’s social environment.

Here we have gathered some tests to help you gauge yourself partying, so to speak. These tests have been used and tested effective in various countries so they are proven to be multi-culturally sensitive. They are anonymous and generate feedback to better help you format your opinions about your usage.

No matter where we are from we all have different cultural baggage  which we’re carrying around. Depending on us, these differences can lead to stress and uncertainty about our place in this new environment, especially in a social context. It’s important to socially connect with our new home, the process of blending in however may be tougher than expected and can potentially lead to problems connected with alcohol or drug use. Being aware of the cultural differences however is half the battle to adjustment.