Asher, I think that is both the stereotype of a Finn and the being we have been told we are. If you are to believe the papers and tv, we are a) very shy, b) extremely concerned to know how other people see us, c) hate small talk, d) love alcohol and sauna. I, or many of the people I know either by friendship, education or occupation do not fall into any of those categories, with the exception of probably d). Sure, we do not enjoy small talk but that does not make us rude or shy (which is what many foreigners think at a first glance). An American I happen to know once told me that he was told the Finns are cold and unfriendly. After having spent some time here he said he had found the opposite to be true. We are a relatively large country with very long distances and small population, so I suppose "nice weather today" was not probable not the first thing Finns of the old thought first when encountering a stranger, lol! And many of us are greatly proud of Esa-Pekka Salonen and even more of our National hockey team, of which I prefer the first.