The Grand Prize of the World Nature Photographer Awards (WNPA) this year has been awarded to British photographer Tracey Lund for her image of two underwater gannets fighting for a fish off the coast of the Shetland Islands.
12.03.2024 - 00:53 / insider.com
Finland has been dubbed the world's happiest country for six consecutive years by the World Happiness Report.
But happiness in Finland doesn't mean everyone is smiling from ear to ear or that there's a carnival atmosphere on every street. The Nordic nation enjoys policy-based happiness from high-quality democracy and supportive public institutions.
While I lived in Finland for school from 2016 to 2019, it became very clear to me how much policies and the government had helped the country hold its happiness reign.
For starters, people in Finland generally have a high sense of trust in their neighbors, and I felt that even as an international student.
I didn't worry about whether strangers on the street had malicious intentions toward me, and I felt like I could express my political opinions (positive or negative) freely without the burden of self-censorship or backlash.
People also seemed to have a lot of trust in their local politicians, and I thought the election cycles were fair and pretty peaceful while I was there.
Because I started school in 2016, I was grandfathered into the country's free education for domestic and international students. After a policy change in 2017, non-European Union students under certain circumstances may have to pay tuition fees, which vary depending on the school.
Not having to pay for school was a huge weight off my back, but I still had to find a way to pay my costs of living.
I was a bit worried about finding work when I arrived — especially since I wasn't fluent in Finnish. But I got a job at a restaurant that gave me enough money to live on.
As a foreign student, I paid about 200 euros a year for a fairly comprehensive private health-insurance plan. But I also received free occupational healthcare through my employer, which ended up covering my doctor visits for joint pain, general sickness, ear-wax removal, and counseling sessions.
And I experienced all those financial benefits as an expat.
I think the key element behind Finnish happiness is its extensive welfare policy, which covers many basic necessities from "cradle to grave" and offers residents a heightened sense of security.
Because of this support from public institutions, Finns enjoy free healthcare and free education from elementary school through college, among other benefits.
Even working a service job, I had automatic deductions for pension and unemployment benefits from every paycheck that went to these publicly funded programs.
I think the lesson is that individuals should not be solely responsible for their happiness. The state and policymakers play a pivotal role in building a happy society.
The Grand Prize of the World Nature Photographer Awards (WNPA) this year has been awarded to British photographer Tracey Lund for her image of two underwater gannets fighting for a fish off the coast of the Shetland Islands.
Thinking of visiting China, India, or Venezuela this year with a US passport? Not so fast — or at least not before securing a visa. Some of the best wonders of the world require US citizens to obtain a visa before take-off, an inconvenience in planning that long-awaited international getaway.
The best time to visit Finland can vary because every season in the Nordic country brings a different kind of charm. If you're seeking sunlight, the sun barely sets in the summers, whereas winters are your best bet at catching a glimpse of the northern lights dancing in the skies. In autumn, Finland is bathed in shades of crimson and gold, and the springtime is temperate and green. The best time to visit Finland depends on what lighting excites you the most: 24/7 daylight, or the neon green aurora borealis against the night skies? Here’s a quick guide to the best time to visit Finland.
It's not often that we think of how polluted somewhere is when we plan our travels—but data in the 2023 World Air Quality report by IQAir reveals that the air quality of some common holiday destinations might make us rethink.
Nightjet sleeper trains have a new mini cabin, perfect for solo travelers or those wanting privacy.
A recent study into expat happiness around the world saw Old World great Spain dominate the rankings.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Akso Heart, who attended Visit Finland's happiness masterclass. The course was meant to teach foreigners how to be happy like the Finns and was paid for by the country. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
In February, I finally checked off one of my top bucket list items — seeing the aurora borealis, better known as the northern lights.
Finland has done it again. The 2024 World Happiness Report is out, and for the seventh year in a row, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world.
Finland is consistently ranked as the world's happiest country, thanks to factors including a great work-life balance and internationally renowned healthcare.
Spain is proposing a short-haul flight ban for routes where a train journey is possible under 2.5 hours. It's a similar proposal to the one that France has enshrined in law. As many EU countries try to reach ambitious 2050 climate targets, many are making similar moves to discourage flying and encourage train travel.
The Scotland-based company Slow Adventure advocates a more mindful approach to activity holidays. Options include climbing and yoga in the Italian Alps, mountain biking in Sweden and horse riding and rambling in Iceland. On the Finnish Happiness trip, guests stay in log cabins by a lake in Lapland and activities include canoeing under the midnight sun, hiking, swimming, swamp foraging and daily saunas. On all trips, 5% of the fee goes to local conservation projects, which in Finland could mean helping protect the rare Saimaa ringed seal, preserving forests or supporting a children’s environmental charity.From £876 for five nights, slow-adventure.com