The number of inhabitants, territorial surface, neighboring countries, government system, and some other geographical characteristics is what we usually learn about a country when we study it at school or do a quick search in an encyclopedia. However, behind those numbers lies something that makes each and every country fascinating: its very own culture, habits, and customs. These are often very different from ours, which is why we’re so amazed when reading stories from thousands of kilometers away.
This small northern country has topped the rankings of the world’s happiest countries for many years. Local people don’t try to impress others with luxury outfits or fast cars. At the same time, they know how to take care of each other and nature.
Hygge, endless snowy forests, long nights — we thought we knew everything about Finland. But this northern country has its own secrets that only people who have been there or lived in the country know about. Did you know that they don’t use sponges to do the dishes, they wash their carpets in rivers, and they can be fined for taking out someone else’s trash?
Finland’s education system is considered one of the best in the world. In international ratings, it’s always in the top ten. However, the authorities there aren’t ready to rest on their laurels, and they’ve decided to carry through a real revolution in their school system.Finnish officials want to remove school subjects from the curriculum. There will no longer be any classes in physics, math, literature, history, or geography.The head of the Department of Education in Helsinki, Marjo Kyllonen, explained the changes:“There are schools that are teaching in the old-fashioned way which was of benefit in the beginning of the 1900s — but the needs are not the same, and we need something fit for the 21st century.”Instead of individual subjects, students will study events and phenomena in an interdisciplinary format. For example, the Second World War will be examined from the perspective of history, geography, and math. And by taking the course “Working in a Cafe,” students will absorb a whole body of knowledge about the English language, economics, and communication skills.This system will be introduced for senior students, beginning at the age of 16. The general idea is that the students ought to choose for themselves which topic or phenomenon they want to study, bearing in mind their ambitions for the future and their capabilities. In this way, no student will have to pass through an entire course on physics or chemistry while all the time thinking to themselves “What do I need to know this for?”The traditional format of teacher-pupil communication is also going to change. Students will no longer sit behind school desks and wait anxiously to be called upon to answer a question. Instead, they will work together in small groups to discuss problems.The Finnish education system encourages collective work, which is why the changes will also affect teachers. The school reform will require a great deal of cooperation between teachers of different subjects. Around 70% of teachers in Helsinki have already undertaken preparatory work in line with the new system for presenting information, and, as a result, they’ll get a pay increase.The changes are expected to be complete by 2020.What do you think about all these ideas? We’d love to hear your opinion, so let us know in the comments.
When searching for ways to move on from an ex, we’re inundated with countless suggestions: processing our feelings, discussing them with friends and family, analyzing the relationship’s failures, and staying active. Everyone deals with heartbreak in their unique way and on their schedule. The San Antonio Zoo introduced an unusual method to aid in our recovery from a breakup — transforming our exes into crunchy treats.
Picture a ghost town: abandoned buildings covered in graffiti, rusting remains of cars, cracks in the roads. And now add to that a thick blanket of black smoke coming from under the ground. And the ground itself is hot to the touch. You’re entering Centralia, Pennsylvania. Centralia used to be a lively place during the 1800s and up to the 1960s: its rich coal mines attracted a lot of people to work and live there. But in 1962, one of those mines accidentally caught fire, which started to spread underground. Coal is a slowly burning fuel, so the citizens continued to live peacefully for almost another two decades. Until the fire began to undermine the town.
No doors, no stopping. Who could’ve thought these 4 words perfectly describe ...an elevator? How d’you go out of the cabin if it never stops, d’you jump out of it? Welp, sort of. Meet paternoster also known as the paternoster lift — a highly questionable invention intended for making it comfortable to reach even the highest floors.
This is Starbuck Island in the middle of the Pacific, near French Polynesia. Even if the name brings to mind a strong coffee smell, you will find no Frappuccino there — the island is uninhabited. It’s also pretty tiny — just 5 and a half miles east-to-west and about two miles north-to-south. The island is so small, NYC [300 square miles] could fit in 18 such islands [4,003 acres = 6.25 square miles]. Seems like there can be zero interesting things, but... Google maps have something to surprise you.
School is undoubtedly one of the places that mark our existence. In it, we learn much of the knowledge that guides our lives. However, if we wanted to learn everything that exists in this world, we would need a lifetime in the classroom. The world is so vast and enigmatic that even when we think we know everything, there are 10 more things that we had no idea about.We at Bright Side were able to collect curious and interesting facts that you probably weren’t aware of. So we want you to put your intellect to the test with this list and tell us at the end how many of these cool facts blew your mind.
If you thought your love for coffee was echoed around the world, you are only partially correct. While many prefer coffee as their daily wake-up cuppa, the world’s most consumed beverage, aside from water, is tea. So while that’s just one interesting fact about coffee, there are plenty more surprising things that may make you look at your coffee a little differently.
Happiness can’t be measured, but somehow scientists managed to reassure us. By conducting experiments and surveys, the big brains found some small things that you could never have imagined could be the signs of a happy person.
Humans have always been inventive when it came to their survival. For example, a floor with heating was invented more than 7,000 years ago and now the Swedes are successfully using internet technologies to warm themselves up in their modern houses.
Cult movie images stay in our minds for a long time. Moreover, if a historical character appears on the screen, viewers become sure that this is how that person looked in real life. For example, thanks to cinematography many people are sure that Vikings were true savages who didn’t bathe and who braided their hair.
“Miss Universe” is one of the most prestigious beauty contests in the world. It’s been conducted since 1952 and is a part of the Big Four international beauty pageants, along with “Miss World,” “Miss International,” and “Miss Earth.”
Countries like Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Iceland often rank high on lists of countries where people feel the happiest and most satisfied with their lives. For example, these countries have always been in the top ten in the World Happiness Report since it was first published in 2013. This can’t be a coincidence, and there’s definitely something special about them that makes them stand out from the rest of the world.
When visiting a new country, we are often really surprised by the local traditions, languages, or other everyday things. The surprises can be pleasant and not so pleasant, but they are always a part of visiting new places.
Finland is a country located in Northern Europe and is known for its beautiful and bucolic landscapes as well as its rich culture. But there’s nothing better than some locals and a few well-informed tourists to reveal what it’s really like to live there. After all, they’re the experts, right? Without a doubt, many things Finnish people are used to doing in their daily life could seem strange to us. Imagine spotting some dude dragging a prop reindeer on the street or finding some of these animals alive and kicking during your evening walk. Well, there you go, that’s Finland.
Sometimes buildings, whether they’re old or new, hide their own secrets. We can be walking by them every day and not know about the unique features of this or that house. However, learning about them is actually fascinating, because these hidden details often tell the most interesting stories.
Going on a trip abroad, we naturally expect to come across things and customs that differ from what we’re used to. Some tourists even read forums and guidebooks to prepare in advance. Still, at times, all of us have had travel experiences so weird, they leave us open-mouthed!
Finland, a place where punctual and hardworking people live, has taken first place in the ranking of the happiest countries in the world. It’s a small northern country where patriotism is popular, where 99% of the population goes to a sauna at least once a week, and where deer roam freely along the streets of small cities.
There are many stories of people who won the lottery and enjoyed a free and careless life for some time and then cursed the day they bought their lucky ticket. Many people who have never won the lottery can’t always comprehend why those who did don’t just relax for the rest of their days. What’s even harder to understand is how those people make the choice to go to work when they don’t even need the money. Basic income experiments in different countries were carried out to determine what people would do if they received enough money to cover their basic expenses. As it turns out, people who receive money for nothing end up working even harder.
The restaurant business went beyond just organizing meals a long time ago. In their attempts to surprise and delight their visitors, restaurant owners choose interesting locations like inside mountains, at the bottom of the ocean, and even in ice castles. Having meals in these places is not just about eating, but also getting a unique experience that can't be compared with just visiting the cafe around the corner.
What pictures do you have in your mind when you think about the Scandinavian countries? Fjords? IKEA furniture? Vikings? This article will prove that we don’t know the Scandinavians that well. They are insane! In a good way, of course.
According to studies, schoolchildren in Finland are among the best pupils in the world. They spend less time in school than kids in other countries, and the amount of time spent on homework is a maximum of 30 minutes per day. Bright Side will reveal to you the secret of education in Finland which is admired all around the world.
Child psychologists have long argued that changing the approach we take to education would help many children learn to love school rather than hate it. We’ve all heard pre-schoolers talk about how they can’t wait to sit at their school desk and run to their next lesson with their rucksack over their shoulder. In fact, we probably remember that feeling of excitement ourselves the first time we went. But right from the first days of school, many children feel a huge sense of disappointment with what they encounter.
