Here are some hints how to go on about when meeting Finns:

Some Generalities to keep in mind when in Finland.

When are the Finnish Hollidays and what is good to know about them.

Things that might be good to know about Finnish cuisine and some food.

What is good for the Finnish soul, Sauna.

Some useful Links

You are welcome to read my Blog abut things happening right now in Finland. About all the funny, peculiar and strange things and customs I come across living here in this country and maybe even a philosophical moment of enlightenment I experience now and then.

Awkward silence or small-talk
Finns notoriously lack the ability of small-talk.
Small-talk is by Finns considered suspicious and not valuable  in any other way than as a waste of time and the Finns are prone to get straight to the point in the conversation as the Finns are saving time for better and nicer things later. “Business first, pleasure later”.
If you have nothing important to say you can stay quiet. The silence in the conversation is not necessarily awkward, only time to think of what next to say and thus regarded as an important part of the conversation itself.
It is not necessary to speak all the time and good friends sometimes spend time together just sitting silently together without saying anything.  Just spending some quality time together.

What best not to talk about
To best get by in social life in Finland some topics are taboo to talk about.
Commonly you are not to discuss politics, religion or to ask people how much they earn or tell them how much you paid taxes last year.
Bragging is also considered as no good. The Finns usually consider the words spoken the same no matter when or where they were said. And they will remember you said it once, what ever it was, years ago!

Keep your promises
As the spoken words are considered as important as the written, the Finns might have difficulties to understand the way of saying “Let’s do lunch next week” or “I’ll call you” as a compliment.
The Finns are expecting you to call and make an appointment to that lunch next week you talked about. Do not waste your words and loose your credibility!

Compliments
Compliments are considered customary but they should also be truthful. So If you are paying a compliment, tell the truth, don’t overdo it with sugar-coating or lies.
Too much flattery or “sweet talk” is considered as rude, and people begin to wonder what you really want from them. 

Ask if not sure
If you’re not sure about something, do not be afraid to ask.
It is always better to ask in advance about anything you do not understand than to be sorry afterwards that you did not ask. Asking does not necessarily mean that you are stupid, you might just be genuinely interested showing it by asking for more details.
But don’t be rude and interrupt any other person speaking.
 
Foul language
In general cursing and foul language is not considered appropriate. People who use foul language are considered rude and uncultured. Some swear words are sometimes in their place to be used, but make sure you use them sparingly and in the right context and company, if at all.
Like the hip-hop culture for instance, cursing is considered to be appropriate but not  at some business-meeting or dinner-party.