Now that the subject of tourists has been scratched:
I can spot an American tourist a klick away. (Finns don't use miles
)
Those middle-income-middle-aged morons without their kids (probably already in college) who are actually afraid to test any food that isn't McCrap (we have several McDons in Helsinki) and won't even test a genuine woodheated sauna, are so obvious.
Their clothing is wery much last decade and their hair, too.
How do I recognize them? I spent 10 months as an exchange student in L.A (west San Fernando valley) back in -93-94
Very easy to pick in a crowd.
In September my Area Representative Phil came to Finland for one of his old excange student's wedding. We were walking around downtown Helsinki and suddenly he picked out a family at one market. We ALL knew IMMEDIATELY that they were Americans. Phil went to talk to them to see where exactly they were form and YES they were from L.A.
No, I'm NOT saying anything bad about a generic American, I'm just emphasizing the point that Americans are very easily recognized.
I have always (since the age of about 10) been very careful to speak accentless English. I know it's not perfect, but last year I was amazed that an American man told me in a game console convention in England that after I'd had a few servings of alcohol I basically didn't have an accent anymore. I was very proud of myself.
I doubt that any of you have heard a "normal" Finn speaking english, but at least to me it's the WORST accent.
An English speaking Swede is pretty funny, too. (long story, but a lot of my friends agree)