Quote:You are often lumped together with the Scandinavian countries because you're "up there" and next to them. What are the main differences apart from the language when it comes to culture, mentality, etc.?
I guess we are relatively more conservative than the other Nordic countries. We still share more or less the same values and our states are modeled almost identically. There are plenty of small differences though.
Quote:Why do you think your schools are so successful?
I think the main reason for our success is the system which emphasizes equal opportunity instead of competition. It heavily favors pupils with learning difficulties, which might be harmful for exceptionally smart kids who are held back, but for society as whole it seems to work. It also stresses on finding out what you're good at instead of pressuring you to be the best. Teaching is also a prestigious and popular profession here.
