The article ends on a sour-ish note, that Finland lost its lustre for him because "I like it when people smile, laugh, and, yes, even talk to their neighbors. It makes me happy." Well, these things happen in Finland too, and increasingly so as the 20th century recedes into the distance. But the extroverted cheerfulness is not forced. Maybe the author had been Americanized into trying too hard ? Granted, out-and-out enthusiasm is an odd thing in Finland; the folk wisdom seems to be that "If you're enthusiastic, you obviously haven't thought it through." Which makes sense in its own way.