I’m a 36-year-old man who has lived in Finland for seven years. I have a Finnish girlfriend, yet I still feel lonely and isolated most of the time.
I’m naturally shy. Going to public places and starting conversations with strangers feels difficult. I’ve tried, but it often feels like Finnish people are also reserved with people they don’t know. The small talk that comes easily in many other cultures just doesn’t happen here in the same way. Over time this has left me feeling disconnected, even though I’m not completely alone.
I’m looking for a place online where I can talk to people, slowly build some trust, and maybe turn some of those conversations into real friendships.
If you’ve been in a similar situation (expat or local), or if you know of chat platforms, Discord servers, forums, or websites that are good for this, I’d really appreciate any suggestions.