[ahje]

> In Finland, more likely than not you can complete exactly the same transaction without either party saying a word.

I don't think I've ever paid for a purchase without being told what the total is or being asked if I would like a receit.

Like ever.

[stevekemp]

Yeah the receipt thing is a little surprising, as a foreigner. Literally everybody reads out the total, and asks if you want one. Most of the time I say no, but sometimes I want one.

I started to feel a bit more relaxed when I could go to the corner-shop and buy food without having to understand much Finnish, and the constant repetition helped me learn my numbers.

(Now and again a staff-member will confuse me by asking "Would you like anything else?" or "Is that all?" which throws me off. The only other questions I expect to be asked are "Would you like a bag?" or "Do you have a store-card?".)

[jpatokal]

True, they will usually tell you the total cost. Amended.