Sounds to me like the old ghosts of the "Jante Law" might be alive and well in Finland, as well... in Denmark, I was very much raised with the whole "Nobody likes someone who brags about themselves!" attitude... and that being "non-descript" was the appropriate way to conduct yourself in life.

Living in the US for 30+ years has certainly done a lot to help me let go of those old values... at least to some extent. But the old ghosts still whisper, from time to time: "Don't for a moment think you're anything special, because you're not..."