Davebub wrote:I am going to move to Finland to get maried to my fiance. I dont know anything about the country yet at all. I have no idea at all what I am getting into yet... aside from many hours of paperwork, a bit of insanity, and a few million headaches. We were going to use the Maraige Visa to bring her here to New York but I have no Family and she has a whole life that she would leave behind. I finally convinced her that she shouldn't have to do that and that I will go to her. I want to know anything no matter how insignificant.
I know that I will have severe culture shock. I realise that I may seam insain for being willing to leave the US to move to Finland but think of it this way .... I wont have to worry about George W. Bush...lol
So if anyone can give me a good place to start... Please do.
Welcome to Finland Forum.
I nearly wet myself laughing at Hank's reply
Seriously though- act in haste, repent in leisure. Finland is a difficult place to live in as a foreigner- I'm from the U.S. too, been here for a total of 4 years with my Finnish husband, speak excellent Finnish, thought I'd had it made, but alas, I changed my mind and look forward to moving back to the U.S. next year. If you do not speak Finnish and are not in IT or somehow connected with a university (job offer or degree studies), the chances of finding work here are drastically decreased unless you either get very lucky or network with the right people, which isn't easy either. Apart from that you must love outdoor sports and living very frugally; otherwise the sense of contentment won't last.
On the other hand, if you are going to get married, it's probably inevitable that you will live in her country sooner or later anyway. Plus if you're hungry for adventure then it would be reasonable to live here for a while and then move back to NYC where there will be more opportunities for both of you.
Don't come here just to escape from Dubya. His face is plastered on every TV channel here anyway and nearly every news bit mentions him "yhdysvaltain presidentti Dzordz Booshin mukaan....." And if you move here, by the time you get your permanent residency permit it'll be the end of his term in office anyway.
You ask about the economy: you will hear different truths depending on whom you talk to, but many agree that the economy is in a sort of perpetual recession. However if you come here to study at the university or polytechnic, that could be a sensible option.
Anyway, good luck!
Former expat in Finland, now living in New Hampshire USA.
