police clearance/ certificate

[BAT]

I am from Canada, married to a Finn and living in Vantaa. As I have posted earlier, I feel very torn between Finland and Canada because they both have positive aspects. In a way I am glad that after living away from my home country for 3 years I can still say it is a great place. A lot of foreigners who now live in Finland much prefer Finland to their home countries.

Canada's climate is better than Finland's - if you are going to be staying in British Columbia or somewhere along the Canada-US border. Go north and you get the same kind of winters as here. It is more multicultural and people are definitley more sociable upon first meeting them. The culture is not exactly the same as in the States, but I think you will enjoy it. Compared to Finland, Canada is dirtier, the infrastructure is not as good, and while going to the doctor or hospital is free, you will need some insurance to help cover full medicine costs, eyeglasses and dentist appointments and treatments. (Your workplace will probalby offer a plan.) So, basically is it socialist, but not as socialist as here in Finland. It is a combination between the capitalism of the US and socialism of Finland.

If you ever end up back in Finland, perhaps a strong social network will help you survive here - it sounds like you were pretty lonely the last time you were here. You know where to find all of us at .

[Hank W.]

yea you are right, arent you waiting for your lottery for usa , how many lotteries you plan to win in one lifetime ( wasnt there one song which mentions being born in finland is like winning a lottery or something)

Yes, well, I just got my flat renovation done and a promise of a promotion (which will pass as usual)... yes, there is a saying to be born in Finland is winning a lottery, but the other thing they forget to mention is that you need to win the lotto to be able to afford to live here. Problem is I am a crofter these days with a cottage soon as well, so packing up and leaving would require a lot of organizing how to get the mortgages paid etc. so I think I just have to continue taking anti-freeze - as you said the H12b and gc in the USA is getting too tight.

BTW what you say about being looked upon like "what the hell are you doing here" the Finns do it even for locals you are from a different town you get the cold shoulder. So its not necessarily personal, they do it to everybody. Instead of "welcome" its rather "nice to see you, when are you leaving? " ... + of course the fact no Finn can comprehend why any sane individual would voluntarily choose Finland, you know as Sweden is so much richer, norway has better salaries... etc. Finns have a thing about national insecurity as well.

Anyhow, good luck. the Canadian immigration interview reportedly might be slightly nasty at times.