moving to Finland from US

2boys · Post by **2boys** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:14 pm

My family and I will be moving to Finland from Texas in April of this year. I have 2 boys, 25 months and 11 months. I was looking for suggestions on neighborhoods to live in around the greater Helsinki area (very family friendly, safe, parks, etc.). We will be leasing an apartment. Thanks in advance!

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Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:25 pm

Well, I'd ask myself where the company is located. Then find a place located conveniently. See now in Finland you do not "drive to places" (gas costin 6 bucks a gallon) you want a well-equipped hood (spent ever 1 hour scratcing your ride out of the snow) and this is a different country, like... especially from tejas where you only get steers and...

You a nookieman? Nookie not give relocation package?

Xochiquetzal · Post by **Xochiquetzal** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:33 pm

Finnish cities are not arranged like American cities. There are no 'slum' areas - a low income housing will be right next to a million dollar complex. So really, the only thing to avoid *in general* is a high rise apartment complex that is more than 20 years old.

If you want an international feel, I would recommend the City of Espoo - any of its suburbs (though you'd probably want to be as East as possible). That seems to be where many, if not most, Americans end up

2boys · Post by **2boys** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:41 pm

We actually thought of Espoo, but wanted to live downtown and get by without a car...yes I know gas is VERY pricey! We visited the city in December and I was impressed with the atmosphere Helsinki offers. Just wanted to get suggestions from families that have been living there for a while.

scoobymcdoo · Post by **scoobymcdoo** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:59 pm

We live in Espoo and love it. We have one car that DP uses for work, I just use the buses. We have a local supermarket 5 mins from the house and a large (prob not by American standards) shopping mall 10 mins away. I love the fact that there is a forest just behind our house with floodlit trails running through it. I have 2 great swimming pools near by, a beach 3 miles away etc etc. Helsinki is only 20 minutes away by bus (and buses are free if you have a pushchair)!

It is hardly 'living in the sticks'!

Hannah

PS If your wife wants to join us for our weekly mums meet up, then she is more than welcome.

2boys · Post by **2boys** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 11:03 pm

Thanks...do you think it is possible to live in Espoo and get by without a car? We have heard you need to have an auto if you plan to live in Espoo.

scoobymcdoo · Post by **scoobymcdoo** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 11:10 pm

I manage every day without a car, but for a weekly grocery shop I would need one, but then you would in Helsinki too.

Also, a majority of the shops here are shut on Sundays most of the year so you need to think about what you might want to do on a sunday. We tend to drive out to the country or down to the beach.

Hannah

Post by **neil** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:32 am

You will save a lot of money by not having a car, so consider taking a taxi home once a week with all the groceries.

But remember you can import a car tax free when you move to Finland (provided you have owned it 6 months or longer prior to moving here).

enk · Post by **enk** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:16 am

2boys wrote:Thanks...do you think it is possible to live in Espoo and get by without a car? We have heard you need to have an auto if you plan to live in Espoo.

Not unless you want to get around in Espoo as Espoo's internal
transportation system stinks nowadays. But if you live along
Länsiväylä or the train line, you can get anywhere in the capital
area easily.

-enk

2boys · Post by **2boys** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 5:25 pm

Can you ride both the bus and metro for free with a stroller?

Mark I. · Post by **Mark I.** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:03 pm

2boys wrote:Can you ride both the bus and metro for free with a stroller?

Yes.

That reminds me of stories about (older) women getting free rides by pushing baby carriages with a doll inside.

Well, some people ride free all the time in trams and metro...

2boys · Post by **2boys** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:34 pm

Thanks for all the information...what about things I should stock up on and bring over? On the message boards I have read people miss peanut butter, cake mixes, and infant tylenol? Anything else?

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:47 pm

customer service?

podzap · Post by **podzap** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:11 pm

2boys wrote:Thanks...do you think it is possible to live in Espoo and get by without a car? We have heard you need to have an auto if you plan to live in Espoo.

If you get an apartment in Tapiola, like I used to have, then you absolutely do not need a car. There is a shopping center right there, as well as a place where tens of buses come per hour and go straight into Helsinki center.

Here are a few current apartment listings in Tapiola:

http://kuluttaja.etuovi.com/crometapp/p ... mcmd=move9

http://kuluttaja.etuovi.com/crometapp/p ... mcmd=move4

soledad · Post by **soledad** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:11 pm

Stuff to bring to Finland? Decent hot sauces, and corn tortillas of course. Can't get em, and Tabasco does not count as hot sauce selection.

(btw just got to the boards, trying to figure the paperwork they'll need for a TX-Finn marriage..)

One otehr thing: public transport works quite well. So it is definitely good if you live in an area with good transport like train or underground.

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