Move to Oulu?

[tundu]

Hi, been living in south finland for almost 8 months and now have got a chance to move to Oulu. Will you guys recommend it - obvious things are little isolated, colder weather etc. Any personal experiences? Thanks.

[nidhal]

Hi! well i have been there 3 times! it´s not the best place to live small city, they do have racisme many local people there think their self the best in this world but any way wish to u the best luck

[onkko]

Oulu small city
small city
Ok never lived there just visited so i cant comment more than than

Oulun väkiluku oli2008-07-31 31. heinäkuuta 2008 132 089 asukasta[2] ja sen pinta-ala on maanmittauslaitoksen 2008-01-01 1. tammikuuta 2008 tehtyjen mittausten mukaan 449,53 km², josta 369,20 km² on maata, 10,96 km² sisävesialueita ja loput 69,37 km² merivesialueita.

vs

Kemijärvi (inarinsaameksi Kemijävri, pohjoissaameksi Giemajávri) on Suomen kaupunki, joka sijaitsee Lapin maakunnan kaakkoisosassa, Lapin läänissä. Kaupungissa asuu 8 748 ihmistä[2] ja sen pinta-ala on 3 931,44 km2, josta 426,78 km2 on vesistöjä[1]. Väestötiheys on 2,5 asukasta/km2.
Kemijärvi on Suomen pohjoisin kaupunki.

[cressers]

I lived there for a few years, and liked it.

It is small. The population is large, but the centre of the city is small given this figure.

You get to know a lot of people and there is always something going on. You are close to the ski resorts in winter and cabins/lakes etc are all within easy reach.

[Pursuivant]

Hi, been living in south finland for almost 8 months and now have got a chance to move to Oulu.

I also once had a chance of suicide but I decided to sell the piece of rope...

[nismo]

Well, it depends a lot on what you want from the place you are living in. You offer no background as to your likes and wants or ambitions in life. Personally, I've been here around 9 years, and I wouldn't move south if I can help it. The city has a good size population, but it never feels overcrowded or unmanageable, and it's easy to get around by car, bike, mopo, walking etc. I've always managed to find what I need in the city or the surrounding areas, and it's a very easy going place, haven't noticed any of the racism noted in a previous post (I worked for 2 years in the same building where foreigners of all descriptions have their Finnish lessons). The drivers are utter crap, wish they'd f$£%';# learn to indicate before they start braking, and there's not really a lot to see around this area if you're into tourism, you can only go to Lumi Linna so many times , the skiing tracks are plentiful in winter, rollerblading all summer, or whatever it is they do now. I guess I've lived here so long that my needs have changed and maybe I've become accustomed to a slower pace of life. Winter can be harsh, but the last couple have been really mild, mostly wet. The darkness in winter can be difficult to adjust to, as can the light in summer. First couple of years are not so bad as it's still a new phenomenon, these days, I'm just like everyone else in winter, and it's no understatement. Wonder how those further north still manage. Oh, almost forgot, travelling from here is a right pain. If you want to get to anywhere, except Ikea, you usually have to go to Helsinki anyway, and for me that's 3 flights to England.

Having said all this, I would buy that rope from Pursuivant if I had to move to Helsinki, or even worse, Espoo.

Do you have any hobbies that would be difficult to continue if you moved to Oulu? How about special needs? Anything you would miss terribly from wherever you are now?

[hackoff]

i lived there for two years i did like it ! you can reach all point in the city easily with a bike ....

[rob34]

I liked Oulu when I visited it in winter.

At least they had freakin snow on the ground before november.

[Karhunkoski]

It can smell a bit up there sometimes, but seems an ok place.

[tundu]

Hi,

Thanks for all your inputs; glad to see there arent any strong negative answers, thats good. Thanks nismo for your detailed answer, as you have lived there long enough.

Why am I considering a move...just for a change, also gives me a chance to work on some interesting things. Only thing I miss is the year-round sunshine back home - from that perspective, I dont think I will miss anything more in Oulu than here. Anyways, I expect to be here only few more years, so its a not as big a choice as where I want to settle down, so its ok. I did consider the traveling part, but then again, you travel twice an yr - in summer and winter, its not an everyday problem.

Now, I gotta think

[kb2000]

I was living there for over 5 years. Regarding racism, I don't see much difference between capital area and oulu. Housing cost is much cheaper, overall it is a nice quiet place to live. But still I wouldn't recommend the place for any working&non finnish speaking immigrant. Basically the job prospects are very limited and there is a risk that you will get stuck in the same job.