Early planning: tips?

[Laulena]

But then your choices of universities go down.. :/ (if you want to study here) not to mention your pick of employment. (If you can call it that). "It's cheaper for a reason"

These days, if some places see you with a 'western surname' they just trash your resumé.

The more and more I look into it, the more I would like to get my Master's in Finland. I think it would be imperative, almost, for job purposes. I am a little sad to hear about the surname bit. Although, there's nothing stopping me from changing it here in the US before we leave, haha! What kind of western surnames are cliché over there? I have one of the most "western" last names on the planet.....

[Kutittaa]

It IS imperative.

[Laulena]

It IS imperative.

Alright then. My focus will be finding the right city/university then.

[gfunho]

Quick question; you said the same cultural opportunities. What exactly does this mean? I realize the capital will be more... international? I suppose that is a decent word to use. If this is what you meant, it's not much of a concern for me. Perhaps I am just a boring person

I meant restaurants that are not gas stations or cinema options that are not renting a dvd in your candy store.

[Laulena]

I meant restaurants that are not gas stations or cinema options that are not renting a dvd in your candy store.

Is it really that "bad" outside of Helsinki? I mean, I realize more rural places will be, but what about other major cities?

[Upphew]

I meant restaurants that are not gas stations or cinema options that are not renting a dvd in your candy store.

Is it really that "bad" outside of Helsinki? I mean, I realize more rural places will be, but what about other major cities?

Nah, not that bad, but when you talk about sub 50k population, the selection of things do get smallish... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Fi ... population
And even some "bigger" cities are not so big in reality, eg. Kouvola...

[Laulena]

Thanks! I was born and raised in a small town and now live in a major metropolitan city so I have a vague frame of reference for the differences. Although, not saying that Finnish cities won't have their own uniqueness - just sayin'. He had me worried for a sec, is all, that somewhere say like Vaasa is a ghost town.

[browndude]

I have one of the most "western" last names on the planet.....

Is it "Smith" by any chance? My personal opinion is that the best city for a foreigner to initially move to is Helsinki. Cities with Universities such as Tampere, Oulu and Jyväskylä will also be more multicultural. It will be a relatively smoother transition than somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Finland. If and when you are sufficiently well adjusted to the Finnish way of life (Sauna, Beer, and boiled potatoes for breakfast, lunch and dinner ) then you can move anywhere you want.

[ajl]

boiled potatoes for breakfast

porridge, not potatoes

[sinikala]

Thanks! I was born and raised in a small town and now live in a major metropolitan city so I have a vague frame of reference for the differences. Although, not saying that Finnish cities won't have their own uniqueness - just sayin'. He had me worried for a sec, is all, that somewhere say like Vaasa is a ghost town.

I stopped in Vaasa once on the way up to Kokkola, around April time, middle of the week, middle of the day... it was deserted, as dead as a doornail.