I am a recent graduate of Scottish university and I am researching now a possibility for me to move to Turku to continue my studies, as it is one of the not many universities that seem to do some research in the stuff I am interested in. Also, I am really fed up of living in the country that does not have proper winters, as I LOVE winter, so moving to Scandinavia was the idea I was toying in my mind for some time now and therefore if there is realistic opportunity for me to do so, I would really like to go for it.
I am doing quite well in gathering information about procedures and other stuff related to the university side of the things, as my friend just went through the process and got accepted as a paid researcher (and it is mainly him who is encouraging me to do the same) but since he is not there yet, I don't have first hand informations about practicalites related to everyday stuff. So I hope you could spare a few minutes and help me with this, even if the most of my questions will relate to the stuff that is obvious for you.
My friend who got accepted there was offered a paid position with the salary of about 2200... Let assume I will be accepted (i did not applied yet, as I would like to be sure about everything before) and I will be offered similar position. I would then like to ask you if under my circumstances should I consider it at all, or if it is not the best idea.
Question 1: Real costs of living. I saw on this forum a very diversed advice - some say that person can survive on as little as 560 and some say that it is 1500 that you need to have a life on a minimally comfortable level... In both cases the post I found were a bit old, so I would like to ask you what would be the reasonable amount to consider my minimum if I don't have too high expectation - just some small flat for me and my partner (we don't really need much, currently we are living in studio flat and we are managing all right, although we could do with a little more space). From what I understand PhD students can count on some financial assistance when it comes to accomodation so that would probably help. We don't eat too fancy food or go clubbing, we rarely go to the pub or dine outside and in free time we just like to cycle or go camping which, as from what I understand camping laws are very silmilar to Scottish ones allowing you to camp "in the wild", should not be too expensive. From what I see on the internet prices of food and fuel are similar or slightly lower than in Scotland... And if I am right, the heating costs are usually included in the price of the flat, I hope I am right on this (as with my heating bill I currently pay in mild Scottish winter, I dread to think I would have to heat my flat when there is -30 outside)
So: in worst scenario: will 2000 euro be enough to keep two people from starving if everything else fails?Question 2: Earning opportunities. From what I see in that forum the job situation is not encouraging. My partner is an experienced worker in the international logistics environment. She is fluent in Italian and Polish, has very good English, good Russian and some Ukrainian. Sadly none of us speaks any Finnish. Will she have any chance of some better job, or it will be only unskilled jobs for her (and, as I understand its is not easy for the latter as well)?.
As for me, during my studies in UK i was helping myself working as free lance journalist and translator but majority of my income was from driving. I still can do some translations and writing over the web, but I doubt it would be any significant income for me, so I would rather look into the other direction: I have been driving trucks and vans on casual basis or full time during my gap year and holidays. I am originally from the country that has proper winters and I've been driving in Alps and in Norway under winter conditions for my work so I would dare I am a bit better than your average Briton when it comes to snow driving. Would I have a chance to earn some extra pocket money doing casual driving etc.? Are there agencies that supply substitute drivers to transport companies in Finland that could offer an odd day or two of work here and there?
Question 3: So how it is with the language? I know it is the hard language, but according to this: http://i2.wp.com/claritaslux.com/blog/i ... guages.jpg I am already fluent in the only language considered more difficult than Finnish, so I hope will be all right
. I saw in that forum that some say they were able to get some work in Finnish environment after less than a year of learning it, some still struggle after 10 years... Are there intensive courses available, so the one can, say, spent several weeks learning it full time? Is it expensive?Question 4: I have a certain car of rare make, and I really like it. Apart of that the car is still of significant value (at least at my level of wealth), it has a big sentimental value to me and I would like to keep it. The car, being bought in Scotland, is RHD. It is not the problem for me to drive RHD car in Europe as I was doing it for many years for my work, and from I found the European laws say that I should be able to register it in other EU country when moving there. From what I found on the internet the only two countries who refuese to reguster such cars are Lithuania and Poland, and the Brussels is not very happy of it. Off course not all EU countries accept RHD cars on "free for all" basis and usually it is in a way of granting exceptions for someone who moves to this country to become it's resident from UK or Ireland (or Malta
). Would that procedure be complicated in Finland (of course I know I would have to change headlights and move rear foglight to the left) and wouldn't be there any other troubles, for example prohibitive insurance prices?I hope my questions are not too silly and some of you could help me to make my mind and advice if I should consider that move, or just forget it before I waste any more time pursuing an unrealistic idea. Thanks.
I am glad to hear that it is much better in Finland on that front. 
...I hope Turku would be more cycle friendly than Glasgow... 
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