DREAMING OF FINLAND!!!! Can I hear real life experiences!!??

[sinikala]

As for the peeps sending me Finnish responses,,, GIVE ME A BREAK,, I can get by in French and German but in the Uk we have no real educational opportunity to learn Finnish!!!!!!!! But we're both post grads and have a brain, we'll sort it out, difficult language but by no means impossible!!!

BUT in respect, we wont be going anywhere until we learnt the lingo, only fair if you ask me!!!!

The Finnish language response from Hank was, I guess, intended to suggest that it's dead easy... except you will have to be proficient in Finnish. That you have already said you would learn the language without having got the sarcasm, is good.

Unless your partner is a Finn, which I guess she ain't, I would say it will be very hard to pick up Finnish whilst living in the UK (that's no to say you shouldn't try!) it's hard enough when you are in Finland.... IMHO you need to be over here practicing it to improve beyond the basics. Having a brain doesn't necessarily help much, I have a brain the size of a small planet, yet still struggle with Finnish

[Hank W.]

Just wanted to see how far your "confidence in skills" goes

[cwcnow]

Just wanted to see how far your "confidence in skills" goes

Looks like the passed the test!

[COBHC]

ANY IDEA OF HOW I CAN CONTACT THIS SCHOOL!!!?!?!??!

Would be very very helpful!!!!!!!

http://www.finnsunited.org.uk is the website for manchesters suomikoulu, it is in a church just off washway road, quite easy to find seeing as you're from sale, i have been a few times and it is very helpful and the ppl there are really nice

[oompah18]

I am a Brit, but married to a Finn, so a different case from yours, but I have to say:
FINLAND IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, BRING UP CHILDREN, CHILL, & WEAR WHATEVER FASHIONS YOU LIKE................... everything goes here. Without a doubt it is cheaper than UK, cleaner, more organised especially banks, great health service, & I LOVE IT!!!!!! BUT it really helps to try to learn the language. Even if you are totally awful at speaking it, like me, the Finns really appreciate you trying. I can read it much better.

My nearest city is Tampere, which is great. Finnish winters aren´t so cold because you do as the Finns do & dress correctly for the weather & the houses aren´t drafty unlike UK.
Hope that helps!!!! Feel free to contact me with any more questions
Allie from Wokingham, Berks

[ojanm]

Finnish winters aren´t so cold because you do as the Finns do & dress correctly for the weather & the houses aren´t drafty unlike UK.

Sure. The coldness is not so problematic but the darkness is. You really need some artificial light here during the late autumn and winter months. What I've read from the website of the Finnish meteorological institute is that the Sun may not show up in November at all...

[Andrew C]

To the original poster:
Finland is a hard place to relocate to. The following reasons are why it's a hard place to relocte to:
1. Even though your qualifications are recognised in Finland, this means nothing if you can't speak Finnish. How would a Finnish person with a degree in Electrical engineering get a job in England without being able to speak English? Right? So you're a smart guy and you should know this.
2. Finnish people are not very communicative. This is not to say that they have bad intentions or are rude just that they don't talk much to people they don't know. So you will feel lonely and isolated and probably get frustrated and pissed off with living here after a while.
Finnish people meet friends through school and work. If you don't go to school or work how will you meet friends?
3. There are a shortage of 'cultural events' outside of major cities here in Finland that outsiders can access and unlike in the U.K (definitely not a great place to live at the moment) which has a 'multicultrural' cultural environment, Finland is at times very 'monocultural' which can translate as being boring perhaps. Have I said this politely enough?
4. The weather is tolerable but eventually (after the second winter many think) you will become depressed in the winter. It's not the cold weather that is the problem it is the darkness that gets most people down. In March when it is brighter but still cold most people love this time, but November through to February is tough.
5. Then the biggest thing about Finland and also one of it's strengths is that Finland and the Finnish don't have unrealistic expectations (unlike many middle-class Brits I might add). So your entrepreneurial abilities might not be recognised for what they are. Finnish people generally like to play safe and secure. They don't really enjoy taking risks although they will and can do when necessary.

For all of the above and more I would say that Finland whilst being a great place to live eventually, takes a great deal of time and effort to fit in and to become comfortable. If you had a Finnish wife then it would be easier perhaps. If you come here initially to study and enter Finnish society as students then it would be easier. But to think you can sell your home and relocate to Finland and lead a productive and rewarding life is a special kind of British delusion that has sometimes led to good things but also more often than not led to disappointments and eventual retreat.

[U]

Hi all,

This is a really nice forum. It is very interesting to read the different opinions and experiences.

I am an Asian and my hubby is a Finn. We’ve just moved back to Finland last year and been through a whole Finnish winter. Even though the winter is a bit too long but I still love it. I like to experience different seasons and each season is just nice.

I like the Finnish people, they are humble, honest, nice and helpful. I don’t speak Finish or Swedish, but I can get by easily with english, most people speak English here, they would try to help you even some of them don’t speak English well. They would not give you the sort of disgusting look because you don't speak their language.

The heath care is really good here when comparing with some other European countries where we lived before.

My kids are happily settled down into a local Swedish speaking school which is very important for us. I’ve been a bit concern because they used to go to international school before we move back.

There are endless different clubs, classes and activities for both children and adults; I can go to many hobby classes if I want and the cost is small. I will not feel bored here. I mean I can still lead a very interesting life even without knowing the local language.

The food is great because we normally eat at home and I cook what we like, I can easily find all ingredients that I need. We are very seldom eating outside even in other country; it is just not our habit.

Finland is very safe and clean country. It is a great place for raising children.

The nature here is great too! I love the sea, the green green green forest and endless lakes and small islands. They are truly beautiful.