Dreaming about Finland...

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 1:07 am

I was in Helsinki last month and I felt that Finland can be my place in the world. It was like a dream come true. I felt feelings of true happiness and inner peace...I feel I belong to Finland.

I would appreciate your comments about the country and the poeple, about your experience... I have some Finnish friends and I think they are absolutely great. The people I met in Helsinki are nice and it was a pleasure to talk to them. That's all the experience I have. Needless to say that the city is beautiful and quiet, and I like that. The language sounds good and sweet to me and I don't think it's difficult, it's different and that's all, maybe that's why it's beautiful...

Some people talk about the weather, complaining about the long, dark and cold winter, but how exactely is winter in Helsinki? I believe that if there are other things, more important things than the weather, you can be happy. I live in Prague and it's pretty cold in winter...I don't feel I belong to this place.
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U · Post by U » Thu Oct 13, 2005 7:23 am

I love Finland too. Remembering in 1992, summer that it was my first time to visit Helsinki for summer vacation; I still remember how fresh the air, how bright the light, how green and clean the city. The whole thing just made it so absolutely beautiful and we were living in Hong Kong.

soda · Post by **soda** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 7:55 am

The language sounds good and sweet to me and I don't think it's difficult, it's different and that's all

It's really wonderful and inspiring that both of you like Helsinki so much, and feel you want to spend more time here.

I really hope you are successful, and are able to fulfil your dreams and enjoy life in Finland.

The winter can be hard, but, as you say, it's not the most important thing in life. The coldest day I have had here is -26C, but it is not often below -15C in Helsinki. The dark can be tough - depressing and everyone looks pale and depressed!

However, it is also good to be aware of some of the things that make living here difficult, and language is one of them! It is different, very very different, and even for people like myself, who learned other languages quickly and easily, learning finnish is as difficult as learning physics - it is the hardest thing I have ever studied, without question. If you can study full time, 2-3 years may be enough, if not, then like me, you may need 4 years to really learn it.

agn71 · Post by **agn71** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:46 am

I must make a objection.
Helsinki might be a part of Finland, but it is NOT a Finland!

PV · Post by PV » Fri Oct 14, 2005 11:59 pm

What do you mean with that?

Blondie · Post by **Blondie** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 1:31 pm

I guess that Helsinki is a part of Finland but not representative of all Finland. That is, it is just like I live in Barcelona, but Barcelona is not all Spain. I was in Finland in June for a holiday and I was in Helsinki and also in Jämsä, and it was completely different, and I also guess that Southern Finland may be different to the north part.

Also, I agree completely with Susan´s post. I was in Helsinki and I felt the same. I met kind and nice people, I like the places where I go,everything was clean and calm, the mood.....and I know for a Spanish girl it could be so hard because of the weather, but my wish right now is to live in Helsinki or nearby. I already know that language is a big handicap (specially for finding a job) and learn it more or less well it could take a long time, but anyway I wanna try!

Foster · Post by **Foster** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 5:55 pm

finland my dream land to live and play football career i met some finish guy in china and they told lot about the country i think the peolpe are lovey and friendly as well the country it self i dream of myself been in the middle of the people and with their culture i really know how i can get over there that i will love so much.

tisco · Post by **tisco** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 5:54 pm

agn71 made a good point with saying that Helsinki isn't the whole country. Helsinki is the biggest city in Finland but there is much much more to see. I think the best quality (I'm Finnish, lived here all my life) in Finland is the nature. All the seasons are beautiful, but you can't fully enjoy them in a big city like Helsinki.

And don't worry about the language. You can manage great by speaking english.

littlefrank · Post by **littlefrank** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 11:40 pm

>>>I love Finland too.<<<
How bright the Helsinki light tiptoes to the !"#¤%, er I mean, to the moon beams at night and the brightest stars shines down at er people coming out of the bars. Look there is no need to convince the people on this forum that you want to live here, fine you had a good time here, but let's face it, it's just a place to live, just like any other place. And unless you live in some country were poverty is usual rather than unusual then there is no reason to praise Finland.

U · Post by U » Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:07 am

littlefrank wrote:>>>I love Finland too.<<<
How bright the Helsinki light tiptoes to the !"#¤%, er I mean, to the moon beams at night and the brightest stars shines down at er people coming out of the bars. Look there is no need to convince the people on this forum that you want to live here, fine you had a good time here, but let's face it, it's just a place to live, just like any other place. And unless you live in some country were poverty is usual rather than unusual then there is no reason to praise Finland.

Yes, I have all my reasons to praise the country that I like.

We’ve had great vacations here both in the winters and summers for the last 14 years. We’ve been living in many both developing and developed countries. We moved back to Finland a few months ago and we are having great time here. I love it here and I praise it here. Please ignore my post if you have problem with it. I didn’t mean to irritate you! Anyway, this topic is for those who likes it here and I am one of them and I am thankful for it.

soda · Post by **soda** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 7:38 am

Wow, littlefrank, you really are a ray of sunshine, aren't you?

If you don't think much of Helsinki, that's entirely up to you, but I don't see why that should inspire you to critivse other people for being enthusiastic about it.

I think Finland is a tough place to live, but it does have it's good side, and I'm always happy that people like it here.

soda · Post by **soda** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 7:38 am

Wow, littlefrank, you really are a ray of sunshine, aren't you?

If you don't think much of Helsinki, that's entirely up to you, but I don't see why that should inspire you to critivse other people for being enthusiastic about it.

I think Finland is a tough place to live, but it does have it's good side, and I'm always happy that people like it here.

littlefrank · Post by **littlefrank** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 11:19 am

>>>If you don't think much of Helsinki,<<<

Don't get me wrong, I like Finland, I just don't understand people who exaggerate their criticism of this country or people who exaggerate their praise of it.

soda · Post by **soda** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 4:48 pm

Well, it's not paradise, that's for sure.

I certainly agree it's not the easiest country to live in...

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 12:29 pm

tisco wrote:agn71 made a good point with saying that Helsinki isn't the whole country. Helsinki is the biggest city in Finland but there is much much more to see. I think the best quality (I'm Finnish, lived here all my life) in Finland is the nature. All the seasons are beautiful, but you can't fully enjoy them in a big city like Helsinki.

And don't worry about the language. You can manage great by speaking english.

I agree with the first part, I lived in Hki for 2 years and have now lived in Pori for 3 years, Hki & Pori are very different places.

I disagree about the language. If you are to work outside of Hki, then some understanding of the Finnish language is crucial, especially with workers in the over 50 category who did not go to University, many of them don't speak any english.

Also my gf's parents are from Hki and the number of sentences of English they have spoken to me in 5 years can be counted on the fingers of one hand... possibly due to shyness?

You'll manage in English, but if you are planning on staying more than a year get enrolled in some classes ASAP.

EDIT - forgot to say Finland is great! Not as good as the UK, but then where is?

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