Am I a good candidate to move to Finland?

[resolvent]

Here is my situation:

I was born in 1964. I am a single (heterosexual) male. I am NOT seeking to marry ANYone. Never married. I live in New Jersey (NJ), in the United States.

My mother died in 1995. My father died in May 2006. I have no pets anymore. Our two cats died. I am one of three co-executors of our parents estate, along with my older brother and older sister.

I split my time now between learning French and honoring my dying father's wishes to get rid of 99% of the junk in this house. He was no packrat -- he was a very organized man. But I don't think he knew how much stuff he had accumulated.

I have all the degrees I ever want:
BChE: bachelor of chemical engineering from the
University of Delaware in 1986, with a minor in Russian
MS in mathematics in 1991 from Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ.
PhD in mathematics in 2000 from Rutgers.

The last fulltime job I had was for one week in October 2006 as a mathematics consultant for a company which tests and verifies accuracy of gaming machines, slot machines, etc.

Before that I taught Calculus III for one semester at a local community college in Fall 2005.

Before that I worked as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Monmouth University 2000 - 2001.

I have been as serious as I possibly can be about learning languages.
(But I have to admit: I don't like people much, from anywhere.)
Besides the minor in Russian, I took one semester of Chinese in Fall 2005 at my local community college. I earned an 'A'. I also took and passed two semesters of French in Spring & Summer 2006 at the same college, both with A's. I am currently taking the third semester of French at this college and doing very well in it.

I studed Russian from 6th grade through college. I qualified for and attended the Pushkin Institute in Moscow, USSR, Summer 1985 with the American Counci of Teachers of Russian (ACTR). We flew into Helsinki, Finland and stayed overnight there before we took a train to Moscow. And we stayed in Helsinki one night on the way back.

Of course, I just got a taste of Finland in the summer. This is why, if I do intend to visit Finland again for 3 months, I should arrive there on January 1, in the dead of winter, so I can see what I am up against.

I have communicated with the Finnish Embassy in Washington, DC this year. I was very happily surprised to see them respond within an hour or two to my emails. They told me that I am welcome to visit Finland for up to 90 days and look for a job there, even though I am not a Finnish citizen and even though I have no visa. I do still have my passport, which I last updated in 1997.

I am half English(?)-American and half Hungarian descent. I never learned Hungarian, although I tried one month when my Hungarian cousin came to visit.

As much as I enjoy learning languages, I cannot spend all my time and money learning new languages with the hope that I will find the right country which will accept me.

My intended current goals:
1) bionanotechnology. That has been my intense focus since 7th grade.
Putting all my works and passion and talents of science and math into the engineering of things at the atomic scale. Genetically engineering new foods and products so people don't have to murder and torture and confine billions of animals a year in factory farmas and laboratories. Genetically modifying ourselves so we don't have to eat.

2) Technical translation into or from Russian. Now perhaps with French.
If I go to Finland for 3 months, I would certainly sign up for a course in it.

3) If 1 or 2 don't work out, I can still teach math. I guess I can also teach English to Finns.

4) If 1 or 2 or 3 don't work out, then I would seek work as an actuary.
I passed the first two actuarial exams (Probability and Financial Math) in 2006.

My reasons for leaving the United States:
1) I fear the loss of my freedom in this country due to oppressive laws

2) There are absolutely no paid jobs here. Employers think they can just get employees to do work for free for them. I have applied to over 1000 math-teaching, engineering, and actuarial jobs in the US (and Canada) since I worked at Monmouth University in 2001. I've had about 15 job interviews, mostly for the math-teaching jobs. All that has gotten me is about $3000 in the past 5 years between teaching Calculus III and my one-week job in October 2006.

3) I seek people who understand the concept of bartering goods and services, rather than who narrowly limit their concept of economic exchange in terms of money.

I do have USD $48,000 in a checking account. And I do have at least $70,000 tied up in IRAs and year-long CDs.

I have also had severe rheumatoid arthritis since 1990. I currently have it under control with medicine. I currently earn $783/month from social security disability since February 2003.

I am not seeking a Scandinvian paradise. However, I am seeking to associate with hard-working people who share my vision of technology and social justice.

[Kevin Westwood]

No

[Rosamunda]

I would say yes.

Because you aren't bothered about meeting lots of touchy feely friendly people. You are not afraid of your own company. You speak Russian. You don't think grammar is scary. You don't expect something for nothing. You have enough cash to survive the first critical months. You could always teach English to Finns.

Not sure about the bionano stuff... us Europeans are pretty much totally against anything not strictly organic (well, I am).

And, BTW, the worst time of year is not Jan 1- March 31 (the days start getting longer on Dec 22).... if you are serious... come end of October (just after the clocks go back) till end of January... then extrapolate the extra 3-4 months of monochrome bleakness until spring finally arrives.

Tervetuloa.

[Hank W.]

Yes, well, if you are imagining a high salary in Finland think again. Also the cost of living is higher. Theres some biotech research in Finland, somehow I'm getting Oulu as one of the main locations. What I'd suggest is looking through the Universities' sites (go to say http://finland.cimo.fi and figure the link page out) and seeing some places with research etc. they have links then to their partners etc... See like here Maybe you could teach mathematics or Russian, English teaching positions are filled by herds of bright-eyed HBS sufferers off Ryanair.

What comes for the 1 and 3, well... penny got 3, and for 1 - you haven't seen our laws have you

[Mark I.]

I'd just like to add: If you think this is some kind of social paradise, think again. There are always influental people, who think they should be able to buy their Porches instead of Volkswagens, and not pay any taxes. That's how Finland has changed since you visited here in the 80's, income differences have exploded.

I think it would be better to have a job (or your own enterpice) figured out before moving here permanently. But you're obviously a smart man, you figure it out.

Good luck.

[sinikettu]

. But you're obviously a smart man, you figure it out.

Good luck.

Wise words from Mark..Penny and Hank say the rest so Lurk and browse this forum...when you have more/any questions ask again.

[mrjimsfc]

If you have arthritis, you will hate the cold you experience in Finland. You will hurt like never before. Move to Hawaii!

[superiorinferior]

Here are your answers:

Here is my situation:

I was born in 1964. I am a single (heterosexual) male. I am NOT seeking to marry ANYone. Never married. I live in New Jersey (NJ), in the United States.

Move out of NJ first. This might be your problem.

(But I have to admit: I don't like people much, from anywhere.)

This might not be such a big deal. But have you ever considered that your somewhat spotty employment history might have something to do with this?

Of course, I just got a taste of Finland in the summer. This is why, if I do intend to visit Finland again for 3 months, I should arrive there on January 1, in the dead of winter, so I can see what I am up against.

No, you should come here now, in the dead of November until XMas time, that's the dealbreaker. It is dark, there is no snow in the south. It is dark and about one degree above freezing. This time of year the alcoholics go crazier and all the psychopaths are let out of their hospital beds. Everyone gets melancholy, the street becomes an endless river of "homeless urine" and fights break out on metro platforms (more than usual) for no reason at all.

As much as I enjoy learning languages, I cannot spend all my time and money learning new languages with the hope that I will find the right country which will accept me.

While I don't normally get on a high horse about the Finnish (it is a bitch to learn for many)... This attitude will have to change, unless you'd like to be totally isolated in a country where you understand nothing but soap operas and reality shows on commercial (paid, search forum, fmi) TV.

My reasons for leaving the United States:
1) I fear the loss of my freedom in this country due to oppressive laws

OK. Which freedoms have you personally lost? I think this is just a scapegoat. And, if you are so concerned about the crumbling of the US Constitution, why not take your skills to change things there for the better rather than go to the arse of nowhere? I don't buy it.

2) There are absolutely no paid jobs here. Employers think they can just get employees to do work for free for them. I have applied to over 1000 math-teaching, engineering, and actuarial jobs in the US (and Canada) since I worked at Monmouth University in 2001. I've had about 15 job interviews, mostly for the math-teaching jobs. All that has gotten me is about $3000 in the past 5 years between teaching Calculus III and my one-week job in October 2006.

If you can't get a job in two countries that both have your native tongue as a national language, how do you expect to become employed here?

3) I seek people who understand the concept of bartering goods and services, rather than who narrowly limit their concept of economic exchange in terms of money.

Move to Maine. Or apply to be a contestant on "Let's Make a Deal with Monty Hall." Or go work at the commodoties exchange in NYC and do some bartering.

I do have USD $48,000 in a checking account. And I do have at least $70,000 tied up in IRAs and year-long CDs.

Expect to have to prove this to the Finnish authorities when and if you decide to live here. They don't want freeloaders.

I have also had severe rheumatoid arthritis since 1990. I currently have it under control with medicine. I currently earn $783/month from social security disability since February 2003.

I would think if you leave the US, you will not continue to receive that, right? Additionally, I find it very hard to believe that you would receive anything close to that here in Finland. Additionally, there are steep differences between the US and Finland's pharmaceutical practices. Make sure that Finnish apothocaries even carry your prescriptions.

I am not seeking a Scandinvian paradise. However, I am seeking to associate with hard-working people who share my vision of technology and social justice.

How about taking it down a notch? Linus Torvalds lives in the States. The social justice here is kinda cramping up and don't even get me started on the hard-working thing.

[Hank W.]

If you have arthritis, you will hate the cold you experience in Finland. You will hurt like never before. Move to Hawaii!

Oh, didn't read that, I'd recommend Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico... not here.

[Hank W.]

This time of year the alcoholics go crazier and all the psychopaths are let out of their hospital beds. Everyone gets melancholy, the street becomes an endless river of "homeless urine" and fights break out on metro platforms (more than usual) for no reason at all.

That is very poetically put

[Mark I.]

... and all the psychopaths are let out of their hospital beds.

Psychopaths are not in hospital beds, they are in business games of making loads money with abusive attitudes and gathering admirers of wannabie narcissisists.

[sinikala]

Whilst SI's post was hard to argue with

This might not be such a big deal. But have you ever considered that your somewhat spotty employment history might have something to do with this?

This is the land of the dodgy CV. I believe the US is similar to the UK, we need to show a solid CV and account for all the time since we were at school. In Finland some people tit around for 8-10 years before graduating then walk into a good job aged 28-32. That is simply not possible in England. Employers would laugh at you.

A few years ago I had an application for a summer job post from a guy just 2 years younger than I, he had literally done nothing with his life but study. No real employment history, just a few summer jobs. Tragic, but I'm sure someone will take him.

I think the original poster may find Finland a lot more forgiving than the US in that area.

If you can't get a job in two countries that both have your native tongue as a national language, how do you expect to become employed here?

Perhaps there is little requirement for translation / language skills where this "resolvent" guy lives. Different place, different opportunities. Even if he ends up teaching English out in the Finnish sticks it may be better than what he has back home.

It sounds like his situation is pretty !"#¤% (sorry to be harsh) in the US.

My advice is so long as his expectations aren't too high and he knows there is a good chance it might not work out, it's probably worth the gamble.

If he comes over here and it works out, then the payoff is big. If he has the cash in the bank and is currently unemployed, then he might as well chance his arm over here. Enroll in a couple of free classes... If it works out and he finds a job, great.

If it doesn't work out, then he has the experience of a 3 month holiday in Finland, at least it is a change of scenery.

I have communicated with the Finnish Embassy in Washington, DC this year. I was very happily surprised to see them respond within an hour or two to my emails. They told me that I am welcome to visit Finland for up to 90 days and look for a job there, even though I am not a Finnish citizen and even though I have no visa. I do still have my passport, which I last updated in 1997.

Seems to be no problem there. Good luck.

[enk]

Perhaps there is little requirement for translation / language skills where this "resolvent" guy lives. Different place, different opportunities.

Not to be a b*tch, but the Internet has been invented and nowadays
translation is by no means a job that's confined to a particular place.
The bigger problem would be that he has language skills in languages
that pay crappily for translation.

-enk

[kay30]

I don't mean to be mean, but you really should apply some common sense to this. How on earth are you going to support yourself here once you have blown thru your savings?

If you are not happy where you are, what makes you think you will be happy where:

- you don't speak the language
- you don't know anyone
- you have no job
- you have no friends
- you will experience severe culture shock
- you are an outsider

There are absolutely no paid jobs here.

Are you serious? Do you have any concept how difficult it is for even natives to find work here? When I was in NYC - it was a piece of cake to find a job compared to here. You live near NYC - one of the best places to find a job in the entire US, if not the world. Come on.

Moving to Finland is not going to suddenly make you happy or feel accepted. If you cannot do that in your home country, it is unlikely can you do it here. You should think about what you are trying to escape in the US and why and that might bring you to a better solution.

[Mark I.]

Whilst SI's post was hard to argue with

This might not be such a big deal. But have you ever considered that your somewhat spotty employment history might have something to do with this?

This is the land of the dodgy CV. I believe the US is similar to the UK, we need to show a solid CV and account for all the time since we were at school. In Finland some people tit around for 8-10 years before graduating then walk into a good job aged 28-32. That is simply not possible in England. Employers would laugh at you.

A few years ago I had an application for a summer job post from a guy just 2 years younger than I, he had literally done nothing with his life but study. No real employment history, just a few summer jobs. Tragic, but I'm sure someone will take him.

I'm thinking of starting a new movement: People against CV-racism.