So Many Questions I know not were to start

Davebub · Post by **Davebub** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 7:29 am

I am going to move to Finland to get maried to my fiance. I dont know anything about the country yet at all. I have no idea at all what I am getting into yet... aside from many hours of paperwork, a bit of insanity, and a few million headaches. We were going to use the Maraige Visa to bring her here to New York but I have no Family and she has a whole life that she would leave behind. I finally convinced her that she shouldn't have to do that and that I will go to her. I want to know anything no matter how insignificant.

I know that I will have severe culture shock. I realise that I may seam insain for being willing to leave the US to move to Finland but think of it this way .... I wont have to worry about George W. Bush...lol

So if anyone can give me a good place to start... Please do.

**Sponsor:**

acwan · Post by **acwan** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 8:18 am

Davebub wrote:I am going to move to Finland to get maried to my fiance. I dont know anything about the country yet at all. I have no idea at all what I am getting into yet...

**Thanks to Hank for correcting me**
AMERICAN Men...<sigh>

Davebub · Post by **Davebub** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 9:30 am

To Quote from a recent movie... "She is definately worth the squeeze"

I have nothing to give up but a little time. She has family, friends and a whole life that she would have to give up. Why shouldn't I go to Finland?

I'll never understand Ladies.

PeterF · Post by **PeterF** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 9:40 am

Davebub..you are probably the 1000th guy to have asked similar questions.
So you will get the same responses...
Starting with what are you going to do to earn a living?
We assume that you do not speak Finnish.
We assume that you will live with her.
Now tell us what we dont know.
When are you making this move?
How about getting your own visa to come here to Finland.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 10:33 am

Davebub wrote:So if anyone can give me a good place to start... Please do.

Well, I checked the Museum of Natural History, and they did have a factsheet on Moving To Finland, the MTF-syndrome also known as "hotblondignitis". This disorder affects a few hundred American Loons (gringo gordo norteamericano) yearly causing them to migrate to Finland, usually after a migratory Finnish Mute Nag (alcoholicus picles windex). Researchers in the University of Lapland tag migrant Loons with radio tags to learn more of their weird habits. It seems that the American Loon is quite adaptable to the hostile environment of Finland and nesting couples have been witnessed, even though the American Loon is more used to bigger nests and feeding on peanut butter tree saplings. The American Loon usually can be spotted by its gaudy feathers and loud bellowing sound. The male and female of the species can hardly be differentiated by the pitch of their voice, whereas in the Finnish Mute Nag(*) population the female gives out an ineseccant cackle while the male bird seldom chirps out a sound.

(*) The Mute Nag hypnotizes its prey by a hypnotic stare, and after grabbing its prey it emits a cackling sound which causes cranial hemorrages in life forms

PeterF · Post by **PeterF** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 10:51 am

Hank W. wrote:This disorder affects a few hundred American Loons (gringo gordo norteamericano) yearly causing them to migrate to Finland, usually "CHASING" after a migratory Finnish Mute Nag ....the Finnish Mute Nag female gives out an ineseccant cackle while the male bird seldom chirps out a sound.

Just one minor amendment to clarify the reason for this migration of Loons...unlike other bird migrations the American male loons do not seem to follow any seasonal patern...they will chase after the Finnish Female Nag at any time of the year.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 11:13 am

Davebub wrote:Why shouldn't I go to Finland?

OK, you can make a test:
1. Go to Manhattan, find a place where nobody speaks any English (easy)
2. Find a freezer room.
3. Go in and shut the lights.
4. Spend 6 hours there.
6. if you get cold, drink vodka @ 10 bucks a bottle
7. pay yourself sick +22% vat for the pleasure.
8. go to the wetlands around JFK
9. Find the most mosquito-infested piece of land
10. repeat 4-7

Then: ask yourself: is this fun; if the answer is yes, lather, rinse, repeat

PeterF · Post by **PeterF** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 11:48 am

Well Davebub...I expect you knew that you would become the victim of a few jokes..and there will no doubt be a few more..but we are also quite helpfull... when it is not a Monday morning after yet another November week end.
Moving to Finland has three problems.
1. Getting work when you dont speak Finnish
2. Learning Finnish.
3. Winter is long dark and can be dam cold and depressing.

But there many more positive features about Finland.
No GWB being one..

There are lots of folk willing to help you adjust we also have an association which is like a social club...Lots of the members have been through the loop that you intend to enter and have a wealth of experience to share with you..
If you contact HankW he can explain how to join.
Or you can just click the www site logo here under this post:

Mook · Post by **Mook** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 12:57 pm

If you give a man a fish, he will eat a day;
But if you teach a man to fish, he will buy an ugly hat
And if you talk about a fish to a starving man, then you're a consultant

No, no, no...

Give a man a fish, and he will eat a day;
Teach a man to fish, and he'll sit in a boat and drink beer for a day.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 12:59 pm

PeterF, you forgot numbers 4 & 5;

4. Culture shock moving in.
5. Reverse culture shock visiting "back home".

For someone from (atleast the vicinity) of NYC the culture shock is slightly less than for some bright-eyed midwesterner if you move for example to Helsinki. I mean people from NYC are used to:
- everything costing a lot (Helsinki is maybe only 25% more)
- using public transport
- not understanding **** from announcements on the subway
- people being "rude"
- gasoline & parking actually costing (hey, its 1,12-1,15/liter, thats $5 a gallon)

The only drawbacks might be agoraphobia as the population density isn't as much.

Then again if someone moves a little east of Nowheremäki might as well move into Alaska and try out the climate in a cabin somewhere 100 miles from anywhere...

There is a book: "Culture Shock! Finland: A Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! Guides)
by Deborah Swallow " I suggest you dawdle to a Barnes& Noble or then amazon it. If you want to read something online go to http://virtual.finland.fi/ ...that covers the basics.

mrjimsfc · Post by **mrjimsfc** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 5:02 pm

Davebub wrote:So if anyone can give me a good place to start... Please do.

A good place to start would be, LISTEN TO YOUR GIRLFRIEND AND LET HER EMIGRATE TO THE U.S. The wage difference alone is such that you will be able to go to Finland every year or so to visit her relatives. Really, how much is GWB going to affect your life? Just ignore him and eventually he will go away. Hank makes everything look like a joke but it's very very true! Honest, after one winter in Finland (nine months of the year) you will be cursing yourself for not having found a girlfriend/wife from Hawaii.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 5:08 pm

mrjimsfc wrote:Hank makes everything look like a joke but it's very very true!

Well you don't need to be crazy to live here, but it helps... besides, what did people say about avoiding Bush?

One Expat-Americans blog http://www.axis-of-aevil.org

Davebub · Post by **Davebub** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 5:19 pm

I have heard from her more than once about the Horrid winters. Living out there isnt going to be a picknic. I hated Hawaii though. Yeah I am crazy...

I didnt think that I would get so much razz about moving to Finland though... Is there anythng good that anyone can say about Finland? Weather is a big deal but not that big... What about economy? Education? How about ... the easiest way to learn the Finnish
launguage?

However... I at this time work with autistic and retarded people. I would make that much for her here anyway. Its non-profit...

Davebub · Post by **Davebub** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 5:24 pm

Hank, That site was great! Just have to pass that on the the lady.

miti · Post by **miti** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 7:35 pm

Davebub wrote: Is there anythng good that anyone can say about Finland?

of course there are many good things to say about Finland. There are actually enough threads on this board dealing with the positive aspects.
And of course you are not the first person who immigrates to Finland to be with his partner.
But you are the first person (at least that I have met) who decided to move to Finland saying

I dont know anything about the country yet at all. I have no idea at all what I am getting into yet...

I love Finland. I even like the weather most of the time and the list goes on and on.
Still, I made my decision about moving here only after living here for a while and then coming back again and again and again.

I don't want to push my nose too much, so if you don't want to answer just don't, but is there any special reason why you didn't consider visiting the place at least once before you decide to move here?

I am not trying to talk you out of the idea, I think there are enough advantages about life here that make it up for the wage difference and the long winter (which can actually be very beautiful). I just think that it helps to have some experience of the place before you decide to move there.

But still - good luck

Miti.

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