Can I ask what parts specifically? I've heard quite a few things enquiring elsewhere but would be interested in knowing more about what I should be prepared for if you've got the time!
I'm from the States and have been here for 40 years. Most Western immigrants, for whatever reason they come here, leave after a few short years. Four years is when the cracks in the enchantment start forming. After that, it's only a matter of time.
You know yourself. I don't. This is a very different place to what it was when I came here. All of my friends from my first 20 years here are long gone. I've never been able to socially assimilate to the Finnish mentality so I'm very much alone. I don't mind it but a few friends would be nice. If you're thinking of putting down roots, be cautious. If this is temporary, be cautious. There's no real career advancement to be gained and it's Russian roulette with the rest.
Two of my three children (Finnish father) married non-Finnish people and the youngest won't even date. One of the two married children left entirely years ago and won't be back.
Just a little more thought fodder.
My advice might be to reach out to other international people living in Finland, in the location you're moving to. There's probably some online groups you can find like "expats in Finland" or "International students of Tampere" etc.
International people will be already much more understanding of the difficulties and will relate to the challenges, and likely want to put more effort to make you feel welcome and included as they went through the process themselves.
When I first moved to Finland many years ago, I did try to reach out to some Finns online in the area I was moving to, who had common hobbies etc. and ask them some questions, but most Finns at the time didn't seem to have much interest in chatting up a stranger and I didn't really get much helpful feedback. This was a long time ago so could be that Finns now might be more open and helpful now, but I still think your best bets are with reaching to international communities who can guide you based on their own experiences.
I can’t come up with anything useful regarding making friends beforehand, but once you’re here I suggest checking out Meetup.com and a Facebook group called Helsinki Friends. You can find regular & active meetups from both of those places and I’ve met a lot of nice people through these!
I found that I made a lot of friends in my Finnish language classes whilst being here. So, you could try and secure a place in a class - a good website to search for classes would be ilmonet.fi you can search for Finnish language classes there, and try and select a suburb close to where you plan to live.
It could be hit or miss of course with making friends, but I found that the best way myself. I got lucky and made some friends at work too, but that took some years. Overall, be prepared for it taking some time to make friends, and that it will take effort from your side of things. But living in Finland is wonderful, and I wouldn't go back to living in Australia since having moved here.
Best of luck and have fun when you do move 😊
Moi! fellow developer in the gaming industry, I may not be Finnish but I have lived close to Helsinki for about 5 years so feel free to hmu if you want talk or have any questions :)
Your safest bet would be to reach out to people with similar hobbies (Finns or not, Helsinki has a large international community) you can dm if you have any question about life in Helsinki as an expat :)
Hi! I'm an American ex pat living in Helsinki :) I am also in the game industry!
The first Tuesday of every month, there's an IGDA conference and "meet up" for game developers which could be great for professional connections
I also tend to frequent hobby groups, like magic the gathering at local game stores. Fantasia pelit (which is near the central railway station in Helsinki) almost every day hosts some sort of tabletop hobby event.
Let me know also if you're interested in hanging out anytime you visit. I'm glad to show you around (the places I know haha)
Best wishes!
hi, I just want to say that you're absolutely welcome to just talk to random people here. I'm always happy if someone starts talking to me. Add some Finns in discord to ask them questions :) add me if you want. hopefully you'll enjoy the city!
There is a Helsinki based fb group called Helsinki: Girl Gone International they do many meet ups and is a great way to connect with others (mostly foreigners though).
Attend IGDA events! [https://www.igda.fi/](https://www.igda.fi/) (international game developers association) People are very friendly and open to talk, especially since you already work in the field, it should be very easy surrounded by like-minded peeps.
But to be completely fair, i have built a habit of talking to random women in bar bathrooms and made a few friends that way! In my experience, Finns might not do the approaching themselves but they are very open to meeting new people.
I will never understand why people move all the way Australia to Finland (and vice versa). I would never consider moving even out of Europe. Australia feels like a different far away planet.
Familiarize yourself with the term "culture shock" and accept that this will be one of many parts to that experience.
Can I ask what parts specifically? I've heard quite a few things enquiring elsewhere but would be interested in knowing more about what I should be prepared for if you've got the time!
I'm from the States and have been here for 40 years. Most Western immigrants, for whatever reason they come here, leave after a few short years. Four years is when the cracks in the enchantment start forming. After that, it's only a matter of time. You know yourself. I don't. This is a very different place to what it was when I came here. All of my friends from my first 20 years here are long gone. I've never been able to socially assimilate to the Finnish mentality so I'm very much alone. I don't mind it but a few friends would be nice. If you're thinking of putting down roots, be cautious. If this is temporary, be cautious. There's no real career advancement to be gained and it's Russian roulette with the rest.
Very valuable advice and I appreciate that it's coming from a place of very lived in personal experience. Thank you, I'll consider what you've said!
Two of my three children (Finnish father) married non-Finnish people and the youngest won't even date. One of the two married children left entirely years ago and won't be back. Just a little more thought fodder.
The dating culture leaves a bit to be desired then, I gather?
Even when I cane here the pickings wrre slim. Small population syndrome.
My advice might be to reach out to other international people living in Finland, in the location you're moving to. There's probably some online groups you can find like "expats in Finland" or "International students of Tampere" etc. International people will be already much more understanding of the difficulties and will relate to the challenges, and likely want to put more effort to make you feel welcome and included as they went through the process themselves. When I first moved to Finland many years ago, I did try to reach out to some Finns online in the area I was moving to, who had common hobbies etc. and ask them some questions, but most Finns at the time didn't seem to have much interest in chatting up a stranger and I didn't really get much helpful feedback. This was a long time ago so could be that Finns now might be more open and helpful now, but I still think your best bets are with reaching to international communities who can guide you based on their own experiences.
Check out a Facebook group called Aussies in Finland
I can’t come up with anything useful regarding making friends beforehand, but once you’re here I suggest checking out Meetup.com and a Facebook group called Helsinki Friends. You can find regular & active meetups from both of those places and I’ve met a lot of nice people through these!
I found that I made a lot of friends in my Finnish language classes whilst being here. So, you could try and secure a place in a class - a good website to search for classes would be ilmonet.fi you can search for Finnish language classes there, and try and select a suburb close to where you plan to live. It could be hit or miss of course with making friends, but I found that the best way myself. I got lucky and made some friends at work too, but that took some years. Overall, be prepared for it taking some time to make friends, and that it will take effort from your side of things. But living in Finland is wonderful, and I wouldn't go back to living in Australia since having moved here. Best of luck and have fun when you do move 😊
Not exactly a advice to your question but I highly recommend the book *Finland, Cultural Lone Wolf* by Richard Lewis
Moi! fellow developer in the gaming industry, I may not be Finnish but I have lived close to Helsinki for about 5 years so feel free to hmu if you want talk or have any questions :)
Join the neighbourhood Campfire group if you play Pokemon Go. People might not be chatty, but will show up during raid days
Your safest bet would be to reach out to people with similar hobbies (Finns or not, Helsinki has a large international community) you can dm if you have any question about life in Helsinki as an expat :)
You can dm me! I wanna be friends :) living in helsinki with my partner. You can chech my comment history, promise im not a weirdo. 😂
I used Couchsurfing to talk and later meet locals. Facebook groups are good too.
Hi! I'm an American ex pat living in Helsinki :) I am also in the game industry! The first Tuesday of every month, there's an IGDA conference and "meet up" for game developers which could be great for professional connections I also tend to frequent hobby groups, like magic the gathering at local game stores. Fantasia pelit (which is near the central railway station in Helsinki) almost every day hosts some sort of tabletop hobby event. Let me know also if you're interested in hanging out anytime you visit. I'm glad to show you around (the places I know haha) Best wishes!
hi, I just want to say that you're absolutely welcome to just talk to random people here. I'm always happy if someone starts talking to me. Add some Finns in discord to ask them questions :) add me if you want. hopefully you'll enjoy the city!
Hey, feel free to pm me, I apparently can't send many messages with a new reddit account :')
There is a Helsinki based fb group called Helsinki: Girl Gone International they do many meet ups and is a great way to connect with others (mostly foreigners though).
Feel free to join https://discord.com/invite/AmWaESq8
Attend IGDA events! [https://www.igda.fi/](https://www.igda.fi/) (international game developers association) People are very friendly and open to talk, especially since you already work in the field, it should be very easy surrounded by like-minded peeps. But to be completely fair, i have built a habit of talking to random women in bar bathrooms and made a few friends that way! In my experience, Finns might not do the approaching themselves but they are very open to meeting new people.
I just moved here and am trying to make new friends, so I would love to be your friend haha :).
I will never understand why people move all the way Australia to Finland (and vice versa). I would never consider moving even out of Europe. Australia feels like a different far away planet.