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British guy recently moved to Finland!

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mikey0

Hi all,

I'm Mike, I recently moved to Finland with my Finnish girlfriend who I met in the UK while she was studying at university in my hometown of Worcester. I only moved here around 3 weeks ago but have visited numerous times in the past. It's a great country, I'm currently looking for work and trying to learn the language, which I'm struggling with! Would be nice to meet some new people!

Aurélie

Hello Mike.

Welcome to Expat.com!

I hope members will give you some tips on work. :)

I am sure you will make lots of contacts here.

Aurélie

citizen1

Mikey, you play football, don't you? Why don't you look up a suitable Finnish FC in your area and ask if you can join. That way, you will meet lots of jolly Finnish lads and get some exercise, too.

ducatis

Mikey
Sounds a bit like my story, but I'm a little ahead of you...
I have to return to UK next week, but on return from that I am here for good.... (I hope so anyway)
Finnish is a tough language and it will get you down at times and there is a cultural shock (which I could write a book about!) - DONT let that beat you, Perseverance is the key. I am certainly no natural to languages.  What I did was enrol in a University language course for foreign students in Jyväskylä, I did this for two terms - 11 years ago.  It is surprising what I can remember. I did not become fluent, but I could get by and still can. I have revisited annually since
My biggest problem is Finns speaking back to me in English! :-)
From all that I have seen and people met it does takes longer to learn than 6 months. I am very rusty and my ear sort of tunes in (and out) of the language. On my return in mid-late August my goal is to become proficient! I expect this to take at least another year.
If you find any good leads/courses in Helsinki - let me (and others) know.
Finland does sort of take a bit of a summer 'recess' so there will be more going on come Sept. Helsinki is a little less seasonal.
As for jobs, like anywhere persistence is all!

citizen1

Moderator, why does the website insist on showing "my spam website" where I have typed "jolly"? I tried to edit the passage, and it's perfectly right, yet comes out wrong...

citizen1

This is what I'm talking about. Why does j-o-l-l-y come out as my spam website?

Javier SR

Hey Mike, if want to have some beers some day, let me know bro!

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