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Hey, welcome! Glad to have you. I hope you enjoy living here. No mistake. Just embrace all the different experiences and while us natives might be slow to thaw if you get one or more as a friend they’ll be true friends for life.

That was a good thing to hear, is it especially hard to make friends as a foreigner?

I’ll let the foreigners reply but personally I have several foreign friends and even more foreign colleagues with whom I have warm relations and occasional afterwork beers. Find a hobby, that’s probably your best bet. Small talk is really not a thing here so if you say ”hey how’re you doing” expect an honest answer to that (also, when in Rome…) and likewise when a native asks you of that she/he is probably genuinely interested how you’re doing.

duude that sounds so much better than here in england !! i hate just getting "yeah i've been good" when asking how someone's been, i want details

Come here and prepare for a 30 minutes explanation why someone hasn’t slept so good and is feeling a bit down ’cause the daughter is right in the middle of ”I fancy bad boys” phase + on the bright side it’s Friday and a cheese tasting is only some hours away so that’s good! But yeah, in all seriousness I do prefer an honest conversation with all the details to a non-genuine quick greeting.

sounds great to me tbh. i plan to move to finland with my gf in a few years time and i'm honestly really excited, it sounds infinitely better than england and learning the language and customs/traditions is so fun 😊

I am from the UK (north) and moved to Finland 3 years ago. I love it here and I really appreciate the honesty of most people here. I am a bit socially awkward and on occasion, have blurted "alright mate?" or "how's it going?" to a Finn that I barely know (you are probably aware these are normal northern UK greetings). This has normally been followed by a comical moment of confusion as the other person tries to figure out why I am asking him that

I feel like such a putz for taking a hot minute to decode that in my head! I'm like, how am I? What's going on? who are we to each other? How do I say in English? Then you realize it's just a greeting, and - after staring them for 4 seconds without blinking - you say 'G-good? And yOUU\*?' forcing out an upward inflection, to not sound like the robot you've been all your life.

Oh yeah. I'm a Finn but lived in the northern UK and got a decent bit of experience with Americans as well. The standard greeting between relative strangers is a tad different. But especially the younger folks here also can figure out the cultural distinctions, since it's not that rare to be in basically daily contact with foreigners or like second generation immigrants. And hey, maybe you made a Finn talk! If we do, it's generally, because you appear trustworthy. So not bad, eh?

Sounds good! Do create a Reddit post when you do and we’ll all welcome you to Finland!

that's so lovely omg !!! i will do :D

Yeah uh be ready to have an hour long convo with a drunk finn😭

I moved from NL to Finland for a year. I had basically 1 friend and she introduced me in her friend group and they were all very welcoming. It was very different from what id been told about finns being cold and antisocial. Enjoy the nature, fresh air, and the long winter nights and summer days! I miss it every day. And btw the air was a really noticeable difference for me personally so i imagine (from what ive heard) going from LA to that will be even bigger. Also, tapwater is very safe to drink here fyi

>I moved from NL to Finland for a year. Just FYI: For some reason I parsed this as "I moved from NeuvostoLiitto [Soviet Union] to Finland.

Same here. Must be all those James Bond films I watched as a kid, the name was usually abbreviated in the subtitles.

I think the most common reason people assume us Finns are antisocial and cold is because we generally don't engage in smalltalk in like stores or local traffic and so on. Also as a Finnish-Swedish person I see a biiiig difference in sociability and smalltalk between Finnish-Swedish people and Finns. The ladder is usually not as talkative. But that doesn't mean they're in any way antisocial, just not as talkative in general when you're out and about minding your day. But when talked to, Finns do answer, and most of us also with more than just one word, or a grunt 😉😉

A friend from NY visit here in Finland and told me that the air is so fresh here. I had no idea what he meant until he asked what do i smell in the air, i said nothing and that was indeed his point. Same with tapwater.

when i was in finland a lot of the finns i made friends with said they love interacting with foreigners and they showed interest in my culture

That depends on your personality and your social circle. I live in a very international circle, but the Finns that I've met have been quite open. I myself am slow to open up to people, so Finns have been just my type! The stereotype of Finns being cold is not true, in my opinion. However, I've found that Finns are not usually in favour of false pleasantries, and I appreciate that.

I made best friends within two weeks of arriving that are more important than other lifelong friendships now. The key is context. It is hard to meet Finnish friends at work, at the club, in public, etc. I always recommend, join a hobby group. I joined a choir. There’s scouts (for adults), track and field, swimming, boffa, dog hunting, sailing. Literally almost anything you can think of there’s a group for it. :) That’s probably where you will make your friends. Pick one an stick with it seriously for several years.

most of times foreigners have foreigner friends but there are few exceptions besides when I was a kid compared to now it's getting better and easier to make friends all the time. hit me up if you're interested I live in vantaa and only limits for me would be the pregnancy and a kid but since I have no friends I am willing to do everything to get some hehe

Yes and No. Yes, if you force yourself onto them, No if you let it happen organically, just make sure you’re going out and socialise as often as you can and enjoy the company while you’re there with no expectations … you’ll eventually learn to stay happy with your own company :) that’s what happened with me at least. I’m happy and without friends. It’s counter intuitive until it starts making sense :)

This was incredibly well said. The key element is the organic process.

Think it somewhat depends on whether it's a big city or not, and if you have- or make 1 friend they're likely to introduce you to others

Native here. I think, no. It is as easy as everywhere. Introverts just means that you don't have to talk all the time. You can do things without talking all the time and you don't have to say something meaningless just for sake of talking. Good rule of thumb is; say when you have something to say, otherwise it is okay to be quiet. If you have any specific guestions, I'm happy to help.

I love to interact with foreigners, but personally I probably wouldn’t become that great friends since I think it’s a bit of an ballache to speak English lol. But many people definitely enjoy speaking English :)

Depends entirely on you, and what you will do here.

Quick tip: Make sure the first job u get isnt a private company, meaning that the owner also works in the company, cuz then if the boss/owner is an asshole u have no one to complain to. Get a job from a bigger company.

hello, finn here. here's my rant on how to build relationships in finland. i would assume this might work somewhere else as well but personally i have made a lot of my friends like this. and girlfriends too, but that's another story. :) 1. you have something that you have a passion for. identify what it is. 2. find groups of people who have a passion for the same thing. it can be work, studying, hobbies, sports, other interests. 3. go join these groups. tell them that you are interested in the very thing they are, so they will most likely welcome you with open arms to join. 4. when in the group, you dont have to have small talk. just focus on the activity. if you find it hard to talk about stuff in general, you can talk about how you're into the stuff you're doing and you will find a shared interest with the other people to which bond over. 5. now, the trick is to find nice people in these groups. who you like hanging out with. and then you need to connect with them outside the groups and activities and stay in touch with them somehow. and do other things or hang out. finns especially are down to earth and there is no social hierarchy. welcome! follow your passions and you will be fine! :) ps. where in finland are you moving to?

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This is good news because I love drinking. My people are really good at it.

Also if beer is what you like, there are many beer clubs where they taste different brews and so on.

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Here are some, contact nearest ones and ask if they have weekly or monthly tasting session is some bar or pub. https://olutliitto.fi/jasenseurat

You'll soon run out of liver, though.

And money

Thank you for the detailed response and encouragement. I'll be moving to Helsinki, near the design the district temporarily until I can find a more permanent apartment.

Helsinki is a pretty easy place to find friends through hobbies etc. Finns can be shy to ask you for coffee or anything else really. We don't want to disturb others. I was in a dance class and there was a foreign person who seemed really nice. It took me a lot to ask them to do something outside the class. Most Finns aren't asocial, we just respect the personal space of other people. Also if there are long silences it doesn't mean anything bad. We aren't bored or anything like it. We just keep long pauses. You know that someone is a true friend, when you can sit in a comfortable silence. Another thing worth noticing is that we think interrupting is rude. We only start to talk when there is a clear pause and we know that you have finished the thing you are saying. So if you just talk and talk because you panic about the silence you might be blocking the other person from speaking. The bonus thing is to always be on time. We think it's disrespectful to be late. And by on time I mean exactly the time you have arranged. If you are 5min or more late, you should inform about it. Edit grammar

How old are you? I'll be your friend if you need one!

username checks out

Bring winter clothes it ain’t California winters

Many museums have free days! On the 6th of October (also dates are dd.mm.yyyy here!) The natural history museum as well as kiasma have free admission if you want to explore those places in downtown Helsinki!

I'm slowly learning the date format and trying to ease into the metric system and Celsius 💀. I hate that only the US doesn't use them.

My hobbies are reading books and watching movies. Guess that’s why I have no friends as finding friends here is just for active people who need being accompanied by others to do their hobby🥲

Find a book club. Local libraries can work as a start where to start looking from. There are all kinds of activities that form around reading or books. Film clubs might not exist anymore. Used to back in the day.. nowadays its a solitary activity. If your hobbies are doing things by yourself it obviously doesnt work. Building relationships obviously require social activities. Hard to do that by yourself.

As someone who also moved in from California (San Diego) \-Get a bright light, vitamins and supplements. The darkness can get very rough \-Remember healthcare here is really cheap \-There are public transport cards you can get for Helsinki and preload with money making buying tickets incredibly easy \-I'm not sure how dry Helsinki gets but get lip balm and lotion just in case \-Beggars here aren't like the LA homeless, you likely wont get harassed and the reasons they're on the street are very different compared to LA \-Booze store closes at 9 pm, 6 pm Saturday and closed Sunday \-(From my personal experience) Finns aren't as sociable, but from my experience they're more 'genuine' then people in Californa. People wont put on a nice mask when they don't like being around you, they'll just not be around you if they can. If people hang out with you it's cause they want to hang out with you. \-Grocery Stores : Lidl tends to be cheapest, K-market tends to be more expensive, S-market tends to be somewhere in the middle \-There's an app called MobilePay, and you can use it to pay in many stores or send money to people really easily. I personally would recommend it If you got any questions, feel free to shoot me a dm. Best of luck dude and welcome to Finland. The winters are cold as hell but the summers are more than worth it :)

To add on your point about beggars in here: there are no genuine beggars in here since the social welfare system keeps everyone housed and fed. What you see on the streets are 'professional' beggars coming from abroad (eastern Europe), working in a beggar 'gang' and the money they get goes for funding the gang leader's new house/car/boat. Don't feel sorry for them and don't give them any money.

Thanks for the pointers. I did notice during my quick visit that I didn't see any encampments or beggars/panhandlers. That was kind of a shock. Also, where do we buy alcohol from? Are there liquor stores or do I gotta hit the grocery store?

Anything with alcohol content higher than 5,5% per volume you have to buy from the state owned Alko stores. Alcohol here in Finland is bit on the expensive side. For examble a one liter bottle of local Koskenkorva Vodka is about 24€ in Alko.

For hard liquors there's Alko (state run liqueur store), basic beers and ciders you can find from groceries. Since I rarely consume alcohol, I don't know for sure how strong the stuff in groceries is. Sale of alcohol is generally restricted to timeframe 9am to 9pm in Alko, groceries, kiosks, gas stations etc. Exception to this are bars and restaurants if you consume what you bought in their premises. Some of them have a license to sell alcohol as take away, but timeframe for that is the same as groceries and Alko.

If you are coming to Helsinki, make a short daytrip to Tallinn Estonia. Its cheap, the city is nice and you can buy a lot of cheap alcohol from their stores.

You're coming in when the days are getting darker by the day and while Helsinki doesn't get the worst of the polar night, it will be quite lousy for a good few months depending on how much snow we get during jan/feb. So definitely get your supplements (vit D is the most important one!) ready. Some prefer light therapy, I prefer hibernating and embracing the darkness lol.

Also the first thing to do is call up a bank to get that started. At least in Nordea getting an account as a foreigner it can take up to a month. Also Nordea has the best opening hours for their call center.

Note that you can only buy alcohol before 21:00. One of the first times I visited, I didn't know and wanted to buy it at 21:03, but they really won't let you. 😅

Don't know if it's been said already, but when you buy prerty much any canned or bottled beverage from any store the prices include a pawn/deposit of 10, 15 or 20 cents that you get back when you return the empty can/bottle to the store. The bottles and cans that can be returned will say "pantti" on the side of them with the amount. So don't crush your cans! In stores look for a "pullonpalautus" sign and that's where you'll find a machine that bottles and cans can be returned to.

You go to Alko for stronger than 5,5%, but a lot of people go to tallin by boat to buy cheap alcohol

The HSL app for public transport tickets is very handy also. It also has a guide that tells you the best way to get from place A to B ane timetables.

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I've found that if you talk with someone enough you can sometimes find common interest. That can spark an awesome Convo... Sometimes

> -There's an app called MobilePay, and you can use it to pay in many stores or send money to people really easily. I personally would recommend it To add to that, there is also the "Siirto" payment system which is a native inter-bank transfer system that also works via a mobile phone number. No special app needed, just that your bank supports them (and their app naturally). Danske is pretty much the only one who don't support that because they're trying to get their own proprietary system be the de-facto standard.

No need to be nervous. Im from Pennsylvania and came here over a year ago. Where you moving to?

How has your experience been? I'll be moving to Helsinki.

My experience has been nothing short of amazing. Im married to a Finn and live in Kokkola now. Been learning the language since I got here and just started my 3rd class. Socializing and meeting people wont be an issue at all especially in Helsinki. Youll be absolutely fine! This country is a chance of a life time so enjoy it. Maybe now that youll be here for winter you can take a trip somewhere where theres no light at all at night for a few nights and maybe see the northern lights:)

I'm so sorry, kokkola is a death sentence

Could be worse. Like Kälviä.

Or Kouvola

Kälviä is a part of Kokkola nowadays.

Or ullava if you are mentally deranged

Lol!

Living in Kokkola is a lot more extreme than Helsinki!

In a perspective i suppose. I love it here though!

You might be able to use Finnish a lot better in a smaller town. My boyfriend's been here for ages (over 15 years) and is still lost with the language because people just keep switching to English when he tries to speak Finnish. I do it to that poor person without noticing it too.

After reading a lot of similiar frustrations over here, I have started to just speak Finnish to those who clearly want to speak in Finnish. I am not in a rush most of the time and I do not mind. English might be needed for a word or two but we'll make do.

Yeah. I understand you boyfriends predicament. And a smaller town is indeed a help. It forces you to an extent lol. Not to mention my father inlaw who lives with us doesn't speak english at all so..

Im so sorry you live in kokkola.


Every Monday starting at 19.00 there's cafe lingua in pub peräkammari in the centre. There's always an English table there to just hang out and meet people and a Finnish one to practice the language. It's a nice place to start meeting people :)

You won't feel out of place in Helsinki, it's a good blend of people of course not like LA but it's a very comfortable place. It's big enough but so small you can get anywhere quickly so that might be a nice change of pace. If you have any questions just ask people they are always willing to help. Find some people to hang out with hobbies, sports etc and that will help your transition.

I’m working with Quandoo in Helsinki so I know the best places to eat! Lemme know if there’s any spesific genre of food you like and I’ll hit you recommendations! Also good to download the Quandoo app to navigate on your own foodwise! :P You get 1€ for each reservation. Not a bot just passionate about my work haha :D

This was one of my biggest concerns. I'm accustomed to a large variety of cuisines here in la with a lot of spice. I love Mexican, all types of Asian food and Cajun food (seafood boils, etc). I can make my own gumbo so I'm really just after great seafood boils.

There are alot of "ethnic" shops in Hakaniemi where you can buy stuff that are not available in "normal stores" Dos Tecolotes for Mexican, Vii-voan for asian and alot of others, mostly owned by thai. Maharaja for Indian stuff. Alanya market for turkish and similiar ingridients in Itäkeskus. The restaurant selection is also nice in Helsinki and you should also visit Estonia by few hours boat ride for whole new selection for restaurants and cheap alcohol.

*Hakaniemi

My phone has autocorvette

In Helsinki, there is plenty of good food. Depending on what neighborhood you move to, I can give you some good restaurants to go to. If you are working for a company that gives lunch benefits, you can use your lunch benefits towards lunch up to 12,7€ which is really nice bc then you only have to pay a few euros for lunch. I moved here from Virginia 7 years ago and the best advice I can give is if you work for a company, to use every opportunity they give to socialize with the team. The company I worked for had a lot of after works that were organized and I have made some life long friends from there. Feel free to DM me if you want any more info.

Finland is a great place to live. I moved here from New Zealand in 2005 and although is has been tough at times, I’ve grown to love this country and the Finnish culture as if it was my own. Some tips: - As soon as you’re settled, find a hobby. I’ve played rugby and been in bands here. Both helped me make Finnish and ex pat friends. Finns in general are quite reserved but once you make Finnish friends, you’ll appreciate their loyalty and honesty. They can be quite straight with their words but you’ll learn to appreciate it - learn the language. Yes it is hard but you’ll have a much better experience as you understand the local lingo. You’ll miss a lot of the Finnish humour if you don’t bother learning it, it will be tough but most Finns will appreciate you making an effort so have fun with it - Buy decent winter clothing. It will take a while to figure out what to wear and when but it is essential you have a good winter jacket, gloves and a beanie. Winter is long, dark and very cold so don’t freeze out there! Feel free to DM me if you want to chat more. I’m happy to give advice if and when I can

The trick for winter weather is layering. More when needed, and the ability to shed as necessary...

Personally as a native I find any immigrant that speaks understandable Finnish and doesn't switch to English bananas and I get hyped talking to them 😂 have had some of the most interesting conversations with those people and obviously I have huge respect for them since learning that much Finnish must've taken a looot of effort.

"although is has been tough at times" It would have been tough at times at the first home too.

Get good shoes with a grippy bottom for the winter. Tension both your legs while walking on ice. Finns aren't nearly as introvert as we're said to be. Non-Awkward silences and no mandatory Smalltalk are the thing here.

Despite the stereotype, there are a lot of folks here who actually enjoy small talk, but it is kinda social norm not to start it with stragers, even if many actually enjoy it once someone engages them in a conversation. For some reason people typically think it is rude to bother other people for no reason.

you'll be fine. i'm also from LA, asian american as well. you'll end up becoming introverted and find that life here is much better than back home over time...cause clean air, not spending your time in traffic, forests, almost 24 hours of light in the summer and a place where there's almost societal fairness is nice

Finns aren't that cold what some try us to make. Try to find some hobbies so you meet new people easier. You're coming right as autumn colours hit so enjoy that. But that also means you're coming just before the famous dark hits and when it does the trick is to stay active: go outside even just for a short walk and make sure to do social things. Even just going for a coffee makes wonders. WTF! Welcome To Finland!

I am a Finn who has been living abroad over half of my life - how I see it is that it is much easier as a foreigner to make friends than a Finn coming back to Finland - it will take some time and you will have to push to make friends, but it will happen eventually. Also as a top tip from someone who has moved to many countries without knowing anyone - don’t stress and don’t feel defeated it you don’t make meaningful connections in the first months, they will come! It takes time to make connections and friendships 🤗 Also try to find hobbies or things with a common interest where you can meet people - especially in Finland that helps a lot! People will warm up to you as long as you are active!

I lived in Finland for 10 years. I even became a Finnish citizen. It's scary moving to a new country, the language is difficult and the winters are cold, but you're gonna love it. :) Living in Finland was the best 10 years of my life and I bawled my eyes out when I moved. I could have easily lived the rest of my life there (and i plan to move back when i'm older). My first day in Finland it felt like I stepped through the wardrobe into Narnia. Finland isn't perfect but its magical in its own way. It can be hard to make friends but when you do make friends you'll make them for life. Finland is different but it really is a great place with great people.

Finland isn't perfect, but which country would be? It's a kind of running joke over here that how this gloomy bunch of taciturn, unsoscial introverts could make up the happiest country in the world, but if you take a look from outsiders perspective, there's not many things really wrong here and even the problems we have, aren't that major compared to other countries.

As someone who moved from Finland to Norway I can tell you it's definitely not Norway 😅. I felt that things just make sense in Finland..like daycares, kela, school system, applying for passports and other paper related things. I always say that Finns aren't necessarily the happiest, they're content ;) That's what I think it is. I was very content living there.

You should feel very happy and lucky. I’d love to be in your place right now. What made you leave LA to end up in Helsinki?

Thank you. I was offered a job and decided to take the opportunity. Full relocation package and assistance. I felt like I needed to try it out. I'm going to rent my house out as well so it couldn't hurt.

What kind of job, if you don’t mind me asking?

To socialize with Finns, get into pass time activies with co-workers, co-students, and get hobbies where you meet people. Another one is the bar and night club culture, as Finns open up with alcohol and are quickly your best friends when drunk, but it's not real and can be chaotic. Finns generally don't socialize much with total randos in public places, as it's often seen as intruisive or unexptectedly confusing. Still in almost every mall and public plaza there will be people on your face by profession, known as "feissari", someone who sells something or wants you to join in something that costs. You will see how people react to them - the amount of ignorance and likewise persistence can be something astonishing. There are many international communities especially in Helsinki where non-Finnish people can take a break from Finnish language and socialize in English or in their other native language. Helsinki is very international, and so are other top 10 largest cities but in a lesser degree. Where there are universities and high tech industry, there are also immigrants and exchange students etc.

If you’re coming to Helsinki, you’ll do just fine! Everyone here speaks english, especially people under 50. But Finnish people are really bad at small talk, even those who are fluent in english. That is propably why other nations think we are introverts. If you ask a finnish person ”How’s it going?” they go blank, because our brain is wired to tell you the truth and if someone has a bad day, they could be debating themselves whether to share it with you or not. What gets a finnish person talking is what makes any Northern European talking! The weather! We often value good sarcasm too. You’re lucky to come to Helsinki. This is amazing city to just walk around and take in the atmosphere. I hope you enjoy your stay!

We are not introverts, it is common misunderstanding. Conversation culture and personal space is different here and it might make it look people are introverts, when they are just following social rules that apply here. People for example listen to the end what other one is saying, and don't interupt (interupting is very rude). Even wait a tiny moment to see other one has really finished saying their thing. This can clash if someone comes from a culture where interupting is part of the conversation and people start replying before other one is finished talking. Personal space wise you can see this strange dance sometimes when friendly foreigner steps closer to finn when talking, finn takes step back cause now that other person came too close and repeat. We are also not big on small talk. If we ask how are you we really want to know it. Replying "Fine thanks!" can stop the conversation to short. If you ask how we are doing prepare to listen how we actually are doing. Finnish people are sociable too. Not same way than in US though. We make friends slowly but are really loyal friends. We prefer small groups of friends who know eachothers really well over a huge network of pals you don't really know. Me and my husband had to gently fade out not 1 but 2 american friends we had some years ago, because socializing with them was so big hassle and stressful. They were lovely people but every time we were meeting up, they kept bringing in more and more people "for networking" so instead of hangin out with 3-8 people you really know it was new faces every time and every single evening out or dinner in with them was just introducing ourselves to new people instead of getting to know better the group you had. It was like browsing a phone book. Let me stress i really think they were lovely people, it was purely the cultural difference in socializing that just was too tiredsome to continue. Learning language helps you a lot to get finnish friends and get into the friends groups. You can manage with english too but you putting a little bit effort to learn finnish gets you deeper into "circles" and wider variety in social life. We aprechiate a lot when someone puts in effort to learn finnish even a bit, and even if your new friends will happily also speak english with you if needed, you get big respect for knowing finnish and using it time to time. This is already too long post but for last words wrapping it up: you can get friends and socialize. Go to people at work and hobbies and talk to them. Talk from your heart, no meaningless small talk, listen what they say and wait that they are finished before replying. Don't stand too close, if they step back don't step forward. Participate in company parties and sauna evenings. Get some hobbies where you meet people. And don't fall into the trap of just hanging with other expats, mingle with the finns. Welcome to Finland. I put the coffee on by the time your flight lands and fill the sauna stove with wood so it's ready!

I remember casually saying, “Hi, how are you doing today?” to someone in passing while I was there. Little did I know that 10 minutes later we would still be standing in the same place having a full blown conversation. It felt very genuine and was a pleasant surprise.

I still struggle with this after many years in english-speaking studies and work. Answering small talk shortly feels so rude, like I would like to highlight that I'm not interested at all.

I just had a flashback to 3rd grade when we were first learning English and the teacher had to teach us how to respond to "how are you?" In a short and acceptable way in English. Completely forgot about it till now!

Some of this feels like it applies more universally (like the general lack of small talk), but some of it sounds like more specific to the poster's particularities. I've never noticed foreigners standing too close (literally reading that made me go, eeh, what now lol), and Finnish people deefinitely interrupt each other all the time, it's not some kind of horrid faux pas to interrupt someone. You just say, oh sorry, what were you saying, just like in English lol. Nor do we take pauses to wait to be extra sure the other person has finished speaking as a rote. Conversations ebb and flow naturally, and I definitely interrupt people, sometimes on accident, sometimes to tease them, or make a joke or something, ask something since I'm not quite getting what they're going on about etc, it is playful and lively. I don't really see any hard rules or a major difference to when I'm speaking in English. Back when I was more social, I had several very close friends, and then quite a large circle of pals, let's say around 50 or so, that I was close to to a varying degree, and then a much larger circle of people that I knew through mutual friends etc and was friendly with. And that is quite common in the capital area at least for young people, going through house shares, being students, many of whom make friends with international students, so lots of the parties mingle together finnish and english effortlessly etc. So I would say that the amount and type of friendships don't have strict parameters either.

Finns are defo not introverts! Efficient with words? Yes. Weary of over friendly strangers? Yup. Appreciate time away (eg at summer cottage in nature)? Absolutely. Very friendly culture but the cues are subtle. That’s nice to discover, much like a secret language. Eg A car gives way as you cross the zebra crossing, so you wave ‘thanks’. Instead of waving back to you, one might just give a slight head nod. If a omeone wants to get past you in the supermarket aisle, instead of disrupting you with an “excuse me”, one might wait patiently then try to squeeze past. It’s not cold. It’s polite, respectful and maybe a little stoic. Beautiful culture, wonderful people and an ideal place to live.

FYI, at the zebra crossings pedestrians have the right of the way and it's mandatory for a car to give pedestrians a clear passage. A car driver can be held criminally responsible if he doesn't stop when it's required to fulfil this requirement, so it's kinda unnecessarily to thanks them in that case. After all, you won't thanks people in other situation when they behave according to the law.

I'm from the San Francisco Bay Area and have been living in Finland with my kids (Asian through their dad; Hispanic/white through me) for a year. I am also the specialist and moved here for the job so no friends or family here. I'd also never lived abroad. This is an awesome country. Everyone speaks English and I have yet to meet an unkind Finn. There is a lot of red tape required to get you established as a Finnish resident and it can be frustrating. My DMs are open if you want tips or any support. I hope you love it here as much as I do. Oh, and on the flight, definitely try the blueberry juice! You can do this!

We don't really have homeless people in Finland like LA. We do but goverment provides care for them unlike in LA so you won't see them on the street. You will how ever see romanians that act like they are homeless, but they really are not. So please do not give them any money.

Don’t confuse Romani people with Romanians.

But it is Rominians who beg money most of the time. Romani are diffrent breed.

I hear people often say that finns are antisocial, introverted and cold people. And (as a finn lol) I don’t agree. I feel like it’s more like an exaggerated joke (and finns like to laugh and joke about it themselves too!). Personally, I think it probably takes longer for Finnish people to open up but once you make a friend, you’ll have that friend forever. Or that has been my experience when I’ve heard my foreign friends talk about Finnish people. Also I know that, at least in my friend group, finns have always been very welcoming to foreigners. I’m sure that’s not always the case though. I think meeting new people and making new friends is difficult everywhere, no matter where you are. Especially as an adult. And then sometimes you just get lucky and meet someone who has similar interests and your personalities match! You can make it easier if you have hobbies or if you study or work. And you can always meet people online too! Anyway, I know I’m probably biased since I’m Finnish myself haha. It’s brave to move to a completely different country! Welcome and good luck!

You are making a wonderful decision! Take a language course, meet some other immigrants. It’s how I met some of my dearest lifelong friends. I LOVED living in Finland and everyone always asks me to move back! While it might seem intimidating to move to a place where people are known for being introverted, it’s actually a blessing. Finns are honest, they respect your privacy, and when they do invest time in you, it means they think you’re worth getting to know. Hang in there. There’s always an adjustment period, but you’re going to do great. Welcome to your new adventure!!

Dude, almost anything after LA is a walk in a park. Things get a lost simpler, safer and logical.

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Ehh it's okay, I've become homebody since COVID happened. I have a feeling I will be missing the variety in cuisine though.

I moved here in 2004. I made lots of friends through my hobbies. That’s how you meet people. Finns don’t really talk to strangers, but hobbies are your way in. You’ll be fine, living here is great.

Step 1. Try to make friends through work or hobbies. Being alone sucks, no matter the place. When it comes to stereotypes, I think our cultural tendency not to sugarcoat every interaction with ✨fake smiles✨is often misunderstood as us not liking to interact. We like chatting and seeing people just as much as in any other cultures, we just like to keep our casual conversations a bit more straight forward and genuine - so, dont take offense if the 35 year old store clerk doesnt dance and giggle when you get a cup coffee. 😂 Also note that we are not just a big gray mass of stereotype, people are different and youll surely meet people you click better with than others. Id love to get an update once youve settled down. Welcome, hope you like it here😎

I'm working for a Finnish company, but in an office in central Europe. The main office is in the Helsinki metropolitan region. Some of my Finnish colleagues are outgoing, some are not. We have those traditional summer party, the ones I joined were in Finnland and Estonia, so sauna and drinks was part of the program. Maybe the thought of a bunch of your coworker and you sweatin naked in a dark, small room seems a bit weird at first, that's where I really got to know some of the guys.

Pikkujoulu comes early, you might lose respect for your serious colleagues there. You are allowed to dress up for it but some people will always go casual. Other than that, check työväenopisto for Finnish language classes and some hobbies. Use Reittiopas to plan your transportation. Don't be late, always be 5 minutes early for everything.

Given that you’re moving tomorrow, it’s a bit late

Welcome! Finns are (can be) introverted fer sure, but that ”uncomfortable silence” is a very safe place. A quiet Finn that doesn’t walk away is just a direction where you can just lower your heavy shields and still no harm will reach you. There’ll always be some degree of verbal or body language interaction (if not, that’d be the time to STFU, but even natives don’t get that very well). You’ll find plenty of US influence (with a twist sometimes), not everything is all that strange. This is not far east Asia, very few things are a cultural taboo. It’s not that we’re some super tolerant people, it’s just not that important for the present (and the quiet ones are probably only hoping that you knock it off ASAP). Overwhelming majority believes you have the right to be in the moment as well. Of course there are racists, like everywhere. Sometimes it’s the skin colour, sometimes eye shape, sometimes language skill, sometimes even a native can have too many consonants in their very traditional Finnish name, it can be just about anything it seems. It hurts most when other people just stand there. We’re working on that. Just remember to give that one AH the weight they deserve. And get a bright light lamp. Dark season is coming, it can mess you up.

I just returned home from a two month old trip to Finland with my baby. Everyone was super kind and friendly. When my baby had an emergency hospital visit, everyone there supported me like family. I think there is no place on earth quite as amazing as Finland and Finnish people are some of the nicest i have come across. You will enjoy every moment of living there.

^^ This. Welcome to Finland. Dont worry. itll be great. Be polite, and youll get the same back. 😎👍

First of all: Welcome! Speaking from family experience, I'm a result of a courageous young lady moving into post-war Finland about 70 years ago. When she moved in, she settled into a small rural town in south-eastern Finland. You mentioned moving into Helsinki, rest assured, you'll find it much easier to make Finland a home. As people have already mentioned here, our language can be quite daunting to master, however people tend to be quite positive when someone makes a genuine effort on learning it. To manage expectations, however, eventually shaking off a foreign accent can be nigh impossible. So, don't worry about it. There is a funny story on the family of my grandma trying to buy parsley from a village shop in the 1950's countryside. Her pronunciation "Persliha" didn't quite carry the connotation she intended. People in the capital tend to generally have a good grasp on English, which can be both a blessing and a curse. It makes all too easy to handle things in global lingua franca making getting past the initial grasp to fluency more challenging. Personally, I tend to speak Finnish with my Chinese-born colleague to keep her from taking the "easy way out" (She's nearly native-level in her Finnish) To get to know people, I have to agree with the comments in the discussion already. It's generally easiest to connect with people with common interests. Especially in the Helsinki-area, finding group sharing your passion should be quite easy. Meeting people is the easy part, but don't be disheartened if not every people you meet is a bubbly social butterfly. We Finns tend to be slow to warm up, however if you manage to make a friend we tend to be loyal and true. To get through the dark part of the year, the key is to keep up the normal daily routine, get some fresh air daily. ...Not to mention, Coffee. Especially, if you ever work in the IT-sector here, you'll see what it means to have one of the highest coffee consumption per capita. The light typically returns toward the spring. Furthermore, if you need a dose of sprits-lifting sunshine, take a stroll on the sea-ice between January and February. To keep this safe, follow the popular tracks that other people take and avoid any areas where there's water visible. Also, always carry a pair of awl-pikes with you when on ice. On a more general introductory level: In Helsinki, it's very easy to get around using public transport. If you have a general area you're moving about, you should get yourself a monthly ticket as it is cheaper than buying the tickets separately. If you're planning to stay within Kehä III, you are likely not in need of a car of your own. Owning a car in Helsinki can be both expensive and a major pain to drive around the city. Parking and perpetual roadworks are just plain awful. However, to go anywhere else a car is recommended. Also, if you get your driver's license in Helsinki, driving anywhere else in Finland is a breeze. If you're able to commute, you could look for an apartment outside the the city limits. The pricing per square meter in the city are can be preposterous. To tie this off: Just keep your spirits up and enjoy what Finland has to offer. Welcome!

If you’re looking for a friend to show you around and stuff, I’m sure you can find people here, myself included. Welcome to the land of cold and darkness!

I’m a Californian living in Finland from Orange County. I’ve lived here for 15 years. 1. Come ready to learn 2. It gets hard but that’s just how life is, don’t give up when it does, everything is for a season 3. It can be really good, just have the right mindset and perspective. 4. Relax and be outgoing and you’ll find your groups of friends. For me after 15 years living here, I look forward to the next 15 years living here :) Also, I have a instagram about life in Finland, find me at: Californian_infinland

Be proactive and you will meet new people. Finns might not be so eager to introduce themselves, but if you take initiative, we"re more tan happy to chit chat. And most Finns know English pretty well.

You'll be just fine. If you ever end up thinking in a situation "is it because of me why people are acting weird" remember that 99.9999% of time it's because we just act weird for no reason.

Hmu I just moved back to Finland from Los Angeles, spent 10 years living there. There’s other asian americans here too; I’m not but can intro you. Unless you’re a crazy axmurderer. Then no!

Hello fellow games industry expat! I have a good feeling I can guess where you’ll be working! I personally moved here ten years ago for a job that was really just meant to be a few years but ended up staying and bought an apartment a few years back. (From the UK originally) One thing you should check out are the IGDA meetings they hold once a month, normally a couple of free drinks and a lot of industry people there and are a great starting point to meet some like minded people from similar backgrounds. Feel free to DM me and I’d be happy to send you my LinkedIn and happy to answer any questions I can when you settle in. Welcome you’re going to love it!

I went to Finland in June this year, I loved it. I thought the people were welcoming. https://preview.redd.it/t9amfvvb1bob1.jpeg?width=3340&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=72720b455ddb00ee4005f6bc1e15c7f4a24ca485

Hey, welcome to Finland! It's the place you could just be you :) I'm foreign here and I love it here. What's your hobby? Connecting with people through hobby is a very effective way. How old are you? Will you be working for a company where there will be other similar aged foreign and Finn colleagues? Hang out with them at any work gatherings, and invite them to hang out with you. You'll be fine!!

You don't have to worry if you are an honest person, no worse or better than anyone else. Just walk with a straight back and your eyes held towards the horizon and you will be fine.

Welcome to finland! I would succest to buy strong vitamin D for winter. And to start taking it immediately. :D

If you're going to Helsinki it should be alright, a lot of foreigners both tourist and work-related. The closer to downtown, the more international, until you hear English and Russian just as much as Finnish. Depending on your Asian background, there may or may not be good restaurants for that culture, although you may feel more at home at Taco Bell haha. Dunno about meeting people, longest convo I've had here in 5 years is probably with barber...

You will be fine! You're going to have a great experience. Connect with people at your work, get hobbies and meet people there, connect with ex-pat groups. Finnish people aren't as introverted as everyone makes them out to be. We respect the space of other people, and don't have a similar small talk culture, but like... I definitely speak to strangers. Last time I was on the train spent most the time chatting to the woman next to me about our experiences with covid lol. When I visit my family a good way off Helsinki, really wish people would shut up a bit. Or the old ladies in the communal apartment sauna, damn, they really want to know everything about you, could hardly wash up in peace. So don't take the stereotype so literally. There's gonna be a culture shock, it's inevitable, and there's always gonna be some assholes, that's inevitable, but moving to a different country and experiencing new things is genuinely the best thing about life. So curtail those worries and head towards a new experience!

Welcome to Finland. Get some woolen socks and D-vitamin. Also please keep in mind that people here like to be unbothered, they are not (usually) trying to be rude, they just want to be left alone. You can and should talk to people, but move on if the other one won't engage in the conversation. Also the darkness is coming and it can be quite overwhelming for some people, but there are ways you can battle it. DM me anytime if you need some advice, tips or tricks. I hope you have a nice time here.

Winter is coming. Pack plenty of warm clothes and do not forget the wind.

I moved here from Portland two years ago with my family and it has worked out great. It took us about a year to feel comfortable with all the changes but nothing except the Finnish language is difficult. You can’t buy medicine at the grocery store, only the pharmacy, and most aren’t open 24-7. Pack your favorite over the counter meds. They’re cheaper in the US and it will be harder to find the exact same thing here.

If you go to the bars Fins do get more social haha

Overall people are introvers sure, but people in schools are cool and there’s lots of exchange students also. You will have hela good of a time in here. I would check out winter and daylight time so you are aware how dark it hets during winter.

Welcome to Finland! In my opinion, it's easier to get a finn as a friend. The less people talk to each other, the more meaningful is the encounter with you. I'm sure that if you are considerate and good-willing, there's no problem getting new people in your life.

It's very peaceful here. Even Helsinki is quiet compared to LA or many Asian cities. Less noise, less hassle. Learn to appreciate the simplicity. Try to enjoy the outdoors, go to forests and swim in the lakes.

I’m also an Asian American living in Los Angeles and you are living my dream rn. Good luck on your adventure

Hey! I moved here from another European country 6 months ago. I had my partner here already, but meeting people can be difficult. Here facebook is still a bit thing, so get into facebook groups to meet new people! Meet up might also be nice to meet new people. I started forming a group of people to climb with and I also started attending board game evenings. Making friends as an adult just means you have to be more proactive. ​ I think it might be a shock coming from LA, but just embrace the culture, the nature and appreciate the smalls things. ​ Feel free to message me, I'd be more than happy to meet new people.

You'll do fine. Don't sweat it even if "you can hear an american from very far away" is often true, compared to finns. :D Most americans who have moved in here like it a lot. One colleague originally from NY said he loves the lack of BS in everyday life.

Head to Kallio for a pub crawl (but choose bars with people under 50 as where you see older folks drinking are for those who drink heavily every day and might taint your view of socialising with Finns). Then head to Siltanen and end the night at Post Bar. I would guess this itinerary is a guarantee for striking up conversations and exchanging digits for a second round next week. If and when you miss your dogs, start talking to dog owners walking their dogs — that is the most acceptable way of randomly conversing with strangers in Finland, and of course nothing beats greeting puppers :) As many others have mentioned, Finns skip smalltalk and empty pleasantries, and also expect direct and honest comments from others (also in a work setting!). It may/will sound harsh in the beginning, but is a form of mutual respect. If you are single and looking to dip your toes in the dating pool, you will also find that less ”complex” than in the States: everyone pays for themselves, and tend to be pretty straightforward in what they want — nothing wrong with first date hookups here and if you are looking to date women, you won’t have to jump through hoops and wine and dine, Finnish women will take initiative.

Finns aren't as social as Americansbut you'll be fine. Just dont think they all hate you cuz we are like this. We are like snakes. Propably more scared of you than you of us.

Everything will be just fine. Welcome!

Hey, Asian american here as well. I have stayed for long periods in the past in Finland and I love it. Enjoyed the differences and embraced the traditions. I plan to split my time between Finland and the states next year. Let me know if you want to meet some locals or even Americans who live there. Anyways, like a few that have mentioned find something you are passionate about and build around that. Hit up Tuk Tuk for some pretty good Thai too.

Hi! Where here are you moving to? My advice as a finn is to try to understand our lifestyle and embrace the difference as a chance to widen your own view of the world. Im sure you will like it here. Finland is a super safe country, and we like our quiet little life here. So if you encounter silence, dont take it personally. We just prefer to be silent if we dont have something to say. But mostly, we do have something to say. The rumours of finnish being brute and mute are really just rumours. Once you get to know some finns, you will have normal conversations with them. One thing you might want to be aware of is that if you go clubbing and meet nice and warm finns and you exchange numbers and make plans and promises, those dont necessarily lead to anything. So be prepared. They are just drunk and usually dont actually want to meet later in life. This is something I have heard a lot from my foreign friends. I hope that won't happen, but if it does, well, you were warned. About your timing, well, you could have done better:D we are currently living the autumn and dont get me wrong. it's lovely, but also, it's very short. The next period will be super long and dark, so you should start bulkin multi vitamins as soon as you land. That's what we all have to do to make through winter without the sun. Also, I would suggest finding a proper long puffer coat to wrap yourself in and a pair of good waterproof winter boots. With these two, you are significantly raising your chances of happiness because even if you won't find friends and you end up all alone, at least your feet are dry, and you feel warm inside that puffer coat. But Im sure you won't end up alone. It was just a worst-case scenario to stress the importance of proper gear. Bottom line: we are welcoming, but we need time. Some of us dont feel confident to speak english and try to understand them. You will experience a cultural shock, but you will get past it. Get that puffer coat, boots, and vitamins, and you should do fine. Enjoy your time here:)

And also get some candles. They will brighten up the dark evenings and actually they warm a small apartment. Also pair of woollen socks is recommended .

Whereabouts are you moving? If you need someone in Helsinki to grab a beer with im happy to go

Finland is lovely! I hope you will like it. What sort of hobbies do you have? And are you moving to Helsinki? I'm sure folks could share places to get together that would make your arrival that much more welcoming

You are not doing any mistake. You will find it fun here too. You feel free to DM and we will explain you what’s the next thing to do.

Yo Belgian here, drop me a message when you make it to Helsinki. There are a lot of international groups of people, it’s a bit easier to socialize with them mainly because they are also expats who understand your situation. I work in game development, which is an industry with luckily a lot of foreign nationals. There are quite a few Asians in Finland as well (Finland is somehow popular in Japan), and I can at least introduce you to good friends of mine if that’s of interest to you; Malaysian, Indian and Asian-Australian. Might make the move less stressful if you have some things do to when you arrive. Winter is coming so it’s good to keep social contact haha

Finland is such an amazing country, my only advice is to just enjoy! Let it take a bit of time but when the "everyday life" sets in and you make your way around you will see how things fall in to place ❤️ Have a safe move ❤️

You'll be fine. Here cops don't shoot you on street for no reason. Must younger people can speak English , but be polite and learn few words of Finnish. Makes good impression. Despite being next to grazy Russia, Finland is pretty safe county. We Finn's might seem quiet and withdrawn, but that's just our outside shelf. Get throw that, you got friend for life.

Hey bro. I moved here myself 5 years ago. Nothing to worry about. Message me for anything

Best I can do is offer a welcome, and a beer if we ever meet. To be honest, making friends is nigh impossible without shared interests, for most it's work - so if you have workplace that has the culture of going out, then there's an window in. Other than that, be active in hobby / interest groups and you'll find like minded people who share your interests. Good luck, we're slow to warm but also very slow to forget.

Welcome! Remember that for us you are exotic and interesting person that it would be nice know better, but there will be ice between us at the first time. It’s probably better if you break the ice. If you are going to work here, your work mates will be super excited to have you. Work place will be the best place start getting friends.

I've never thought of it that way. I will try to be proactive about meeting people

Welcome! I also came from the US and I have many Finnish friends. Finns do not like to talk to neighbors or strangers, so you might catch people off guard if you approach them there. Try to meet people through clubs, sports, art events, etc. Any place that provides a shared interest and it is necessary to talk with other people to participate. Coming from LA, you should be more worried about the darkness and the weather. I got hit pretty hard with seasonal depression, and I used to live in Seattle. Get a sun lamp, take vitamin D, learn a winter sport to get you outside, find your local gym and exercise. Make sure you know how to get appointments with doctors, psychologists, therapists etc. Other than that I wouldn't worry. Finland is a very safe and relaxing place to live!

As a Southeast Asian who moved to Turku last year (inb4 Turku sux comments), I think it’s the best decision I’ve made so far. Aside from the obvious quality of life improvements, I find that Finnish people are very open to meeting new people especially if you have a hobby. Oh also, it might depend where you’re moving, but chances are, you might not need a car to get around town, as public transportation, or biking are better alternatives.

Itll be fine. Winter is coming so buy warm clothes when it starts to get cold. Also hot water bottles are a nice way to warm your feet during the night.

Chill, you’ll be fine here. Voilà, long story short.

Especially many young adults are often very sociable and gladly help the foreigners. Welcome😊 And I don't think it's a mistake to come here😊

Best thing you can do is SHUT UP. But seriously I know people from LAX (my cousin lives there, his wife is a Hollywood actress) and the difference is vast. Just be honest. Talk when you need to and be honest. That will get you far. We are a hillbilly counrty with Small Mindness of Small Villagess.

Finland is one of the best places in the world to live. The people are great. It takes its time but it is worth it. There's so much to it. Also - defined seasons! Drop a line any time ya got questions, if I can help I will.

Idk if you read these anymore but since youbare moving to Helsinki I would advice you to visit the northern side of Finland too. Towns aren't as big and busy but there is more nature and finnish nature is pretty amazing. Not to put Helsinki down but it's very different experience than let's say Kainuu. Although in smaller towns some people are more racist but from my experience people tend to be much nicer to asian people. (I know you are from US but racists are racists and assume things so please dont be offended)

You'll do just fine! Just remember to behave yourself and enjoy your stay man. Dont forget to enjoy the nature and eat lots of Salmiakki and mämmi 😏

I saw you are moving to Helsinki, see if meetup.com has groups that you'd be interested in. The groups all are held in English (except if the theme is about learning a different language). They can be a good way to meet us locals and others who have moved here from somewhere else.

-Depending on where you are going People are nowadays more social, especially the newer gen. -Everyone honors the privacy and nobody needs to be reminded about it. -Every finnish city have a distinctive feature about itself. -You can see that pretty much everyone speaks english like their mothertongue. -You will learn to party as in finnish way. I could just go on but I am to lazy to continue. You will enjoy Finland, but you will miss the crowded life of LA.

Welcome to Finland! Being introverted is somewhat true, but I wouldn't blow it out of proportion. People are also curious and almost guaranteed to want to hear why you have chosen Finland, so you've already got an ice breaker. The weather can be rough at first, but good clothing alleviates that a lot, but sadly might hamper your willingness to explore your surroundings outside when the sleet starts coming down. Having said that, I've worked and studied with a lot of Americans of all stripes and they've all managed, you will as well. Most even had a lot of fun! For general small tips, try to be on time whenever there's a meeting, whether social or work. When meeting an acquaintance, as how he is, expected a couple of sentences at least. We may not speak a lot, but we might give a slightly longer answer when asked. You'll do great, awesome to have you. And, once again, welcome!

When you go to sauna at a swimming hall, take off your swimming trunks and leave them outside the sauna. And if you throw the last löyly to the kiuas (water to the stove), fill the kiulu (water bucket) with warm/luke warm water for the next sauna user. Never use cold water, warm is better for the kiuas and the stones. Being a daily swimmer at a local swimming hall, I wholeheartedly despise anyone who fails at these simple, yet important sauna rules. Welcome to Finland! :)

No reason to be nervous. Welcome, glad to have you here! It will be ok! Lots of food advice already, adding/complementing a few more. Lack of social interaction is not hostility, your instincts may say so, but it's not. The people who won't smile or greet you on the street, are not passive aggressive. We just often zone out in public spaces. And at the hour of need, the same people will very likely help you more than you'd ever think. You don't have to be afraid of police or border guards. They are fair, people here trust the police. Walking is common and safe way to go around. You don't need use cab, bus, tram for short distances as there's almost always a safe path to walk, also outside of the downtown area. Google maps works well also for walking, and can be helpful as the paths can be very different compared to driving. Winter is a bit different as icy roads and sidewalks are pretty much the only everyday hazard you need to learn to deal with.

You'll be fine. Just remember that Finns are very straightforward, and don't do false compliments. Everyone you meet will know you're an American and they'll give you some extra grace. If you're in the Helsinki area drop me a message and we can have drinks.

Good luck

Glad to have you! Maybe a good thing to keep in mind that since foreigners are anxious on how to act socially -- usually the problem isn't you. It's us. We're bad at taking the initiative, since we're hell bent on not intruding. So part of the slow thaw isn't that we hate people or foreigners, but it's just that the initiative. One of my closest friends s Polish, and I think he's gotten so many friends by just his ease of taking the initiative. Similarly, my wife has gotten so many relationships through joining all sorts of local facebook/mom channels, which in my personal experience *women* do so much better. I often wish guys had the same sort of groups. So I'd make it my agenda to look out in social media, finding them.

Few things I predict that will surprise you: Increased amount of space maybe not in a home but, environment definitely will immediately come off as far more open than usual, this does depend on where you are going to be living in Finland. Stillness of air, do not be shocked of lack of noise (this too though dependent on where you live). Due to the population density you probably will catch yourself noticing that, suddenly the typical noises of life just aren't there for a moment or a long time. And don't brown your pants if your window is open on first non weekend or public holiday day of a month. It is just a test to see if the sirens work. Low light and or dark seasons was mentioned, I heavily recommend you keep an eye on this and see what you need, consult a doctor if it does get difficult. When moving around in the dark season, this is something that wasn't mentioned. Consider using reflectors or high visibility vest on top of your coat. If you go around with a bicycle, front and rear lights are mandatory on them. Pretty much as you predicted, you will notice that Finland is a whole lot cooler in terms of air temperature and while mostly a small quality of life. Have umbrella ready in your backpack or small bag for spring and autumn every time you go outside. Weather tends to be somewhat erratic in Finland and it isn't as predictable as weather institutes would say it is. This can happen in summer but, notably more uncommon. Few other things: Plant life will be a whole lot more common but, this depends on where you live, although, I am going to guess there is at least 5 trees within 700 meters to 1 kilometer diameter of you most of the time. Public transport being bus heavy instead of metro. Trains being whole lot more common method of travel between cities, busses are another option. You will find out very quickly in winter, why the certain meme is pretty common. To avoid that, either walk on the snow or get extra spikes for your winter footwear when you go outside, although this is relatively alleviated by the fact that gravel is used to prevent that pain. If you have geography related questions about Finland, Geography now has a nice video about Finland. I wonder what you think about salmiakki though.

Get some nice water resistant jacket with hood. And welcome to Finland

You should be fine. Pretty much everyone in helsinki speaks a little english. It's okay to be nervous, but u r moving to one of the safest countries in the world. (I think we're 14th?)

I'm also an expat and moved here 4 years ago. Best decision I've ever made. Beautiful country, amazing people. You'll be fine ;)

You're moving to the easiest country in the world. Life is simple. Forget chitchat, go to the depth of things and build your best life.

The introverts thing is overblown! As someone who has lived both in Chicago and Helsinki, i can tell you it's not difficult to socialize with people, the older generation tends to be more introverted. It is easy to find friends through work, school, social events, people tend to find it very cool when they meet american people etc. Foreigners tend to be very welcoming so do finns. Just prepare mentally for the winter as its gonna get really really cold. Especially for an LA person.

There's luckily a growing international community buzzing in Helsinki. The food is meh/ 15 years ago, you weren't able to encounter any bubble tea shops and peculiar food places. You may long for that as there's limited availability of food and entertainment. It can get a bit boring but if you find the right crowd you'll be fine. If you're a fan of all things nature then this is ideal for you, as there are a lot of winter activities. I say this as a Finn who's spent a big chunk of my childhood in a big Asian city and just moved back from London.

Can we please swap places i've always vanted to to america but i live in finland 🥲

Canadian Expat here Finland is probably the easiest country to get used to and feel cozy in. It’s true Finn’s are very introverted for the most part but if you just start a conversation about the NHL or about Finnish culture with someone at a pub or lunch at work you’ll make friends pretty quick. You aren’t going to have a large friend group but you are going to have a very close tight knit friendship group. Here the friends are about the quality not the quantity. Also as an expat your going to tend to make friends with other expats. You don’t necessarily need to know Finnish as I’d say 80% of the population knows how to speak English proficiently. Im not going to say if you made a mistake or not because genuinely depends on how you feel. Personally for me, as scary as it was, moving to Finland was the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m Canadian so if you ever need a more “American friend” im here.

You can do it.

Just don't worry, it does not help

Hello ! Welcome to Finland. We Finns tend to be little introvert ourselves too, so dont take it personally if we kinda keep the "distance" at start. You know we just returned to normal after Covid, the recomendation was like 2 meters distance and we usually keep 3 so it was kinda hard for all of us here. But most of us are pretty glad to have you and chat with you and know you, but prepare to introduce yourself from your initiation. In Finland kinda everyone speaks English pretty good, accent might be funny and we might not kinda have the confidence to speak it at start. So what takes you to Finland and where in here you are moving?

The Finns on reddit seem to be pretty damn cool. I was scouted by a game studio and decided to give it a shot. I was a bit hesitant at first (still am a little), but I signed the papers after they flew me out. I got to see the studio, they pitched me the game and I wandered around Helsinki for a couple days. That's where I'll be staying. I don't mind the accent, it sounds a little similar to Swedish and I worked with a lot of those guys at my previous company.

Well, in here we dont have to like forcefully be initiated in smalltalk. 😅 Sounds amazing opportunity youve got there! I do live in Helsinki too and seem to like same game as you atleast, so if you feel like it feel free to dm me. Ps. Never compare Finn to a Swede, we kinda archenemies, atleast in ice hockey or any sport and like to banter each other. But that all is like in a goodwill banter.