Mastering Finland

Shanarah (Australia) and Maria (Philippines) moved to Finland for their significant others. We chat about how they obtained their residence permits, went through the required integration period for immigrants and also what working as kindergarten teachers in Helsinki is like. This episode is loaded with practical information that even our guests wish they had known before moving here, so take note!

Turning a house into a home is a process but having to do it alone while in a foreign country can seem like a daunting task. Petra and Jean talk about their experience of settling into Finland and share tips on where to buy furniture, groceries and eco-friendly items! They also touch on recycling practices and the many specific dietary needs Finland caters to with all their products.  Links: Jysk (furniture store) https://jysk.fi/ Ikea (furniture store) https://www.ikea.com/fi/ Second-hand shops Kirpputori (Kirppis) = a Finnish name for a flea market/second-hand shop Sovatek (furniture and other items) http://www.sovatek.fi/kierratyskauppa.html UFF (mostly clothes) http://uff.fi/in-english/ Student restaurants (Jyväskylä) https://www.jyu.fi/en/study/day-to-day-life-housing-and-free-time/student-restaurants Student restaurants (Helsinki) https://unicafe.fi/en/ K-market https://www.k-ruoka.fi/ S-market https://www.s-kanava.fi/ Lidl https://www.lidl.fi/ Alko https://www.alko.fi/ Organic Shops Ruohonjuuri https://www.ruohonjuuri.fi/ Ekolo Kauppa https://www.ekolo.fi/ Waste Guide https://www.hsy.fi/fi/asukkaalle/lajittelujakierratys/Sivut/default.aspx 

Saswati came to Finland from India in 2017 to study Education in a Master's degree program. Coming from a country of 455 people per square km to Finland (with 15 people per square km) imagine her surprise when she first arrived! She talks about an unfortunate incident involving racism, her dating experience and how she smoothly transitioned into a PhD program.

Petra and Jean talk about what you should do once you arrive to Finland. Jean delves into the process of obtaining a personal identity code (henkilötunnus) and opening a bank account as a non-EU citizen (among other things), while Petra shares her experience as an EU citizen. Are you sure you’re all set for your new life in Finland? Tune in and find out! Links: Finnish Immigration Service www.migri.fi Online Services of the Finnish Immigration Services (residence permit) www.enterfinland.fi Local Register Office www.mastraatti.fi Employment and Economic Development Office (TE Office) Services www.te-palvelut.fi Tax Administration www.vero.fi

Kadiya moved to Finland with her husband from Urumqi, China back in 2015. Since then she has experienced significant life moments, like getting her Master’s degree in education and giving birth to her first child, all while navigating her new life in a foreign country! Find out how she intentionally changed her mindset to help her adapt to the Finnish culture and overcome the struggles and which aspects of the Finnish culture made her “feel human!” Links: Kadiya's Blog - https://kadi617.wordpress.com/ Starting Up – a free online course by Aalto University - https://starting-up.org/en/

Petra and Jean share all the nitty-gritty details of planning your move to Finland. Whether it’s applying for a Finnish residence permit or finding housing, get a heads-up about some of the key things you should tend to prior to your arrival to ensure a smooth start! Links: Checklist for moving to Finland https://www.infofinland.fi/en/moving-to-finland/checklist-for-a-person-who-is-moving-to-finland Housing https://www.vuokraovi.com/ https://asunnot.oikotie.fi/ Finnish Immigration Service https://migri.fi/en/residence-permit

Katerina talks about her move from Greece to Finland with her Finnish-Greek fiance and recalls some hilarious and challenging moments that she faced in the beginning. She also shares useful tips for getting a pet, car shipping, and starting a teaching career in Finland! Links: Finnish Tax Administration https://www.vero.fi/henkiloasiakkaat/ Importing your car to Finland https://www.traficom.fi/fi/ Advertisement website for Selling/Buying https://www.tori.fi/

Petra and Jean share their first impressions of Finland. Is Finland everything the media makes it out to be...or more? Was it love at first sight? Find out if pre-existing notions the world seems to have about Finland are true! Links:  This is Finland - things you should and shouldn't know about Finland https://finland.fi/ Study Portals Masters https://www.mastersportal.com/countries/9/finland.html Study.EU https://www.study.eu/

Meet your hosts! Petra is from the Czech Republic and Jean is from California and they met while studying in a Master’s degree program in Jyväskylä. Find out what inspired them to take the leap and start this podcast and what you can look forward to in later episodes!