I'M FREAKING OUT | Moving To Finland
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2018
- So, we're moving to Finland. Everyone knows moving home is one of the most stressful things you can do... so here's why I'm freaking out about the move to Finland!
Instagram: / dave.cad
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Gaming Channel: / davecadgaming
Business inquiries:
hello@davecad.co.uk
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F.A.Q.
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• How old are you? •
29... urgh
• How tall are you? •
6ft 4 (or 192 cm)
• Where do I live? •
Currently, London. Occasionally, Helsinki
• What gear do you use? • (affiliate links)
Every-day cameras:
Sony RX100 Mark IV: amzn.to/2Cf18uW
Canon G7X Mark II: amzn.to/2DmTtHU
- Shotgun Mic -
Rode Video Mic Pro: amzn.to/2Dl55uT
- Audio Recorder -
Zoom H1: amzn.to/2pGbsXH
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I moved from Finland to Germany with zero knowledge of German language. The first weeks were really overwhelming and quite difficult, because I couldn't understand anything, but eventually I started to learn German words from here and there and after some months I could survive in everyday life situations and communicate in a low level with other people.
Here are some tips that helped me a lot when I was learning a whole new language:
- Listen to Finnish language so much that your brain hurts! Listen to other people speak, watch Finnish TV, listen to Finnish music, whatever works.
- Write down on a paper 10 random words in Finnish and learn them. Do this every day from Monday to Friday, and during the weekend rehearse the 50 words you learned. Repeat this every week as long as you can or at least for the first 4 months and try not to skip a day! If 10 words per day is too much, try with 5. You can also categorise the words you learn like this: one day you learn vehicles, next day colours, next day adjectives, next day office supplies and so on...
- Speak Finglish = When you talk, try replacing the words you already know in Finnish with Finnish vocabulary. It sounds ridiculous at first, but you and people around you will get used to it. Eventually you'll learn to replace more and more English words with Finnish words.
- Don't be afraid to speak! You will make mistakes, but the important thing is that you open your mouth. Make sure that you tell people around you to correct your language whenever you make a mistake and that you definitely will not be offended about correcting your mistakes, you just want to learn everything properly from the beginning.
- Sign up for a language course. The teachers should be professionals and know what they are doing. And you'll need this for learning grammar.
- Don't worry too much. It's ok to give up for a while sometimes when you don't feel like it. Your brain also needs rest.
Trust me, learning the language in an environment where you are surrounded by the language is so much easier. You are lucky to have people around you to help!
And by the way, moving from Germany back to Finland was so much more scary than moving from Finland to Germany!
Good luck and welcome to Finland :)
That could actually help him
mohkofantti00
Good advice
About the language. There are Finnish courses in Finland for people wanting to learn the language. And dont sweat it. I am sure you'll learn it. Of course it takes time like with every language. And also it helps when you live in Finland. You'll learn the language even faster!
It would be nice to see how much you learn Finnish in next 1-3 years, using it best way to learn and you have good head start already
Thanks for the encouragement. I'll keep my eye out for more courses! :)
www.hel.fi/sto/fi/opiskelu/maahanmuuttajat-immigrants/suomi-toisena-kielena-en
www.helsinki.fi/en/cooperation/finnish-for-foreigners
Check Kansalaisopisto, we have A PLENTY of language courses, and in the capital area quite a few for migrators
You learn finnish best when you speak it. I think you'll be fine in Finland.
Hopefully I will be able to one day! :D
My high school English teacher was a guy from southern England, he spoke almost perfect Finnish. Didn't even really have an accent. It did make it easier for him that even if he forgot a word, everyone around him also spoke English, so it was easy for him to just ask someone for the best equivalent word. Some Finns would also like English to be made the 3rd official language of Finland along with Finnish and Swedish, because it's estimated that aroun 70% of Finns are fluent in English, and everyone can speak it at least a bit.
Hey Dave, one of my friends moved to Finland from Japan. She started to speak in Finnish as soon as she could say at least something. We always helped her with the grammar and teached new words and she was able to speak pretty fluent Finnish after only 6 months! An other friend decided to survive mainly in English and in the same six months only got to know some words. So go out of the comfort zone is my main tip, you'll definitely learn it! And WELCOME YAY!
There is also a word for schadenfreude in finnish. It's called vahingonilo.
Good to know! :D
Skadeglädje in Swedish.
Let's construct "vahingonilo": vahinko is an accident and fumble. Ilo is happiness. Vahingon is accident and/or fumble is like vahinko word owns something that vahinko owns, that in this case is ilo. Hopefully this makes sense and/or clarifies this somewhat.
Schadenfreude in Finnish = vahingonilo. See? We have a word for that too! :)
And "glee" in English?
Malicious joy is the greatest joy (Estonian: kahjurõõm on kõige suurem rõõm)
Finns have a word (or several) for everything 😂
They (we) have not fallen on their mouths...
Dave Cad That we do :)
Kyllä se siitä!
A motivational whale to drive the point home: motivaatiovalas.com
Just keep it natural, genuine and honest, that's what Finns appreciate usually being so themselves. For many Finns loud, fake, macho and other similar things are a big NO NO and a turnoff I am sure you know what i mean :) good luck!
Thanks! I have no intention of being anything other than myself! I hope that works out! :D
One good way to learn new language is to ask some of your friends that are native finnish speaker to use like some words in finnish like "lets go and grab some kahvi and voileipä" and bit by bit they use more and more words in finnish so you just like glide in to the language! Works for me
Check out your local "kansalaisopisto" for Finnish courses once you've moved. :)
Or "työväenopisto" is what they also have in Helsinki. Ilmonet.fi I think is where they are listed. I haven't lived in Helsinki for several decades so I don't know the details, but Google told me. :D
Thanks for the link! I'll check it out :D
Get a dog! Ever since we got a dog and started talking to it in Finnish, my skills have improved a lot :D It's rediculous, but I swear it works :D
Sounds ridiculous but it kind of makes sense. :-D I talk to myself instead but that may look and feel weird.
Every time I'm having doubts or concerns about my life (which these days is often), my mom likes to say she believes firmly that everything is for reason. We might not see it at the moment, but years later you're gonna look at this period in your life and see how everything worked out and fit into the grand scheme of things.
You're gonna do awesome, Dave :) If you feel unsure about your language skills, go to a course, there should be plenty of them, and the rest will come naturally as you start using it in everyday life. And if the TH-cam thing should ever flop, it's never too late to get a degree. And you have Cat and everyone else beside you, which is amazing. It's all gonna turn out for the best, you'll see! Welcome to Finland, my man!
Thank you so much for the kind words Katri! They really mean a lot to me! :)
As a person who has moved in and out of Finland several times, I'd just say, take this move to Finland as certain phase in your and Cat's lives. You'll come here, see what is going on and stay one year or a lifetime or something in the between. I think now-a-days people often think everything they do has to have a big meaning and success etc. although it is everything just about living. This will be one phase and it will lead you to something else, which at the moment stays unknown. If a door opens in front of you, go right in, if a door closes in front of you, look for another door. Do not plan or expect too much, just take the life as it comes and you'll thank yourself when you are older, for all of those experinces you have got. Atleast for me, it has worked that way :) Tervetuloa Suomeen Dave, kaikki sujuu oikein hyvin!!
Helinki is is much easier than London. I love London, and lived there for years. ( lived in London 25 years ago and Helsinki 20 years ago). I lived in 5 different countries in Asia, US, Europe, Australia. And I'm back in Helsinki now because It's heaven. I love living in a country where no one is annoying! I could spend my days just looking at the buildings and architecture. Success is having a balanced life which is more realistic in Finland than London. Particularly when you are ready to start to plan for a family. Almost everyone in Helsinki speaks English. I just started studying Suomi at Helsinki uni. It's so tough. I heard there's cheaper/easier course in Kamppi. You could study anything in Helsinki! Amazing education system. Would be worth studying while you are working. You know all this. So, try not to worry. It's a smart move. You know you will love it. You have so much support. Have fun! Moi x
You shouldn't be afraid to make mistakes when trying to speak finnish! Most people will understand you even tho you don't speak the language perfectly and people are more than happy to help you to get your message through! Also the teachers at the university of Helsinki are absolutely amazing (atleast the ones I've had) and if they don't happen to have finnish courses right now then I recommend any kansalaisopisto,aikuisopisto or työväenopisto! Welcome to Finland!! Hope you won't regret moving here!!
I know the feeling! I have moved to Finland 2 yrs ago. Still one of my best decisions ever made!
Listen Finnish kids stories and watch movies in Finnish subtitles or watch movies in Finnish and turn on English subtitles. Those movies that you know very good. I do this with russian and it helps a lot! Hyvä luolaisä!!!!
It'll take something like 10 years but you will automatically learn finnish when you hear it in daily basis. Of course you will learn it much faster if you actively try to learn it
The best way to learn a new language is just speaking it and listening others speak it. I'm sure you'll learn Finnish as soon as you move to Finland. And we also love to teach it so don't be afraid everything will be okay, we love you Dave!
Your videos were one of my security blankets (or sheets due to the theme of your video) when I lived in England back in 2016. So thank you for that Dave!
Learning the language: I would suggest that you try out the Cafe Lingua - events in Helsinki. The atmosphere there is super safe and helps you come out of your shell and speak in the language you want to learn. Double thumbs up!
Or then just have laid-back study seshs with Luke. That would actually make a good video :D
Hyvä luolaisä
Eks tajuu siis dave cad cave dad luolaisä
😃👍
You're going to be alright. I know that we Finns are quite eager to help with language, but we do it wrong. We change to English and by doing that we hope to ease the person's feelings when he/she can speak more familiar language. But we kinda crush the person's opportunity to speak and learn more Finnish. Sorry if I'll be that person.
I also think that one problem is that Finns try to correct the pronounciation or grammar of a learner too much. If it's done too much, it can become counterproductive to the learner. The language begins to feel like a burden. The learner starts to feel that he gets all the time negative feedback for trivial mistakes, and he uses a lot of his mental capacity to remember all the fine details. Instead of that, in the beginning the most important thing for him is to get the big picture right: being understood in some basic level, building vocabulary, and having fun crafting all sorts of sentences. Success in those areas will encourage the learner to get even better.
It's such a kind thing to do though, especially if (like me) the other person is at an early stage of learning! Helps make us not feel left out!
That's true. You could probably just tell people whenever you don't want them switching language. It's very typically Finnish that everyone will switch to English when there's just one non-Finnish speaker in a large group.
But feeling left out feels many times worse than not getting to learn the language. At least for me.
Omg! im from Venezuela currently moving in few days to finland with my fiance wich is finnish and i feel exactly the same as you ... im FREAKING OUT! starting from the language to not having friends or family there and thousand other insecurities. 100% identified with u right now haha
Hey! I'm finnish but I lived in France for a year as an exchange student. Before that I did not speak french (practically at all) but now I do very well. So i have some advice:1) You don't need language courses. Sure they can help get you started but you'll learn soooo much quicker and better ( and cheaper) by just speaking the language. During my year in France I learned more french in 6 months than in 6 years of French classes. To achieve the same, you just have to speak Finnish/Swedish. Don't get me wrong, it is not easy. It won't come naturally. You will embarras your self and you will sound like a baby ("i hungry", "where trainstation"...). The first 3 months will probably be very difficult. You will have problems relating to people and you'll notice that you haven't had a normal conversation with anybody for a while. It can be isolating. BUT if you persist, 4th month will be easier, 5th even better and after 6 months youll be a pro. So don't worry. I lived through that. So will you.So speak speak speak. I dont know about your relationship but you could ask cat to only speak in finnish/swedish? If it sounds too much maybe only the weekends or something i dunno. :P also insist on speaking in your target language when speaking with natives. I know finnish people might try to be nice and switch to english but you could explain your situation. I didn't have that problem in France though so I'm not sure what the best course of action would be.My point is, don't sweat it. In the beginning you'll sound like a potato but your goal is not to speak perfect finnish but to be understood. If you don't know how to form a sentence, just say words and hope for the best. If you don't know a word,try to explain. Use a lot of gestures and facial expressions. There is little that can't be communicated if both the speaker and the listener are determined and have the time. Over time you'll stop sounding like a potato and that's when ( if ever ) you could start to think about grammar. If you need to write in finnish (in a job or something) , just read books. Or comics at first. Aku Ankka (Donald Duck) is great because the vocab used is fantastic. Finnish kids learn how to write reading them.
2) In case of culture shock and home sickness:I can only speak based on my own experience. Your situation is different as you'll have your own appartement and you know people here in Finland. But if a wave of sadness hits you on the 3-month-mark, you should know that its normal. I think i read somewhere that sometimes getting over home sickness can take even 6 months. My best advice is to be 100% engaged in your life in Finland. Talk about your feelings with the people that are here right now. Talking only to the people that you have left in Great Britain can escalate the situation. Also maybe you should avoid comparing the two countries too much. You'll just feel bad and ignore the cool and good stuff in your life in Finland.
Ok. Sorry this was long. I wish you the best of luck! I wish you strenght to get over the hard times (and the long winter). And I wish I dont seem pushy, rude or bossy in this. I have problems controlling my tone when writing anything. (I am the worst texter) I swear I'm not trying to be rude or know-it-all. Sorry! I just thought I'd give advice based on my experiences. I had hard time in France but not everyone's experience was the same. I hope I was of help!
Wilma
Oh you are looking for Finnish courses at University of Helsinki? Also, I thought I heard you saying "get a teacher"? I'm currently taking Suomi2 course at University of Helsinki after I've completed my first course (Suomi1) there. I spent about 3 hours per week in class and maybe 4 hours self-study time (at least I try to... xD). I have to say learning in the classroom with a bunch of other people (about 20 ppl per class) that are in the same situation as me really helps me learn the language faster (and I had also tried to learn Finnish on my own for about 6 months before I migrated to Finland and I felt like a stooge for not being able to reach to a level I'd want!). Just to be sure we're talking about the same courses, it's "Finnish for Foreigners at University of Helsinki". Have fun packing!!!
Ihana Pön My Brother Is In University Of Helsinki :)
Is it swedes in the course Ihana Pön? :P
Just remember, try to keep maksalaatikko as a treat and not everyday food, so you don't grow sick of it. :)
Dave , you will be brilliant! And Cat will be with you every step of the way. Can't wait to see your new adventure unfold .
Welcome! You will get along just fine here in Finland :)
Thank you! :D
Others in the comments have said it too but let me join them: you learn language the best when you use it. Whatever you do, don't give up. Also I've always had much better time learning languages by watching tv or movies in that language. How about you marathon some Disney films in Finnish with English subtitles at first if you'd like. You can learn a lot about just how the language sounds like. Finland has courses for people wanting to learn the language and as for a degree, if you want one, you can try getting one here if you want! Universities etc have English programs. A new challenge, no?
And remember that Cat will always be your support blanket.
Finish:"Kuusi palaa"
English:
-your moon returns
-your moon is on fire
-spruce is on fire
-Spruce returns
-number six is on fire
-number six returns
-six of them are on fire
-six of them returns
-six pieces
Welcome to Finland Dave! You will be ok with english in here so don't worry mate. Im sure that you of all people will be fine in here. You r practically 1 of us already so. Hehheh you r at our LIDL comercial too xD ya r good
It's okay to have these kinds of thoughts and feelings. Everything will work out and go super well!!😄 I appreciate that you feel you can open up to us and share your feelings with us, that's really good. We're here to support you both!!
Dear Dave,
Coming from someone who lived through all these thoughts and a similar experience, I can tell you a few things that are important to realize.
1. Moving. Hardest part. It's gonna feel super complicated and stressful - it really is not. Find out what you need to do; documents, registration etc. Then do it - it's done. Moving your stuff: you'll find all you need within 24 hours in Finland - don't carry any extra deodorants or toothpastes.
2. The language. Perkele. It's gonna be a long process. The only tip I can give you to fully "force yourself" to learn Finnish - tell everyone who switches to English that you don't speak english "En puhu englantia". (Some might ask where you are from, just tell them you're from Europe). I actually did this in the Netherlands where people "automatically" switch to English similarly to how Finnish people do.
3. You won't fail. You won't suddenly F-up everything. Don't worry about things. Don't overthink. In case you lose all your main income - apply for temporary cleaning job (they'll take anyone) and it'll guarantee that you won't go broke. There's always a "safety net" - you're not coming from or moving into a 3rd world country.
4. Good luck. It's gonna be super fun if you make it fun!
(Also, I owe You my most sincere apologies for the intolerably improper use of phraseology and the extraordinarily horrific articulation of the English language I have displayed in the literary format on this platform of communication.)
Wow Aleksi, I needed some popcorn for that comment! You had me on the edge of my seat the whole way (I also loved the creative "sorry for my bad English" at the end! haha)
Thanks for the awesome tips and pep talk! It's just what I needed man! Might make this my screen saver 😂
Remember that you have a huge advantage as you can immerse yourself in the culture. It's one of the best ways to learn a language.
Good luck dave! u'll be fine here in finland :D greetings from tampere o>
I work at a coffee shop in a smaller city in Finland, and I actually love when someone comes and speeks english, love to speek english and it doesnt happen that often. So don’t worry! At least I love speeking english to people! Lots of support to you guys!
I think it's really cool and interesting to hear your thoughts and fears about the move! I wouldn't worry too much because unlike many others who move to Finland, you have a pretty clear and real picture of what life in Finland is going to be like. Regarding pressure to make content and learning finnish - all you can do is try your best! I'm pretty sure this is true for most Finns: we really appreciate you even trying to learn the language (because let's face it - not many even care to try) and we're quite good at picking up on bullshit when it comes to people. So content wise - be yourself and don't worry or try too hard to make something that isn't you. A lot of your likeability comes down to who you are and this video quite nicely shows it: a guy blabbering on about his life while folding laundry - doesn't have to be that fancy all the time to make some enjoyable videos to us! :)
Just jump in. It will work out one way or another. Keep the good spirit and it all goes well
Stay positive about the future, You know what your planning to do is going to be the best thing ever .
I’ve talked with my girlfriend about doing the exact same thing and everything you talked about has gone through my mind as well .
It’s going to be great , stay positive 👍
I genuinely hope you'll have a great time in Finland once you move! I'm sure everything is going to work out just fine. I swear you'll learn the language as well! It's totally fine to feel anxious about the move, because it really is a big step. I hope everyone here makes you guys feel welcomed and safe.
I totally use my TH-cam channel as a therapy too! XDDDD
All the best to you and Cat! It's going to work out fine, I'm sure of that!
Good luck with moving Dave! I know it's nerve-wracking to enter a new phase in life but I like to believe that eventually we all end up where we ought to be. Do what you love with a good spirit, and it will take you far. ^_^
I can totally get behind all these thoughts your freaking out, because I just moved to Norway from Finland, and I am struggling allmost with all the same things as you!
I just linked this video to my fiancee 😄 I am originally from Finland and he is Australian, we currently live in Australia but are planning to move to Finland in the next couple of years. Your concerns are very similar to his about how to make a living in Finland and learning the language. It is always a bit tough at first moving to a new country, I know it was for me when I first moved to Australia. Just the cultural change alone can be overwhelming at first. But like you said, if at least one of you is originally from that country and has supporting friends and family around it makes a world of difference. Just don't put too much pressure on yourself, gradually get settled in and keep doing what you love and I'm sure you'll be fine :)
I don't know much, but as a former exchange student I know this: learning a language is so much easier when you're surrounded by it and hear it every day. Yes, everyone you know might speak English, but you can always ask them to just speak Finnish to you (even a little bit every now and then helps too!). Start small, like try surviving a trip to the shop only using Finnish etc. Try to listen to the language as much as possible, watch tv in Finnish, listen to the radio etc. And in addition to this, it obviously doesn't hurt to take a Finnish course or something. That's how I learned German while on exchange. I'm sure you'll do great!
I can't remember if you've talked about it in an earlier video, but how did you go about learning Swedish as well as I've heard you speak it? Via Cat (and her family when visiting Finland)? If so, try to -force- -them- ask them nicely to go against their natural instinct to speak Swedish among themselves and instead speak Finnish when you're around so you get as much practice and exposure to it as possible.
Granted, Swedish and English are much more similar than English and Finnish and thus easier to learn for you, but just being in an environment where you're constantly hearing it or seeing the language written down, you're going to gradually pick up more and more as time goes on even without actively taking classes or whatever. Not that taking classes are a bad thing, either.
Thanks Jack! I kinda want to keep up my Swedish learning as well as learn Finnish (maybe I'm really a glutton for punishment!) I've got a lot of Finnish speaking friends so I might start with getting them to help me with the odd word here and there and yeah... take a course. BACK TO SCHOOL! :D
Welcome to Finland mate
So glad you're moving to Finland! Don't stress about the language. I have couple of friends who have learned finnish in a year. Tervetuloa Suomeen :)
Hi Dave. Life doesn't have to go exactly as planned in order to make things work :) so don't worry too much about success, certainly a lot of good stuff will come out of your move anyway
It's totally okay to be nervous about this! This is a big thing in your life! But don't be scared, life will carry you if you are just willing to do things that "feel right". :)
What comes to language, I totally understand your point and willingness to learn Finnish. I'm sure that you will learn it, maybe faster than you think you can! But don't take pressures from it. Even tho your channel's fan-base is mainly in Finland (I'm Finnish as well), I bet is totally okay for all of us if you continue making your videos in English! (This is the way I try to learn English, you are a great teacher ;)) Once you get somewhat comfortable with the language, you can start doing videos like Cat does, a Finnish video every now and then.
It's going to be an awesome spring and summer, can't wait to follow your adventure! ^^ hf
Ty for this video. It feels "good" in a way too acknowledge that everyone has some anxiety or something going on, not just you. It's just that not all show it, which obviously they don't need to, but you know. No wise advices to give, but be in the moment. Worrying now does not help, if you end up in shitty situation, then do something about it, worrying before hands only takes your energy from doing the things that make you go forward. You can only do stuff in "now".
Like already said; don't sweat it about the language. Finnish is hard indeed and you're putting an effort into learning it. You're all good.
I can relate... in a way... well sort of. I'm moving to a different office to work with people I already know in a setting I'm familiar with in a better part of town, but I'm still uncomfortable about it because it's out of my comfort zone. I can't imagine how it would feel moving to a different country!
Having said that I'm very excited for you guys, and although you can never predict the future you (and Kat) are personable and genuine, and you have repeatedly demonstrated great talent in your craft. I'm sure that will only improve as time goes by. I love where we live in Canada but moving to Finland is something I've thought about too since I lost my wife. I admire you and Kat for pulling up stakes and going for it.
Being nervous is a good thing because it keeps you motivated and creative. Best of luck to you on an easy transition!
First off all, you will succeed. Your channel will keep growing and we will be here. We love your channel and moving to Finland only strenghtens the connection. You will be fine. Trust yourself, you´re amazing!
Second, the language. You have done incredible job already. Finnish is a difficult language to learn but you´ll do it. Bit by bit. We have courses for foreighn people which give you a good base. Also being surrounded by finnish people kinda forces you to learn. And the fact that you´re genuingly trying already takes you off from the "ignorant british person" box :)
You should also know, that you can always go back to London if everything fails. Surely it will take some effort to organize everything, but that´s life. Though I think everything will go well. And like you said, you have support in England and in Finland. And you have Cat. She´ll help you and support you. And you have us. You´re not alone.
Have faith on yourself and see what happens. Luv u!
I have moved to Finland and since moved back to the UK as it didn't work out for me. But the biggest tip I can give is buy a light therapy lamp!! This helped!! Finnish winters are so so dark and for me the darkness really got to me (part of the reasons I left) however it did help
Youll be fine.. everyone ive met has loved being in finland and consider it their home..dont worry. :D i myself am not 100% finnish and i cant imagine living anywhere else.. its just so calm and nice and chill.. i love it.. i hope you will love it too :)
Learning the language totally depends on how you personally learn things as well. You've been doing a pretty damn good job so far. Wondering if just hanging around with people would help you more, learning on the go, instead of a structured class. Seems there would be many volunteers. Much love to you both.
Dont stress about it Dave, you will get to the point when you understand finnish and can speak with it. Just wait for it, because its easier when you hear it around you. Maybe start watching finnish tv shows when you move here :D good luck and dont take too much pressure about this!
Hyvä luolaisä! Sä pystyt siihen :)
Learning in a group lead by an experienced teacher is certainly a lot more effective and easier than trying alone. But the most important factor is if you really want to learn Finnish and put yourself into it.
Thanks Markus. I think some kind of group course is definitely the way I'm gonna go!
Moving abroad is one of the scariest things, ever. I moved from the UK to the US quite a while ago (on a one way ticket) - having to sell things, pack up, end your lease, get everything in order... it's overwhelming. You'll be fine... I know it, but it's totally okay (and understandable) to be nervous about it all. Being immersed in a language is the fastest way to learn. Don't be shy about trying out the little Finnish you know. I know even when I've been in places where I don't know the language at all - just trying to say "Hello! How are you?" is a massive step and people will love you for it. Also, being able to ask "what is this called?" is really important and people will do their best to help you. Finnish people are some of the best people in the world...
Don't worry about the language. I'm trying to learn Finnish myself at the moment and while it's hard, it just takes a long time. You'll get there, I'm sure of it. Get a tutor, as it definitely helps. Especially in the beginning to get a grasp of the grammar and such. Get some language exchange partners on the Internet maybe too. Try to ask your friends or family to speak Finnish to you. Of course in the beginning that will be really hard and they'll have to use really easy words and such, but it helps. Try to answer in Finnish at times. Doesn't even need to be in full sentences, just random words, as long as you're getting your point across, it's good already. And with friends or family you don't even have to worry about failure. Just some ideas. Learning a language takes time, months or even years, and effort, but I'm sure you'll get there!
Thanks for the tips :) How come you're learning? Do you live in Finland?
Hey! You will manage it! 😃 I moved from Mexico to Germany 17 years ago and we manage to learn German, survive and adapt here. I think if you love the country where you are moving, are open and work hard you will find your way and place. About the language... It's really hard but being there and hearing it every day will hekp. So... good luck! 🍀
I'm living in Finland on exchange right now!!! I've been here for about 7 months!!! Don't worry everything will work out!!! Also the reason I found you is because my Finnish friends showed me you!!! Finns love you, you'll do great.
It's not like you can never move back to England again if things don't work out. It'll be fine.
oh don't worry, you'll learn our hard-ass language eventually. it's really no trouble for the most of us to correct others in our language and speak english for a change. just happy to have another of my favorite youtubers in our country. ^^
Honestly Dave, just by hearing the language on the daily basis will help a shit ton trust me. For example look at your older vlogs from finland, every time you came back to uk your vocab in finnish haf improved.. Just making sentences is the tricky part. Time will do its job. Even imigrants learn to somewhat communicate in finnish within 5 years, and so will you.
Hey Dave, cheer up! I moved to Finland last year (in September) to start a university course for which I am going to do the test in a month or so (so it is still a "maybe"). I am Italian, I speak English and I am slooowly learning Finnish. It is hard, for sure, but at least I understand the structure of sentences and cases just because I studied Latin at High School. I am going to start a Finnish course in April, I worked in a pizzeria (what an italian stereotypical person, wow) and I learnt some vocabulary and basic dialogues just listening to them, I am sure you will learn the language too. Good luck for everything!
Welcome to Finland! I don't know about Helsinki but if you want your summer to start in June , you are in the wrong country :) Summer=average temperature 10C or more through the day and night. Spring=average temperature 1C-9C Spring 2017 lasted from February to June in Jyväskylä.
Haha the weather is the least of my worries man! xD (I actually prefer cooler climates, so it might be perfect for me! :D)
Welcome to Finland : )
As quickly as you picked up Swedish youll have no problem to pick up on Finnish! Theres also these "language cafes" organized by different organizations where foreigners and Finnish people just hang out and go out for coffee to talk in Finnish! In the beginning you can sit around and listen to the conversation, ask what words here and there mean and after a while join the conversations!
I recommend watching lots of Finnish TV shows, news etc. on the TV when you move to Finland. You'll be surrounded by the language so it'll be easier to get into the mindset of learning. You'll be fine. :) It's always small steps with everything. I think that it's good to want to learn fast but with big life changes like moving to a new country, you also need to remember to relax and let yourself to just be and breathe once in a while. :)
No worries. 😊 You can always start studying something. Especially in Helsinki there are opportunities to study in English as well. Now, to learn a language you’ll need to speak to a native on a regular basis so start talking Finnish with Cat eg. an hour a day? They say you will learn a language in six months by communicating with natives. Us Finns are eager to start speaking in English when we realize it is the other persons native tongue so it might be a good idea to ask everyone to be patient and only speak Finnish to you..... and welcome! 🇫🇮
It gonna go super fast once u re in finland!! Believe me, gone through it myself! Dont worry, u gonna be fine
I hope so! :)
I met a guy who moved from England to Finland and he went to a Swedish school. So he speaks all three languages really well. Though it was a little funny when he wasn't sure what something meant and I had to explain in english.
Honestly, he was one of the most chill people I've ever met. If he made it, so can you. I hope you've been doing well here!
Ofcourse you have doubts now but everything's gonna work out well. That's just life. It's going to be an awesome journey for you guys and I wish the best of luck to you 😊
Thank you Johanna! I really hope so! :)
Hei, here is my personal experience as I moved to Finland with my family 18 months ago or so. I found a job there and my wife and my kids had to learn Finnish and integrate. My wife already has a B1 level and she can deal with any situation, it's quite amazing. She went to intensive Finnish classes and after that she got an opportunity to make a professional training for which she will get a degree. The unemployment office is very efficient to direct you to the right service to make your professional insertion easier. On my side, as I don't need Finnish for my job, I'm learning myself, but it takes more time and it requires a lot of organization if you want to improve quickly, and you need to practice with natives. Good luck!
I moved to Bulgaria from Estonia when I turned 17. I came here alone, knew no one in Bulgaria and didn’t speak a word of the language. I’m about to turn 18, so it’s almost been a year. I can understand around 40-50% and although I still struggle to speak, it’s still a lot because I never really sat down and tried to memorize words. I have made new, amazing friends, I have the best flatmates and I have managed to really go far as a 17 yo girl and this is only the beginning of all. My professional career has expanded a lot, I’ve been working in a youth organization, making different projects and giving 100% of myself. Plus I’m sure over time Finnish will come naturally to you too. I actually learned Finnish as a kid by watching movies in Finnish and by listening to my parents speak Finnish with our friends in Finland (we used to visit them like once a year). Of course it’s different when you’re a toddler or a grownup, but nothing is impossible. Try to find your own methods, take your time to settle in and enjoy the ride. I hope your YT account and career day will take off as well. ❤️
Oh you lovely Dave
Dear Dave. That's a weird way to start ain't it? To the point: Don't worry about moving to Finland. It will work out. As long as you keep producing content on youtube, we, your fans will keep watching it and supporting your channel.
And I think you totally have the brain to learn Finnish. You've started to learn it just a little while ago, and are already better at it than some people I know who've lived in Finland for a few years. Keep up the good work and have faith in yourself.
Dear Dave, it's all about the journey. Whether you succeed or not, you'll still get that adventure.
I'm sure that moving to Finland offers you a lot of new opportunities as a youtuber and you will make it work. Still, I think you should seriously think what would want to do in the future because this youtube thing might not be forever. Fortunately, there are many options for a backup plan, for example, studying.
When it comes to learning a new language, being surrounded by the language makes a big difference. I wish you two all the best.
The absolute best way to learn a new language is to surround yourself with people who only speak that language. As you don't understand that much Finnish yet, it might be difficult at first but if you tell people you spend time with to speak Finnish to you and only use English when you really understand nothing, you will learn it surprisingly fast.
Don't worry about the language! When you hear it daily, you will catch up and learn. :D Just try to speak finnish as much you can, but it's ok if you feel blocked and you can't find the word. Many people in Finland understand english and speaks that with no problem, so your life in here might get an easy start. I'm glad that you come here in our little country and that you take this move seriously. You want to learn our language and lifestyle and that's what I appreciate.
I'm sure that your life in here will get a good start! Atleast you have Cat, family and all your fans who supports you!
Don't fret about the language. You have learned so much so fast and I have no doubt that you will improve more before you even know it. :) My tip for learning is to pick some finnish newspapers or magazines since they use proper grammar and you might learn good words from them! :D
You should download some app to help you learn finnish and change your phone into finnish (it helps surprisingly much).
And when in Finland, you can start learning by reading some easy children's books or listen as much finnish as possible.
You can do this, we all believe in you!
I loved spaced repetition software (more specifically Anki). I don't speak Finnish but it does wonders.
Dont worry about it Dave. You will be just fine!I dont think anyone in Finland minds that foreigners dont speak Finnish. It is such a difficult language that I wouldnt even be bothered to learn if I didnt know it already. I have lots of friends in Finland who are from other countries and they all are perfectly fine without knowing any Finnish and some of these people are working in customer service in hospitality! But good for you if you want to learn Finnish. Just dont stress about it too much!
To be honest, you are VERY successful TH-camr if that can pay your rent ANYWHERE near Helsinki. It's not London expensive i guess but parts of Helsinki are Manhattan expensive.
Haha that's very true. That said, for what we pay in South West London (10km from central) we can get a place for the same price in the heart of Helsinki!
Hi Dave! I am Finnish and I have lived in London and Stockholm for many years of my life. I moved back to Helsinki a couple of years ago with my boyfriend who is Swedish. With him I got to see what it is like for a foreigner to move to Finland. Get ready for a lot of paper work! First place you should visit is the local register office to get a social security number. We were told that my boyfriend would get it in a couple of weeks. In reality it took 2 months (it was during the summer holidays). Without the number you cannot really get things started, like get a travel card or sign any contracts that require it.
Also from my own experience I can say that living in another country and starting a life there is an emotional roller coaster. You feel sad about missing things happening at your other home and at the same time you are excited about things happening in the new home. Truth be told you will kind of be split between two homes for the rest of your life. But it is not as bad as it sounds cause you can always visit and everyone will be so excited to see you after long time.
I wish you and Cat good luck on your new adventure and welcome to Helsinki! :)
Dave don't put too much pressure on yourself and don't think it as a failure if this move doesn't go exactly as you're wishing for. All things in life don't go as we expect, probably as we all know. I think it's important to have open mind for the future. If your plan doesn't work it doesn't mean moving to Finland was totally useless and waste of your time. Changes always bring new opportunities, whether a change is good or bad. Just be brave and go with the flow I guess. 🤔😃👍🏻
About learning another language. I agree with previous comments. I've been learning japanese in Helsingin työväenopisto (ilmonet.fi) and that helped so much. What also worked for me is that I chose few interests of mine and used them to learn more. In my case: music, movies and series. I watch japanese movies and use finnish or english subtitles. I also listen lot of japanese music that I like and translate my favorite songs. That way I have personal connection with the lyrics and when I listen them again and again, it helps me to remember the translation better. Good luck with finding your own way of learning!
What I always tell myself in situations like these is that you're doing this because you want to live, to have new experiences, to learn new things! Not because your whole life is about work and money and stressing about getting them! So what if it all fails? You've moved out of your home country, your comfort zone, pushed yourself to do something exciting. You've seen new places and learned how other people live, and probably learned tons about yourself during all that time, too! Life's worth nothing if you don't take some risks, and and least try to enjoy it the best you can. So, just trust that excitement you have right now, and enjoy all the new things that are about to happen. :) Oh, and you'll have no trouble learning Finnish once you live here and learn it with other foreigners who are in similar situations with you. It'll be fun and hard, but I'm sure you'll do great. Although... preparing for culture shock is probably a good thing at the same time, too. :D
You don't have to speak Finnish to live in Finland since almost everyone here knows English. It's good to know few words, so you can explain to those who don't speak English (like old people) that you don't speak Finnish. But it's good that you're learning, take all the time you need. Btw, love those Learning Finnish videos bro ;)
hiya dave! felt like i wanted to chime in and let you know some of my thoughts as i truly believe they will be of help. :)
my story is that im a finn whose dad is an immigrant, and who moved to the uk last year to study. because of this i know exactly how you are feeling about moving abroad but also how truly unique and amazing the experience is, even in the long run. i can also relate to the language worries you have had. dad and i both agree that when you move somewhere new, you at first might feel like a baby: you dont know the every day customs of the country, you might not have the same circle of friends, family and other connections, and youll have to get used to a whole new society and city. but what i ended up understanding about life was that home is where you are. humans capability of settling just about anywhere is amazing. whilst still living in scotland i loved my place there like i loved my life back home. i had my life there and here. so, though i did sometimes feel homesick, i stopped thinking about that after a while. the physical place youre at matters less and less as time goes on and you build a new life at your new home. my dad now feels as though finland is more his home than his original home country.
as for the language. my dad moved to finland without knowing a word in finnish. so you already have that, you know enough finnish to get by day to day id say. what my dad did was sign up for a language course (im currently studying in uni of helsinki, and actually my major is languages and im doing some language courses in kielikeskus, id def recommend us!!) and just throwing himself in. he first lived at a farm in deep savo (ask cat what this means if you dont know) where they speak heeeeeavy dialect. so all dad learnt at the course was basically useless for him. this aided his journey in finnish a lot though. your situation will be different, moving to helsinki where almost everyone does speak english, but you could always ask those around you to not speak english to you. if you explain youre serious about learning finnish im sure theyll understand. after studying languages and how people learn them in uni i can tell you that the best way is by jumping in the deep end, aka moving to a country where that language is spoken. that way youll be surrounded by the language every day, and youll naturally start picking it up - think how babies acquire their first language. also, allow yourself to make mistakes. again, think about babies and children. they acquire languages through trial and error. adults are quite similar in that mistakes are natural and usually disappear as our knowledge of the language grows. as encouragement, my dad reached fluency in finnish. and his native language is not related to finnish, but actually english. if he could do it, so can you. with languages most of the time your biggest obstacle will be yourself and your insecurities and fears holding you down. youre showing great progress already, and im sure once you come here and surround yourself with the language youll rapidly learn more and more and eventually reach fluency!
now, as for general living arrangements. i know you and cat want to stay near the centre, but i have a suggestion for you: look at places that are near the metro stops. i live in meri-rastila atm, close to the rastila stop (yes, i know, second to last on the vuosaari line) and it might seem like miles away (which it is. 13km from the centre to be exact) but honestly its so worth it when you have the metro. it takes me about fifteen to twenty minutes to get to the centre by the metro, and its way more reliable than the tram for example. the metro in helsinki also goes above ground quite a bit, so its not as dark and depressing as it sounds. the rent isnt as high here and you can get way more for the money you are paying (also when buying a place of your own for future reference!). living here also means that the nature is very close to you, there are gorgeous neighbourhoods along the metro line, and living in meri-rastila means the sea is literally right there. five minutes walk from my house. so, id say widening your search could be very useful and good for you two, but obviously you know best, so do what your hearts desire. just throwing this info out there for potential usefulness!
sorry for the very long comment. i hope you have a successful move and everything goes great, im very excited to see what the future holds for the both of you :)
Well i was freakin out just from thought of moving across the country to lapland, but will see is that even going to happen 😅 so i guess its more than normal to be a little afraid of big changes in your life :D
All that sheet folding 😆😆😆 kyllä se siitä 🙌
Regarding the language learning: As a Finnish language teacher, my advice would be to forget about everything you've learnt about English grammar, and start purely from scratch with Finnish. Kinda like how you would learn a coding language or similar. Also, try to define what is the most efficient way for you to learn a language. Do you need to know the system (grammar) of the language first or is it easier for you to learn language by talking and listening? Do you prefer reading or talking; little by little or a lot of input at once. Since you don't have any rush, I'd recommend you to make slow but steady progress, by, for example, learning a new thing everyday.
As someone who speaks 3 languages fluently and has lived in a foreign country, I can relate to your fears very well. What comes to the language, the most important thing is to surround yourself at least once in a while with people who mainly speak finnish. If you only interact with english speaking people (even if they are english speaking finns) it's going to be much harder to learn. You need to make your brains used to finnish. Already just being in Finland will help you a lot - you might see progress in just one week! Try to watch things in finnish (English subtitles are allowed, you will still learn) or in other ways surround yourself with the language. Word by word you will learn! It might take a lot of time so don't be harsh on yourself. I learned an entire language like this (without studying it in a school) and it had nothing to do with how smart I am. Motivation and enjoying yourself is the key. And remember, the most important part is not being grammatically correct but being understood/able to communicate