MY FIRST MONTH IN FINLAND (comparing to life in Russia)

[@fortuna7469]

Delighted to hear that people have been nice to you! All the best to you! 😊

[@AlenaTalks]

Thank you very much😊

[@Sidraughen]

It's good to hear that you like it here :)

[@AlenaTalks]

Thanks😊

[@annamanna555www]

Ooh a fellow Thousand Island fan! 😁👍I always have a bottle or two in the fridge. Good luck with everything, it's not easy to move to a new country and get everything sorted out but you can do it! 💪

[@eerokutale277]

Thousand Island Dressing is delicious in salads and especially in Reuben Sandwiches, BTW vegetarian versions are great.

[@AlenaTalks]

Thank you very much! :) yeah, it's the best sauce! :)

[@pame8115]

Welcome, enjoy your ride 😀👍🏻 We fins forget sometimes how good our things are here.

[@AlenaTalks]

Thank you☺️

[@Lanfearr]

The first point you listed as a minus is a well known issue and many people coming from abroad, even people with high education, are having the same problem. You are not the only one. Its also a topic of discussion in politics here in Finland quite often. Happy to hear that you are having fun regardless!

[@AlenaTalks]

Hopefully, this thing will change for the better🤞🏻

[@robieblessed2702]

Hi alena happy to see another videos and experience shared here in youtube your cute ☺️ keep sharing dear more videos to share pls especially in finding job in helsinki

[@AlenaTalks]

Thank you! :)

[@TheNismo777]

Happy to hear that most things are mainly alright. Keep up the good job champ! :)

[@AlenaTalks]

I will, thank you! :)

[@llssneN]

Happy to hear that you're enjoying your stay, we are glad to welcome you:) it's hard not to be amused by the alcohol related rules, i agree, but fortunately in the larger picture they really aren't that big of a deal 😛

[@AlenaTalks]

Definitely! but sometimes it's inconvenient :)

[@TuomasRinne]

Number one thing is to study the language fast. I got many friends who learned finnish in less than one year. They are all employed.

[@tomppa2924]

It's nice to hear that you enjoy living in Finland. Hope you have beautiful day! :)

[@just42tube]

You mentioned the higher cost of living, need to be economical, but also that you live in the center of Helsinki. This combination is unusual, even if I remember that it might remind you of your beautiful hometown in Russia. Most people can't afford to live in the center.

[@itzMike7]

welcome to Finland! :) make sure to travel around and see the different parts of the country, all from the flatlands of western Finland to the lakeland of eastern Finland!

[@AlenaTalks]

I will!

[@petrinisumaa4759]

Welcome to Finland! I hope your stay with us will continue to be pleasant.

[@AlenaTalks]

Thank you😊🤞🏻

[@eerokutale277]

I hope everything goes well for you.

[@AlenaTalks]

Thank you!

[@karikataja2407]

Welcome, it's nice that you are happy here, I hope you find your way to stay and work in Finland. Ofcourse war isn't your fault and finns doesn't really "hate" normal citizens but they don't like that Russians doesn't care or doesn't know what is happening right now.

[@karikataja2407]

Also if you want to pump your KZbin views, you could do some Nightwish reactions videos to get more people to check your channel 😉.

[@gubocci]

Yeah reactions to any Finnish things, guaranteed thousands of views...

[@konstakontkanen1201]

Finland is much richer than Russia, we have astronomically higher standard of living = higher prices & taxes.

[@ValWasTakenWasTaken]

Nice to hear you're enjoying your new homeland. Have you noticed learning any Finnish just by repetition in daily life, for example from announcements, advertisement or products?

[@AlenaTalks]

Absolutely! I know much more words now and understand signs around better :)

[@juhalehtinen4068]

Longer hours for Alko - I see you are becomming a Finn already😜😘

[@AlenaTalks]

I'm doing my best :))

[@kirsilonka8408]

Welcome to Finland❤️

[@AlenaTalks]

Thank you!

[@jenshardecel1314]

Dobropozailuvat xxx (I can't do the cyrillic letters, yet x))

[@AlenaTalks]

Kiitos paljon!☺️☺️

[@freddan997]

Try to remember when searching for jobs here, Be confident when talking in emails, etc. Outside of work it's generally not recommended to brag, but what I have learned is definitely to be proud of your achievements when it's work related. BUT, don't forget to say you are a great listener and open to learn new things.

[@AlenaTalks]

Thanks! Although most people care more about me not having a work visa than being a great listener🙈

[@freddan997]

@@AlenaTalks Yes of course. But something to keep in mind.

[@pihlaya4475]

I can imagine finding a job being very difficult. The Finnish public is quite overqualified for most jobs, in my opinion, and without "suosittelija"/"recommender" or history working here from a relatively young age(summer jobs etc.) finding a job is close to impossible.(depending on ones competence/histoy, of course) Even as a Finnish engineering student I haven't been able to get a summer job this summer :( ( Luckily Finnish citizens have different benefits through KELA to help them to get through financial hardships. I don't want to get dependent on them(benefits/welfare) though. In your case, ability to speak Russian and English at a relatively high level can be beneficial especially if your Finnish can get to ~B1 level. Ability to speak Finnish is still of upmost importance for employers, especially, when hiring for "people oriented" jobs.(not e.g.engineering or research) All the best!

[@AlenaTalks]

Thanks! Yeah, it’s been a struggle.

[@kallekonttinen1738]

Alko timetable is from old times when lumberjacks and farm hands left their job on a saturday and wanted to buy second botlle after they had drank one vodka.. caused a lot disturbances..

[@AlenaTalks]

Yeah, makes sense🙈

[@jonikangas984]

I think the best bet for you to finding a job could be some kind of tourist industry, since you speak multible languages. Maybe you could check the cruise ship companies if they are looking for staff. Are you willing to move somwhere else at Finland if you find a job or are you only searching jobs at Helsinki region?

[@AlenaTalks]

Only Helsinki, because it’s the most international city here.

[@Fab4Forever]

You´re very kind. Alena. And beautiful. Spasiba 🤟

[@AlenaTalks]

Thank you☺️

[@jukkap.5722]

you will be fine..welcome to Finland

[@AlenaTalks]

Thank you :)

[@smokyislay]

About work, have you tried recruitment companies like SOL? Perhaps you should contact them and ask their help to find a job and get a work permit / residence permit.

[@AlenaTalks]

I’m afraid I can’t afford their services right now :(

[@ironbiceps8134]

Welcome to Finland!

[@AlenaTalks]

Thank you!

[@captlazer5509]

Life expectancy in Finland 81 years, Russia 73 years. Cleaner booze in Finland is the reason.

[@AlenaTalks]

I’m sure there are a lot of other reasons😁

[@perkele2802]

@@AlenaTalks Yeah! We also use much weed instead of alcohol and it is much healthier! But don't tell Putler or Lievrov or any other kremlin comedians because they would try to liberate us from "Helsinkis homo junkie regime" or something 😀 And it will be a much worse disaster for Russia than attacking Ukraine.

[@raunorepomies8621]

When you find yourself a job, everything becomes easier :) Then you learn more about Finland and you can afford to buy candy xD And welcome to Finland, sister :)

[@AlenaTalks]

Thank you! Fingers crossed🤞🏻

[@ЕкатеринаПетрова-ъ6л]

Alena, hello :) Did you find a job there already?

[@just42tube]

I believe that you're a teacher and have a degree in education. Do you know how the needed comparable foreign or international qualifications are recognized to enable employment based on those degrees? Have you had challenges in getting your qualifications recognized? Recognition of qualifications refers to a decision on the eligibility that foreign qualifications provide when applying for a job or study place. In Finland, recognition decisions are made by competent authorities, educational establishments, higher education institutions and employers.

[@AlenaTalks]

I studied at the internationally acknowledged university.

[@just42tube]

@@AlenaTalks That should make it more simpler. Can I assume this isn't and hasn't been a challenge for you?

[@AlenaTalks]

@@just42tube it’s not :)

[@MikkiHelsinki]

Welcome to Finland:)

[@AlenaTalks]

Thank you very much :)

[@AppalakkiWatchman]

I hope you have not been crushed by the "rule" Finland , the golden land of bureaucracy. It is definitely not an easy job to get your life started in Finland if you're coming from an outside country. My wife moved to Finland from United States and in the end we ended up moving to USA because it was exceptionally hard for her to establish herself in the country without knowledge of the language. I've left that shit hole behind me and i will never move back there again. I just hope that you will succeed in everything that you're doing , I know how difficult it can be moving to Finland as a foreigner even with someone there helping you , I hope you get some serious local help. Good luck❤️

[@AlenaTalks]

Thank you very much!

[@MrCurwen]

If you want to pass as a Helsinki resident, here's a handy tip. You do not in fact live in the Helsinki city center. People "from Helsinki" (doesn't matter if you've actually been born here) consider the "city center" to be an area of about 4-5 city blocks around the päärautatieasema. Nobody lives there. Kruununhaka, Töölö, the residential areas of Kamppi (the shopping center and office buildings are just barely within "city center"), Punavuori, Kallio, Katajanokka... these are boroughs, kaupunginosa, not part of the city center anymore. The "tall building area" as a whole is known as kantakaupunki, "city proper". So you live in kantakaupunki, but not in the city center. This is used as a way to tell apart people FROM Helsinki from outsiders. I live in Kallio, yet my mother keeps insisting I live in "Helsinki city center", despite the center being 2km south of me. It's like people from Pskov saying that Prospekty Slavy is "SPb city center". As for the bad sides of Finland... you touched on a larger overall thing with the alcohol. I'd say it's the rules above sensibility mentality. If you deal with some of the Finn authorities, esp. the taxman, you'll come to find out how RULES overrule all sense at times. Rules for the sake of rules.

[@AlenaTalks]

Thanks for the tip! But to me it's still the city center, especially after St.P. :)

[@MrCurwen]

Heh, we have a Lahti as well, 57 min north from Helsinki by train. (Lahti means "the bay") You should walk around Merihaka borough in Helsinki and compare to your previous city. Quite the contrast to Senate Square.

[@TheJorif]

Felix is a Swedish brand. But here are a couple of Finnish products that my Russian colleagues really like. Valio: Koskenlaskija tumma sulatejuusto Forssan: Punajuurisalaatti 😉

[@AlenaTalks]

Thanks☺️

[@just42tube]

"...At least for people with higher education..." In a way there are more opportunities for getting residence permit for work, if you have higher education, since then you're more likely to be eligible for the EU Blue card or specialist immigration rules by the Finnish national immigration rules. But just having higher education degrees doesn't give directly more rights to RP for work. But for instance if a person wants to continue to some doctoral program for PhD, then of course masters degree helps a lot. PhD programs usual include payed research jobs, so you can get education and income. But there are challenges, studies at that level are not easy and there is competition of these places. Many people need to look for less demanding jobs than their education suggests at least temporarily because they haven't got enough skills in local languages. But it all depends on the sector where you want to work and in what roles. Unfortunately I am not in a position to give practical help on finding employment.

[@AlenaTalks]

Yeah, there are definitely many challenges for immigrants. And I’m happy to work in service, but as you said it’s more difficult to get such jobs for non-Finns.

[@just42tube]

@@AlenaTalks You mean service industries? The immigration rules for work based immigration to EU try to protect the common labor market, unless there is longer term shortages of manpower to those jobs. So, in theory, there shouldn't be discrimination against non-finns. But local national languages have similar effect, since foreigners are less likely to fluent enough. It is also a fact that many people like to employ people, who are somehow similar to themselves or they think would fit with more ease to their work team.

[@tuomaspirinen8018]

What kind of work are you interested in?

[@duhni4551]

Welcome back =)

[@AlenaTalks]

Thanks! :)

[@duhni4551]

@@AlenaTalks You are most welcome =)

[@koomaj]

Nice video, Hop you are finding friends here.

[@AlenaTalks]

I am😊

[@kasperjoonatan6014]

Did she say "I'm frucking thirty"? That's so Frinnish 😊

[@just42tube]

I assume you have contacts to local Russian speaking groups and associations etc., which could give you practical advice finding suitable job opportunities as language teacher or something else suitable. Now when some Russian tourism has started again I could imagine there could be some more opportunities for Russian speakers in service industries. But since it is very unpredictable, businesses are likely to be very cautious investing to additional manpower... I really don't know. Teaching English is an other challenge, if customers are Finnish speakers. Educational institutions have their own pedagogic degree requirements for teachers. Have you very narrowly defined your interests and what you can imagine doing, even temporarily? I suggest having plans a, b, c, d.. and not being too fixed to just one path to your desired kind of employment and job.

[@AlenaTalks]

I have all the plans :) and open to anything.

[@wellthen...1539]

Hi Alena! Not commenting anything on your video. Just wanted to say you are very beautiful! :)

[@Be-Es---___]

Immagine flushing you toilet with this tap water...🤯

[@ThatGuy-ns8de]

Are you living in Finland permanently?

[@AlenaTalks]

I’m trying to😅

[@ThatGuy-ns8de]

@@AlenaTalks Did you used to live in New York? I may have seen you on occasion (I think?)

[@AlenaTalks]

@@ThatGuy-ns8de no, never😅

[@scanpolar]

Comparing Finland with the words closest and less democratic country is very confusing?

[@duhni4551]

I wouldn't say St. Petersburg is really part of Russia, the city could be concidered to be autonomous part of Russia.

[@blegi1245]

Which part of she is from russia do you not understand?

[@toinenosoite3173]

Välkommen! Tervetuloa! PS. I match your crush on Paula Vesala with my crush on her 😁 - luckily I saw her in Sideways.

[@AlenaTalks]

Kiitos! Yes, Paula is a goddess☺️

[@kalma999]

Fucking thirty it is still freaking young. 😏

[@AlenaTalks]

I agree!😁😁

[@estellasalmi9409]

How do you feel about the Ukraine war and Russias attrocities there? Also interested how you copy living in such a fascists country like Finland? Understand Russia considers Finland a fascist country, pretty much the same like in 1939.

[@samhartford8677]

Welcome home then. We understand why Russians are leaving. I hope you can find a job.

[@dennislindqvist8443]

Four minutes is what I put up with. One would expect a little comment on the war but there was talk of shopping. Go home.

[@apuuvah]

Freedom loving Russians are welcome.

[@mo0ody]

sure you are proud to sale your country and mother land for food that you like very much and H&M that going to leave your mother land , the question is who will pay all that money for ??

[@YellowDire]

I think you meant East Sweden

[@mantelikukkapenkki2368]

Greetings from East Sweden to the North Somalia

[@ktmman3855]

@@mantelikukkapenkki2368 😂😂😂😂😂

[@Maysti87]

Hello citizen of West Finland