Mastering Finland

Mastering Finland•www.masteringfinland.com

Welcome! This podcast is a space for the international community in Finland to share their unique stories of how they ended up here and how they are "mastering" the Finnish way of life. We invite you to join this community for practical information, laughs, relatable stories of struggles and victories as expats and much more!

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Episodes

#8 Moving for Love and Teaching Kindergarten in 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!

Mar 23, 2020•44 min•Season 1Ep. 8

#7 Settling into Finland: Furniture, Groceries and Other Necessities

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 ...

Mar 16, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 7

#6 Culture, PhD, Racism & Dating: Saswati's Story

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.

Mar 09, 2020•46 min•Season 1Ep. 6

#5 Important Things To Do Upon Arrival to Finland

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 Loca...

Mar 02, 2020•15 min•Season 1Ep. 5

#4 Lifelong Learner and Full-time Mum: Kadiya’s Story

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.wordpres...

Feb 24, 2020•31 min•Season 1Ep. 4

#3 Things to Get Done Before Entering the Promised (Fin)Land

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:...

Feb 17, 2020•15 min•Season 1Ep. 3

#2 From Greece to Finland: Katerina's Story

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/

Feb 10, 2020•36 min•Season 1Ep. 2

#1 First Impressions of Finland

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/...

Feb 03, 2020•15 min•Season 1Ep. 1

Introducing Mastering Finland

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!

Feb 01, 2020•9 min

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