Another Moving to Helsinki Post
Hello folks, my wife and I are relocating from Dublin to Helsinki in January for a long-term work assignment (5+ years), with our 2-year-old son. I've moved countries plenty of times, but never with a little one, so we're a bit nervous.
We want to integrate properly into Finnish life, but also give our son a real connection to his Chinese heritage (Cantonese and Mandarin). That one hit home recently, and really put me into crisis mode, I tried to show him how to write my home city in Chinese and my mind went completely blank. Chinese used to be my best subject at school, but after boarding school abroad in my teens, and Uni, a career in the UK, it's slipped badly. I don't want the same to happen to him.
What I'd love advice on:
- Chinese weekend schools, playgroups or community groups in Helsinki/Espoo for young kids
- A local Finish daycare vs English/international daycare for a multilingual toddler. What's worked for your family?
- Parent groups or ways to meet other families, Finnish or international
- Areas that are good for young families with decent access to the above, my wife is mechanical challenge, so driving is still very much WIP
- How bad is the Winter, I am considering I will move here first, get it settle, I fly back to Dublin on the weekend or 2 -3 times a month, and move the family in Spring (Marchish ? ). In Dublin and London, we hardly experience snow, in my head, the Finish Jan - Mar weather, I am already picturing GOT, castle black style.
- Anything you wish you'd known before moving with kids, creche waiting time etc.
We loved Ireland, as the neighbours and people are great craic and there is no barrier in terms of the language, aside from the horrific inner- city and the Kerry accent 😊. Joke aside, I know Finns have a reputation for being more “reserved”, so we're expecting integration to take a bit longer and are happy to put in the effort.
Thanks in advance !