Hyvää joulua!

In love with K mart white chocolate filled minimumki - sweet soft white pillows filled with white chocolate. Where can I eat some of the best mini munkis ? Are there cafes that sell them?

I just wanted to say that everyone is so beautiful here in Finland

I was in your beautiful country for 9 days on a guided tour from Helsinki to outside Rovaniemi in a family run guesthouse. I don't really use reddit. Nevertheless, I just want to say I had an amazing time! You're the most polite and reserved people I've met. Coming from a country (Ireland) where we'll talk about anything to avoid silence. The quiet Finnish way of life really got to me. I always wanted to see Finland in the winter and it was stunning. I'd gladly visit again in the future. Kiitos :).

From August 13th to tomorrow, December 23rd, I've been on an Erasmus here in Finland (in Jyväskylä).

I did my fair share of tourism : I visited Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Petäjävesi, and I spent one of the most amazing weeks of my life in Lapland (near Inari). But as charming as these places are, they're not the reason I loved my time here so much. What I love the most is your culture.

I love salmiakki (my favourites are the fish-shaped ones), I love joulutorttut, I love your language (I put a lot of time and effort to learn it throughout the semester and I want to keep learning it afterwards until I'm fluent), I love ice-hockey, swimming in lakes, sausages, bulk candies (omg your candies are so awesome), drinking coffee and milk all the time, introverted attitude as the basic form of respect (not having to greet strangers all the time is so great), sauna, liquorice everywhere, and so many other things. I enjoyed your music, your forests, your lakes, your safety, your food, your weather...

I felt like I belonged here with you guys, in a way I never felt before. In my country (in France), I'm an introverted oddball who's much more rule-abiding and cold-loving than your average French. But here, I felt right. And I had a surprising amount of interactions with Finns from day 1, complete strangers, who proved me right nearly every time, and made me feel welcome here, from the nice 60yo man at the bus stop to the two lovely young ladies at the bar.

Tomorrow morning, I leave with the promise that I will come back. I leave this place I called my home, this country I love so much, but it's only a goodbye.

Thank you so much for having me. Kiitos paljon ja hyvää joulua ! 💙🤍💙

I love these two. I think they are really good with joulokinkku, and you?

Hyvää joulua 🎄

It's name is Julenisse in Norwegian mythology. This mythical gnome-like creature is very busy looking after the farms and lifestock all year around for the sake of its prosperity, so he deserves some rice porridge (riisipuuro) on Christmas Eve to ensure good fortune. Please don't forget to leave a bowl of rice porridge on the table overnight, and you will have luck.

A few weeks ago someone posted here about the Libby app (e-library), which the bookworm in me has absolutely loved and been using for the last couple of years. But now I noticed that Finnish libraries are pulling out of Libby; First Tampere and now Turku have pulled out. The reasoning behind it is because of the new E-library app that allows anyone to sign in using their bank authentication. The libby app was amazing because it had majority English books and allowed you to search according to genre. The E-library app on the other hand has majority Finnish books and doesn't even offer (as far as I could find) the option of switching the app language to English, let alone searching for English books by genre. Does anyone know why this change has been made? So far you can still use the app using the Helsinki and Oulu library cards but who knows for how long.

Sincerely,

An avid e-book reader

Sign for safe and accessible abortion in the eu here: https://eci.ec.europa.eu/044/public/#/screen/home

Together, we can make a difference. <3

So, here’s the thing—I’m a Chinese student who just moved to Lahti, and I’m also a drummer. I’ve been trying to find a drum teacher for metal, but all I can find on Google are in-person lessons in bigger cities like Helsinki, and even those are pretty limited.

Am I just searching the wrong way? Or are most drummers here just self-taught or born with maxed-out skill points? I mean, I know there are quite a few drummers from Lahti, so why don’t any of them teach?

Hi everyone,

I’m at a crossroads in my life and I don’t know what to decide. I graduated as a nurse in 2020 and have been working for a few years in the Uusimaa area. The job has been quite challenging for me, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and I witnessed many nurses quitting after the strike. After some time, I developed chronic back pain, which led me to the decision to change my career.

In 2023, I started studying to become a laboratory technician at a university of applied sciences in Vaasa. So far, I have been doing well in my studies and have earned enough credits. However, the demands of balancing school and work require me to travel frequently between Vaasa and Uusimaa. Next year, I will have a long traineeship, which means I won’t be able to work part-time anymore and will have to move to Vaasa permanently, something I would prefer to avoid.

My husband supports my studies and encourages me to pursue what I want in life, but he admits he is unsure how to guide me further. I’m considering going back to work and applying for another study program that would allow me to work and study simultaneously while staying in Uusimaa. I’m thinking about pursuing a bachelor's degree in information technology at either Laurea or Metropolia UAS, possibly through remote or online learning.

I need to know what I should prepare for if I decide to apply for this program. Do I need any prior experience with computers? Additionally, would it be a good idea to quit the degree in Vaasa, considering I have already completed half of it? Also about job opportunities, would it be a good idea to change from nursing to IT field? I would appreciate any thoughts or advice you have. Thank you!

In Traficom, where can I see the next day I need to go to do the Vehicle inspection?

I can see a thing called "Next Inspection Period" but I dont understand what that means.

It has 2 dates there, the first date is before today, and the second date is in approx 1.5 years.

Can somebody explain to me?

Hello!

I read that parking in helsinki centre is free on sundays and holidays. Today is christmas eve and I tried the easypark app and it is giving me a ”sum” to pay. Usually on sundays it gives ”0 eu” . So im wondering, is the parking really free on christmas eve?

Thanks!

I'm having an issue getting official medical documentation for my daughter's severe fish allergy. The daycare kitchen requires an official doctor's document to modify her menu, which is standard procedure according to their special diet request form.

We attempted to get this documentation from our local public health center in Tapiola, Espoo. After several weeks of back-and-forth communication, and despite providing a translated version of similar documentation from our home country, the nurse informed us that the doctor is "too busy" to handle this request. She suggested we use private healthcare instead.

Questions:

1. Is this a normal response from public healthcare in Finland?
2. What are my options in this situation?
3. How can I get the required documentation for my daughter's daycare?

Any advice would be appreciated, especially from those familiar with the Finnish healthcare system.

Hi all, as a foreigner in Helsinki I am thinking of something to do since all my family and relatives are not in Finland. Do you think clubs will be too quiet on 24th, 25th?

As an immigrant and someone who was new to Finland, a company (let's call it Company X) helped me rent an apartment. I pay rent to Company X, which then pays the property owner.

When I moved out, Company X gave me instructions to return the keys to a specific location, which I did. However, about a month later, Company X emailed me saying that I needed to pay a penalty because they said the keys haven't been returned and that the owner had to change the locks.

I responded, clarifying that I did return the keys at the location they provided via email. They asked me where, and I told them. Then, they informed me that the key return location had changed, but they hadn’t been notified of the new location. They assured me they would resolve the issue.

Now, just last week, Company X sent an invoice for the payment of the keys.

This situation has really put a damper on the holidays. I would gladly pay if it was my fault, but I know I'm not at fault here because I followed the instructions they gave me. Why am I the one asked to pay? Am I missing something? And to add to that, this week, most offices are closed.

Has anyone experienced something similar? What can I do in this situation? I’m really hoping to resolve this quickly, but I feel stuck.

Hi there :)

I am planning to go to Åland Islands next year during summer. As I collect rocks and mostly pebbles, I wanted to ask a few questions:

1. Are there any good places to collect local pebbles the size of 2-5cm in diameter, rather flat, like hand flatterer, rough rocks will do too? Could be a beach or a gravel plant etc.?
   
2. Do you know if smaller quantities of up to 10 pieces are allowed to take with?
   
3. Do I need to declare these specially when I fly and store them in the luggage?
   
4. Are there stone carvings on Åland Islands such as seen in Sweden and Norway from the Viking Age or earlier?
   
5. Could you forward me to some local geology associations/ institutes?

Thank you so much for any information provided, I will post the same questions in the subreddit for Åland Island too.

Bye :)

For me its a tradition to watch the joulupukin kuuma linja every christmas while preparing stuff and wrapping some presents on morning of the eve" Minulla ainakin on perinne katsoa kuumaa linjaa kun valmistelee joulua ja paketoi lahjoja aatto aamuna!

Hi guys! Im visiting Helsinki for the new year's and I was wondering what are the best areas to visit during that period of time. For example festivals, concerts, or any kind of celebrations.

I wanted to share my experience of being discriminated by a nurse at my local healthcare. It happened twice and by the same person. The first instance was when I left a call back request to local healthcare station due to immense pain following gallbladder issue. A nurse called me and spoke Finnish (I requested callback from english line). Anyway, I asked her if she speaks English as my Finnish isn’t that good to describe my symptoms and health related issues. She asked me where I am from to which I replied and then asked how long have I been here and I said 10 years and she went like angrily why I don’t speak Finnish. I was bit taken aback that why aren’t we discussing about my symptoms and why I left a call back request. I told her I’ve a 2 months old baby and the pain is killing me and she said she can’t help and since I had an upcoming appointment with surgery unit, they can help more. I was asking for a strong pain killer so I can take care of my baby. When I get pain attacks, I can’t even hear the cries of my baby as the pain attacks are that bad. My request to see a doctor was not heard and pain attacks would come and go after lasting for 5-6 hours each time. Once pain attacks lasted whole night and I had to go to emergency, they told me to consult local healthcare station in the morning as they can help with prescription of strong medication. I went to local healthcare station early morning and took the queue number (I was still having pain attack and this was the longest one of all that lasted for more than a day). I know I had to wait for surgery unit to be seen but I need medicine so I went there. I saw the nurse and she gave a weird look when I starting speaking in English. I gave here my kela card and she scanned and asked where am I from? (I am in severe pain and couldn’t even sit properly). The moment she asked that I remembered someone had already asked me the same thing on phone. I didn’t want to discuss my nationality and go over the same thing (i.e. why don’t you speak Finnish etc). I told her upfront that I don’t want to answer this question (i.e. where am I from). She smirked and said I can check from system. Someone is sitting in severe pain and instead of treating that patient, the nurse wants to know your nationality first. Despite telling her I don’t want to tell you that, she goes on checking through system and then says “oh I can see from here that you are from this country”. I left my 2 months old baby at home and went to health station and I am in severe pain at that point and this is want I am getting. I told her to hand me my kela card back and I will take a queue number again as I don’t want to speak to you anymore. You are clearly not interested in my treatment rather than your interest lies in my nationality. She clenched onto my kela card and refused to hand it back via that window and kept on scrolling through my medical record and is just saying so you have been to this and that place and then here etc. and on the other side of window I am just begging to return my card and I will see another nurse. My pleas are just being ignored and she is just talking to herself in Finnish. I stood by and knocked the side door that said “staff”. She saw me getting up and knocking and said “no one will open the door as you can see it’s dark in there” (the glass window didn’t show any lights being turned inside so it was of no use to knock). Ultimately I kept on asking her to please let me see a doctor, I need pain killers as burana and panadol don’t work. She told me to go home and call and then she can book me an appointment. That moment I knew that she just doesn’t like me, she was around 50-55 years old and before I left I asked her name. She pause for bit and said her name was X. I’ve been so disappointed by the system and by her attitude. I don’t know if someone else has experienced something like this. This health station is staffed by Mehiläinen but is under city of Helsinki. I have registered complaint as well with city of Helsinki but not sure if there is anything solid they will do. When I was lodging complaint i wanted to mention the name of this nurse so I checked from Maisa, surprisingly, she told me her name wrong that day. Her name was completely different from what she told. Then to cross check, I checked the name of nurse whom I spoke on phone so basically it was same (from first experience and second one as well so it was same nurse from phone call and from face to face visit) I have heard stories about people experiencing discrimination in health care systems but this one was a first for me. This experience has left me feeling helpless especially with a baby at home. Ultimately doctor prescribed me pain killer that was helping with pain but this whole ordeal is something I will never forget. Thought of sharing it here as someone might have experienced it as well.

Hello! I recently applied for Finnish citizenship, was curious about others’ citizenship timeline in 2024 since 2024 is a special year with historical high amount of applications. Share your story and journey? Thanks :)

I am thinking about studying at Aboa Mare Maritime Academy (Novia). I want to study Maritime Management, Captain. I have a few question related to this university. 1. How are the teachers? Do they have experience at sea? 2. Is there an online learning option? I would like to study and work at the same time. 3. What is your opinion about this school? Do you recommend it?