Welcome to Gaia! ::

I believe it's no problem to be an American in Finland (just don't support Bush wink ). Many Finns do have some prejudices against Americans, but I think they are also relatively tolerant, especially when they get to know the person. So if you just prove yourself to be a nice person and reasonably intelligent as well (you know the stereotype of a dumb American, it's quite prevalent...), which I'm sure you do with no problem, it should be just fine.

You do get racism here too, but VERY seldomly towards Westerners. I knew an American guy who moved to Finland a couple of years ago, and I think he was making friends just fine and liked living there (don't know him anymore, so I don't know if he lives in Finland anymore).

But the issue is the language. To get a job, you basically need to know Finnish, except for some specific teacher positions where they look for a native speaker and don't require Finnish skills, and prolly some IT related jobs. But usually it's required to know some Finnish.

Of course you could always start with studying here, then you'd get the student visa to be permitted to stay for a longer time and you'd have the chance to learn the language too. And the education is free. wink

But I'd say go for it. If you don't like it in Finland, you can always return home, knowing that you at least gave it shot. But I'm sure things would turn out just fine. smile

I don't think we really have African Americans in Finland, so in that sense I think people might be pretty open towards you. smile

Unfortunately the attitudes towards black people living in Finland (mostly towards Somalians) are rather negative, since (at least people think that) they support themselves with the social security money and don't work at all, and commit crimes more often (the younger people), and therefore Finns do have prejudices against them. But you being American would more than likely save you. wink And these prejudices are often towards men, cause they're the ones usually involved in crime things (I think you're a female, but correct me if I'm wrong), and if you don't wear a scarf, people won't think you're Somalian. That is to say, the prejudices are often towards Somalians. wink

I'm largely generalising here, so of course there are lots and lots of people who do not have such prejudices, and of course lots and lots of Somalians and other foreigners who live an honest life, working and not committing crimes and so on. So don't get me wrong. wink

In conclusion, I think an African American would do just fine here. The picture many people have from African Americans here comes from the movies and from magazines and news papers they read. But most people here know not to trust movies and such things blindly either. I don't think African Americans have any kind of "reputation" here, and therefore there shouldn't be a basis for racist thoughts.

I'm not sure if I can put things right, but what I want to say is encourage you to come here and at the same time be realistic (and even with the realistic view I think you should come). I really think you should give it a try, cause I'm pretty sure things would turn out fine. smile I hope I didn't sound discouraging, 'cause that wasn't my intention at all. wink

And this is my view of the things, it would be nice to hear (or read actually) what other Finns think about this. *pokes other Finns*

I met a guy from the Netherlands in the place I was working when back in Finland. He had been living in Finland for about a year, and spoke VERY good Finnish. Good enough to make an intelligent conversation anytime and even to get a job (in a warehouse though, but still). I was surprised to hear that he had been living in Finland for so little time. But he had the attitude that he wanted to speak only Finnish, even though he could speak English just fine and surely was able to express his thoughts better in English. So if you "force" yourself to speak Finnish here, you'll surely learn it in no time. smile

You have your own business? Wow. What kind of a business? smile

Well, as I said earlier, it's difficult to get a job if you don't know Finnish. Unemployment rate in June this year was about 8 %, but as far as I know, there are plenty of jobs available as well. So there is a lot of so called structural unemployment. When you know very little Finnish, you can probably work only as a cleaner or equivalent (not a fancy job, but at least you'd get a permit to stay and could learn more Finnish meanwhile). And it is not completely impossible to get a job here, just not easy. In the capital area it is probably the easiest.

If you want to move your business here, you have to be prepared to pay all kind of silly taxes and what-not, so it might be wiser to have the base in America. I don't really know much about this stuff, but about the taxation you can find more from:
http://www.vero.fi/default.asp?language=ENG&domain=VERO_ENGLISH

A good place to learn more about Finland:
http://virtual.finland.fi/

Hope these help! smile

Welcome to Finland! 4laugh

I'm sure that your business will be success in Finland too. 3nodding

Indeed. I, who actually knows nothing of the business world what so ever, would assume that with the rising demand, moving the business when the market is still small, it COULD, I repeat, could, be a good move. Though, as I said, I know nothing about the business world so no one pay attention to me.

And if you add mail order possibility, it will be hit!