I would like to possibly move to Finland in some years, but am somewhat concerned about the cold winters in the country. I've grown up on the east coast of the United States all my life, so I don't mind the cold winter weather as much as the length of winter. I tolerate winter pretty well, but I don't like horribly long winters, and am very much a sun-loving person, so cold days where the sun is out are important to me, although I can tolerate some gray days at times.

Would I love the weather in Finland, or are the winters too harsh?

In Finland in the middle of winter, the sun is only up for a few hours. It's quite a bit farther north than Wisconsin. If you want sun, that's not the place to go.

I know somebody who moved there from Wisconsin. The only main difference in winters is that Finland gets more snow (usually). I think the East Coast is similar to us. With doing a little research, winter doesn't seem too much longer than here as long as you live in the southern part of the country. http://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/seasons-i...

You can survive them. The winter nights are about one to two hours longer than in the USA . The summer days are also one to two hours longer.

One thing Finns are famous for is their Saunas. Coed is common. Surely you can think of ways to keep warm after the Sauna.

You CANNOT just move to Finland because you want too. It really does help if you learn the language and have some needed job skill .

You dress for the weather and their are many things to do INDOORS.. Some have problems with extra darkness. Easily fixed for most with things like a SAD light in their home or workplace.

Relatively easy to survive? Those in the North are used to it. How do you survive Hurricane season? Tornado season? A heat wave?

Your first year would be hard. Arrive in Spring so you have time to prepare.Much easier than arriving in October or November.

.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8wZHS7s...

It is not bitter cold EVERY day with snow ALL the time. Just like in USA you do not have Tornados everyday all day.

\https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1J7jAw7...

A place like this is always available on a cold dark day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf7_NDQ0...

If you want the far North then you also need to have a job.What jobs do you think you qualify for that 200,000,000 Europeans are also not applying to?

You can have days with clouds like this and no sun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFdo9-_AICw

It does not have to snow to be cloudy

Start here to see if you are able to come before you worry about the weather. Finland also has summer.

http://www.migri.fi/frontpage

Not really. The Winter Nights are LONG & Bitter... -While the Days tend to be Cloudy & Snowy. So if You're looking for a Country that features a little more SUN; You might want to look towards One a little CLOSER to Italy- or Spain... :)