[stevekemp]

It is possible to survive in Helsinki with only minimal Finnish, and work in the IT-industry. In smaller places it might be more difficult, but certainly people here are willing and able to converse in English.

Of course I would like to learn more Finnish, but daily life and childcare interferes with regular lessons. (Of course being able to work in English also means that speaking Finnish at work is also difficult.)

Since moving to Finland four years ago I've bought a couple of flats, found a job, filed taxes, visited doctors, dentists, and similar things all in English.

I understand a lot of Finnish, I just speak less. Ordering food, etc, is something I'd usually do in Finnish although it has to be said a lot of people will either initially greet me in English, or reply to me in English which is a bit frustrating.

[Hamuko]

>Ordering food, etc, is something I'd usually do in Finnish although it has to be said a lot of people will either initially greet me in English, or reply to me in English which is a bit frustrating.

I have noticed some establishments to quickly make a judgement call on what kind of language skills you have. I was once in a restaurant, reading over the Finnish menu and the waiter came and asked me if I needed any help translating the menu. I am 100% Finnish (some branch of my family tree extends to the 1700s at least), so I didn't really need it.

[hopia]

I know British IT consultants living and working in cities with ~100,000 inhabitants in Finland, working in high profile IT consultant agencies. Knowing no Finnish whatsoever. It seems definitely doable.