From Finland to Ireland

Hi all!

As promised, I'm gonna tell you a little bit about the big move from my safe port to into big unknown.

So, last June (2016), when I was visiting my boyfriend in Ireland we decided to start our life together, which meant that I would move over to Ireland as I didn't had a job in Finland or anything so important that would stop me from moving over here.

I moved over to Ireland at the end of August.
The two months I had time to get my shit together in Finland before the move, was stressful and quite exciting as well. And hard.

First of all, I had to get all important documents about my emphysema and my medication before the move.
Luckily I had one more appointment to go at in big hospital in Helsinki before the move.

Well... it didn't went as planned. They had promised to get me a doctors summary about my illness and also explain what the current situation is (because I had asked about this earlier just in case something like this would happen). As soon as they found out that I am about to leave the country, they said they cannot provide that piece of paper for me.
Oh well... tests and all went fine in the hospital. Doctor said there is no change in my condition which is good. At the end of discussion, doctor asked if I have any questions, I just pointed out that I am going to move to Ireland in few months and that I won't be coming over here for next appointment anymore.
All of a sudden the doctor needed to consult the senior doctor. It took about 30 minutes.
When the doctor came back, she said that they went through all my x-rays and other information that they just had about my illness. And all of a sudden I was very sick and I have high risk of getting pneumothorax. "We cannot recommend that you move over there. We cannot recommend that you fly with airplane."
What they suggested was that I should go to a test, where they give me oxygen which has about the same pressure as in airplane to see if I could handle it, but I would have to pay it myself and it costs 300 euros. Sure.... My dad asked can they then recommend me to fly if the test goes well and will they take responsibility. "Of course not and we cannot be responsible if something happens, even if you take the test."
So, it was quite obvious I didn't take the test as it seemed like a big bunch of bullshit.
And I had flied just few weeks ago to Ireland and Finland. And it went well.
Sure there is risks but then again.... someone can hide a bomb into the airplane and it will blow up. Or I might get a pneumothorax on the very next day.

I got the x-rays from my home town hospital and the summary about my illness from the other hospital that had treated me. So, it was all good to go.

Getting rid of my apartment was piece of cake and also getting rid of my furniture and other belongings was quite easy.
I ended up selling some of the furniture and some stuff I took to my parents house.



The biggest and heart breaking "thing" was my dog.
I tried to get her with me. I e-mailed different airlines and even called them.
My dog, german shepherd Frida is a quite a big girl, so I couldn't get her a box that should normally do a german shepherd. We had one old box that our family used to fly our Tibetan mastiff to Belgium where we lived when I was 12 yrs old. So, I decided I could use that.
Turned out it was too big for the planes that would directly fly from Helsinki to Dublin and Norwegian wouldn't take any animals on their planes which I found very odd.
But obviously Ireland has just as strict rules about transporting pets as Great Britain.
So, I had two options. Pay 1900 euros (or maybe more), fly Frida from Helsinki to Frankfurt and pray that she would make it to the connection flight from Frankfurt to Dublin on the same day, otherwise she would spend a night in Frankfurt. You can imagine that I wasn't very comfortable with the idea.
Other option was to flight Frida to London (GB) from Helsinki and I would have to pick her up from there. It would have cost pretty much the same 1900 euros.
So, I thought about these options for a month or so and made a heart breaking decision to leave her Finland to live with my parents and their dogs. And my parents were fine with it.
I thought nearly 2000 euros was too big price to see if that flying would fuck up my dog. And I knew she would be in good hands and live happy life.

I got myself a job even before I moved. I did some online interviews and tests, passed them and got the information that I have a job if I just want it.
Hell yes! (Little did I know....)

So came the end of August. My boyfriend came to Finland few days before I was going to fly over to Ireland with him.
The last days in Finland were quite emotional and I just tried put my feelings aside.
The day when I was leaving was fucking horrible, to be brutally honest. It was hard to say goodbye to my family with whom I am very close and it was heart breaking to hug my dog for the last time in a long time. Yup, I cried. I had a plan, I put some make up on so I can't cry because if I cry, it will ruin my make up, well, my plan didn't work.

It has been now a bit over 3 months since I jumped on a plane and flew over here. I'm happy... I think.

It has been hard. I have had very bad days, bad days and normal days, mostly because of my emphysema. And if I have bad day with it, I just have a bad day. Last time I had a good day was probably 18 yrs ago. So... if I look unhappy to you, it is just my face.

To be honest, I don't like my job.
I sit 8 hours a day, waiting for a phone to ring and then trying to help user's with their computer issues. So yes. I work in a call center as technical support analyst (level 1). Salary ain't too great not to mention that there isn't benefits.

Health system in Ireland is quite different compared to Finland.
Here you have to have your own doctor and you just visit him or her whenever you have to. And everytime it will cost you 50 euros.
In Ireland you can get a medical card which should sort you out. You get it for example if you are unemployed. So there is a limit how much money you are allowed to get in amonth to be eligble for the medical card.
There is also GP visit card which covers your GP (a.k.a. doctor) visits but there is income limits aswell.
But if you are working, you just pay everything yourself. I find it quite weird. It doesn't really think about people with chronical illnesses who have to go to doctors appointments, hospitals and get meds.
My salary ain't so great in that call center so sometimes I am a bit afraid how I can afford all the living and keeping up with my health and buying the meds.
But I think I will manage it... Things tend to work themselves out.

I have my own doctor now and I am going to the hospital on next week Friday for my very first breathing tests and x-rays in here. Keep your thumbs up for me.

Living is quite expensive in here. But then again, so it is in Finland. Money comes and goes. I'm not gonna open that one more up, guess you all know what it is like...



I love the nature here. It is a little bit different than in Finland but anyways, I love it. Most of all I love the mountains. There is no real forests like in Finland, but there is other nice places where you can go for a walk. I mean, there is forests, but those are not the same as in Finland.

Most of the people are very nice, I mean Irish people. The other immigrants (haha as myself) can be...well... not so nice. I know this because the place where I work is full of different nationalities and I deal with those people pretty much everyday. There is few nice people but most of them are... well, assholes. And I do count myself as one of the assholes, no worries.
But Irish people are very nice. Kind hearted and lovely people with usually laid back nature and good sense of humor.

What I miss the most from Finland?
My dog. Without a doubt. My heart breaks everyday when I live without her. But I know I will see her sooner or later and I know she is living happy life there with my parents and their dogs.
I also miss my family.
RYE BREAD! That is something I miss when I think about food. I have tried to look for it from different shops but nope, these folks just don't have it. Luckily my mom sends me some rye bread every now and then.
I also miss the personal space, quiet and alone time. Finns are quite famous for their personal space and being quiet.
So no, I'm not unhappy, I just appreciate silence and I like to spend time on my own.

Okay, yous probably think that I seem to be just giving out and complaining.
Don't get me wrong. I like it here. I wouldn't have stayed here for this long if I would hate it.
I think I'm still going through some settling in phase. And it takes time to get your shit together.

Over all... it has been quite interesting 3 months so far. Hard days, nice days, bad days, good days (tho' I said I haven't had ones for the past 18 yrs haha).
There is many things I miss in Finland but I wouldn't change a thing.
New starts are never easy and nothing worth having comes easy, you just have to keep your head high no matter what happens and push through the obstacles that are being put on your way.
That's how you make it and make the best out of your life.
Enjoy the little things and don't let even smallest things ruin your day. Remember why you started.

Never hesitate to say yes to challenges and new adventures in life. Leave your comfort zone, be bold and live your life to the fullest without regrets.
We all have only one life to live and if you live it to the fullest, it is just enough.

xoxo