Kiffer’s Scouting Trip to Helsinki, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, & Berlin

by Jen Barnett

We love working with our clients to help them find a path abroad! Kiffer is a young skilled worker who booked a consultation in February and had put a ton of thought into what he was looking for in a new home. Our short list of countries for him included Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, and Germany, and we recommended a big city where he could socialize and find the most work opportunities. His scouting trip included Copenhagen, Helsinki, Berlin, and Amsterdam — the Netherlands was a runner-up in our list. Kiffer was kind enough to share photos and commentary from his trip, which looked incredible!

I knew I wanted to move to a new country, but I wasn’t sure which. Fortunately, I stumbled upon Expatsi’s test and it helped narrow down my options. After seeing what it came up with, I decided to go for the personalized research. I was so impressed with what Jen put together for me, and I was able to narrow down where I was looking to just a handful of countries. Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford to spend two weeks in each country I was considering, but I knew I had to visit these options before I made a final decision.

It had been over a decade since I last traveled internationally. It was for a job opportunity in Mozambique, so all my flights, transportation, and lodging were planned out for me. Even then, when I didn’t have anything specific going on, I found myself staying in my room and not doing much of anything most of the time.

When I told Jen that I was nervous about planning a trip, she told me she could help. I’m so glad I took her up on it! She helped me decide what planes to book, found me several places to stay in each location, had a lot of activites in each place that I could consider, but also let me know that down time is important, too. 4 countries in 2 weeks seemed like a lot, but it was time well spent and I believe I accomplished my goal of deciding which to move to.

Helsinki, Finland

Unfortunately I missed my train. Fortunately, another came in about 5 minutes. Love the public transit here!

My walking tour guide (Rento Helsinki Walking Tours) informed us that the Stone Men outside of the Helsinki central station are often decorated for events. Currently a Ukrainian flag is flown for solidarity.

I'm not generally the type of person who gets excited about visiting a library, but if I moved here I would definitely spend a lot of time in the Helsinki central library. Besides their generous selection of books, they also feature a recording studio, game rooms with the latest consoles and VR headsets, a PC gaming lab, guitars for rent, board game rooms, 3D printers, canvas printers, and a fully equipped wood and machine shop!

The Finland leg wasn't all fun and games. I picked up norovirus, but sadly recovered before I would've missed my flight. Thus ends the Finland leg of my scouting trip.

Copenhagen, Denmark

First thing I noticed after leaving the station in Copenhagen. That must be the most bikes I've ever seen in my life.

Danish architecture has probably the most personality I've ever seen. This is just one alley the walking tour guide from Mie and Friends showed us.

In Danish culture, royalty doesn't isolate from the people. We were able to enter the royal stables as freely as a public park. So long as we don't impede the employees caring for the horses, of course.

That triangular building across the bay is CopenHill. It is a power plant, but also a manmade ski slope. It wasn't the best skiing ever, but it's synthetic surface allows for skiing year-round!

I had no idea LEGO was a Danish brand!

Berlin, Germany

I told Jen that I enjoy board games. So she found me a board game MeetUp in every city I visited where I could meet the people I'd be hanging out with if I moved here. Tonight's game is Blood Rage!

Beware this tour guide from Rude Bastards Tour of Berlin is a serial photobomber. That's okay, I can adapt.

The historic Checkpoint Charlie guardhouse features a photo of an American and Soviet guard serving when the Berlin wall came down.