Everyday Life
- Housing
- Health (pharmacies, dental)
- Leisure (libraries, sports and exercise, events, the Adult Education Centre)
- Family (day care, schools, winter/clothing)
- Shopping
- Transport
- How to find work
Housing
More info about housing KärrykartanoHealth
There are three public health care centres in the area: one in Kurikka, Jalasjärvi and Jurva. To make an appointment either in Kurikka or Jurva, please call +358 (0)6 4585 301. For an appointment in Jalasjärvi, please call +358 (0)6 4585 101.
JIK kyIn an emergency always call 112.
Pharmacies:
Kurikka Pharmacy is located at Kurikantie 9,
Jalasjärvi Pharmacy at Kirkkotie 2 and Jurva Pharmacy at Kauppatie 3 B.
Dental health
Also, if you have a municipality of residence (kotikunta) in Finland, you are entitled to use public dental care services. You can make a booking by calling central number +358 (0)6 458 5161. Kurikka, Jalasjärvi and Jurva have their own local clinics.
Leisure
Libraries
There are three libraries and a library bus servicing the area:
- The main library in Kurikka, Seurapuistikko 2
- Jalasjärvi, Keskustie 24
- Jurva, Koulutie 3
Libraries also arrange events and activities to cater for all ages.
Sports and exercise
- there are plenty of nature trails in the area
- Molskis swimming hall is located at Keskuspuistikko 24, Kurikka and
Polskis at Torikuja 9, Jalasjärvi. - the local sports clubs offer a variety of hobbies from soccer to cheerleading and athletics to ice hockey and many others:
- Kurikka: Kurikan Ryhti
- Jalasjärvi: Jalasjärven Jalas
- Jurva: Jurvan urheilijat
- gyms:
- in winter there are numerous skiing tracks around and plenty of spaces for skating, often located near schools
Events
For local events, please see: events calendar
The Adult Education Centre
The Adult Education Centre (kansalaisopisto) offers courses from languages to music and photography to cooking and many others
Family
Day Care
In accordance with Finnish law, all children aged between 0 to 6 years of age living in Finland are entitled to municipal day care. It is the way to ensure that both parents can work or study. A breakfast, snacks and a warm meal are provided at day care centres so no need to pack lunch.
As there are several childcare centres in the area, the best way to find yours, is to contact:
Outi Koskenvalta , Early Childhood Education Manager (Varhaiskasvatuspäällikkö)
M. 050 595 0560
E. outi.koskenvalta@kurikka.fi
Schools
If you are moving to Finland with school-aged (7-16) children, education is compulsory for them. From 1 August 2021 education will be compulsory for 7–18-year-olds. This change will include trade schools and upper secondary school.
School meals and materials are provided free of charge in basic education and there are no term fees. Compulsory education also applies to foreign children permanently residing in Finland. Municipalities and local authorities are obliged to ensure that all children can attend school.
You enrol your child to school at the local central school office:
Anne-Mari Packalen-Reinikainen
M. 044 550 2697,
E. anne-mari.packalen-reinikainen@kurikka.fi
Winter/clothing
The winter in the region typically lasts from November to April. Average winter temperature is usually between 0 and -10 Celsius but it is usual to have a few colder days down to -20 -30 especially in January and February. Houses are well insulated and heated with double to triple glazing. So, nothing to worry there but you might want to check how to dress for winter here: How to dress right and enjoy the winter
Keep in mind that the streets and roads can be quite slippery in winter! Thankfully, if you were to break say an arm, the Finnish health care system will look after you well.
Another thing to remember is that your car might need heating in winter if the temperature drops under -8 Celsius and to take some extra time in the morning to scrape the ice off the car windows.
Shopping
There’s a couple of big supermarket chains in Finland. The range is from massive hypermarkets (Citymarket, Prisma) to smaller corner stores.
Couple of unique features when food shopping: remember to weigh and price your fruit and vegetables yourself, either buy a plastic bag or bring your own shopping bag and always do your own packing (as quick as possible!).
Both big grocery store chains have their own bonus cards (Plussa and S-Etukortti). You do not need to get one, but you will always be asked at the counter and you can get special offers and discounts with them.
Local grocery shops
In Kurikka:
- HalpaHalli, Keskuspuistikko 1
- K-Market Saumantie, Saumantie 26
- K-Supermarket, Laurintie 22
- S-market, Asematie 6
In Jalasjärvi:
- HalpaHalli, Oikotie 2
- K-Supermarket, Koskitie 21
- S-market, Keskustie 27
In Jurva:
- K-market, Kauppatie 4
- S-market, Hahdonkuja 1
There are also couple of second-hand stores (kirpputori) in Kurikka. These are great for finding for example inexpensive furniture or sports gear.
Transport
There are a few bus connections to nearby cities of Seinäjoki and Kauhajoki and even further but as the buses are not very frequent, a car is recommended when living here. A motor liability insurance is compulsory in Finland. If you have a driving licence issued in a Nordic country, an EU member state or an EEA country, it is also valid in Finland. You can exchange it for a Finnish driving licence if you are residing in Finland permanently.
Bus timetables: matkahuolto.fi
Bicycles: cycling or walking to work is very popular in Finland. Many people cycle all through the year. Wearing a helmet is compulsory and you must have a lamp in the front and back of your bike when you cycle in the dark. In winter studded tires are recommended.
How to find work
Comprehensive information on the topic of finding work in Finland can be found on the Info Finland pages:
infofinland.fi – Where to find workIf you do not have a job or become unemployed, register as an unemployed job seeker at the TE Office no later than on your first day of unemployment. Read more on the InfoFinland page If you become unemployed: infofinland.fi
TE OfficeKeep in mind that if you have only recently moved to Finland and need support for integration, you can get to integration training through the TE Office or your municipality’s employment services? The integration training can include Finnish language studies, other education, or work try-out.
