It's official, moving from Finland to Seattle in September for a year

Hello all NW Hambers!

I'm coming to see how is your hot rod -scene going! Me and my wife will stay in Seattle for a year from next September as an exchange students in The University of Washington.

I should study a bit off course, but as my good friend and HAMB-member Rod Ari aptly said after a short silence: Naaah, I know it will be pure hot rodding what you're going to do over there...

I have lurked you NW-hambers for a while but I would be happier than you know if you could tell me something about living as a traditional hot rod/kustom -minded student over there, anything! There's something I already know but so much which I don't, as you can imagine...

Thank you,
Mika Kari aka at***udor

 

good to hear. sounds like i might be moving up there also for school if all goes as planned next september. its a great little town to be in. lookin' forward to seein' ya...

 

Hey man, congrats on being able to be over here for a while. What are you studying at the "U"?

Are you coming over September 2005 or 2006? If you can make it over here a month early, you can catch one of the coolest get togethers in the NW.
Hotrod-A-Rama. http://www.hotrodarama.com/index.html

Theres a bunch of really cool rodders that live out and around this area. Some of us live a ways out of the city, but Seattle just blends in with dozens of other cities for miles and miles, so it doesn't really matter.

Chris

 

Right on. Seattle is a great city, and the scene is pretty hopping. I live an hour north of the city, but still go into town for shows and ****. Lots of car guys in the general area.

Do you know where you'll be living? If you are looking for a place in the city, Ballard is the place to be....

 

Look me up when you get here. I can introduce you to some people, show you some famous cars, etc.

I used to work for The Business School at the University of Washington and my dad-in-law is a Dean there, so I may be able to help w/ questions you have about UW life as well.

****, I can even make reccomendations on what neighborhoods are fun, where to drink, and a few other things like that.

 

Welcome! Keep your eyes on the NW get togethers (always posted here) and check them out.

 

Wow, thanks a lot for your answers this far, everything will help me so keep on informing me! This thread won't get old!

I'm coming in September 2005, our flight leaves from Finland in September 9th. We are planning to live on the Campus area, but it is quite open still. Industrial Engineering is my curriculum in The U.S. as well as here in Finland in my current home university.

I may buy some old driveable wreck for driving around Washington, it would be wonderful to get to know some of you. I really want to partisipate your car shows, swap meets and things like that, you never know, this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. I'm very excited at the moment...

Mika

 

Hotrod-A-Rama seems to be insane! The pictures are too-cool! I must be there in August 2006!!!

BTW: Do you have some unnecessary hot rods laying around over there and is it legal to drive without fenders...?

 

Don't do it, you just might like it too much and never leave, he he. Still a lot of old clunkers kicking around these parts, alot of rust, but still alot of good projects if you look around. And things to do, like the big swap meet in Monroe, that you will be here in time for. O yeah, lots of rain instead of snow (thinking to myself that Finland may get alot of that?). Let us know when you get all setelled in and are ready to explore the great pacific north west.

 

Yep.... We'll take care of ya.....

PM me, and I guess the rest of us when you get here, Im sure something will be going on....

And yeah, we can drive without fenders .... or licenses.... -J.

 

Better rebook your flight so you can make it to this years show. And to answer your questions. Yes and yes. You should be in for quite a culture shock.

 

Great school, I graduated from there in 91. would love to go back to get my Masters there but it just never seems to happen.

Seattle is a great car town with lots to do in the summer, some great swaps also.......

 

I'll tell you what.
When you meet all those louses south of the border and aren't impressed lemme know and we'll have you up here for a really good time!
We even have REAL beer!

Seriously,a bunch of kill guys/dolls in and around Seattle.
You'll be settled just in time for the Swindlers Poker Run.
You'll hafta come up here for a few weekends for sure.
Hell we'll even find you a rock quarry to cruise around in so you won't miss home too much.
If you and the wife wanna visit Victoria while your on this side of the pond lemme know,we'll show you around and put you up if you want......Shiny

 

You will dig it up there! My wife and I just did a two week road trip around Washington and I LOVe it! You are also plenty close enough to make it down to California for some of the shows here too. Try to get down to Paso next year we're only a hard days drive away!

 

Thank you for all of you! We feel ourselfs very welcomed, you seem to be very hospitable guys!

I put some project pictures of my current rides on The Net for you. I'm hoping to find some missing parts as well... http://photobucket.com/albums/y108/Karimix/

Please keep on telling me how is life there, I hope it would lower my culture shock when I'll see your hot rods...

Mika

 

Great to hear your coming to the NW. I have lived here for a year and a half. After living in Florida my whole life. (35 years) And it is awesome. Alot of great people up here. Lots of great cars. And a great music scene. In September there is the Rockabilly ball. A three day music event. There are always great bands playing. They come from all over the world. Denmark, Japan, and everywhere in between. Should still be alot of great stuff going on when you get here. Before winter sets in. Actually the winters in Florida are worse than up here. When people say it rains all the time up here they are nuts. People in Washington wouldn't know rain if they saw it. What they call rain up here, in Florida we call humidity. In short, you will have a great time up here. Glad to have you here.

 

That's good info, thanks. Honestly, I have no idea what to ask so please tell me more. For making this more personal, I'm that guy behind the wheel in this poor picture...

Mika

 

Mika, I just seen on the news today that Seattle was voted most livable city in America, I just thought that was strange cause it's just home. O yeah, the SWIDLERS poker run is a damn good time, we usaually cruise through 3 countys, and it takes about 12 hours from start to finish 9am to 9pm.

 

Thanks, it seems to be quite a lot cool happenings there. Is there some kind of NW-area's list of events on The Net?

 

Mika,
Look me up if you ever get in L.A. We'll talk more about them Caddy heads,
By the way, 14mm spark plug holes, & I believe 8:1 C.R. and I like to refer to them as continuations rather than repros. Lots of stuff going on here every weekend.
Good luck & I hope that you enjoy your education.
Kevin

 

Congrats! Seattle's a great place. UW is a great school (cl*** of 98). Cool town, great music scene (still), great hang out places. Plenty to do and see, car & non car stuff. I'll PM you my details.

 

Gearhead: Thank you for your private message, it would be great to see your projects.

Cyclone kevin: I promise if I'm ever coming to LA, I'll come and see those to-die-for Caddie Flattie parts!

For all of ya NW-hambers answered this far: I'm so happy you have taken contact to me. It seems to be so much things to do and places to see over there. I'm really looking forward beeing on the other side of the bond. Thanks!

Mika

 

OK, I have some news. Yesterday I got all my acceptance papers from The UW so everything seems to be all right. Visa application procedure will be the next target.

I welded my rusty T-Tudor the whole yesterday evening and I was wondering if you have some needless storage space, I may want to buy some parts...?

See ya!
Mika

 

Right on Mika, you'll have a grand time here....

 

Wow, time has come. Last evening at home, tomorrow to Helsinki and a day after to Kopenhagen, Denmark and ten hours later we'll be there other side of the bond, in Seattle! This is very exciting...

Mika

 

get on over here, get settled in and go to the

Arlington Drag Strip Reunion this weekend

Chehalis Swap Meet in two weeks

Monroe Swap Meet coming up Oct 8 and 9

 

More important, where to buy groceries!!!

 

Makin the bed up for ya now!!... Yer welcome with us anytime! Bring some vodka that says 6%. Really, look us up!!..........OLDBEET

 

Mika,
You'll love it here. But a word of advise, don't live near the Univerisity district. It is the only place in Seattle I will never live again. You'll pay way to much for a ****ty apartment that will get broken into. Live somewhere else and take the bus to school, they give you a free bus p*** as student at the UW. Some neighborhoods to look into are Ravenna, Wedgewood, Lake City, Ballard Greenwood, and Northgate. October 8-9 is the Monroe swap meet and it's huge and like Joe mentioned the Rockabilly Ball September 22-24, which also has a car show.Hope to meet up with you when you get down here.
Micah

 

Have a safe trip. Hope to meet you at one of the events.


Chris