Terve Suomalaiset!
My buddy Mark is about to start a 2-month apprenticeship in Kouvola, Suomi, obvsly doesn't know anyone there, and wants to know if there's something like a tabletop gaming club in or near Kouvula. Blood Bowl, 40k, other Warhammer and even MtG, he's game. He's friendly and likes a laugh, 100% Erik™ approved 
Retoots will be much appreciated!
@erikcats I'd recommend him to visit the local library. At least in the capital area they have board game groups meeting there. Maybe it's the same in kouvola.
@zebcestbien will pass it on! Thanks!
@erikcats I asked my SO who is active in the scene, he said there's a fair bit of 40k players in Kouvola and promised to ask where one might best reach out to them. I'll report back when he gets an answer :]
@tupsu brilliant, thank you so much!
@erikcats Well, SO's advice basically amounted to "have them join the Warhammer Discord community and give a shout there": https://discord.gg/gp6nZubk Fairly active server where English is the main language, and apparently there is definitely at least a few 40k players located over in Kouvola. Hopefully that gives your friend a start!
@tupsu forwarded! Thank you so much for all your help!
@erikcats Can't help with the gaming bit but random things he can check out:
- first off, the city is known for its very grey concrete architecture
- the random Chinese gate (not enough room here to tell about it, ask the locals)
- the Central Church, voted one of the ugliest churches in Finland but I kind of like it, unfortunately it's closed bc structural issues and it may have to be demolished if the church can't find the millions needed to fix/maintain it https://yle.fi/a/74-20142802
@tiikerikani thanks, I forwarded this. The church looks like some of the postwar reconstruction era architecture we had here, and although it's ugly as all hell I have a soft spot for it pääsit speaks of the austerity of the 1950s and early 60s. sadly most of it has been demolished because most people do not like it and it is usually poorly built of poor material
@erikcats I think there are still regular boardgame meetups at the Kouvola main library, at least there were last fall. So he might start with asking there - I don't think it's organized by the library, but if they book a space, the staff should know. Neighboring city of Lahti has a game store and very active gamers of all sorts, too.
@anotherdream kiitos! Will tell him!
@erikcats He could also ask the miniature gaming society in Lahti, figurefellowsry @ gmail. The minis people I used to know in Kouvola a decade ago would regularly play with those in Lahti, there's a good chance they could point him in the right direction.
@anotherdream passed the email on too! Kiitos, but then the 'a lot' variety!