Climate, Finns and changing

Finnish summer weather is a preferred topic in the headlines – no matter what turns: hot, warm, getting colder, the sun is out, behind a cloud, cold and windy, thunder in the air..

Last week was groundbreakingly warm. Having almost +30 degrees is a lot for May. The papers went crazy over the hot weather and so did people, the streets were full of life. Now the week started with drizzling rain and less than +10 degrees. The changes are visible.

I find it amazing to see how weather affects the general mood. It’s more of a guideline than an exception: when the sun is out, so are the people. I know that in most parts of Europe the same deal exists. However, when the weather goes on for a longer time, people tend to find it as a nuisance. Allergies get worse, plants dry up, you get sweaty just thinking of food.. or it’s too cold for this time of the year, people are wearing woolen socks and whining about freezing weather and constant rain when according to them it’s suppose to be sunny. The weather takes a hold of everything from traditional cuisine to acts of love, from common habits to bureaucracy, commonly preferred cloth-colours to the national sport. It affects moods, traditions, how the roads and houses are constructed etc. Seems that most of the people take 30-40 years to get used to the weather in their home country. Why?

Here are a few paragraphs freely translated from the blog of Aikamatkustaja, a counter migrant in Finland. You decide if it’s beside the point:

“It is fashionable to blame the immigrants about everything at the moment. Cultural differences and violence are things that were brought here by foreigners. Politicians could find the guilty from outer space easier than from their own parties. Cultural differences have always existed. Karelians, Savonians, Tavastians, people from Varsinais-Suomi and especially from Ostrobothnia have down the ages caused a respectable amount of quarrels, conflicts, silent treatment, crisis in marriages, open quarrels, drama in tutelages and knife fights. There was no foreigner needed either before.”

Read the whole text here (in finnish). There was also a group on Facebook telling the volcanic ashes to go back to Iceland. I would love to present it for joining purposes, but apparently it doesn’t exist anymore. So instead, make it fun and go dance with cultures from all over the world when they meet in the centre of Helsinki 29 and 30 May 2010.

Summer feelings in Finland

This beautiful video is by Visit Finland.

I’m watching The Big Bang Theory and listening to MC Hammer

So volcanos blow up, airplanes don’t fly, the winter is the whitest in years and the summer seems to become the coldest for balance. There are reasons why to update and why not to update. I’ve had plenty of the last category in the past few months. Believe me, I was sorry before this silent period even started, but now I’m planning to be back in the game. So I’m unpausing the blog and I feel like playing through the few months quickly for you.

Honestly the last few months have had more minor notes than major. But right now, I’m getting flashes of the sunny side. Taking steps forward, the sun can’t stay behind the clouds forever. (I’m still waiting for the Finnish summer to show me something else than it’s back side though.)

I found a job that I adore so far. I look forward to going in the office and seeing what the days bring. Every day new possibilities and chances turn out! Along these changes comes another one, I’ve moved back to the area where I grew up. The calming surroundings have given me such a boost!

Now it’s all ahead: summer, possible travelling, new challenges, rock festivals, picnics, bike trips, friends visiting, couchsurfing, new appartment, decorating, sitting on the balcony and reading,

Valentine’s day special

Suvi, Jaakko and I decided to do something special for Valentine’s day. But before I get to the special, let’s go to the Valentine. There’s a story behind that since in Finland the day is dedicated to friends more than lovers the day being ystävänpäivä (ystävä – friend, päivä – day). So doing something special for Valentine’s day in three doesn’t mean what you might be thinking of. Our choice included snow but no sauna.

The best slide and the highest peak in Helsinki is Malminkartanonhuippu. Only a quarter of an hour train ride away from Helsinki is the quite nice suburb called Malminkartano. After a kilometer walk from the station, you’ll arrive to the gorgeous view’s that also serve as an awesome slide. Sunday’s are definitely not lazy here.

It gives a wild ride down the hill especially if you make a queue out of those two seen in the last pictures and then put four people on board. Actually so wild that in the end one will end into the hospital with a strained ankle :) No worries, Suvi is just unfortunate, prone to accidents and recovering!

After the countless “this is so fun, we should do this more often” the supposed last slide led into 2 hours spent in the hospital and getting her ankle x-rayed and everything. Humour sticks through everything and in the end I have to say it was a fun friendsday that after the hospital gig lasted another 12 hours :)

Gran Canaria and its juicy clementines

My trip to Gran Canaria was very unexpected and unplanned in many ways. I booked the flights over a month before departure and went there straight from London. I was suppose to stay with a friend but due to weird circumstances decided there had to be a better way. The decision couldn’t have been better and the whole vacation turned out to a true adventure. Who knew… an island that is more famous for its touristic beaches (at least in Finland) than anything else has such a beautiful hidden side. And there wouldn’t have been any of this adventure if it wasn’t for The Magic Bus.

As to the change of mind, I was urgently searching for a couch to sleep in anywhere in the island. I got a very quick reply from a Parisian Emmanuel who promised to help me. Here’s where it all started like domino pieces.

First stop: Las Palmas.

The city is really nothing exciting. 2 days is just enough to explore its fruits.

Emmanuel was mostly away climbing the mountains. More on the mountains later on. Through Emmanuel I met so many lovely people who made my stay simply awesome. Two germans – Marcel and Marius – had decided to rent a van that would fit at least 6 people and drive around the island. The island is quite small; driving from Las Palmas to Maspalomas takes a rough hour. But before that adventure, I was to meet with a friend.

When we later joined the magical crew, the plan was to hike to a secret beach called Playa de Güi Güi. It is 2 hours or a little less from the closest road in the village of San Nicolas. I had been trying to get someone hike with me for ages. I really missed all the silence and nature around.

There was three men living near to the beach. One of them was a complete hermit with two dogs, who didn’t really want to get in touch with people but the other two were very friendly. One of them lived just next to the ruins of a church (?) we staid at. He’s goat lived in the side room of the ruin every day for a good half an hour when he milked and fed it. What a life.

Living with nature is just beautiful. There is no time and you always sleep well – and long enough. (The next two pictures have been taken by Rosa)

The way back was much less pleasant but adventurous for sure. The guys decided to take a short cut: “Let’s just go straight from here! No path!” Four men and me… the mountains just grew bigger and arduous. There was always one after the other. After seven hours of climbing and hiking among the rocks, we ended up going back to the same path we once started from :D The rest of the hike we were almost running.. in under 1½ hours we were at the car when the sun had already set.

In the car driving from the airport back to Puerto Rico, after taking German there, Marcel and I talked about how different all the people gathered together are and how in the hike we had to stick together and be comfortable. It’s not easy to like someone straight away but if you put a group of strangers in the position that we were while hiking in the mountains, it forces them to be a team. Noone is left behind and the weakest is the strongest in the group.

All this is thanks to couchsurfing. Later German wrote to the thread of the whole magic bus idea:

“Guys, I’m back in London now. I’m fucking freezing but that can’t erase the big smile in my face every time I recall the moments I spend on the Magic Bus with the very special Magic Bus Crew.
This advice comes from the bottom of my heart because I want everybody to have a great time as I did: do yourself a favor and ride the Magic Bus, you won’t regreat it and in fact you will probably thank me (kiitos) later.

Have a great life and adventure
German, Former Magic Bus Crew.”

Presa de la Niñas.

Haha, I taught the guys to sing a finnish drinking song in the tune of Brother John. The lyrics are just finnish beer brands. The next day they were paddling with the rubber boat around the lake and singing that song!

I have at least 5 videos of Marcel backing up the car really fast and then breaking, trying to make all that stuff fall out from the back. If it would’ve actually worked out the video would’ve been called “How to clean the magic bus in 10 seconds.”

Thank you people! Peace, love and sunshine!

London means money spending

We got free tickets to skating in Hyde Park from a random passer-by. 13,5 pounds for one ticket! The first time I skate this year… and in London.

Camden Town is my favourite part. It’s full of details.

London Eye at night, after the spectacular show of Stomp.

Tate Museum of Modern Art was packed, because outside was like this:

What comes to the New Years Eve and party. I have an advice, warning and a praise. Don’t drink vodka redbull! If there is more than 3 bottles of Jack Daniels in the house, be sure to find your host sleeping under the table. If you love electro, techno kind of music – go to the Egg. It’s an experience with it’s metal detectors, guards and people in a trance.

Holiday’s are over

This holiday was a tiny mix of contraries: expensive – cheap, party – relax, techno – reggae, underground – private (magic) bus, big capital city – tiny island, a lot of people – loneliness, easily reached – out of reach, yuppies – hippies (no offense to anyone), mindblowing fruits – fast food…

It did exceed my budget a little bit because an expensive capital just swallows money but thankfully I had lovely travel companions in the end, who took care that I will have enough money to get home. And of course my private sponsors :) On the other hand, money cannot buy all what I gained.. it cannot be counted in the jean pairs nor in the redbulls I bought. It’s a state of mind which I want to can and sell to all those grumpy faced people I travel in the tube and bus with from now on.

On holiday it’s easy, if you’re with the right people – like this time. I’m once again humble and grateful for having met all of you. Thank you! Now it’s back to reality. It’s back to fighting for who I am and what I want. I already have new plans, dreams and goals. But before I go further on… I’ll try to spread the feeling I have now all over this bloody blog.

Hello fellows

And I’m back in the game! Graduated, rested, past Christmas and ready to roll. So let’s start this roulette all over again, from different point of views. Here’s a tale for you whilst I’m packing my stuff and getting ready for my 3 week London-Gran Canaria experience.

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.
– Not very long, answered the Mexican.
– But then, why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more? asked the American.
The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.
The American asked,
– But what do you do with the rest of your time?
– I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. I have a full life.
The American interrupted,
– I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat.
– And after that? asked the Mexican.
– With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise.
– How long would that take? asked the Mexican.
– Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years, replied the American.
– And after that?
– Afterwards? Well my friend, that’s when it gets really interesting, answered the American laughing,
– When your business gets really big, you can start buying and selling stocks and make millions!
– Millions? Really? And after that? asked the Mexican.
– After that you’ll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends.

Do you know where you’re going? Maybe you’re there.

Autumn gone by

And all I’ve done is sit inside writing the Thesis.

Next week, I will have more stories to tell: Muse in Münich is waiting!

Fierce and dreamy put-in action

If you are sick of my ever around going wriggles about the future, skip this post.

I’m definitely one of those people who think about faith, destiny, the concept of the rest of your life, what the universe tells me to do and be. But as much as I think the much I also get voices of the universe mixed up. All seems to have a somewhat similar yet a lot different idea for what life should be.

Why am I thinking about all this? See I’ve been studying for most of my life. I started when I was 7 years old and now after non-stop student life I should step on the side of adults. Does my shoe size grow a few numbers bigger or a block anvil fall from the sky? It’s a changing point which needs its rites. Not a child, not a teenage, not even a semi-adult.. Soon I’ll be a big grown-up, who’ll fiercely put dreams in action. Though, none of those dreams really involve sitting in an office being delighted when the manager brings you another pile of paper to work around. I never thought I’m much of an entrepreneur neither but now I’m starting to think that when the government doesn’t back you up with the somewhat generous student loan, you have to be one (not a student loan but the entrepreneur).

It’s hard to go around the thoughts of where I should be and what I should be doing when the opinions around me differs from one end to another. Some say I should do exactly what I want and go wherever I want. Other say I should be reasonable, practical and dream less. My fierce yet practical and dreamy decision is to not decide. I’ll go where I’ll go and if even kicks and screams are effortless, I’ll do something else. I’m scared, thrilled and excited to see what comes up – and I can’t wait.

My mama told me today she heard someone smart (not that my mama ain’t smart) say life is a lot easier if you just let it lead you. I’ve heard others say that when you don’t make your efforts for decisions, it’s everyone else who do the work.

One thing I’m sure of, this rainy ass weather sucks – and next week I’m gonna stand up on my head every day.. maybe these issues I’m dealing with will have another perspective as well. And after all, it’s not that serious is it? The answer to all these questions change almost daily.