I've started back with my Swedish studying. I had to drop the class, because after Papa died I was just too depressed to go to class, and missed too much. However, I feel like a real human again! Yay for that. I'm sure the fact it isn't bitterly cold (only just cold) certainly helps, as does seeing the sun. I think Finland is going to be absolutely gorgeous about 2 weeks after I leave. Figures.
I'm really thinking more and more I would like to do the Faroese language program summer after next. I just need to come up with the money, or scholarships. I also need a way to justify it, since studying Germanic languages will help me ZERO in city planning. Whatever. A girl is allowed to have hobbies.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
A short discourse on alcohol in Finland.
Alcohol in Finland is EXPENSIVE. It was expensive before, but then the government levied an additional tax on it because the Finns are a bunch of drunks. Seriously. It is not at all unusual to see someone on the Metro halfway through a case of beer at 9am. The Finns love, love, love to drink.
Hard alcohol and wine has to be bought at an Alco Shop. I've never been in one, never had any need, but as far as I can tell they carry just about every alcohol imaginable, including nasty as Salmiaki liquor. [Salmiaki is a Finnish "candy". The closest I can come to describing it is imagine licorice soaked overnight in brine.]
The grocery stores is where you can buy beer, cider, that sort of thing. Beer is, well, beer. Most of it is dark and it all basically tastes the same. Cider is a bit more interesting. Finns like their cider sweet. Thus, you can buy regular apple cider, but also pear, grape, raspberry, and, most confusingly, pineapple. I wouldn't recommend the pineapple. There is also one kind of dry apple cider. Your third choice of alcohol is the Long Drink. What a long drink is, exactly, remains a mystery. Long drinks come in orange, lime, grape, and strawberry. They are approximately the color of water after you drop a highliter in it. Mmm, tasty. I think the alcohol in them is gin, but I could be wrong. No one really knows, but they are 10 cents cheaper than the cider, so people drink them. The orange isn't too bad, really. Imagine Tang made with gin instead of water and you have it about right.
The long drinks run about 1,80 for a can about the size of an Arizona Iced Tea, and the ciders run about 1,90.
I have no idea how much beer is, because a case of beer is not a fixed construct. Its entirely common for people to rip open cases of beer and buy individual cans, or make a case of 3 of one kind, 9 of another, and the rest of another. That shit would not fly in Food Lion, I guarantee it.
Alcohol in Finland is EXPENSIVE. It was expensive before, but then the government levied an additional tax on it because the Finns are a bunch of drunks. Seriously. It is not at all unusual to see someone on the Metro halfway through a case of beer at 9am. The Finns love, love, love to drink.
Hard alcohol and wine has to be bought at an Alco Shop. I've never been in one, never had any need, but as far as I can tell they carry just about every alcohol imaginable, including nasty as Salmiaki liquor. [Salmiaki is a Finnish "candy". The closest I can come to describing it is imagine licorice soaked overnight in brine.]
The grocery stores is where you can buy beer, cider, that sort of thing. Beer is, well, beer. Most of it is dark and it all basically tastes the same. Cider is a bit more interesting. Finns like their cider sweet. Thus, you can buy regular apple cider, but also pear, grape, raspberry, and, most confusingly, pineapple. I wouldn't recommend the pineapple. There is also one kind of dry apple cider. Your third choice of alcohol is the Long Drink. What a long drink is, exactly, remains a mystery. Long drinks come in orange, lime, grape, and strawberry. They are approximately the color of water after you drop a highliter in it. Mmm, tasty. I think the alcohol in them is gin, but I could be wrong. No one really knows, but they are 10 cents cheaper than the cider, so people drink them. The orange isn't too bad, really. Imagine Tang made with gin instead of water and you have it about right.
The long drinks run about 1,80 for a can about the size of an Arizona Iced Tea, and the ciders run about 1,90.
I have no idea how much beer is, because a case of beer is not a fixed construct. Its entirely common for people to rip open cases of beer and buy individual cans, or make a case of 3 of one kind, 9 of another, and the rest of another. That shit would not fly in Food Lion, I guarantee it.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
I emerged from my cave of sick today.I had an interview at 2 with a woman from the department of English, she is doing a research project on living and studying in Finland when you don't speak Finnish. I know how hard it is to find people to interview, so I figured I would go. It was actually kind of fun talking with her, and I'm glad I went.
After the interview, I was bound and determined to take pictures. I hadn't taken any pictures of the pretty part of the city, but that is now rectified, and by the time you read this they will all be up in convenient album form on Facebook. I wandered by the Helsinki City Museum, which I had been by before. It is free admission, and I didn't have anywhere else to be so I went in. It was a lot bigger than I expected, and really quite interesting. Definitely worth the money, I would have even donated a few euro if there had been a box. I spent an hour in there, it was 2 1/2 floors worth of stuff. There is a used book shop next to it, but I wanted to take pictures and I knew if I went in there that would be another hour gone. I am going to go in one day.
I took pictures down by the harbor, and went in the only tacky giftshop in the city. One room of Russian stuff, one of Finland.
On the steps of the Cathedral someone had trudged "I <3 ANNA" in the snow, it was really sweet. It must have taken forever and I hope she appreciated it. In my mind it was some sort of elaborate marriage proposal.
After picture taking I came back home, stopping by Lidl for random groceries. I think there is some sort of something special in Kamppi today, because there were banners and balloons. The girls giving them out wouldn't give me one though, which made me sad.
On tomorrows agenda is buying pants, doing laundry, and going to the Posti to mail Bryan's letter and buy stamps for future use.
Some random thoughts:
This city is really well equipped for blind people. All the crosswalks in the centre beep slowly when you can't cross, and then when you can it speeds up. Also, in Kamppi, there are metal dots on the ground that lead from the train terminal to all the different bus stops. I hadn't thought about it, but I saw a blind mad today run his cane along them to find where to go. Thats so smart.
After the interview, I was bound and determined to take pictures. I hadn't taken any pictures of the pretty part of the city, but that is now rectified, and by the time you read this they will all be up in convenient album form on Facebook. I wandered by the Helsinki City Museum, which I had been by before. It is free admission, and I didn't have anywhere else to be so I went in. It was a lot bigger than I expected, and really quite interesting. Definitely worth the money, I would have even donated a few euro if there had been a box. I spent an hour in there, it was 2 1/2 floors worth of stuff. There is a used book shop next to it, but I wanted to take pictures and I knew if I went in there that would be another hour gone. I am going to go in one day.
I took pictures down by the harbor, and went in the only tacky giftshop in the city. One room of Russian stuff, one of Finland.
On the steps of the Cathedral someone had trudged "I <3 ANNA" in the snow, it was really sweet. It must have taken forever and I hope she appreciated it. In my mind it was some sort of elaborate marriage proposal.
After picture taking I came back home, stopping by Lidl for random groceries. I think there is some sort of something special in Kamppi today, because there were banners and balloons. The girls giving them out wouldn't give me one though, which made me sad.
On tomorrows agenda is buying pants, doing laundry, and going to the Posti to mail Bryan's letter and buy stamps for future use.
Some random thoughts:
This city is really well equipped for blind people. All the crosswalks in the centre beep slowly when you can't cross, and then when you can it speeds up. Also, in Kamppi, there are metal dots on the ground that lead from the train terminal to all the different bus stops. I hadn't thought about it, but I saw a blind mad today run his cane along them to find where to go. Thats so smart.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Being sick in Finland is not like being sick anywhere else. I'm living in a 1st world country, one of the nicest places to live in the world. Yet I can't but toilet paper/tissues that don't feel like sandpaper. Why is this? Everything here is fucking recycled. Everything. I couldn't buy cold meds because I didn't speak the language, and after someone told me what to buy I still couldn't buy them because I couldn't find an open apoptek. Why? Because its Finland, and things close for fun.
Luckily, I have a Latvian friend who speaks Finnish and could tell me how to make the instant potatoes I bought. I still had to wing it because everything here is measured in metric, and I have no metric measuring utensils. Why? Because I can't fucking figure out where to buy them. I would literally kill for a Target. I live next to the biggest shopping center in Finland and can't buy measuring cups. Or scissors. Not, I can't find a pair that aren't ridiculously expensive, I CAN'T FUCKING FIND ANY.
On the upside, the street musicians here make me happy. There is a hobo band, comprised of a trumpet player, 2 accordionists, and what appears to be a mandolin with too many strings. They are awesome. I walk by them almost every day to go to class. At the end of the semester I'm going to through like 10e in the hat for always making me smile. My favorite is when the trumpet player plays "When The Saints Go Marching In" and the others play "Let It Be". Its special.
One another front, what all do you want from Finland? Ash, I know what I'm getting you, I just need your t-shirt size. Nickie, I know you want a bust of Lenin paperweight. What about the others? I can also probably score something from Cairo as well.
Luckily, I have a Latvian friend who speaks Finnish and could tell me how to make the instant potatoes I bought. I still had to wing it because everything here is measured in metric, and I have no metric measuring utensils. Why? Because I can't fucking figure out where to buy them. I would literally kill for a Target. I live next to the biggest shopping center in Finland and can't buy measuring cups. Or scissors. Not, I can't find a pair that aren't ridiculously expensive, I CAN'T FUCKING FIND ANY.
On the upside, the street musicians here make me happy. There is a hobo band, comprised of a trumpet player, 2 accordionists, and what appears to be a mandolin with too many strings. They are awesome. I walk by them almost every day to go to class. At the end of the semester I'm going to through like 10e in the hat for always making me smile. My favorite is when the trumpet player plays "When The Saints Go Marching In" and the others play "Let It Be". Its special.
One another front, what all do you want from Finland? Ash, I know what I'm getting you, I just need your t-shirt size. Nickie, I know you want a bust of Lenin paperweight. What about the others? I can also probably score something from Cairo as well.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
I've been bad about posting :( Last week I spent most of the week in my room alone, not seeing people. Depressive episode likely brought on by the horrible weather. Saturday I went to dinner with Ashley, then hung out with him afterwards. I spent all of Sunday and most of yesterday studying for my Nordic History test today. Study breaks included watching obscene amounts of Pokemon and eating lots of eggs. I hardboiled some eggs Sunday and they turned out perfect. since then, I have been eating lots of them because they take less time than anything else, and are marginally better for me.
The sun has been out the past 3 days, and it has changed my life. the forecast today was for "abundant sunshine". Those are the 2 most glorious words in the English language, I swear. I feel better all over and have more energy because of the sun. Next time you see the sun, thank it for being in your lives.
I'm like a quarter through the first season of Pokemon, so like 20 episodes. I started at the beginning. There is a fair amount of subtext that you don't get so much as a kid. I also refuse to return home without knowing the Pokerap by heart. Megavideo (the only good source) limits you to 72 minutes at a time, then you have to take a break for an hour. This is good, and bad. I'm debating finding a good proxy, but I know most proxy servers are too slow to run video.
I still haven't figured out street crossing here. In places without lights you just look confident and cars will stop. In places with lights most people obey, but then some cross and some don't and I never know who to go with. Silly jay-walking Finns.
Food here is still hit-or-miss. I ate something fried on Saturday, it might have been chicken. Or pork. It was white. But it smelled like beef. The menu said "cheesemaster broiler", so who knows. If you are interested in what I have to choose from at the dining halls everyday, here is the link:
http://www.unicafe.fi/index.php?ds[1]=0&ds[2]=0&ds[3]=0&ds[4]=0&ds[8]=0&ds[5]=0&ds[6]=0&Itemid=82&task=naytaRuoka&option=com_paivanlounas
I normally eat at Porthania or Päärakennus. Päärakennus is the main building. Half is new, and half is old. The old part is lovely, full of marble busts of famous Finns and copies of statues from all over.
I've also been reading Grail Bird, which is a firsthand account of searching for the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker. Its really, really fascinating and I'm really glad Daddy mailed it to me.
Thats really all I have.
Oh, and people who read this: please pass it on to others who aren't on Twitter, like Levi and Nickie and possibly Skyler. Kthxbai.
The sun has been out the past 3 days, and it has changed my life. the forecast today was for "abundant sunshine". Those are the 2 most glorious words in the English language, I swear. I feel better all over and have more energy because of the sun. Next time you see the sun, thank it for being in your lives.
I'm like a quarter through the first season of Pokemon, so like 20 episodes. I started at the beginning. There is a fair amount of subtext that you don't get so much as a kid. I also refuse to return home without knowing the Pokerap by heart. Megavideo (the only good source) limits you to 72 minutes at a time, then you have to take a break for an hour. This is good, and bad. I'm debating finding a good proxy, but I know most proxy servers are too slow to run video.
I still haven't figured out street crossing here. In places without lights you just look confident and cars will stop. In places with lights most people obey, but then some cross and some don't and I never know who to go with. Silly jay-walking Finns.
Food here is still hit-or-miss. I ate something fried on Saturday, it might have been chicken. Or pork. It was white. But it smelled like beef. The menu said "cheesemaster broiler", so who knows. If you are interested in what I have to choose from at the dining halls everyday, here is the link:
http://www.unicafe.fi/index.php?ds[1]=0&ds[2]=0&ds[3]=0&ds[4]=0&ds[8]=0&ds[5]=0&ds[6]=0&Itemid=82&task=naytaRuoka&option=com_paivanlounas
I normally eat at Porthania or Päärakennus. Päärakennus is the main building. Half is new, and half is old. The old part is lovely, full of marble busts of famous Finns and copies of statues from all over.
I've also been reading Grail Bird, which is a firsthand account of searching for the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker. Its really, really fascinating and I'm really glad Daddy mailed it to me.
Thats really all I have.
Oh, and people who read this: please pass it on to others who aren't on Twitter, like Levi and Nickie and possibly Skyler. Kthxbai.
Monday, January 26, 2009
I would like to have a little discussion about this damn country. It was +1 today, which for all us Fahrenheit people, thats about 33 degrees. It snowed all day. However, it was warm enough for the snow coming down not to stick, but rather melt on top of the icey slush that is already covering the ground. There is a lovely 1/2" coating of ice most everywhere, covered with anywhere from 0-2" of slush. This means that you slip everywhere. Why people settled in this wilderness is beyond me. Its so cold that all the strollers are completely covered, or sometimes have a little viewing hole. Its so cold that people don't want to expose their children to it.
It wasn't quite dark when my class started today, that means the days are getting longer! Of course, being not-quite-dark at 4pm is still quite sucky.
I had my EU class today. What it actually was, however, was an hour and a half of USA bashing. Of, I'm sorry that we can't take the EU seriously. I mean with great military powers like the UK and France, and with your largest army being Finlands, how can we not quake in fear of you? You did all those helpful things when we started the war in Iraq, like the Danes sent a submarine! How thoughtful.
The lecturer is from Manchester, and has a healthy hate of France as well, so that was nice.
I actually don't hate it here as much as it seems. I think I will like it more once it gets warmer, but I can't see myself being too sad to go home. If nothing else, I have learned that I am a Southern girl at heart, and that big cities and divergence from my daily routine is not for me.
It wasn't quite dark when my class started today, that means the days are getting longer! Of course, being not-quite-dark at 4pm is still quite sucky.
I had my EU class today. What it actually was, however, was an hour and a half of USA bashing. Of, I'm sorry that we can't take the EU seriously. I mean with great military powers like the UK and France, and with your largest army being Finlands, how can we not quake in fear of you? You did all those helpful things when we started the war in Iraq, like the Danes sent a submarine! How thoughtful.
The lecturer is from Manchester, and has a healthy hate of France as well, so that was nice.
I actually don't hate it here as much as it seems. I think I will like it more once it gets warmer, but I can't see myself being too sad to go home. If nothing else, I have learned that I am a Southern girl at heart, and that big cities and divergence from my daily routine is not for me.
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