Fall is here... and as fast as it came, I'm pretty sure it's also going and winter is quickly arriving. Yesterday was my friend Mia's birthday[!] and I walked over to her place and it was snowing... there and back. These were just tiny snowflakes but the point is, it was below 0. Pretty soon, it looks like I'll be busting out my marshmallow knee-length coat and wearing proper hats.
I started thinking about how I felt about impending winter and whether moving here in January had been advantageous or not. I decided there was no better time to more to Finland than January... though it may depend on your personality. Here's the break down:
Summer - hands down, easiest time to move here
Fall - beautiful season, it gets colder but not too cold, unless you're from a tropical country... or Spain... or anywhere outside of Canada.
Winter --> divided in 2:
1. Before December 21st, I'm told, it's very dark and quite depressing as the days get shorter and shorter. If there's snow, the landscape appears more lit and it's not as bad. If there's no snow, or worse, slush, it seems even darker... and since Finns enjoy walking places, it also adds an impediment.
Now - I moved here last January, on the 3d. Meaning that it was just about the darkest time of the year. I had a hard time waking up before 11am and that was when I had to drag myself out of bed. But to put things in perspective, every day was a little longer than the one before! After you get through that, you have summer to look forward to and now, I'm just experiencing fall for the first time. But having seen the "worst" of it last year, I feel well-prepared. It also helps that I have things to do now, like school and work, so though it may seem dark outside when I wake up, I know I'll be seeing people that day and doing productive things!
On the other hand, if you move to Finland in the summer, you'll have a blast, but the shock between +25 and -25 may be harder to handle [depending where you come from]. Obviously everyone is different, and each winter is a little different than the last but perspective and attitude can go a long way in this case, especially since most foreigners, choose to be here.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Written Sunday night, posted now.
I’ve been feeling a little funny lately. As you all know, I’d spent the last couple months looking for a job, before finally giving up and just accepting that I’d have to do my Master’s and keep improving my Finnish before a job would fall into my lap. Of course, three weeks into the new school semester and exactly what I’d spent months hoping for and eventually giving up on falls on my lap. Isn’t it ironic? [pop cultural references from 1995.]
I’m on the train now, doing my weekly trip to Helsinki for two days before returning to Tampere for the rest of the week to work and be at home. I didn’t have any books with me on the way to Tampere so today I picked up my copy of Supercoach, by Michael Neill, a book which my mom gave me when I came to Finland. I’m still reading it, but taking months to process the chapters. Today, I blew through 50 pages of it like nobody’s business and of course, that got me thinking.
Today, I was feeling all adventurous so I went to see Eat Pray Love. I didn’t initially intend on seeing this movie but since Juha brought it up last night, I couldn’t resist the temptation any longer. So while he was at work today, I went to the movies for a little treat. And I’m so happy I went because I really enjoyed the movie. I remember connecting with the book but maybe because the movie was more condensed and occurred over a shorter period of time, the messages were much clearer:
Find yourself,
Forgive whatever part of yourself is haunting you,
Be yourself,
Leave your comfort zone if you need in order to do all that
and finally
Be happy!
For the first time since, well for the first time ever, I feel this strange sense of freedom. Which is ironic, because the reason I feel this way is because I have a job and I have school and I have a life. Let me try to explain that differently…
Life: I’ve been in Finland for just over 9 months now and I feel that I’ve met some really great people, all of whom have helped me feel at home here.
School: Well that’s pretty self-explanatory.
Job: Ditto.
But in addition to just having a job, I have something I’ve never had before: a sense of finally getting something I’d been pretty much thinking was impossible. Now I know I sound really dramatic here, but after being told your entire childhood that you’re going to graduate and go on to do great things, you kind of start to despair when none of the resumes you sent out are getting any responses. Mind you, my contract is up at the end of January so this feeling might be fleeting but for now, the workplace is a new place for me! Also, exams are coming up and for the first time ever, I’m not too concerned. I’ve been doing some very light, seriously, only when the mood strikes and work has kept me busy during the week so I can’t say I feel guilty about not studying 24/7 either.
I’ve also started thinking about my next adventure… and it looks like it’s going to be Canada: December 21st to January 2nd. I should make a list of all the other places I’d like to travel to… South America, Southeast Asia, Japan, Egypt, Italy, Lapland… the last of which is most realistic right now ;)
So for now, I’m just enjoying the pieces of the puzzle which have fallen into place.
In the short term, I want to take up a dance class. I have my 10-class card for this studio in Helsinki and I’m set on going to check it out tomorrow after school. Now that I’ve put that out in the universe, I’ll have to go. Physical activity, apart from walking everywhere, is seriously lacking in my life right now.
I’m on the train now, doing my weekly trip to Helsinki for two days before returning to Tampere for the rest of the week to work and be at home. I didn’t have any books with me on the way to Tampere so today I picked up my copy of Supercoach, by Michael Neill, a book which my mom gave me when I came to Finland. I’m still reading it, but taking months to process the chapters. Today, I blew through 50 pages of it like nobody’s business and of course, that got me thinking.
Today, I was feeling all adventurous so I went to see Eat Pray Love. I didn’t initially intend on seeing this movie but since Juha brought it up last night, I couldn’t resist the temptation any longer. So while he was at work today, I went to the movies for a little treat. And I’m so happy I went because I really enjoyed the movie. I remember connecting with the book but maybe because the movie was more condensed and occurred over a shorter period of time, the messages were much clearer:
Find yourself,
Forgive whatever part of yourself is haunting you,
Be yourself,
Leave your comfort zone if you need in order to do all that
and finally
Be happy!
For the first time since, well for the first time ever, I feel this strange sense of freedom. Which is ironic, because the reason I feel this way is because I have a job and I have school and I have a life. Let me try to explain that differently…
Life: I’ve been in Finland for just over 9 months now and I feel that I’ve met some really great people, all of whom have helped me feel at home here.
School: Well that’s pretty self-explanatory.
Job: Ditto.
But in addition to just having a job, I have something I’ve never had before: a sense of finally getting something I’d been pretty much thinking was impossible. Now I know I sound really dramatic here, but after being told your entire childhood that you’re going to graduate and go on to do great things, you kind of start to despair when none of the resumes you sent out are getting any responses. Mind you, my contract is up at the end of January so this feeling might be fleeting but for now, the workplace is a new place for me! Also, exams are coming up and for the first time ever, I’m not too concerned. I’ve been doing some very light, seriously, only when the mood strikes and work has kept me busy during the week so I can’t say I feel guilty about not studying 24/7 either.
I’ve also started thinking about my next adventure… and it looks like it’s going to be Canada: December 21st to January 2nd. I should make a list of all the other places I’d like to travel to… South America, Southeast Asia, Japan, Egypt, Italy, Lapland… the last of which is most realistic right now ;)
So for now, I’m just enjoying the pieces of the puzzle which have fallen into place.
In the short term, I want to take up a dance class. I have my 10-class card for this studio in Helsinki and I’m set on going to check it out tomorrow after school. Now that I’ve put that out in the universe, I’ll have to go. Physical activity, apart from walking everywhere, is seriously lacking in my life right now.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Friday afternoon.
Finally, I can come back to the times where I feel exhausted on a Friday afternoon after a busy week, a job well done (more or less, I'm still learning) and more work ahead! I'm telling you, this isn't me complaining, because I can honestly say that being brain dead has never felt so good!
Let's rewind a little. So last weekend I checked out Raappana at Tavastia in Helsinki. He was AWESOME! Not only did we get to listen to authentic Finnish reggae and not only was it amazing, but I also made some new friends via my Canadian friend from H@nken, Nicole!
If you wanna check out Raappana, click here. And you should very much click there.
Sunday, I spent a lovely morning working on some projects and then an even lovely afternoon hanging with Matti and Anne, debating paint colours for the bedroom, doing an Ikea run and eating! Then back to work at home.
Monday, I mostly just hung out at school at did minimal work. I went to a class. Then Juha texted me saying he had a fever and I weighed my options: spending another day at school doing minimal work or going to Tampere and helping him out a little and getting a day off between Helsinki and work? So evidently, I went home.
Tuesday I did some work from home, ate lunch at Uni and ... honestly, I can't really remember. I think I was fighting off a cold and it worked!
Then came work! Wednesday to Friday I woke up at 7am every day, was at work by 8:15am and left around 4:30-5pm. It has been such an intense 3 days but in a really great way. I sort of feel like a super hero with a secret identity... except a super lame one because I work in IT. Still, I'm really enjoying my job but I can't really reveal any of the details. But I'll try to explain why I'm happy about it in some very general terms that don't give anything away...
Like in most work places, you have lots to do. Let's call each thing you have to do an "assignment." Each assignment has lots of different components, or not, but in the end, someone needs to see your work. Parts of the assignments were clear to me before, others weren't. While there's still a lot to learn, I feel like I've learned sooo much this past week! Honestly, I was pretty nervous to go into work on Wednesday because I hate feeling useless but now I'm looking forward to going in next Wednesday because I'll feel more oriented, and consequently, more competent as well! And the days have been busy, hectic and stressful but time seems to go by pretty quickly so I can say that I'm actually enjoying myself there. It also helps to have really great people in your cubicle, as well as helpful co-workers [and a great cafeteria]!
So, I think that's it for now. I don't want to overdo it but I basically just wanted to convey a sense of enthusiasm and bubbly-ness coming from the fact that I'm finally employed! [and the added excitement of actually earning a real paycheck.]
Take it easy,
xo.
Let's rewind a little. So last weekend I checked out Raappana at Tavastia in Helsinki. He was AWESOME! Not only did we get to listen to authentic Finnish reggae and not only was it amazing, but I also made some new friends via my Canadian friend from H@nken, Nicole!
If you wanna check out Raappana, click here. And you should very much click there.
Sunday, I spent a lovely morning working on some projects and then an even lovely afternoon hanging with Matti and Anne, debating paint colours for the bedroom, doing an Ikea run and eating! Then back to work at home.
Monday, I mostly just hung out at school at did minimal work. I went to a class. Then Juha texted me saying he had a fever and I weighed my options: spending another day at school doing minimal work or going to Tampere and helping him out a little and getting a day off between Helsinki and work? So evidently, I went home.
Tuesday I did some work from home, ate lunch at Uni and ... honestly, I can't really remember. I think I was fighting off a cold and it worked!
Then came work! Wednesday to Friday I woke up at 7am every day, was at work by 8:15am and left around 4:30-5pm. It has been such an intense 3 days but in a really great way. I sort of feel like a super hero with a secret identity... except a super lame one because I work in IT. Still, I'm really enjoying my job but I can't really reveal any of the details. But I'll try to explain why I'm happy about it in some very general terms that don't give anything away...
Like in most work places, you have lots to do. Let's call each thing you have to do an "assignment." Each assignment has lots of different components, or not, but in the end, someone needs to see your work. Parts of the assignments were clear to me before, others weren't. While there's still a lot to learn, I feel like I've learned sooo much this past week! Honestly, I was pretty nervous to go into work on Wednesday because I hate feeling useless but now I'm looking forward to going in next Wednesday because I'll feel more oriented, and consequently, more competent as well! And the days have been busy, hectic and stressful but time seems to go by pretty quickly so I can say that I'm actually enjoying myself there. It also helps to have really great people in your cubicle, as well as helpful co-workers [and a great cafeteria]!
So, I think that's it for now. I don't want to overdo it but I basically just wanted to convey a sense of enthusiasm and bubbly-ness coming from the fact that I'm finally employed! [and the added excitement of actually earning a real paycheck.]
Take it easy,
xo.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Birthday.
A big thank you to Briana for posting this picture on Facebook. It really made me smile.
Kaileyface, thanks for the sunshine. I miss you <3.
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