DIGITALLY UPGRADED

Monthly update, finally. It is November, well, the last day of it, but in November I have had my birthday. This year my birthday has been declared as a magical date when the couples all over the world have been getting married. Well, I only baked a real birthday cake and invited some friends with their lovely dog. The things with my MA Thesis have also been moving forward - and what is a better birthday gift for a future Master of Arts in Digital Culture than a digital device? ;)

Now I am a proud owner of an iPad. So far, I have really liked it. My new HP laptop has to go to repair, and now I finally have a second device I can use more or less like a computer; at least considering communication and the Internet. And of course I plan to download as many versions of Angry Birds as possible; the touch-screen experience is something totally different than using a mouse. This post as well has been written with the help of the virtual keyboard, at least partly. 

Additional update on Helsinki: we have no snow and today it was +7 degrees Celsius. Last year at this time, it was already a proper winter, but this year it is warm and rainy. In a way, I like it as the past years have been so very snowy and cold. Well, for Christmas and New Year it would be nice to get a bit of snow, but just a bit. Have a nice beginning of the last month of the year - Finland is so very Christmasy already, but well, Santa is supposed to be from here anyway. 

ANGRY BIRDS

Some three weeks ago my old laptop decided it had been enough and just stopped working. It all started with strange green stripes all over the screen; however, soon after those stripes had appeared, the computer shut down completely. The screen got half white and half black, and even when the thing was connected to another monitor, nothing happened. Serious shit. As my old laptop was one of those no-name brands, perhaps more common in Slovenia but for sure unknown in Finland, the guys at some repair shop were not eager to deal with it. And of course the repair would have cost almost as much as a new laptop... 

There was only one option left - now I have a new laptop. :P After this experience  I also strongly recommend a spare hard disc; the transfer to a new device was far less stressful due to all the documents and even bookmarks stored separately from the old laptop. However, the new laptop came with a new operating system, and thus I was able to fulfill my dream that has started at the beginning of the year - and I did not even need to purchase Android-friendly device. I have downloaded the very famous computer game - Angry Birds.

The thing with Angry Birds is, that the game was developed in Finland. I have already read a couple of articles in Helsingin Sanomat, where the Finns were proud of this success; and yes, they should be. The game is so very simple - and even so very stupid - and that makes it so very funny and so very good. Crazy angry-looking birds killing green pigs, now come on, what a  fantastic nonsense. :D Not to mention the great soundtrack and especially the sound birds and pigs produce all the time. Oh, and there are some more funny and perhaps intercultural details... In the ninth part of the second episode pigs sit on a tank - and the tank has a small Swedish flag on the top. I assume this is a reference to the eternal teasing between the Finns and the Swedes...

The experience of playing the game on a PC is a bit different than when playing it on a cellphone;  the touch screen option surely adds some more interaction. However, a laptop at least has a larger screen, and thus it brings its own benefits. The other thing is that I cannot play the game on the train or when waiting somewhere...well, one perhaps cannot have everything at once and  nevertheless I might need a new cellphone at some point. ;) Anyway, I am not a freak considering computer games, and of course I need my laptop for other and much more serious tasks - but for occasional fun I surely confess that I am a  huge fan of Angry Birds.  

CHRISTMAS CHATTERBOX

Christmas madness has come to Finland. Streets of Helsinki are quite crowded - not to mention shopping centers, especially during weekends. Buying, giving and getting gifts for Christmas seems to be more than important here in Finland. However, I am only sending some cards with Season's Greetings. I won't travel to Slovenia during Christmas/New Year's either, it's just too expensive, too long as I should change planes - and I also have to work. Thus, I will spend this particular family-all-together kind of holiday more or less alone, and that...  well, that slightly sucks, I guess.

Considering lonesome Christmas Eves, I have recently seen Swedish movie adaptation  Män som hatar kvinnor of Stieg Larsson's novel from his Millennium Trilogy. However, in the movie there was a short scene when the character Lisbeth Salander catches a glance through the window. For a moment  she observes the joyful  family next door during Christmas dinner while Lisbeth herself sits alone at home. She gives an impression that she does not care at all, but then again she hesitates and considered the situation a bit. I slightly know how that feels... 

On the other hand, I don't like all this Christmas commercial pressure, kind of forced images of happy family celebrating together. Reality is sometimes quite different than these ideal images offered in the media. Here in Finland the expectation of Christmas is important; I have already mention the gifts. Then, good food and all that. Already on Christmas Eve, the 24th of December, all the offices are closed and public transport completely stops around two o'clock in the afternoon, if not earlier. Everybody is supposed to be at home or somewhere, celebrating. Or whatever. 

I have never put a lot of stress on such holidays. Also, I think that such a general image of overall happiness and constantly highlighted necessity for, in this case Christmas, celebration can bring some bad mood to those that do not have any option to celebrate. Well, at the end it's all about money and commercialism; the necessity of celebration most probably would not be mentioned so many times in the media if it would not bring the benefit of shopping for Christmas gifts/food/you-name-it. But who knows, perhaps even lonesome Christmases would become trend and fashion one day... 

To conclude this chatter-boxing, there surely is something I like about all this Christmas-celebration-thing: lights! Many lights and candles. It is so dark during Finnish winter that I have decorated my apartment already at the beginning of December - and also the city is very nice, especially in all this snow. Thus, we can enjoy at least some shiny, decorated and so Christmas-like traditional winter wonderland. Happy and lovely holidays I wish! :) 

KAAMOS

Today I have read the news in Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat that kaamos has started in Lapland. I really like this Finnish word for the polar night. It feels so calm, dark and deep as I imagine the real polar night would be... We don't have kaamos in this part of Finland and no matter how beautiful the word itself feels, I guess it would be hard to endure the time when the sun neither rises nor sets. We only have short days, winter darkness, and living with it does not always feel comfortable.   

These days were very cold as well, not only in Lapland. In Helsinki it was around -14, and the cold will continue for some time. According to the news it is very unusual that such a cold strikes at the end of November already.  This is North, but I know that North can be mild and tender even during winter. So I don't know was it the winter darkness or this unusual cold... I just had a hell of a week. Even now during weekend I still feel the burdens of the past days, like stones. Sometimes it's just too much of everything.

Luckily, I visit the gym regularly, and exercise helps. Otherwise I don't know how would it be. Bleh.

WINTER AND SOME MORE PRESENTS

 The present and the snow, natural light

Helsinki has got the first portion of snow - and it looks like there will be more of it. The weather is also quite cold, much colder than it usually is in late November in this part of Finland. Today it was -3 degrees Celsius, and the forecast is promising even more cold yet to come...

However, I have to show another birthday present - or six of them, to be precise. My friends from Slovenia were so nice that they have sent me a package full of nail polish. And not just some nail polish - I was told these bottles would be special. So they are, in many ways. The colors, the brands - and last but not least, they have been sent to me all the way from Slovenia with a nice birthday card  from and by my friends. :) Oh, and that red cloth also came with the polish. A lot of colors to brighten up this winter darkness for sure. ;)

The present and the snow, flash

From left to right, back row: SpaRitual Drop Dead Gorgeous, Regal and Solitude

From left to right, front row: Zoya Harlow, Nubar Midnight Glory and Nfu Oh 131 

PRESENTS FOR KANELI

Last week I had my birthday, and as I usually write a post about the occasion - well, here is Kaneli's birthday post of 2010. This was my third birthday that I celebrated in Finland, and regardless the important change of the front number (from 2 to 3, huh), I celebrated more or less alone. I have my friends and family either in Slovenia or in Jyväskylä, so the real party is yet about to come.

However, it was a nice coincidence that one of my favorite bands, Katatonia from Sweden, played their gig in Helsinki exactly on my birthday. Even better as I really wanted to see Katatonia live for ages, but for some reason I never had that chance. Now I have seen the band and I must say they are very good live as well.

I also have to show two presents I got for myself - a new corset and Kalevala Koru silver necklace. I was happy to get this new corset as I hadn't bought anything so alternative for ages, and I really like the necklace as I have always been a huge Kalevala Koru fan.  

And last but not least:  I have been tagged by Ulmiel a while ago to answer some questions, and now I finally have time to write my thoughts. 

1. Innie or Outie?

Introvert for sure. It takes time for me to open and show my feelings.

2. Unlimited wealth? Or Unlimited health?

Unlimited health. I guess I don't need to explain.

3. What is your favorite book?

Quite many of them, actually... perhaps, I can mention some writers like for example Sofi Oksanen, Haruki Murakami, J.R.R. Tolkien etc.

4. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?

In Finland because I speak Finnish. :P The second option could be Iceland; anyway, I like North.

5. What is your security blanket?

I don't have any. Stupid question, anyway.

6. What is your mode of transportation?

Public transport - a local train, tram, metro or bus. Sometimes also a ship and a plane. 

7. What is your signature scent?

Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue, for years.

8. If you were at Hogwarts, what house would you belong to?

Ravenclaw for sure. I'm smart, but not too heroic. 

9. If you could be any Disney princess who would you be and why?

Bad Fairy. ;)

10. What is one of your bad habits?
I am too slow/lazy/unmotivated considering the work for my MA thesis.

THE AWAKENING, A MINDSTREAM

Just yesterday, I was given a question similar to "Do you still write your blog, anyway?" Then I went to check my dear Kanelikirja, and the last post was written in April. Huh. 5 months ago or what? I did not miss writing so much, I felt kind of empty - and on the other hand, I was dealing with my "new life" a lot. Tiredness, stress, trying to deal with my endless M.A. thesis - and also some a bit better things. Dogs, shopping and especially travel.

I don't even know if I still have some readers, but well... let's try to bring Cinnamon Book back to the blogosphere. Perhaps, I should do a little make-over, considering the themes and also lay-out, sometimes just write, sometimes just post pictures. Let's see what happens! I think blogging is still a very cool hobby - and I am becoming a fan of, especially, make-up blogs. Jep, here the shallow part of Kaneli is exposed. ;) By the way, blogging is also a great way of therapy, and perhaps I need some therapy again. :P I miss talking, I miss my friends from Slovenia and Jyväskylä, I miss the dog... and I just miss because of missing, hard to explain.

Yesterday was also the first day of autumn, and here in Finland trees have been changing colours already for a month. Almost every day I see wild gees migrating south, in big and small flocks; I have never seen so many migrating birds before, or I just haven't notice them. The autumn reminds me how fast the time goes. I feel comfortable, but all the time I have this little burdon of my thesis, and fear what could happen in the future. And now is autumn again. Time moves too fast by all means.

Alright, let's finnish now this mindstream, before any doubt appears and I won't even press the Publish Post button, thus leaving Cinnamon Book forgotten. I guess Kaneli can still share her stories in the future, and she will try to do her best - now let's just hope there will still be those who listen... and who have listened to Kaneli's stories all this time. Is it four years already...? Must be.

Nice autumn I wish! :)

A LOT AND THEN AGAIN NOT

What's new? Some things in my life have changed all of a sudden, some are still the same... First of all, I have got a job in Helsinki. Thus, I also have my own flat and I don't have to share it with flatmates. Finally. I had good as well as bad experiences with shared flats and people that shared the flat with me; however, I rather live on my own. Oh, it is a very big difference. I am certainly among those that cherish individuality and, sometimes, also loneliness.

So I had to move quite fast into a new city; alright, that was not such a problem as I had known Helsinki quite well for some years, at least the center. The thing is that I had to start with a whole new rhythm. Which makes me to feel a bit old. But... I should still finish my Master's thesis and that is what still makes me a student. :) And also bothers me a lot... I am really slow when it comes to writing a thesis, any kind of a thesis...

Well, I guess I should not complain as it is probably not that easy to get a job in these times I am happy that the days here up North are much longer again. Spring is finally coming to Finland, no matter some remnants of snow are still lurking under shady corners. However - good Vappu, May Day I wish!

COLOURFUL UPDATES

OPI Romeo & Joliet

Nothing special is going on, I am basically working on my thesis, or at least trying to work on it, and so I actually do not come up with some interesting material for the blog. However, some things are new and they even surprise me. I guess it's because I was bored with colourless everyday of Finnish as well as Slovenian winter, or merely bored with colourless everyday in general - and so I had started to paint my nails. For a girl that has owned just a transparent top-coat and possibly some black nailpolish only a month ago, this surely is a big change. I think that now I have something like 15 or 17 nailpolishes - heh, I am not even sure about the exact number. :P

It all started with a small bottle of Lumene's blueberry-purple polish called Drama Queen. I was quite skeptic as I was not very patient when applying colorful polishes in the past, I was clumsy with the brush, I put too thick layers, the polish did not dry nicely etc. But when applying Drama Queen I was more concentrated - and I have realized one just needs some more patient (which I surely need to practice, so dealing with nail polishes is useful in this way) as well as a good polish (my black ones were usually very low-quality). So I have started to enyoj the colours on my nails and I have also started to collect nail polishes. Well, at first I thought I would only stick to those small 4ml bottles of the same family as Drama Queen was, but then, and this is another "interesting" update, I have started to follow some nail-polish blogs and forums. Thus I have discovered some other famous and commercial names like OPI and China Glaze. Finally, I have also found out that one can get OPI as well as CG polishes in JKL as well. Eeek. Luckily, some very nice shades were also on 70%-off sale. :D

Now I am thinking to get a small cosmetic case as I suppose my nail polish collection would probably keep growing. At the moment I am protecting myself to start ordering stuff via Ebay as internet shopping is dangerous in the sense of wide selection of products. However, I have already realized, kind of, that there are numerous shades of one colour and that one could just keep collecting forever; according to my current polishes, I prefer purples and reds, rather darker than brighter. But I do own one bright turquoise and shinny apple-green, too.

All in all, I probably won't change Cinnamon Book into a fashion/make-up/polish blog as I don't feel too competent for something like that, and I guess I have not turned that commercial. Or well... let's first see how nice I will learn to apply polishes; at the moment I cannot even take good pictures of swatches. I dare to say I have got better with eyeshadows, but that would be another story. ;)

GREETINGS FROM JYVÄSKYLÄ

Sometimes I don't know why I've chosen this land. The weather in early winter is most of all gray, and so very heavy. No wonder that bears hibernate - I could also sleep for hours and hours. Yes, perhaps even days. It was snowing last week, now the snow has melted again, it's damp, it's also icy and so very very sleepy... Not to mention the fact that the darkness comes around 3pm, and this is not getting better until January; it'll only get worse now when December appears. And even when there is day light, kind of, it's gray... as someone would put a thick cloth over the only source of light left.

Sometimes I think that the life here is heavy, considering the climate. Why somebody moves to this climate, and then even decides to spend another winter here, I wonder. But still... I feel like staying.

SHOPPING SPREE

Today at H&M I noticed one very excited little girl. In one hand, she was holding a jumper; in the other she had her mobile phone and she talked to her daddy. ''I'm in H&M and I've found such a great jumper,'' reported the girl, thus probably asking for permission if she could buy the jumper. She seemed to be around ten years old; little and very young for sure. Shopping with her same-aged friends.

Either in Finland or in Slovenia - same stories. Young schoolgirls with their schoolbags shopping after school. I don't know why, but for some reasons I feel bothered. Sure, one needs clothes, especially when it comes to job and stuff like that. I am also an active part of consumer's society and sometimes I really like shopping. I like to have my style, I like to be elegant. I probably put too much stress on my clothing and I like new clothes; however, I'm not very proud of this fact and I'm also trying not to care so much. Also, I don't care for brands, or even not at all.

Maybe these clothes-shopping little girls bother my mind because I don't have a very nice memories on my last year in primary school. We were 14 years old teenagers when girls got into clothing (and makeup) and in my school it was all about famous brands. It was about shopping in Italy and Austria and having a different jumper every day of the week. I was different, quiet, artistic and more introverted at those times; however, I remember how some of the girls-with-brands in my class were verbally torturing their different fellows. Kids can be so very cruel.

I'm sorry I didn't possess some of my ''older wisdom'' back then; well, I'm not sure how wise I'm now but I guess there is some improvement. I'm sorry I was not proud of myself as being different, quiet, artistic, I'm sorry that I didn't have enough strength to fight with all stupid commercial and shallow ideas, I'm sorry that I was so insecure. I'm not happy as I still feel how my values were missplaced. And I'm sorry as I sometimes cannot fight those ghosts from the past even nowdays.

I guess now the times are much more materialistic than those ten years ago. Schoolgirls and schoolboys now carry their own bankcards; probably, the differences are much bigger now. I am affraid that today among kids it is much more important who can buy a new jumper in H&M after school and who can't. And probably those that are somewhat different do not feel any better than we did; they feel even worse.

AUTUMN APPROACHES SWEETLY

Smells like cinnamon...

There should be no secrets about how much I love ice-cream. In Finland, I cannot find as tasty frozen delights as in my country of origin. Finnish ice-cream is also tasty, of course, but so far I have missed the softness, the so important smooth creaminess; that so silky touch. Finnish jätski, on the other hand, is usually more firm, like some kind of a snow; or if it is the so called softie, pehmis, it comes in just a few and not that exciting variations. Well, it's good that I know some visit-worth ice-cream places in Slovenia - and I'm always happy to hear about any new interesting spots. Also in Finland. ;)

However, yesterday it was the first day of the autumn, the Autumnal equinox, and by some chance the 23rd of September also represents the day I have started my blog... now three years ago. Still in the blogosphere, despite the fact Kaneli is not as active as she used to be. But nevertheless, blogging rules! Anyway, just two years ago she was posting some amazing pictures of Finnish ruska to celebrate the beginning of autumn; now it's perhaps a good moment to show some snaps of Kaneli's recent much prolonged summer holidays.

My autumn has started with ice-cream. And, the most important - the white one on this picture is cinnamon ice-cream. Pure pleasure. Sweet autumn I wish! :)

ABOUT MY SUMMER

I haven't written a thing for a long time; probably because I was busy and probably because I didn't feel like writing. The last feels like a problem as there are things I should be writing... nevertheless, so far, my summer was more or less active. OK, I actually should be traveling a bit more, and that buggs me, but... let me just summ up the story so far.

1. Summer festivals in Finland, 4 in total. Worked at Provinssirock (Seinäjoki), Nummirock (Nummijärvi) and Ilosaarirock (Joensuu). Visited Tuska (Helsinki).

2. Working at the festivals in Finland as security steward (järjestyksenvalvoja) was an interesting experience. First of all, I was working in Finnish, and only in Finnish; second, I got some money. Things seemed well organised. The job felt good, regardless a lot of working hours and sometimes only 4 hours of sleep. And yes, the job surely did increase my self-confidence.

3. I had some good time in summer Helsinki again, first at Tuska and then also during a private visit. As it is summer, the city was full of tourists again, sunny and surprisingly hot. Also the airport was crowded, and I surely don't like crowded airports. Next time I'll fly home during less busy season; it's much nicer.

4. I am turning into a serious fan of Battlestar Galactica.

5. Now I'm again confronted with some emotional emptiness and some depression, which keeps my creativity away. I'm kind of loosing time, and I know it, but for some reasons I'm just stuck in the space. I really hate such unsure situations. I hate to make wrong decisions. And I feel exhausted for no proper reason.

6. So I just hope for a nice and active autumn.

ZADETA?

Tudi mene je doletelo pisanje verižnega prispevka - Alcessa in pozneje Nina sta me določili, da naj blogosferi zaupam, od česa sem bila najbolj zadeta. Ker sem čez vikend delala na metal festivalu Nummirock, se je čas za blog našel šele danes.

Pretekli vikend je bil na Finskem zelo pomemben - dogajal se je Juhannus, kresni večer; mimogrede, Juhannus je vedno na tisto soboto, ki je najbližja datumu kresne noči (in potem je že sam petek pred tem ena velika sobota ker je pof***n Juhannus). Kakorkoli, praznovanje poletja na Finskem pomeni množično popivanje (kajpak) ter posledično utapljanje v jezerih. In takoj na tem mestu lahko povem, kako sem se ta Juhannus ter vse ostale čase pred njim razlikovala od večine ter od česa še nikoli nisem bila zadeta. Ne sedaj, niti nikoli prej. Alkohol. Alko in jaz ne greva skupaj; tu in tam sem že poskusila kak požirek (pa ne vina, ker mi smrdi) pa mi zadevščina sploh ni bila všeč. Alkohola enostavno ne maram. Kar povzroča nemalo čudenja tako med Slovenci kot tudi med Finci, katerim je ljubezen do alkoholne zadetosti vsekakor več kot skupna. Ampak... alco is not my way, and it has never been. Čeprav vedno znova ugotavljam, da je abstinenca skorajda hujša družbena stigma kot alkoholizem...

Mogoče sem nekakšen novi hipi (a sem že omenila, da sem vegetarijanka?), ki hoče živeti zdravo in se ne uničevat s pijačo. Pa ne morem biti niti hipi, ker še nikoli nisem poskusila kadit - niti tobaka, niti česa hujšega. Ne glede na dejstvo, da sem študirala na umetniški akademiji, kjer je včasih že sam prostor šolanja dišal po prepovedanih substancah. Nad takšnimi dejanji se nikoli nisem zgražala (toliko hipija je le v meni), ni pa mi bilo do tega, da bi poskusila. Sicer ne maram biti pasivna kadilka; verjetno sem med tisto peščico, ki se veseli, da ji ob obisku barov in koncertov oprava ne smrdi po čikih. Po drugi strani pa sem verjetno spet hinavska... saj velika večina oseb v mojih dramah kadi. :D

Ali sem torej sploh kdaj bila zadeta? Zakaj sem se spravila pisat ta post, če samo bluzim o nekem zdravem in bolj ali manj sterilnem življenju? Well, let's see... Verjetno sem nasploh občutljivo bitje, in tako me zadanejo že zelo drobne zadevice, ki se marsikoga še dotaknejo ne. Ena od teh dnevnih zadevic je kava. Brez kave ne gre - in ja, razlika med mojim počutjem pred in po kavi je velika. Preveč kave, po drugi strani, pa ima prav tako posledice, saj postanem živčna, nemirna, on speed. Ampak kofein je vseeno zakon. Samo ne preveč njega.

Pozitivno zadeta sem po treningih borilnih veščin. Nekoč je to bil nanbudo, danes je aikido. Dostikrat se zgodi, da grem na trening zaspana in slabe volje, po treningu pa sem polna energije. In tisto počutje je vsekakor blizu nečemu, kar bi opredelila kot zadetost. V dobrem smislu me potem zadene še savna (sauna), sploh po uspešnem treningu, ali pa kar tako. Pa seveda metal/rock festivali, kakšna res huda muzika (Flogging Molly!) in še bolj huda besedila, zadanejo me dobri filmi, knjige, nekoč me je izjemno močno zadelo gledališče. Aja, zadenejo me tudi kužki. Imela sem dva in sedaj si (napol) lastim že tretjega; dejansko sem pogrešala tisto pravo druženje s psi. Abstinenčna kriza po psu je bedna.

Negativne zadetosti... tudi te so bile, in ker sem občutljiva pesimistka, sem različne zoprne dogodke zaznavala (in jih še zaznavam) toliko močneje. Najbolj me je zaznamovala - ter me močno zadela - nesrečna romanca. Ja, ja, seveda se to dogaja vsem. kaj bluzim... pa vseeno. Posledice tiste interakcije občutim še danes, po treh letih. I am still not cold and cool... :/ Tako sem bila po tisti nesrečni romanci močno zadeta od depresije... mogoče je bila depra bolj podobna mačku po sami zadetosti, kaj pa vem, ker pač pravega mačka nisem nikoli doživela...

Za konec lahko povem še to, da je omenjena nesrečna romanca poleg negativne zadetosti prinesla vsaj nekaj pozitivnih posledic. Zadetost s Finsko, njeno kulturo in predvsem s finščino. In ta zadetost še traja. Ihan jees! ;)

P.S.: Koga naj tegam, če ste že vsi napisali svojo izpoved?! Kakorkoli, če kdo še ni napisal takega posta in bere moj blog, se lahko spravi pisat. :P

COSMO GIRL

Lately, the style of my clothing has been moving between this...

... and this.

Of course, I do not wear these two things together. One day I am a devoted metal fan and the other day I am closer to a hippie; in both cases I still prefer black. However, I am probably too much dealing with shopping...

AN APPROACH TO INDIVIDUALISM

In my previous post, I was writing about Finnish food, so let’s just continue with my recent observations of Finnish culture. When I have checked keyword analysis of my blog, I have noticed that somebody visited my page due to the word finish individualism. Thus, I am offering one of the possible approaches to the subject; however, please be aware that Finnish individualism has many faces, and this is just one among many. The post might feel a bit black-and-white as I am just writing from my angry part of self. Of course there are always some nice exceptions – but do they only prove the rule?

The beginning of my interaction with Finnish individualism reaches about four years into the past. Even then I had some feelings the society might be very self-orientated. However, when I have started to live with Finns and when I have started to deal with Finnish society more active, my experiences have grown. What bothers me, and sometimes also hurts me a lot is the fact that what an outsider would perhaps see as individualism might actually be egocentrism. The I-only-care-for-myself-and-my-own-good attitude. Egocentrism surely is a part of human nature after all; my friend M. would even say that altruism does not exist.

Blame it all on the developed capitalism. Finland is among the richest countries in Europe; their social system is functional and standard more or less high. They have never gone through the socialistic system as Slovenia did – and I guess here is one of the differences. In a way, society feels less compassionate. For me, it seems the sense for sharing and cooperation almost does not exist. No ‘together we can do it’ feeling. No care for the other, no care for the people around you; thus meaning those people that are not a part of one’s own private world, but still in close distance.

Lately, I have been reading some forums where the Finns themselves were complaining over their Finnish flatmates; and no wonder some magazine was writing how to behave towards those that live with you. In this society, everything feels like a competition. I was here first, I don’t care about you. This is mine, I don’t care about you. If one is too soft and too kind, one gets hurt; the developed and welfare world is cruel. No, I guess young Finns are not so introverted – they can be just so very ignorant. And that ignorance produces social coldness here up North; the frost among people which might also appear as daring individualism.

FINNISH FAVORITES

Again I was waisting my time with traveling between two countries, Slovenia and Finland. But it was fun and now the spring has started here up North as well. However, during my visits at home I noticed that I had started to miss some food one could get only in Finland; of course I sometimes miss Slovenian food. Thus, the idea has immerged and I decided to introduce you some of mine favorite Finnish food. The dishes here might not be traditionally Finnish; the plan is just to offer a quick and, most of all, personal info on some tasty treasures.

1. Leipäjuusto - Bread Cheese
Also known as squeaky cheese, round, baked to get its brown marks. In shops one can find it in pieces or whole small disks. Traditionally, it is eaten with cloudberry jam - I've tried it and no matter how strange it might seem it is just so very tasty.




2. Viili
A product of fermented milk, some kind of yoghurt, very special texture. Good for stomack. One needs to get used of viili's strange surface, but afterwards it is really nice. Especially I like organic viili with forest fruits.

3. Tyrnihillo - Sea buckthorn jam
It took some time for me to realise this is actually the plant we call rakitovec in Slovenian. Never seen it in the nature; even if I have done, I haven't been aware of it. Used in cosmetic industry also, has lots of vitamines.4. Lakkahillo - Couldberry jam
The lakka grows in Lapland and in Finland it is sold to tourists in many different ways. However, the best is in my opinion the jam where one can notice actual fruit and its proper taste.


5. Lapin rieska - Lefse
Traditional Nordic bread, low, baked without yeast. In Finland, there are rye, potato and also barley versions. The disks can be big or small, thinner or thicker. I also like the package in which rieska is sold; the baker has cleverly used motives from shaman drums. Thus, I can imagine also Kalevala heroes were feasting on such bread...


6. Karjalan piirakka - Karelian pie
Finnish type of pirozhki, so originally not Finnish as it has come from Russia; afterall, Karelia is on the border. Rye crust and rice fiilling; rice, however, is not very traditional but I like it nevertheless. Also comes with potato and meaty fillings.


7. Daim kakku - Daim cake
Well, this last dish is not Finnish, but, alas, traditionally Swedish. The reason why I put it here is the fact I have tasted this cake in Finland for the first time and one can also buy it frozen in almost every supermarket. Almonds, chocolate, no flour... just delicious.

SUDDEN SPRING

I know such differences are totally normal and I should not wonder so much. Yet this fact amuses me a lot. The thing is I am visiting Slovenia for an Easter visit; well, this visit will be slightly longer than usual Easter holidays. When I left Finland in the beginning of April, we still had some snow there. On the ground, falling from clouds. When I have come to Slovenia, I have immediately started to wear summer T-shirts. Hell, I am not overdoing, it does feel hot here to me!

Maybe long Finnish winters are something which I cannot accept as easily as many other cultural and natural features. Sure, snow in winter feels fine, and also that classical white Christmas. One learns how to overcome long nights with many additional lights; candles, for instance. In March, days are already long, but still... the snow stays there. Now in April days are even longer, already much longer than in Central Europe, but still... the snow in Mid-Finland is melting slowly; too slow, perhaps.

I like spring, and I don't see it as romantic period of love and all that kitchy stuff. I like how the nature wakes up in spring; I like fresh leaves, flowers and first mild storms. Proper spring is what I have really been missing in Finland and I have been glad when I have seen first cracks on the ice.

However, now during my visit in Slovenia, during this warm and green spring, I have already started to miss Finland and really long days; regardless the snow. Oh, I guess I constantly suffer with melancholy and gentle longing...

SIX

katso ilmaa
koske maata
menetä tämä elo maaksi
hetki sulje
(Tenhi: Tuulenkato)

I was kind of tagged by Nina to search for the sixth folder with pictures, to choose the sixth image out of that sixth folder and, finally, to post it here with the story of its creation. My pictures, however, are following their own order which does not necessarily include several folders. Thus, I chose the folder with the highest amount of various images - and I found one on the sixth place

Strangely enough, this image was taken in 2006; in April, to be precise. The sky over the forest at my Slovenian home. I still remember well it was the very first storm that year and I was amazed by the blackness of the clouds. The shine of the sky.

This image is also connected to Finland, in a way. The year 2006 was not that good year for me; depression was initiated, my sky was covered with gloomy clouds, only some patches of shiny blue was left...

In that strange spring I was also listening a lot to my dear Tenhi; the band had just issued new album Maaäet. The atmosphere of the picture is for me closely associated with the lyrics of Tuulenkato.

And on tagging - well, dear fellow bloggers, if you feel like searching for your sixth picture within the sixth folder and then write a post about it, you are vey welcome to do so.

THE SLOGAN OF TODAY

*Created with the help of Hirkani and Alcessa who lead me to the Bus Slogan Generator.*