Showing posts with label Perversity of Everyday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Perversity of Everyday. Show all posts

Friday, October 14, 2011

THE STORY OF A KLUUVI MAC



In Helsinki, a new shopping center Kluuvi has opened today; it is located conveniently in the center, on Aleksanderinkatu, just before Helsinki Cathedral. However, yesterday I noticed news in a local newspaper that in Kluuvi would open a new computer store, too. What is more, the particular store would offer a notable discount on a limited amount of Apple's MacBook Air laptops. A Mac has been on my wish list for a long time - and I don't know why I did not buy it when I actually had to buy a new laptop. Nevertheless, a Mac is still on my wish list, and I actually need a second computer. :P

Anyway, I was busy today in the morning and there was no way I would get to the opening of the store with the discount Mac, which would be at 10. I had to pass Kluuvi, though - and already 20 minutes before opening, there was quite a long line infront of the door. And the people there were interested in computers, I just felt that. Some three hours later, I was free and of course I went to do inquieries in Kluuvi. The guy in a shiny computer shop only smiled and said: "Yes, we surely had an offer, but all the computers have been sold in half an hour. People came here to wait at 7 in the morning." There were a couple of 100 of dicount MacBook Airs, and the price was still not that low. Half an hour. What the Hell. 

This is my first discount crazyness I feel slightly involved in, or let's say I am slightly shocked. I know these things have been going on around the world, like sleeping infront of shopping centers etc... but such a madness over a Mac? Only half an hour and over a 100 of computers gone? Did people go to buy them just because they were cheap, in their opinion? The models were neither new nor improved, but, well, they were Macs - whatever that signifies to each individual.

More and more I feel tired of all these discounts. Be there first before others, the early bird catches the worm and so on. It feels like a constant fight, where all other consumers are your enemies. Especially here in Finland I think this discount madness is even stronger. Either if it is 0,99 EUR for Lidl's soy milk or 800 EUR for a MacBook Air - everything under an offer is gone and taken as soon as possible. Well, the soy milk shortage happened to me when I did not even know it was under a daily offer, and I had to get it from another shop.

No, I would not stand infront of Kluuvi at 7 in the morning. Perhaps I would have gone there at 10, if I would have had time, but no more than that. I rather wait and buy my Mac at some point in all serenity and in an empty, cosy shop. Give me a brake, I don't feel like fighting no longer. I just want my soy milk. And a Mac.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

WHEN IT RAINS

Here in Finland it's already autumn. Barnacle Geese migrate to the South, I hear them quite often flying (and chatting) over my building, and the leaves are getting more and more yellow. Rain, wind and 15 degrees Celsius. Proper autumn. Now, after four years living in Finland, I finally have a proper equipment for this weather. Hai ruber boots  are such a kult  (and retro) Finnish item as for example Marimekko, Moomins or Iittala. They come in many colors; however, I have chosen red. 

Sunday, February 13, 2011

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.  

Friday, December 17, 2010

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! :) 

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

A LUSH LJUBLJANA



Whenever I am visiting Slovenia, I have to, of course, do some shopping. Usually, I pick up the shops/stuff I cannot get in Finland; however, in case of Lush I realized  I also have to buy their products in Ljubljana - or in Tallinn. I was actually quite surprised when I had find out that cosmetics of Lush is actually cheaper in Ljubljana (and in Tallinn) than in Helsinki. Whereas the prices in Ljubljana and Tallinn were the same, the difference between Helsinki is much cheaper - from 2€ for soaps up to 7€ for Dream Cream and even 10€ in case of some more expensive creams (which I don't buy, I have just noticed the difference).

The thing is that Lush is a big worldwide chain, and according to my experience with other big chains I would expect similar prices everywhere; at least H&M does not do any difference, and prices are the same either in Ljubljana or in Helsinki. The Body Shop is similar everywhere in Europe as well; also in Tallinn. The Lush example is interesting; however, I did not shop in any other Lush store to do a more exact comparison, just in Helsinki, Ljubljana and Tallinn.

Anyway, I have bought a few of my favorite products and spent quite a lot at once - well, I hope I have also managed to save some money as I have chosen a cheaper Lush-franchise. ;)

P.S.: For all of you that come to this page while searching for any info about Lush store in Ljubljana- you can find the shop in the old town, right next to the famous Robba fountain, the address is Ciril-Metodov trg 21. However, more info is here.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

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. ;)

Saturday, May 16, 2009

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...

Thursday, February 26, 2009

NUJNOST SAMOSTOJNEGA VSAKDANA


Kadar se znajdem v kakšnem gostinskem lokalu, ponavadi nimam namena prisluškovati pogovorom pri sosednjih mizah. Tokrat pa so bile mize postavljene tako blizu, da sosednjih besed pač ni bilo mogoče preslišati...

Deklica mlajše generacije je razlagala svoji starejši družabnici, po vsej verjetnosti mami, da se, ko bo dosegla določeno starost, ne misli odseliti od doma. Zakaj le, ko pa imam doma vse preskrbljeno, perilo je oprano in hrana skuhana. Takšen bi bil povzetek argumenta, v katerem je deklica opisala ugodje, ki ji ga ponujajo mamina gospodinjska opravila. Seveda, ko se nekdo preseli, gospodinjska opravila postanejo neizogibna nujnost samostojnega vsakdana.

Sama sem si kar nekaj let želela, da bi se odselila od doma. Ker sem študirala v domačem mestu, se selitev v študijske namene ni zgodila, dokler se nisem odločila za magisterij. Na Severu Evrope, izkušnje imam predvsem z Islandijo in Finsko, pa je tako ali tako nekaj popolnoma običajnega, da se otroci odselijo od doma že zelo zgodaj. Družbene razmere so tam res drugačne, standard višji in situacija mnogo ugodnejša za tiste, ki začenjajo samostojno pot; ni primerjave, pa vendar...

Če so razmere naklonjene odraščajočim mladim, ali ne - želja in hrepenenje po samostojnosti lahko ostaneta prisotna. Špekuliram in razmišljam, da si bodo mulci prizadevali ravno nasprotno- čeprav se jim bo ponudila možnost, bodo vztrajali in raje bivakirali v udobnem Mamahotelu.

Kakorkoli že, ugodje zna biti tudi to, da se nekdo ob življenju na svojem nauči dobro opravljati osnovna gospodinjska opravila, od kuhanja in nakupovanja živil do pranja in spoznavanja primernih pralnih sredstev; enostavnosti, ki lahko prinesejo samozavest in občutek neodvisnosti ter tako osvežijo življenje.

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

CLEVER

When traveling by plane, I am usually bothered with the fact one is not allowed to carry (to big) bottles of liquids in the hand luggage. As I do not drink alco, my only problem are cosmetic products. But even in the case of cosmetic, I do not posess loads of make-up or several face-creams; however, just the basic set of soaps and lotions can signify a nice addition to the weight of the luggage. For me, there would be always a maximum of 20 kg; and I am always trying to take less than the maximum.

Winter sales in Finland went all the way to 70% off the original price and thus it was easier to spend money on some additional and perhaps slightly silly thingies other than just clothes. Lately, however, my obsession would not be clothes but vegan and bio cosmetic products; well, this could be another post within too many times neglected Cinnamon Book.

There were winter sales that turned my attention to this clever set for traveling. It surely is all-in-all plastic and it probably has been made in one particular Asian country... but I don't care. When traveling, I do not plan to search for products in small bottles I would probably throw away after the trip, thus polluting the environment. One can fill these little bottels with liquids-already-at-home by her own choice; in my case, everything would be just products for using while taking a shower. Or a bath, whatever.


Btw, I guess I have already mentioned I had always liked foxes...


Sunday, January 11, 2009

BIVATI S FINKAMI ALI GRELNIK VODE


Slika je simbolična.

Ko sem se junija 2008 preselila v novo stanovanje, me je poleg lepe lokacija in prenovljenega prostora veselilo tudi dejstvo, da bom imela dve finski cimri. Pravzaprav sem si finske cimre želela že od vsega začetka; ker govorim finsko, se mi je delitev stanovanja z domorodkami zdela dobra priložnost za jezikovni trening. Za spoznavanje lokalnega prebivalstva in tako naprej.

Poleti sem srečala samo eno od njih. C, po črki na vratih njene sobe, je včasih prišla po pošto. Punco A sem prvič samo slišala; nek junijski dan se je prišla zjutraj stuširat, nato pa je šla, ne da bi se videli. Ampak takrat je bilo poletje, predavanja so se končala in študentom ni bilo treba ostajati v študentskih naseljih.

Septembra me je pričakalo stanovanje v enaki zasedbi - jaz in isti dve Finki. Kmalu se je izkazalo, da je C več ali manj pri fantu ter da v svoji sobi prespi le tu in tam. Doma pa je bila A, čeprav sem to včasih vedela le po tem, da je bilo v veži več čevljev kot ponavadi. Z A sva sobivali po cele tedne in tudi čez vikende - in kljub temu je približno dva meseca skupnega življenja sploh nisem videla. Nekdo je uporabljal kopalnico in šel v kuhinjo takrat, ko mene ni bilo notri. Tudi ko sva se prvič srečali, se je to zgodilo po naključju: jaz sem šla v stanovanje, ona pa ven. Tako se nisva nikoli predstavili druga drugi; njeno ime vem samo zato, ker pobiram pošto. Kasneje sva se srečali še dvakrat in vsa najina konverzacija v pol leta deljenja kuhinje in kopalnice do tega trenutka obsega jutro in živjo. Dobro, vsaj to dvoje je bilo v finščini.

Že prej sem slišala mite o finskih cimrah in cimrih, da so kot duhovi, da se jih sploh ne sliši in podobno. Po drugi strani pa sem slišala tudi zgodbe o tem, da so finske in nefinske cimre med seboj postale prijateljice. Spet tretja Finka mi je rekla, da je popolnoma odvisno od človeka; s tem se strinjam. Tudi sama nisem najbolj zgovorno bitje, poleg tega pa zelo težko navežem prvi stik. Če me ogovori drugi, nimam problemov in se lahko pogovarjam. Če zaznam nekakšen zid tudi na drugi strani, je težko... V vseh mojih študentskih letih pa se poleg tega šele v času magisterija prvič srečujem z dejstvom, ki se mu reče cimra in tako itak nimam nobenega pojma.

Opazila sem, da me je v teh mesecih medsebojne tišine začelo motiti dejstvo, da tako A kot C, kadar je doma, uporabljata moj grelnik vode; A pa tudi moj aparat za kavo. Deljenje stvari in posojanje kuhinjskih aparatov me sploh ne moti - ampak vseeno hočem, da me drugi vpraša za dovoljenje. Mogoče zato, ker sama nočem uporabljati stvari, ki ne pripadajo meni oziroma vedno najprej vprašam. Odsotnost vprašanja in samoumevnost me prizadaneta. Enostranskega posojanja in občutka, da nekdo samo izkorišča mojo dobro voljo, ne maram. Poleg tega imam nekaj izkušenj s finsko kulturo in vem, da so ponavadi vljudni in previdni. Po drugi strani sta tišina in nezgovornost Fincev površna stereotipa; vse te misli pa so končno samo posploševanje, če ne celo rasno razlikovanje...

V našem finsko-slovenskem primeru se druga drugi nismo niti predstavile, kaj šele da bi izmenjale osnovne informacije o delitvi stanovanja. Z A se še nikoli nisva pogovorili, kdaj ima katera predavanje in kdaj katera potrebuje kopalnico. Nikoli se vse tri nismo domenile, katera bo kupila toaletni papir. V sicer skupni kuhinji vsaka uporablja svoj detergent za pomivanje posode. Vse skupaj je kot hostel, ki ga občasno posesava jaz ali C, kadar pride; pa še v hostlih prebivalci govorijo med seboj. Po eni strani mi tak individualizem zelo ustreza, obožujem svoj mir in od cimer ne pričakujem, da bi postale prijateljice. Prav tako v vsem tem času ni bilo niti nadležnih obiskov, niti hrupa. Pa vendar... pomanjkanje osnovne komunikacije in občutek ignorance sta moteča. Finsko govorim dovolj dobro, obe z A sva naročeni na Helsingin Sanomat, tako da jezikovne prepreke ne morejo biti izgovor.

Ker se je moj grelnik vode začel obnašati čudno, sem ga po božiču raje pospravila in priklopila le, ko sem ga potrebovala in sem lahko preverjala delovanje. Takrat se je izkazalo, da je C tako ali tako že ves čas imela svoj grelnik, ki je bil v škatli in je čepel v omari. V tej isti omari je tudi škatla z aparatom za kavo in še ena škatla z mikrovalovno pečico. Nekje je bil svoje čase tudi palični mešalnik. Ko sem se poleti preselila, je bila kuhinja prazna. Ne vem, kateremu dekletu te kuhinjske zadeve dejansko pripadajo - ampak očitno so pospravljene in nekako ne na voljo za množično uporabo. Kakorkoli, ko je C prejšnji teden spet šla, je izginil tudi njen grelnik, A pa je po dnevu ali dveh popolne odsotnosti grelnikov v kuhinjo od nekod prinesla svojega. Nobena izmed njiju me ni vprašala, kaj je z mojim grelnikom narobe ali zakaj sem ga kar naenkrat pospravila.

Če sem jaz otrok socializma, so potem Finke in Finci moje generacije potomci razvite kapitalistične družbe. Znamo mi deliti in oni ne? Smo mi iz držav v tranziciji manj individualistični in obenem tudi manj egocentrični kakor Zahodnjaki? Je nam manj vseeno in samoumevno? Najpreprostejši grelnik vode oziroma z njim povezana bedarija lahko tako kaj hitro preraste v družbeno-politični diskurz; vso to kolobicijo bi seveda rešila preprosta komunikacija. Vprašanje, odgovor in mogoče drobna vljudnost.

Otroci socializma ali kapitalizma - očitno je A, meni B in mogoče tudi C skupno to, da nismo ravno spretne v komunikaciji...

Friday, December 05, 2008

DECEMBER


November je moj najljubši mesec, za kar imam dober razlog - ne le, da je prijetno depresiven ter da se novembra na Finskem dan še hitreje krajša; eden izmed dni v novembru je samo moj, in takrat ponavadi prejemam čestitke. Presenetljivo je torej, da v vsem času mojega najljubšega meseca nisem uspela napisati niti enega prispevka. V nobenem izmed mojih jezikov.

Novembra bi lahko pisala o marsičem. O žurki treh škorpijonov, kjer smo imeli kamin in preveč hrane. O dejstvu, da od začetka novembra izjemno veliko pečem. Začelo se je s preprostim jogurtovim pecivom, sedaj pa se je vse skupaj razvilo v korenčkovo torto z mandlji in čokoladnim oblivom. Zanima me, kaj bo naslednja in še zahtevnejša tortna stopnja. Poleg slaščičarskih dejavnosti tudi veliko kuham. V novem stanovanju je pač mnogo večja in svetlejša kuhinja, poleg tega pa bi morala delati na svoji magistrski nalogi.

Kakorkoli, na magistrski nalogi sem brez milosti morala delati novembra, in napisati vsaj eno poglavje. S katerim nisem zadovoljna. Itak, da ne. Ker pišem v angleščini, ugotavljam, da ima ta jezik čisto preveč zadev po imenu particles. Japonščina tudi, ampak v popolnoma drugem smislu. Heh. Partikkeli on kikkeli. Vsaj finščina in slovenščina sta brez teh nepotrebnih nadlog.

Če bi se k pisanju spravila pred dobrima dvema tednoma, bi lahko opisala zanimiv naravni pojav: snežni vihar. Le ta se je zgodil neko nedeljo, Pihal je strašljivo močan veter, in nosil sneg. Glede na časopis Helsingin Sanomat je bil vsaj v Helsinkih to najhujši snežni vihar po letu 1961. Ker sem kljub viharju morala ven, sem ugotovila, da je bil tisti veter dejansko zelo divji. Nanesel je kupe snega, ki so tako konec novembra, skupaj z že okrašenimi trgovinami in mestu v lučkah opominjali, da Božiček ni tako daleč. Pravzaprav le 9 ur vožnje z vlakom na sever, in potem par kilometrov z avtobusom.

Sedaj je december, zato ne morem pisati o snegu, ker se je medtem že stopil. Tako se mi zastavlja vprašanje, ali je bilo v tistem strašnem viharju sploh kaj smisla. Sneg bi namreč prišel še kako prav v teh kratkih dneh; sonce zaide okrog treh popoldne, pa tudi če še ni čas zahoda, je temno. Plasti oblakov in cikloni; nič od tega pa ne prinese svežega snega. Lani se je to zgodilo šele konec marca, takrat, ko bi morale veverice početi vse kaj drugega, kot pa se skrivati pred snežnimi zameti.

Šesti dan zadnjega meseca v letu je na Finskem praznik, dan samostojnosti. Država praznuje 91 let, kar sem seveda izrabila za ponovno slaščičarsko priložnost, in spekla torto. Seveda že od konca novembra potekajo številne predbožične zabave, ali prevedeno iz finščine mali božič; brez alkohola tako ali tako nikoli ne gre...

Naj se december začne! :)

Sunday, October 12, 2008

SPET IKEA


Odkar študiram na Finskem, živim v državi, na katere ozemlju se nahaja IKEA. Če v Sloveniji ni niti ene, sta tukaj celo dve. Ali pač samo dve glede na dejstvo, da imamo Švedsko za sosedo; konec koncev je bila Finska nekoč del Švedske, njen drugi uradni jezik je švedščina. Turku je pravzaprav Åbo, ampak to je druga zgodba.

Kljub pogostejši prisotnosti IKEA nakupovalnih nebes na Finskem je zanimivo, da se obe nahajata v okolici mesta Helsingfors oziroma Helsinki; ena IKEA je v Vanti in druga v Espu, vse skupaj pa je svojih 300 km oddaljeno od naše osrednje Finske. Perkele. Govorilo se je že, da se bo švedska krasotica preselila bližje Jyväskyli, denimo v Tampere ali Kuopio, a ker se to še ni zgodilo, nas organizacija, ki tu skrbi za študentska stanovanja, vsako leto odpelje na IKEA nakupovalni izlet. Tudi letos je bil avtobus poceni, vožnja dolga, končna destinacija pa spet Vantaa.

Lansko leto sem bila ob IKEA obisku na Finskem precej zmedena. Potrebovala sem kar nekaj materialnih dobrin, ki bi mi olepšale študentsko bivanje. Kakorkoli, v spominu mi je ostal predvsem stres. Letos je bilo že zaradi vesele družbe mnogo bolj zabavno, čeprav je IKEA tudi tokrat pripravila teren za spodobne neprijetnosti.

Deževna sobota je privabila precejšnjo množico, njeni pripadniki pa so se nato z veseljem zaletavali drug v drugega. Nakupovalski podmladek pa sploh, ne glede na dejstvo, da bi jih starši lahko pustili v igralni sobi, in si tako zagotovili nekaj miru. Ker pa je bilo v večini primerov videti, da igralna soba morebiti sameva, se je posameznik lahko hitro znašel ujet med velik nakupovalni voziček z ene in otroški voziček z druge strani. Vsekakor zabavno. Po drugi strani pa pravilno, da se vzgoja mladega potrošnika začne že v prvih mesecih življenja.

Odkritje letošnjega izleta je bilo, da se mi IKEA nenadoma ni zdela več tako zelo fantastična. Ni bilo tako zelo velike izbire, nekatere stvari so se seveda podražile, sploh nek točno določen model lučke, pa še prave barve niso imeli na zalogi. Eh, IKEA is nothing that special. Da sploh ne razmišljam, v kakšnih pogojih so ustvarjeni njihovi izdelki; samo upam, da švedskega dizajna ne proizvajajo azijski otroci ali delavci v sweatshopih.

Kljub temu sem pozabila svojo alternativno oziroma subkulturno nastrojenost proti in si privoščila predvsem škatle, krožnike, skodelice, sklede in termo vrč za čaj. Večinoma v črni barvi; subkulturno naravnanost je pač treba izraziti tudi z IKEA izdelki. Pomembna pridobitev je bil nož za lupljenje krompirja, ki je že danes oplemenitil moje kuharske sposobnosti, saj sem končno lahko pripravila pečen sladki krompir.


All in all - izlet v prestolnico fast-food opreme za dom je bil bolj ali manj zabaven, brez stresa ni šlo, bila pa je tudi dobra družba in švedska torta.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

FLUNSSA JE BEDNA


Rada imam Finsko. Itak. To jesen se, vsaj teh štirinajst prvih dni, počutim nekoliko bolje kot lani; vsaj teoretično. Začela sem pozabljati gospodiča iz južne Finske, imam novo stanovanje, delam kot prostovoljka v Lutakku, treniram aikido, hodim v šoping. Kar ljubko.

V ponedeljek pa me je Finska presenetila s posebnim darilom; mimogrede, menim, da mi je slednje podarjeno mnogo prevečkrat v celotnem letu, tako da ne vem, ali naj ga razumem kot dar ob dobrodošlici ali kot pač dejstvo, da ga, oziroma jo, moram dobiti. Prehlad, tokrat v kombinaciji z angino. Ali pa je bila najprej angina, ki se je razvila v prehlad, ja tako je bilo... kakorkoli, finščina take zadeve preprosto poimenuje flunssa. Jaz pa flunssa perkele.

Začelo se je v ponedeljek, ko je šlo tako ali tako vse narobe. Japonščina ob 8:00 zjutraj, kjer sem rekla kore wa watashi no kaban desu ka namesto kore wa dare no kaban desu ka. Potem hlače, ki so se obupno skrčile, čeprav sem jih prala s hladno vodo po programu ročnega pranja. Pa finščina, ki je bila tokrat dolgočasna. Uro pred treningom aikida sem ugotovila, da je nekaj narobe z mojim kolesom; popacala sem si prste s strojnim oljem, nato pa odpeljala kolo naravnost na servis. Temno-čokoladna mehanika iz Sudana in njun arabski šef so bili prijazni, čeprav so se takrat, ko je bilo v popravilu moje kolo, do njih primajali trije pijani Finci in se obnašali rahlo rasistično. Blah.

Napaka na kolesu je bila vseeno odpravljena, lahko sem se odpeljala na aikido. Tam sem skoraj obupala nad tehniko z lesenim mečem in kasneje s palico; vaja itak dela mojstra, ampak ne, če se vajencu pripravlja angina... Zvečer mi je potem še crknila žarnica delovne lučke. Končna ugotovitev: za vse sranje celega dneva verjetno obstaja le en vzrok.

Flunssa. Tako se je začela in se vlekla čez cel teden. Vem, da obstajajo mnogo hujše tegobe kot je navadna angina s prehladom. Vendar menim, da je vsak posameznik samosvoj in zaključen univerzum z lastnimi lestvicami težav; na tej je bila moja angina uvrščena visoko. Mah, flunssa on perseestä.

Dobra stran nje je bila, da sem brez slabe vesti lenarila doma; slaba pa, da sem zamudila aikido in bila nasploh brez volje. Pač flunssa. Še dobro, da so bili v našem supermarketu papirnati robci z alojo vero ravno ta čas v akciji...

Saturday, September 20, 2008

FLATS AND MATES


It's quiet Saturday in a quiet, almost sleepy student campus. I have been thinking how this new campus I have moved to in June is much more calm. I have also been thinking about my previous year here in JKL. My studies had started, I had moved from my parents place. First time in my life I had started to live on my own. Well, not totally on my own.

I guess those that were not confronted with the possibility to study in the place of their original being would probably experience these things I plan to write about much earlier. Anyway, Slovenia is also not Finland, students do not have so good oportunities to move away from their parents as soon as they finish high-school. If we Slovenians live close to the universities, we in most cases stay at home. Flats are expencive, scholarships are rare, and so on...

Last year, I was placed into a shared appartement; it was a small two-room flat. I had my own room, the bathroom and kitchen were shared with the flatmate. Never before I had been given the expirience to live with a person I had never met. People are put kind of randomely togehter, girls and boys are not mixed - and so one starts to live with the other one, like it or not these two have to share their everydays.

For me, and I guess also for every single one, such sharing can bring some nice and.. well, also not that pleasant thingies. I have found out what had made me a cranky shared-flat dweller, and decided to write it here. These are kind of general things, don't be tough on me if I'm overdoing...

- A small flat where kitchen table is placed right infront of my door.
- Flatmates visitors that sit behind that kitchen table and talk loud infront of my door.
- Flatmates visitors that are there when I don't feel like having any people around.
- Lots of visits.
- Unknown people that appear while I'm eating in the kitchen.
- Occupied kitchen.
- Having an unpleasant feeling when going home due to uncertain situation in the flat.
- Loud talking.
- Packed fridge.
- Smell of fried meat that stays on my clothes.
- Strange atmosphere due to personal problems.
- Putting personal problems too much on the other one; it's hard to help or listen sometimes.
- Old guys that dribble over young girlies.
- A boyfriend arriving at late hours at night.
- A boyfriend visiting for several days can become annoying, no matter how quiet and polite.
- Feeling that my privacy is too much observed or disturbed.
- Feeling sorry for not being tough enough and telling what bothers/bothered me.

People have different experiences in shared flats: I have heard some stories. Students are just put together, their habits differ, their characters differ, and in some cases, the cultures are also very appart. Forcing a friendship is perhaps not that good idea; in my opinion, the bond between flatmates grows, or it does not. However, I prefer sharing where my privacy is not disturbed, where I can feel relaxed and independant enough, and where lives of flatmates are not mixing too much.

Getting a one-room flat is, I guess, dream of every student here. However, waiting times for those flats are long. Meanwhile, we all have to learn how to be tolerant - with the other, and with one's self.

Sunday, June 01, 2008

KESÄN AIKA


... summertime... and my dear Jyväsjärvi Lake again...

The first day of June is the start of summer in Finland. Lectures at the University have finished, apart from various summer courses going on, schools have started their holidays, and our Aikido-dojo has switched to summer schedule of trainings.

Speaking about me, I have been very busy during the past days. Assignments would just not stop, and so I kept on writing or reading or whatever. Thinking and sleeping as well. Some parties, some gigs, meeting people, new bike and so on. As you have probably noticed, there was not much time to devote it to my blog; but it seems I will stay busy more or less all June. Another news is that I will soon be moving. Feels kind of funny. I have lived for some twenty years at one place, then I have switched the country all of a sudden, and now I am moving again within less than a year. Alright, this time, I will only change the location and the apartment in the same city.

The weather in the past days has not been that very hot here up North; pleasant twenty-something degrees. Also, the country has turned green, so very green and so very shiny. So much light! We have like 19 hours and 9 minutes of day at the moment, and this feels almost amazing. I am not even sure if there is any proper night left; at midnight, the sky is still bright. However, within twenty days, on Juhannus, the days will start to shorten again - and winter will soon be back to this places... but until then - rejoice, for it is summer!

Lovely and relaxed days I wish, my dear friends and fellow bloggers.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

COMPASSIONATE FASHION

Shopping in Helsinki a bit, I have found a perfect pair of shoes. I have actually always liked these particular type of sneakers. I have never been into typical feminine-style shoes, and you will never see me wearing high heels; that's just not me.

These particular sneakers possess several functions. They are comfortable, they fit almost every way of dressing, from skirt to trousers, they are all in black, and for sure they signify an identification with a certain musically-related subculture. Yet there is more...

To make these shoes, not a single trace of leather has been used: they consist of canvas and rubber only. Thus, I can also show my vegetarian compassion to the world. For the production of my sneakers, no animal had to suffer, no animal has been killed for my pleasures. The only living thing that has possibly suffered was some kid, working in poor conditions for a very little money in some factory somewhere in Asia; but hei, who cares about that?

Friday, February 29, 2008

LEAP DAY


Just because it occurs only every four years. Just because it feels strange. Just because the past days, today including, were not that very cheerful...

Uuno Kailas: Contemplation

Ei seesty pääni päällä,
tuo vanhat pilvet päivä uus.
Ja joka päivä täällä
on pieni ikuisuus.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

SKYWALKING TO SPRING


Past days were glittering with sun, it felt so magical after those dark winter days. Life is coming back. Happiness is awaking. It was well under zero last week, but regardless crispy cold air I have spotted some distant traces of forthcoming spring. Hope. The smell of spring, floating above deeply frozen grounds and waters.

Partly sunny Sunday offered milder weather today. As I went for a walk, I have noticed some Skywalker has forgotten her/his additional pare of trainers on an electric wire high up in the air. Perhaps she/he just dropped those, as they seemed so warn out, not considering all recycling possibilities Finland offers to inhabitants. What's more, that Skywalker might just wanted to feel the air filled with frost and blasting sunlight under bare feet… feel, enjoy and follow those distant traces of spring.

Finally, I think such things occur on electric wires high above the ground if one lives in a neighborhood full of students and constant student parties.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

BLUE MONDAY, WHITE DAYS


Monday 21st of January that has just passed has been tagged for Blue Monday; the most depressing day of the year. Well, whatever. I just know it is the last full week of January. Two years ago, it was also the last full week of January when I traveled to Finland for the first time. Did I expect me to live here one day when I arrived to that snowy Finnish night two years ago? Perhaps I did not. Perhaps I did.

Nowadays, I am quite piled up with essays. Constantly writing for over a month; or at least thinking what should I write. For sure I should be reading something at this moment, too. I am continuing my Aikido practice as well - and there I try to find additional energy for studies. My perception of Japanese term mae-geri, meaning front kick in Nanbudo (and Karate) has transformed into a strike with bokken, woden sword. Learning all the time. Nevertheless I have found out which moments can make my busy days. One of them is hot sauna after Aikido practice...


If the Monday was blue, now the other days are white. We have some snow! The landscape has turned into winter's tale; no matter the temperatures that are getting somehow lower. Today, the day was so clear and sunny. Yes, despite winter is still here, now even in all it's proper glory, the sun seems to be getting back its strength. It feels brighter than a couple of months ago. There is
still some hope left. However, enjoy your days - and I will try to enjoy mine, desperately trying to complete the work.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

KAAMOKSEN KETTU


This is my fox. It comes from Rovaniemi, but since October 2007 it has been living in my room here in Jyväskylä, among the books; I guess it likes the place a lot. As I do not know this fox for too long, it did not acquire a name yet; so far, it has just been known as Fox, Lisica or Kettu.

The main reason why I am introducing my fox to the world is actually the period of winter darkness, kaamos. Last year within this time, the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat featured online short animated stories
. The series was called Kaamosajan kalanteri, The Calendar of Kaamos; now it does not exist online no more, too bad. But there was this main character: very interesting Finnish fox, living in its house, desperately trying to waste time during the period of winter darkness. The fox of the kaamos, kaamoksen kettu.

We do not have that real polar night in this part of Finland, but, believe me, there is lots of darkness anyway. I was well aware where am I going when deciding for Finland, Nordic countries have for sure good reputation of dark and depressive winters... but still.

Every now and then, I feel like the fox of kaamos. The sun rises around half past nine, but even after that the morning can be dark. Dark morning, dark day, and then the night. As today, when it was raining. For the weather can add so much to the light; it is totally different story if there appears some sun from behind the clouds. It starts getting really dark around three in the afternoon; it was even earlier in December. This darkness makes me kind of drowsy. So, I would rather sleep through the whole day, doing nothing but sleep, sleep and sleep. However, if not sleeping the whole day, I would perhaps do just some easy reading and some nice calm Aikido practice. Then, back to sleep again...

I wonder how it would feel living in a waste, lonesome snowy land. Somewhere in Lapland, for instance. Nothing but snow and kaamos. I can imagine silent glittering of the snow in the moonlight, the blasts of northern lights and all other romantic thingies; however, this is only what I imagine. I guess, in reality, life in these frozen lands is not that lovely at all; even if there is no biting frost, there is still the great darkness.

However, every winter also brings the hope of spring, warmth and endless sunlight... and then, kaamoksen kettu will feel all awake again.