Although this was not the first time I experienced this, it struck me today that it was something worth sharing with those who haven't travelled by tram. So I went to downtown Helsinki today by tram (trolley) and found that it was packed. When I say packed, think sardines...and there were at least a dozen people at my stop waiting to get on, some with luggage.
The question that comes to mind as the tram comes to a stop is: should I join the fun? Ah, yes, the option of riding at a comfortable temperature vs. the prospect of walking in the cold. So I joined in, got on, and held tight to my pole so that I wouldn't fall over into those seated near me. I practiced in my head the word for "sorry" in Finnish just in case, and came close to having to use it, but managed to recover in time.
The thing that struck me was: thank goodness the Finns are a meticulously groomed people because you get up close and personal with the people surrounding you each time the tram stops suddenly (as when a pedestrian walks in front of it) or takes a turn quickly. And even just standing there you get to know more about the people standing next to you than you thought possible without an actual conversation. OK, it may not be that bad, but you are standing one next to the other, touching, and I am pleased to report that all those years of therapy dealing with my crowd anxiety has finally paid off.
At any rate, I made it to the city without falling onto anyone sitting, and fell into someone standing only once (it was like dominos as we all leaned into each other one by one when the tram took the turn a wee bit fast). There was no talking, no "excuse me," and no laughter at the situation....as might have been the case with Americans. It was taken for granted that this is the was the way it is, and there is no need to express what is already understood.
I must say that such a crowded tram is the exception, not the rule, and is well worth the service it provides. I love the public transit in Helsinki and cannot say enough for how clean, timely, and safe it has been so far. Just one more thing the Finns do well.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
The Baltic...BRRRR!!!
Yes, you guessed it. I went ice swimming in the Baltic! Friday was a grand day. Lisa and I participated in a mile walk/run for charity and at the end there was an opportunity to go ice swimming and sauna afterwards.
Knowing that the opportunity was going to be there, I came prepared to go swimming and got it set in my mind that I was going to do it...crazy or not. I met a wonderful lady from Austrailia who was also determined to experience the ice swim for the first time and we did it together with a small crowd of friends to cheer us on.
The initial plunge was not as bad as I anticipated. I expected my breath to be taken away and my heart to stop. I was assured by one of the onlookers that they were trained in CPR just in case (a joke, I was hoping). It was a fun time, and although the water was freezing, it was not heart stopping. I was unsure how long to stay the water in order to make it an official swim, but decided that it need'nt be too long and I promptly swam in a circle and got out. I have been watching the swimmers from my window for some time, and this seems to be the practice.
Upon getting out I realized what I had just done...my skin felt like it was being stabbed by a thousand little needles! This sensation didn't last long however, and I soon felt refreshed...until the heckling from the crowd sent me on to roll in the snow. How could I not follow the instructions from the crowd? I didn't know what was traditional and I wanted the full experience, so I took a little roll in the snow. Truthfully speaking, adding that little insanity didn't really make me any colder than I already was, so it was worth it for the amount of applause and laughter that it generated.
Finally it was time for the sauna. Oh, the heavenly sauna! Now I get it. I felt great...refreshed and accomplished. I now understand the custom and would, dare I say it, do it again. I'm still not certain that it is the most sane thing in the world to participate in, but it was an experience worth having and I am glad that I tried it.
The only question remaining is: what is the next challenge?
Knowing that the opportunity was going to be there, I came prepared to go swimming and got it set in my mind that I was going to do it...crazy or not. I met a wonderful lady from Austrailia who was also determined to experience the ice swim for the first time and we did it together with a small crowd of friends to cheer us on.
The initial plunge was not as bad as I anticipated. I expected my breath to be taken away and my heart to stop. I was assured by one of the onlookers that they were trained in CPR just in case (a joke, I was hoping). It was a fun time, and although the water was freezing, it was not heart stopping. I was unsure how long to stay the water in order to make it an official swim, but decided that it need'nt be too long and I promptly swam in a circle and got out. I have been watching the swimmers from my window for some time, and this seems to be the practice.
Upon getting out I realized what I had just done...my skin felt like it was being stabbed by a thousand little needles! This sensation didn't last long however, and I soon felt refreshed...until the heckling from the crowd sent me on to roll in the snow. How could I not follow the instructions from the crowd? I didn't know what was traditional and I wanted the full experience, so I took a little roll in the snow. Truthfully speaking, adding that little insanity didn't really make me any colder than I already was, so it was worth it for the amount of applause and laughter that it generated.
Finally it was time for the sauna. Oh, the heavenly sauna! Now I get it. I felt great...refreshed and accomplished. I now understand the custom and would, dare I say it, do it again. I'm still not certain that it is the most sane thing in the world to participate in, but it was an experience worth having and I am glad that I tried it.
The only question remaining is: what is the next challenge?
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Going to the Movies
Last weekend I went to the movies with friends and I learned a lot. Quite a few differences between Finnish movie theaters and those in the States. Let's start with while I was waiting for my friends to arrive (I am almost always early where ever I go). I couldn't help but notice people carrying food into the theater. Odd, I thought. Could it be that you can bring your own snacks into the theater? you ask. Why, yes, it could! I asked one of the attendants on the way out whether that was the case, and he confirmed that you can indeed bring your own snacks into the movie. No real food, but snacks. In the States you'd get kicked out for what would be considered an offense; God forbid the movie theater not get its pound of flesh in the way of concession sales. Granted, the tickets were 14.50 euros, but the novelty of bringing your own food in is so worth it.
Next, after selecting your movie, you select your seats. No more rush to arrive and sit forever before the movie starts to get good seats (in fact, you can't get in too far in advance of the movie as the door is kept closed until it is almost time for the trailers). As a positive side effect of the seat selection process, you can take your time at the concession stand (if you want to buy snacks there) because your seats are already secured.
And, yes, you may want to buy some snacks there not only because popcorn is best when fresh, but also because they have these little ring things called spice rings. They look like miniture pork rinds and taste like air puffed barbeque potato chips. Really good.
Next we arrived at our theater door, and upon going in were given our 3-D glasses ( we saw John Carter in 3-D). The glasses were substantial, moreso than any I have seen in the States. I personally think this is due to the fact that Finnish 3-D glasses are probably less likely to sprout legs and walk off after the movie.
The seats were wider and cushier than in the States, and the aisles were wider, thus making it possible to get to your seats without actually sitting on the laps of all the people along the way. The cup holders were positioned at the end of the arm rests, lower, such that the top of the cup was level with the arm rest itself. This allowed you to use the full length of the rest, which, by the way was wider itself.
So all in all, I feel that the Finns, once again, have got it right. The movie experience was a wonderful one...completely quiet and without cell phone interruption of course (once again making the price well worth it). I am looking forward to the next movie experience, and rest assured I will be bringing snacks!
Next, after selecting your movie, you select your seats. No more rush to arrive and sit forever before the movie starts to get good seats (in fact, you can't get in too far in advance of the movie as the door is kept closed until it is almost time for the trailers). As a positive side effect of the seat selection process, you can take your time at the concession stand (if you want to buy snacks there) because your seats are already secured.
And, yes, you may want to buy some snacks there not only because popcorn is best when fresh, but also because they have these little ring things called spice rings. They look like miniture pork rinds and taste like air puffed barbeque potato chips. Really good.
Next we arrived at our theater door, and upon going in were given our 3-D glasses ( we saw John Carter in 3-D). The glasses were substantial, moreso than any I have seen in the States. I personally think this is due to the fact that Finnish 3-D glasses are probably less likely to sprout legs and walk off after the movie.
The seats were wider and cushier than in the States, and the aisles were wider, thus making it possible to get to your seats without actually sitting on the laps of all the people along the way. The cup holders were positioned at the end of the arm rests, lower, such that the top of the cup was level with the arm rest itself. This allowed you to use the full length of the rest, which, by the way was wider itself.
So all in all, I feel that the Finns, once again, have got it right. The movie experience was a wonderful one...completely quiet and without cell phone interruption of course (once again making the price well worth it). I am looking forward to the next movie experience, and rest assured I will be bringing snacks!
Friday, March 16, 2012
Snow Removal
So I'm taking it easy today and watching out my window where they are removing the snow from the marina clubhouse parking and the surrounding area. It's not a new sight. I've seen snow removal before. They are actually pretty good about it, staying on top of the worst of it where the roads and street parking are concerned, as well as the sidewalks. At least this is true in my area of Helsinki.
Anyway, the thought occurs to me again...where does the snow go? They plow it, scoop it, and dump it in a truck that drives off to presumably dump it somewhere. I just wonder. It's a lot of snow, and I can't imagine where you would put it. I suppose it leaves the city...there's a lot of Finland that we haven't seen yet, and I'm sure there must be vast expanses of land north of us. As happy as I am to see it go, I wonder if there is someone elsewhere who is not so happy to see it coming.
At anyrate, I am happy to see it go, and while I am sure that I have not yet seen the end of future snows this season, I am enjoying seeing the pavement again. Not to worry, the ice is still there and I have plenty of swimmers to keep me amused.
Anyway, the thought occurs to me again...where does the snow go? They plow it, scoop it, and dump it in a truck that drives off to presumably dump it somewhere. I just wonder. It's a lot of snow, and I can't imagine where you would put it. I suppose it leaves the city...there's a lot of Finland that we haven't seen yet, and I'm sure there must be vast expanses of land north of us. As happy as I am to see it go, I wonder if there is someone elsewhere who is not so happy to see it coming.
At anyrate, I am happy to see it go, and while I am sure that I have not yet seen the end of future snows this season, I am enjoying seeing the pavement again. Not to worry, the ice is still there and I have plenty of swimmers to keep me amused.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Baking Success!
I have been putting off trying to bake cookies since I got here. I legitimately couldn't find some ingrediants for a while, but wasn't trying all that hard if I'm honest about it. I was given some help by a couple of Finns, including my tutor, but still didn't get what I need.
Finally, I bought some chocolate chips and tortured my husband with the promise of fresh, homemade chocolate chip cookies knowing fully well that I had everything but the baking soda (and therefore couldn't actually make the cookies). Last week I found the baking soda and today (just minutes ago) I pulled my very first Finnish American Tollhouse Cookies out of the oven...and they turned out just fine!
I was highly skeptical as there is no "all purpose flour" here. It is specialized according to what you make (bread vs cookies for example) and the bags are all in Finnish, naturally. I finally picked one (with some help) and moved on to the question of granulated sugar, which came in two different bags. My Finnish being what it is at this point, I just picked one knowing that at worst it would be finer than I wanted ideally, but it would work just the same. Salt also came in two packages...I asked a lady in the aisle what the difference was, and we finally came to the point that one was was equivalent to table salt, which is what I was looking for. Brown sugar was another matter....ranging from fully granulated to not-quite-"packed" (moist)-but-not-quite-granulated; my tutor assured me that the latter of these choices would bake the same despite the texture diference. The baking soda and vanilla were the last hold outs. Vanilla I found in an American specialty store, and baking soda (after a long search) was hidden on a shelf with flavorings and such by the frozen food section. Go figure.
Anyway, I finally braved the baking experience (asked my husband to convert the oven temp for me) and made the cookies. Yea!!! They baked just fine, and taste the same as at home in the States. I don't know what I've been fearing all this time, but it didn't happen, whatever it was, so I shall dare to bake again.
Finally, I bought some chocolate chips and tortured my husband with the promise of fresh, homemade chocolate chip cookies knowing fully well that I had everything but the baking soda (and therefore couldn't actually make the cookies). Last week I found the baking soda and today (just minutes ago) I pulled my very first Finnish American Tollhouse Cookies out of the oven...and they turned out just fine!
I was highly skeptical as there is no "all purpose flour" here. It is specialized according to what you make (bread vs cookies for example) and the bags are all in Finnish, naturally. I finally picked one (with some help) and moved on to the question of granulated sugar, which came in two different bags. My Finnish being what it is at this point, I just picked one knowing that at worst it would be finer than I wanted ideally, but it would work just the same. Salt also came in two packages...I asked a lady in the aisle what the difference was, and we finally came to the point that one was was equivalent to table salt, which is what I was looking for. Brown sugar was another matter....ranging from fully granulated to not-quite-"packed" (moist)-but-not-quite-granulated; my tutor assured me that the latter of these choices would bake the same despite the texture diference. The baking soda and vanilla were the last hold outs. Vanilla I found in an American specialty store, and baking soda (after a long search) was hidden on a shelf with flavorings and such by the frozen food section. Go figure.
Anyway, I finally braved the baking experience (asked my husband to convert the oven temp for me) and made the cookies. Yea!!! They baked just fine, and taste the same as at home in the States. I don't know what I've been fearing all this time, but it didn't happen, whatever it was, so I shall dare to bake again.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Life is Good
Spring is coming and I have proof! My sister gave me a little plastic alien-looking critter with a bobbling head that works on solar power. It's actually quite adorable.... and stupid... and really makes me smile when I watch it bobble back and forth. Annie, bless her, gave it to me some years ago knowing that I suffer from depression and thinking it would make me laugh. It was one of the few "purposeless" items that I brought with me when we moved here. So here is the great news: his head is bobbling back and forth again! That means the sun is shining enough for him to work....he hasn't worked for many, many months. This is indeed great news. Isn't it amazing how little it takes to make me happy?
Think that's pathetic. I found a jar full of joy today. That's right, I found marachino cherries! The sweet, wonderful sundae topper that I like to eat straight from the jar. I feel so naughty...I may just eat the whole jar all by myself. Oh such sweet, wonderful joy! Talk about easy to please.
So today has been a good day...bobbling heads and marachinno cherries. How could it get any better than this? Oh, yeah, I'm meeting Lisa at the champaign bar later :)
Think that's pathetic. I found a jar full of joy today. That's right, I found marachino cherries! The sweet, wonderful sundae topper that I like to eat straight from the jar. I feel so naughty...I may just eat the whole jar all by myself. Oh such sweet, wonderful joy! Talk about easy to please.
So today has been a good day...bobbling heads and marachinno cherries. How could it get any better than this? Oh, yeah, I'm meeting Lisa at the champaign bar later :)
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