Te recomiendo que leas malnacido.com. No siempre estoy de acuerdo con el autor, pero siempre me saca una sonrisa su humor ácido.
Monthly Archives: October 2007
Recommended book: Bound Together
The subtitle of this book, "How Traders, Preachers, Adventurers and Warriors shaped Globalization" explains very well what is it all about: a historical recounting of the processes throughout history that have shaped our societies to reach the level of interconnectedness where we currently are. As such, it is a great description, but the casual reader will not find recipes for solving the world's ills here.
Nevertheless, it is a very well written, enthralling book. If you want to have an idea about how we got where we are since the appearance of the modern Homo sapiens in Africa eons ago and what are the current challenges facing our world, grab this tome. Its examples and anecdotes give colour to the epic tale of the human race, and its last three chapters explain how much of a crossroads are we actually at. As he says, calls to shut down globalization are pointless because there's no one in charge, but we have the power and the responsibility to steer our world in the right direction.
This pale blue dot is the only home we have. We better learn to live together.
Family in Finland
As much as I might sometimes encounter barriers here, I don't want to give a lopsided view about my experience in Finland. I am very aware that nowhere is perfect and neither am I, and furthermore, I really enjoy my work, have very good friends, and I'm even part of a family here.
That's truly what this post is about, because, as my family back in Mexico would say, I truly landed in a soft sport when I came here, met my wife and after some time was pretty much adopted into her family. I cannot be grateful enough for that, since through them, my friends and of course my wife I came to know, love and integrate here in Finland. With them I've shared my successes and they celebrate them as much as my blood family does. They have even asked me to enter their family records which of course is an honour.
This is probably what makes it a little confusing, because for those that know me I am "one of them" but certain sectors of the general public tend to see me with suspicion. I'm not going to change that, so I should stop caring and move on. 😉
QotD: Well, I Never!
Citizenship laws in Finland and France
I met Ceronne briefly during my last quick trip to Paris. Unfortunately I couldn't chat with him longer since I was on the move, but as usual it was a pleasure.
He commented that, after finishing his masters, he had a small discussion with a social worker who told him that in two years he would be able to apply for French citizenship. I congratulated him, and he mentioned that the process works in such a way that his 2 years as a masters student in France are taken into account in the process. This is beneficial for both parties since the person in question gets an incentive to stay and the country another educated taxpayer.
With this information, I started to think about my own situation, which compares unfavourable with his. Even though I have lived 6 years in Finland, my three years as a student don't count, and neither do two of my years working as I had a B-class residence and working permit for some reason I don't understand. Only one year would count, but I moved to Belgium for a year so I would have to start from scratch, which means that I would be eligible in 4 years (or after 10 years altogether of living in Finland). It would be even longer but I am married to a Finnish citizen now, who has been my companion for the past 7 years. When I compare my case to that of a certain discus thrower, for example, I further lose hope.
For my Finnish readers out there, even though most of the posts in this blog are in English, I do speak Finnish. Furthermore, I will be taking the official language examination soon, if only to have a paper that proves it.
The worst part is when my Finnish friends and acquaintances ask me when am I going to become a citizen of the country I live in and my only answer is not anytime soon, if ever…
Paris is still the same
I've reported before that Paris can be unfavourably compared to London, but it is still a very important world capital where a lot of business is made. One only needs to go to La Défense on a weekday to notice that.
It is still, for good or bad, full of French peculiarities that give it a certain taste (of cheese and wine, of course).
Globalisation is…
People with Vietnamese, Moroccan, Mexican and French names speaking French, switching to English, and back to French.
Who said globalisation was americanisation?
The kind of immigrants Finland prefers…
Look nothing like me and as over-the-top this article is, I know it has a grain of truth. Sometimes I feel like giving up, but I really like this place and my life here.
So much so I'm taking the official Finnish language exam that is needed for citizenship, even though it's still at least 4 years before I would be able to apply for it and, frankly, I'm not sure whether it would make any sense.
Remember to smile!
I was on the bus to work this morning, and a comment my wife had made once suddenly clicked. She said sometime during the weekend that she's starting to get wrinkles (which I don't believe for a moment, but anyway) and that they're the kind of wrinkles you get on the corner of your mouth when you've been smiling too much.
During my commute, I noticed how people really don't smile. Not only that, but their mouths have been arched downwards for so long that it is their natural state, which makes them look even sadder. The act of smiling on its own can make you feel better, and it definitely makes you look better.
So, even if at a specific moment you don't feel like it, remember to smile every once in a while.