I arrived in Finland, and the sky that welcomed me looked just like the one in the picture: blue with shades of pink. This is where I became an adult and a professional. Here is where I've paid my taxes and matured. It wasn't easy, but I definitely don't regret it.
I don't know what life will bring next, but now I'm more ready to take it on.
I arrived in Brussels. I expected to grow and learn. I didn’t expect to grow and learn so much! That I found some very good friends was also very welcome.
Merci Bruxelles!
Dank u Brussel!
I'm spending this weekend again in a summer cottage, but with friends instead of family. It is very striking to see how much Finns are more at home in the countryside than in the city. With views like that below, I don't blame them.
I watched the Transformers movie (mecha porn!) during the week and both that and my recent acquisition of a Nintendo Wii (I've already bought online Super Mario Bros. and Punch Out) have convinced me that we're ongoing a serious case of 80's nostagia.
Furthermore, I'm surprised by the amount of fantasy movies currently either on cinemas or on the way. Given that some of the most famous fantasy storylines are product of the escapism needed in times of crisis (Lord of the Rings is a product of the II World War, whereas Star Wars was written during the aftershock of the Vietnam War), I wonder how this offering reflects on the times we're living.
It has been a long time since I have been so enthusiastic about a gadget as it is currently the case with the Wii. Bought it yesterday and have to say that the overall off & online experience is very well thought through.
Technology specs are nothing if you don't deliver your promise.
I went skating yesterday. Not any kind of skating, but one special modality called nordic blading, which is done with poles as if you were skiing. I am now the proud owner of an N95 and was using the Sports Tracker application, which is able to calculate the kind of route I took, how many kilometres I did and my speed and altitude. You can even export your workouts to Google Earth! Quite a nice thing, I should say.
P.S. For those interested, I skated 15.4 km at an average speed of 10 km/h and a maximum speed of 49 km/h.
I have wrote before that the news you see determine your reality. there was no clearer example of that than a quote I read in the Financial Times a couple of weeks ago: "CNN films the launch of the missile. Al-Jazeera films what happens where it lands."
It better be good. If it isn't, just smile, it makes it easier.
If you ever come to this place in the far north, try to make it in summer and try to go to a summer cottage with sauna next to a lake. You will understand more about this country and its people than if you visit their cities. I have to say that the peace you find is very endearing.
It helps if it is warm too, as is currently the case.
