Tag Archives: life

in english

How has Finland changed in a year?

A year is probably not enough time to notice the changes in a place you haven't seen (especially if you arrive at a time when not much is happening, as July in the Nordic countries).  However, there might be a couple of things that I have noticed:

  • There is more foreigners than before.  Not many, but at least the attitude from general society is slightly different.  I don't get weird looks for speaking Finnish anymore, at least in Helsinki.
  • There seems to be more people working in July than before.
  • There are some areas of the metropolitan area of the capital that have undergone further development, like western Espoo.
  • The airport and the city are still the same.

Maybe I'll notice more things in a few weeks, but that's it so far.

in english

From everywhere and nowhere

At a friend's wedding (he's Argentine, but lived in Canada and is now married to a Finn) we were discussing that we're from everywhere and nowhere.  We're at home in all three places, but always missing something (or most usually someone) else who may or may not be there.

That's the immigrant's life.  Something that is probably becoming more common given current international mobility patters (yes, part of that thing they call globalisation).

in english

Helsinki from the sky

Unfortunately I couldn't take pictures, but my plane from Brussels flew over the whole metropolitan area, and I could clearly see where I now live, downtown, where I lived before and many other very relevant places for my previous life in Finland, such as where I met my soon to be wife.

I have to say that the city looked absolutely beautiful under the sun, and I really felt I was back.

in english

Nowhere’s perfect, neither am I

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So, after a year in Belgium, I came back to Finland.  I started noticing certain things about the place that I had already gotten used to and don't really like, such as the amount of drunken teenagers on weekends, the fact that public transportatio, although good, is rather sparse (which is fine in summer, but in winter is no laughing matter) or the relative scepticism of most public officials.  This all reminded me of when I arrived in Brussels, as I was not used to the dirt and the beggars in the streets.  Don't get me talking about Mexico City, which is sadly renowned for its insecurity and pollution.

However, I remembered that it all depends on how much you make out of things yourself, and whether the pros outweigh the cons.  There's always two sides of a story, and there is always something good that can be found.  In Brussels it's multiculturality, in Helsinki it is nature and safety, in Mexico City its vibrance and cultural life, to give just a few strong points.

It's all a matter of making do with what is there, what you have and be determined to have a good time wherever you are.

in english

Back online

Dear readers:

 

Sorry for the delay, but as you can imagine, these last 7 days have been rather challenging.  I've changed country, moved into a new address and started working.  I do have plenty of insights to share with you but I just need time to sit down.

 

I'll keep you posted.

en español

El Juego

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La keru me mandó un meme hace varios días, y como he estado terminando de mudarme no había podido contestarlo.  Las instrucciones en su post.  Ahí les voy:

  1. Aunque nunca me gustaron los trancazos siempre fui fan de las artes marciales… hasta que le saqué mole a un amigo en una práctica de karate cuando estaba chiquito.  Me tomó casi 10 años volver al dojo, y practiqué aikido y capoeira durante algún tiempo.  Sólo he tenido que utilizar esos conocimientos una vez, cuando me quiso asaltar un tipo en una estación del metro del D.F. como a las 10 de la noche.
  2. Antes mi color favorito era el azul, ahora ya no hay tal cosa aunque he notado que uso muchos tonos cafés en la ropa últimamente.
  3. De chiquito, me podía entretener los siglos de los siglos leyendo o jugando con Legos.  Una vez hice una nave, con partes móviles usando engranajes y un motor de un kit de Lego Technic, de la cual todavía me siento orgulloso porque hasta fotos le tomaron.
  4. Me encanta comer.  Por eso aprendí a cocinar cuando empecé a vivir solo.  Mis especialidades son tinga de salmón y salmón en salsa de chile guajillo, pero también me gusta aderezar carnes.
  5. La tele la veo para el fut, las series de ciencia ficción o fantasía (Heroes, Battlestar Galactica), las noticias si ha sucedido algo importante y una que otra película.  Normalmente otro tipo de series, las novelas y los programas cómicos me parecen insufribles, al menos que sean realmente MUY buenos.
  6. Cuando me tocó elegir la carrera, estaba entre licenciado en ciencias políticas/relaciones internacionales o ingeniero en informática y sistemas.  ¿Se notará mucho qué elegí?
  7. Creo que me llevo bien con gente de todos colores y sabores, exceptuando que no aguanto las personas falsas y pretenciosas.  No hay algo que me enerve más que el típico niño/a mamila que no sabe ni siquiera de lo que está hablando y que ve al resto de la humanidad por arriba del hombro.  ¡Típicos fracasados!  Una cosa es tener una autoestima saludable y otra muy diferente andar con xaladas.
  8. Si estoy solo, tengo que escuchar música.  Especialmente si tengo que limpiar algo en el depa o estoy manejando.  Manejar sin música es como un pastel de chocolate sin cerezas.

No se lo voy a mandar a nadie porque no sé quién lo conteste, pero el que quiera pásele.