UMK 2020

Wonderful as it is...

Happy One-month-in-Canada- Anniversary to me! Holiday is officially over and I'm back to everyday duties. Sorry guys, pics could be better but haven't taken any "cool" ones lately :)

Job hunting has started quite nicely. I was super-afraid of the language barrier in my French skills cause I knew that if there’s a quebécois speaker I’m screwed! But so far things have gone well and I’ve got some positive vibes from the places I’ve stopped by.  I’m waiting news during this week but I’m still gonna keep looking just in case the “positive vibe” wasn’t as mutual as I thought. Coming from Europe where jobs are dying out as we speak I find it positively refreshing to see “hiring” signs. In general there are a lot to choose from if you’re not too picky.    

Otherwise the language situation is going allright. I find myself knowing more French than what I give mysef credit for. Writing and reading I can manage and depending on the accent I even understand what people are saying to me. But still gotta admit that québecois accent is a tricky one! I’m counting on that future job of mine to improve my comprehension orale.  I won’t take any classes though cause I feel that all I need is just practical training.

(Palais du Congrès, MTL) 

Building my social circle has been a more complicated process than what I originally planned.. not that I’ve been lonely but breaking through the friendship zone has proven to be more difficult than what I expected. During these weeks I’ve met lots of people, every time different ones, mainly through Couchsurfers, Facebook and Meetup-groups. Every time it’s been definitely interesting, sometimes even fun and more importantly rewarding especially when you happen to meet someone you’re on a same level mentally. Though it is getting exhausting to tell your story and explains the same things over and over again.

 I tend to end up with “outsiders” (tourists, people outside of Québec and Canada) like myself mainly because is natural to meet people who are or have gone through somewhat same things as I am now. Even the locals I’ve met have been originally from somewhere else. Slowly but surely I guess. :) 

I’ve also started going to the gym again. The one I go to, is a bit far, 40min by metro but it’s really cheap 140$ for a year incl. most of the group classes they offer as well. And the best thing is that there’s a separate sections for men and women. Lots of different equipments, not the newest ones I gotta admit but I’ll definitely get my work out done there. Here’s the website if anyone’s interested http://www.aerobieplus.ca/fr/

Not that I’m exactly suffering from a homesickness but while paying the rent a few days ago I started suddenly appreciate the online banking system we have in Finland. It might have been also me but online paying didn’t exactly work out so I had to write a cheque – the very first in my life! And I had to google it how to write one cause I’ve never even hold a such piece of paper in my hand before. The things you learn while living abroad! :)

Within a week I’ll be moving to my new room! Finally. It’s a bit bigger and there’s a proper window. My current room is okay, but it’s too small and especially now when it’s been so hot, the skylight window isn’t exactly my thing. Besides when it rains, the sound is is super loud and it could wake even the dead up from their graves. I have to change the building as well but it’s just at next door so I won’t mind. I still consider finding this place as an incredible stroke of luck. The location, price, interior and everything has been perfect so far.

I’m so looking forward to the fall which I think is finally coming :)

To do

I’ve been living in MTL for almost four months now. My internship will end within a month and after that I’m gonna face the reality. I need a job, a real one, which they’ll actually pay me doing for. If I don’t find one I’ve been thinking of moving to Toronto where my crappy French won’t be a problem. Going home would be a wise thing to do since I still have my thesis and some courses left to do. But I hate to have my visa which is valid until next summer to go waste. And besides there are still tons of things I want to see and do here.

Below of my development in my to do-list:

Go up the Mont-Royal, visit old town of MTL, main sights etc.

Number of museums of MTL visited: 2

Eat Poutine 

(Poutine -

French fries with with a light brown gravy-like sauce and cheese curds)

Eat Smoked Meat-sandwich

Discover the cool neighbourhood of Mile End and Plateau (never enough thou)

Visit Jean-Talon Market

Survive canadian winter

To make a phone call using the old fashioned pay phone - silly I know but I've never used one! 

Drink beer (québecoise)

Eat bagels

(The famous bagel store where I go - not so often thou anymore - and which is just around my corner)

Learn French and being able to understand Québecois accent (working on it)

Do some ice-skating/snow shoeing or whatever winter outdoor activity while I’m here (and nevermind that I could do this in Finland as well! I'm convinced that it's more fun in here than there..)

Write my first cheque (silly I know but we don't have them anymore)

Visit a National Park (any will do, as long as it has that classic “Canadian nature” scenery with the lakes and mountains)

(This is what I wanna see! Summer's not necessary)

Visit Québec City

Discover true Toronto

Watch an ice hockey match

See a real canadian mountie

Visit Niagara Falls

Visit Ottawa

Events:  Picnik Elektronik

                        Igloofest

                        Fête des Neiges

                        Festival de la lumière & Nuit Blanche

                        Laura Pausini concert

                        Pride Parade

                        Tam Tams (free music event at Mont Royal)

Home sweet home.. when it was still summer :) 

Azenhas do Mar part II

Home

It was already a while ago when one of the biggest winter sports events FIS Nordic Ski World Championships took place in my hometown, in the city of Lahti, I felt inspired to write about home. This inspiration was strengthened by me moving abroad. 

I’ve always had a contradictory relationship with the place I was brought up. There’s nothing better, warmer than going home but then there’s nothing more agonising than being at home. But as the years go by and the further I’ve gone in my life as in the world, I have learnt to appreciate Lahti’s bittersweet qualities and to see more potential than down sides in it. 

Ten years ago I couldn’t get out of the city fast enough but in these days I’m actually proud of my hometown, its rusty reputation and hard cover - knowing that it takes a lot to see what the city holds inside. As nostalgic my occasional visits are I do remember why I left and haven’t returned to live there. But for a SMALL TOWN lovers I wanted to point out a few things why I am proud to come from Lahti: 

Hidden history

Lahti is cool in a way that you need to know shit to see the real thing underneath the hard cover. Yes Lahti is an ugly city but it used to be traditional wooden small town that burnt down 1870′s and within the unappreciation of the recent decades-  it is what it is. There’s a story behind every statue and park no matter how ridiculous it looks outside.. Okay sometimes the story can make you laugh also. But the point is, there are marks all over the town to tell the story of the city which you need to know how to read. Lahti is definitely at its best during the warm and hopefully sunny spring-summer-fall months but also in February during the annual Skiing sport events when the atmosphere gets an international add in the form of the athletes, media and tourists. 

Lake Vesijärvi

Having always lived within a walking distance from the lake I cannot imagine myself living in a city without any sort of water system. Lahti literally means a “bay” in Finnish so the lake view defines a lot of its character. Besides that the lake offers a waterway to other towns near by (Vesijärvi is connected to Päijänne, the second largest lake in the country) it is a fabulous refreshing site all year round.

Harbour

Today it’s called the living room because everybody always heads to spent their free time there whether it’s for sports, cultural events or drinking/dining out. 100 years ago it was an important industrial area being connected by water and rail. The dominant Sibelius Hall, the lake, charming restaurant boats and wooden details make it one of the favorite spots of the city.

Architecture

Lahti is known to be the promised land of boxes of houses without a hint of character or the era they were built in. But there are some pearls among them: 

Sibelius Hall

The concert and congress center, named after the famous Finnish composer (even though Sibelius didn’t have any real connection to Lahti) was built in 2000. It consists of the old factory and the new wooden part which the latter was at the time it the biggest public wooden building for 100 years. Today it’s been recognized as one of the top ten concert halls in Europe and in the world. The location, the open space and attention to details make together a harmony which I particularly enjoy every time when I step in. 

City Hall

Not the most special buildings in Finland since you can find this same design in Helsinki Railway Station and in the City Hall of Joensuu. And yes the architect was the very same Eliel Saarinen. But it is one of the oldest buildings of the city, standing on top of the hill since 1912 and within its park and several statues it’s one of my favorite areas in Lahti. The interior is also worth seeing for. 

Other sights

Ski jumps

They are impressive when you stand down there, staring up in the sky or on top, looking over the city. Apparently it’s the 7th most popular tourist attraction in Finland and I can understand why. For almost two weeks in February 2017 the world of winter sport lovers headed to this place, it was pretty cool! 

Statues and monuments

Lahti is seriously filled with statues. Over 50 statues and monuments over the town include some important ones as others... not so much. And some which you wouldn’t even think of as an statue or a monument at all. 

(There are two radio towers but only one could fit into this pic)

The most important ones (even though I think they’re not officially monuments but anyhow) being the radio towers of course, the symbols of the city. On top of the hill there’s a lovely graveyard and great park for jogging with awesome views over the city. 

Lanu Park is located next to the harbour on a hill hiding 12 human characters made by Olavi Lanu. Some of his work with the same theme can be found in front of the church in the center and the theater.

Design city

Originally known as a city with a strong sport traditions, design and culture has been rising within Sibelius Hall, highly valued Institute of Design and Fine Arts (which they’ve been trying to put down for years!), the re-use of older buildings such as functionalism buildings bus station and old gas station near the city hall.

(Hello! Diner opened in 2016 in the old gas station- not my pic!)

Rising restaurant and cultural scene

During the passed years there has been some serious rising number of restaurants, cafés and live music venues. Even the old restaurants have taken the live music and shows as part of their business plans to attract customers. I’m super-happy about the live music scene cause I can still remember the time when there were barely places for artists and bands to perform.

(Restaurant Popot (shoes in Finnish) opened in the old shoe store - not my pic!)

They say that the region of Häme, which Lahti is a part of, is slow. Being away so much I see it changed every time I come back. Evolving. Growing. Finding its own way. Still not there yet. Lahti is stil not as attractive as Tampere or Porvoo for example but we’re getting there. Slowly but surely. On FB it’s lovely to see people moving from other parts of the country and telling what a great place it is to live and how much does it offer. How friendly people are. Of course crime and negativity do take place but overall it’s nicely positive. Thanks to the pretty heavy selection of events and fairs all year round - the city is being discovered by thousands of tourists every year and along with city folks they develop this city too. Looking forward to my next visit. 

“Home is where your story begins..”

Catching the clouds in Tallinn..

Where only I remain

I’m afraid I haven’t got anything special to tell you, just some very ordinary things of my life.

But let’s start with some new stuff:  I’ve started to study French here! It’s rather expensive since it’s almost like having  private lessons. There’s me and this another lady from Toronto. My teacher is an young québecoise, super nice girl. The primary focus is on the ability of having a conversation and understanding but there’s some grammar stuff as well. Two hours a week, every Wednesday night until the beginning of January.

(Canadian squirrel - Tim Horton's is somewhat a canadian version of Starbucks)

At work, all good. So far there’s been all kinds of events, from big corporate events of Microsoft and Red Cross for example to private concerts, weddings as well as art exhibition openings. The work is somewhat physically demanding since the decoration or furnishings have to be differently placed for every event. Small details count. At the events there’s isn’t much anything else to do than just make sure that everything goes as planned, smoothly and nicely. Adaptation to the changes is important. Often I’m helping out the catering staff with the dishes or serving food/drinks or whatever I can do.

I feel so empty at the moment cause this entire fall, I’ve been waiting for several releases to come out. First it was the new album “Terra” of this brilliant Finnish singer Jenni Vartiainen, followed by “Bridget Jones: Mad about the boy” book, new Céline Dion album and last but not definitely the least the compilation album of my favourite (in case no one has noticed) artist Laura Pausini. What now?!?

(Terra album by Jenni Vartiainen: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjfVme5npco)

Cannot be without saying a few words about Bridget Jones thou.. I finished  the third BJ a.k.a “the bible of a single gal” book by Helen Fielding. Brilliantly written. I recommend it to all “Jonesy” fans out there. I was very skeptic about it first cause I knew that it won’t be the same now with Mark “I like you just as you are” Darcy being dead. But the old Bridget is still very much there. Her old struggles with being a single and how to get a boyfriend (and keep him) as well as her new problems like coping with the everyday life of being a widowed single mom and how to use twitter made me laugh as much as they made me cry too.     

At the flat we’ve been having this teeny tiny plumbing problem during these few days. Started on Saturday, apparently some pipes started leaking and yeah, having water all over,  that was sort of a problem. But my landlord had the plumber to come and fix it on the very next day. Even though it was Sunday.

The quick action of my landlord made me think how I really got lucky with this room and flat. From what I’ve heard and seen, I so appreaciate that I have a washing machines that work, front doors that you can get locked and that I have a proper wall all the way to the ceiling. Lucky me. Even though all that stuff that has gone wrong in the past, may have not been so funny then but they sure are now!

Also, haven’t got pictures yet to prove this one to you but the whole city of Mtl is covered with Christmas decorations. And they’re seriously big, colourful and all sorts of things, especially in centre-ville. My neighbour has had Christmas lights ever since October I think.. Even the wall of our back yard is decorated.  And exactly year ago in November I felt so bad for having a Christmas tree (or actually two) and my flat decorated for the season. Cause it was “too early”.  Yeah right.   

About the famous Canadian winter, I’ve been so warned about. So far I’ve seen snow in Mtl only once. It was on last Saturday. And it’s all gone by now. But it’s getting colder so I’m hopeful that we’ll get some proper snow soon. I’m into it just for the looks, the trees are naked and it’s so dark without it. The temperatures ain't that bad but the wind (and this city is always windy) makes it feel so much colder. Hrrr.. Looking forward to those days of -20C. But I hope that the Canadian winter is nothing that the Finnish version hasn’t trained me for over the years.

(This is I hope it will look like) :)

I did not spent more than just a few hours in Braga nor did I have a local showing me around and telling me stories of the city... but I was missing that lively spirit Porto had. I might go back though for an event or if I had a local or someone to prove me wrong. The churches were nice though and I’m glad I went. It was also cheaper than Porto clearly.  

Discovered the coast of Cascais this weekend! Unfortunately my settings weren’t correct so my shots weren’t that good but oh well..here they are! Gonna do another visit there one of these weeks.. 

One of the most intagrammable place in Portugal, Costa Nova can be reached by bus from Aveiro. I believe these houses are air bnb use but not many locals live in these. 

This is definitely one time visit thing. The houses were cute and it was more than just a couple houses (surprised by the amount) but they didn’t feel real and everything screamed for touristic in my opinion.