Mid-Summer, Compost & Light Bulbs

Today is Midsummer - well I guess that's a bit of a lie as it's past midnight and now officially Sunday.

On Friday all the shops closed early (around 12-1pm) and they were closed all day on Saturday as well. Why? Because it's Mid-Summer...Finns typically start their vacation right after this and do a lot of travelling to visit their families on Mid-summer.
And no you're not dumb if you're thinking, "Is it mid-summer already?" The answer would be "Yes - in Finland it is."
The mosquitoes are out and nipping as soon as it's finished raining (where they hide out during the rain blows my mind)....so after-bite is coming pretty handy lately with these short spurts of rain!
What's a person to do during Mid-Summer? Eat, spend time with friends and family and of course, drink.
The problem with the "drinking" part is there are many alcohol-related deaths around Mid-Summer. Lots of people are quite drunk and end up in car accidents (we heard of 2 people dead in Finland so far around 10pm this evening) and 7 drownings.
You're thinking - drowning?! Who would swim? Clearly, it's not by choice.
Typically one gets a boat and rows out and drinks with or without colleagues and then when he or she drinks too much - they have to pee. You don't pee IN the boat - that would be gross.
So you stand up and pee over the edge of the boat....ah how clever. Except you would then fall out of the boat and be too drunk to swim and then drown. Your colleagues with you are probably quite drunk too and might be able to call for help if you're lucky and they're not asleep.

By all means, I am not making light of this - I read it in the paper and was told by several people: "Do not pee over the side of the boat on the water during Mid-Summer if you're drunk".

If you're curious, we celebrated with Taneli and his family and had a lovely chicken dinner with rice, salad & vegetables. Topped off the night with a bit of a sauna...and since V�in� was quite perky and happy - Tim and I went in first and talked about various things and planning our moving....Here's some of our conversation:

"Oh gosh - it's so freaking hot in here!"- me
"We're in a sauna"- Tim
"Why are you adding so much water?! Isn't it hot enough in here?" - me
"We're in a sauna...and I never get to splash the water - usually the pros do it."- Tim
"My face is melting and my lips and eyes are hot...."- me
"Well duh - we're in a sauna"- Tim

I haven't been in one in awhile and it's about 80*C inside and it was cranked up quite high...then adding the water (Tim did 4 scoops in the very beginning!) steams up the place and increases the temperature.

Now onto compost!
In Canada (at least NS I believe - I could be wrong) - I believe it is perfectly acceptable to put meat, bones, paper towel etc. in the compost/green bin. Today I learned in Finland - it is not.
At least no bones because the birds feasting on compost could choke and paper towel takes longer than tissues to break down and decompose.

You know when you rent a flat (or apartment) and when you leave, you're expected to replace the light bulbs? That is not the case in Finland it seems.
I've been worrying because the light bulbs need to be replaced (some have burnt out) and we are too short (even on a table or chair) to replace them. So I decided to pick up a couple cheap ones as required and to leave them behind with a note explaining that we aren't able to change them.
My friend Kikka mentioned that she rented a flat and the family before her - took their light bulbs with them. Needless to say - even if we were tall enough - I don't think it would come down to that for us. Maybe if we paid for all new ones and they were the swirly energy-saving ones - maybe.....

I was going to write something else but cannot remember....until next time!
Moikka (bye)

13km walk - no sweat?

Today I went to our future home with Loki and V�in� and we went for a hike with Johanna and her daughters. (Johanna is our future landlord's wife and friend)
I wrapped V�in� to me and off we went. Loki was still tired from yesterday but with the girls' energy nearby - he quickly got pumped.

We explored some woods and found a lake for Loki to swim in. Then 3 whippets came into the picture and wow can they run! AND! Loki kept up with all 3!!! It was beautiful to watch them whip around in large circles....wow....unfortunately I didn't have my camera handy...and V�in� was screaming to go home.
There was also a guy with a little dog who was 5 years old and she loved her frisby to the point that she was crying/yelping whenever her owner tried to take it from her. If the owner tossed it too far - she'd go for it and Loki would wait until she was close enough then join her on the swim back to shore. Then finally he got the idea to go out and get it...but he wouldn't do it if it was too far...silly dog.

There was a sauna by the lake (perfect for winter time...remember the crazy Finns who like to go in the sauna then jump in the icy water, roll in the snow and then go back in the sauna??) - however it's available to rent for 200 Euros per night....I'll stick with our Friday 7 Euros per month in our apartment building - thanks.

Our First Finnish baseball game!

We got back a couple hours ago from our first Finnish baseball game. Apparently the women play better than the men (although men's games are generally faster) and it was very different than North American baseball. (not that we know a lot about that game either ) As well we saw the Jyv�skyl�n women's team win against the West coast team...

So here are some huge differences:

1. The bases are not in a diamond shape. It zig-zags from left to right to left then there is a long stretch from 3rd base to "home base".
2. The pitcher does not throw across towards the batter but stands beside them to toss the ball straight up in the air. No they do not get hit by the batter - they back away (I thought the same thing).
3. The ball is not white. It's the color of a tennis ball - bright yellow-green so the players can see it.
4. When the field team is trying to tag someone "out" by tossing the ball to the base the player is trying to run towards...they can continuously toss the ball between their team mates in hopes to trap the runner. This happened several times at many points in the game. It's completely random and isn't a 1 or 2 try thing...they can toss it (more like whip the ball) around a few times in hopes to get a player "out".
5. The coaches have some sort of long multi-colored fan...not sure if I got a photo of it. But the point of this long fan (like paint color test strips) depending on the position of it and the color order it's in (looks like a rainbow) - determines their tactics to their other players who are farther away. (And yelling would be a give-away)...
6. Whoever wins the most games per baseball season - has to go and jump into the duck pond down the road. As in they have to DIVE IN...nasty. No wonder our girls team has won so many times - nobody else wants to dive into a pond full of duck poo. That and they play really well!

V�in� had a great time and bounced A LOT whenever there was clapping or music. He also hit on our friend Heli while we watched the game, by rubbing her shoulder and staring at her open-mouthed in hopes for a kiss (smart boy eh?)!!! She was terrified I think...and probably will never have kids of her own.

During the break (1/2 way point of the game) the sponsors (some golf academy or course) - played a game on the baseball field. There were some numbers on the field and they had to mini-putt a ball to see who could get it out the farthest and into the "0"...

Another Easter tidbit AND all about our future home!

I didn't know about this...or maybe I knew something small about Easter...like the mammi dessert - however while visiting our future home and hanging out with Johanna and her girls for a bit - she was telling me some things about Finland.

Johanna was showing me what they wanted to leave behind or pack with them which was nice as I got to see the flat more thoroughly and all the space we had! I was so excited!
One thing she's leaving behind is a cardboard hollow/decorated egg. In Finland there isn't an Easter Bunny but an Easter Cock or Rooster. When the child is asleep at night - the EC leaves a hollowed egg filled with candies underneath their pillow.

Now onto the new home!
I've mentioned before the big things - like a front loading (aka quiet/won't fall off a ledge) washing machine....dish washer etc.
Now onto the wonderful little things! Like loads of various decorations for Easter and Christmas :)....

LOTS of storage space - wow! When you first walk into the flat (yes I'll do a video and photos later) on your left is the 2nd bedroom. We're going to use this as an office/V�in�'s bedroom. There's a closet with plenty of shelf space for all of his clothing and extra bed sheets etc. As well there's a beautiful, dark book shelf with drawers on the bottom....and a wardrobe with shelves and cupboard space.
Johanna is kindly leaving her sewing machine and seaming machine behind....so I may have to learn how to sew and make V�in� some cute clothes! It'd be loads cheaper....especially cloth diapers as he grows!
I have already claimed this wardrobe as my arts and crafts center!! There's lots of shelves and drawers for me to put my knitting needles, yarn, pens and papers etc.

Then the kitchen (next left) is monsterously huge and holds the 6 chairs dining table set as well. The view is great and lots of counter space.
The bathroom is straight ahead from the entrance way and to the right leads into the big living room. It's much bigger than ours (ours looks so cramped with the furniture and laundry racks)...and I'm thinking we may move the computer desk into the "office"....as we are bringing with us a small red couch (yay dumpster diving?). There's a tall book shelf, tv and stand, and a sofa couch in the living room. Lots of various paintings hung on the walls - which works for us as we don't really have anything to hang on the wall. Besides a calendar, a painting I made Tim and V�in�'s 4 month foot/hand prints.

Ahead of the living room is the balcony with sliding glass windows so we can open them or close them, an electric grill, a table and 2 chairs and some flowers here and there :).

To the right of the living room is the master bedroom with another book shelf (more like 3 huge cubby holes on top of each other), cupboards and closet space up to the ceiling! WAHOO!
And a dresser....oh I missed having a dresser. I don't care that the drawers stick a bit or whatever...I'm so excited to have a dresser again! I hate putting my clothes on shelves like at camp (lockers)...I end up throwing so much in there - I never find anything!

Tim's favourite part is probably the vacuum. :P.

Cell Phone Plans versus Canadian Cell Phone plans

This is more of a rant and should really belong to my other blog .

Rogers requires that I pay my bill every month approximately 80$. That 80$ is taxes, a 911 fee, a $35/month family plan, a $6.95 monthly fee...etc...and somehow - this adds up to $80.
According to one rep - I was able to suspend my account until further notice...according to 3 others - that is not possible.
According to a friend with a Bell account - she was able to suspend it while living outside of Canada. According to another - his friends moved outside of Bell's coverage and there was no cancellation fee.
Stupid me for closing my Bell account (awful service and no chance to upgrade because the charge was broken and no replacement to be found in the HRM).

Let me break down my phone bill.
6,9 Euro Cents/month = monthly fee
6 Euro Cents/text or /minute

If the bill doesn't hit 20 Euros in the first month....then you don't get one. Once it hits 20 Euros or after 2-3 consecutive months of it being below 20E...THEN you get one...and you're NOT charged interest unless you don't pay the bill received on time.
Oh and to call Canada? 4 Cents/minute.

Look at your bill...what do you see? Just saying - you're getting ripped off pretty badly (unless you have pay as you go - not sure how that works entirely).

Popcorn in a box - a Finnish going-to-the-movies experience.

Today was a day I've been waiting for - for awhile.
I made plans with my neighbour Kikka, to see Sex and the City 2. WITHOUT the baby.
What a long movie! Plus we had dinner prior to - with Tim and V�in� so I could nurse him before walking into the theater (not literally - but pretty darn close).
Wow I forgot what it was like to have a real girls night out. Not the whole slutty-tops and drinks at a bar....but going out to see a cheesy/romantic/comedy chick flick and then gossiping about it on the way home.
Don't get me wrong - I don't regret being a Mom and all the joys/pains that come with it - but it was just nice to have a break.

Now onto the important part you're all wondering. "What's it like to see a movie in theater, in Finland?"
When you order tickets online or in person for a fairly new film - you order by row and seat. In Jyv�skyl� there are about 6 theaters in one ("rooms"), so movies don't stay in theater for very long. When you print your e-ticket online, there's a bar code and instead of ripping your ticket stub like in Canada....they have a bar code scanner at the entrance before you go in!
The large popcorn and pop I got was under 6 Euros! Typical price in Canada for the same size, about 9-12 Canadian dollars...depending.
The seats don't go all the way to the screen like they do in NS. There's carpeted space near the front - so if you were to sit in the "front row", your neck would still be straight forward than in Halifax's front row...where your neck would be craned and almost broken by the time the previews were complete.
Now - language. Ah yes. The movies are all in English (Unless it's a Finnish film) with both Swedish and Finnish subtitles. No dubbing. It's cheaper to do the subtitles.
My only downfall with the theater itself was that there aren't any cup holders in the arm rests.

I took plenty of photos of my freshly popped popcorn in a box too. In NS, they're sold in bags.