Get Your Snow!

Snow has officially fallen a few days ago but didn't stick around long enough and there wasn't enough to make snow angels or snow balls and definitely not enough for snow men or women.

While enjoying a tea downtown, a bird wanted to see if I had any food...

A couple quick shots from my balcony - we're moving today so this is it!

So now that there's black ice under the snow and the snow is light and slippery - you need to get your winter tires put on your car and perhaps on your bike too if you bike a lot in the winter!!

If you do not get winter tires and you are caught - they will give you a ticket.

The great thing about (JKL) Finland so far is that when it snows - it's usually not blinding white-outs where you can't see your hand in front of you, which CAN and quite OFTEN happens in Canada...which makes for treacherous driving conditions and causes a lot of deaths and harm.
It's usually flurries that can go on for days if not weeks and it adds up surprisingly!  Of course later in the winter, there are times that you see bigger and chunkier looking snow flakes and there can be the odd "snow storm" but it all eventually melts...usually by the end of April/early May.

A Brown Card For A Green One

I have been trying for what seems like ages to get an S-Pankki card.  You can only get these through Sokos locations it seems - or S-locations like S-Market for example if there is someone set up trying to promote them.  (Maybe there are other ways to get one too - like the internet - not sure!)

The difference between the first S card you get and the one that says "Visa" on it, is that one collects the bonus money and the other is an actual bank/credit card.  (By bank card I mean "debit", the money is linked to an account and you can shop with it.)

When I first went to Sokos to ask for a S-bank card they said I didn't have enough ID.
I had my Kela card, my green bonus card and my Passport and thought that was pretty good.  Apparently not.
I was advised I had to get a Finnish ID for Foreigners.  It's brown, not overly attractive and supposedly is brown to represent the poo that Finns might think of us Foreigners (I'm pretty sure this was sarcasm/a joke in the 6 Degrees paper months ago.  No your Finnish friends don't think you look or smell like poo!).
I'm JUST KIDDING!!!
Although, I did read that article - anyone else see it too?

Anyways, I found out it was 55� and thought it was a bit steep considering I can't use it for much.  But, considering I had over 350� sitting on my green bonus card - just not DOING anything - I figured it was a low price to pay to be able to spend my money I've been racking up by shopping at S-chain places (mostly groceries).

I went to the Police station, pushed that lovely "ASSISTANCE FOR FOREIGNERS" button and waited...and I waited and waited and waited.  In fact, I waited almost an hour, and when I walked in - I saw Mr. Prince Charming Police Officer and advised him that there weren't any applications for me to fill out so I could get my Finnish ID card.
Well, he apologized deeply and said, "That's because there isn't one.  I'm so sorry - is that what you waited so long for?"
As my Facebook status said that day, "Thank goodness he was hot."
So apparently, I just bring in a photo, my Passport and 55� (I paid with my bank card).

I finally went in and waited about 2 HOURS last week with my youngest - thankfully HE fell back asleep, mostly out of sheer boredom - and submitted his Residence Permit application (or he won't get a new Kela card) and asked to get my Finnish ID card too.
I got that all paid for and submitted and the "I know your family name and your kids first names too because I think it's kinda neat and super weird that you gave your kids SUCH Finnish names just because they were born here" officer (who is super nice) said I would get a text message advising me to pick up my ID card at the front desk.

Excellent - well, I got that text message today.
"From 16435
Tilaamanne lupa-asiakirja on saapunut.  Noutopaikka on Jyv�skyl�n p��poliisiasema.  Urhonkatu 2."

All I honestly could pick out of that was "Nouto" meaning pick up - how do I know this?  I apparently order pizza online too much.  And "Poliisi" is police (no, I have never been in trouble with the law).
The last sentence was the address for pick up.

I walked in and didn't know which button to push for a number.  I compared the text message to the buttons (there are only 3) to the machine and ended up going with one that said something about "Asiakirja" (translates to "documents") and figured it was a safe bet.
Especially when I let a fellow go ahead of me and it looked like he was picking something up and it was at the front desk!! :)

Fast forward a few hours later and I was in Sokos planning on opening a bank account so I could spend my precious 350 (and counting) euros.
I told the lady what I would like and she said fine and asked for ID.  I dug out my green bonus card, my Kela card and as soon as she saw my Passport she apologized and said she couldn't help me.
Well, I whipped out my Finnish ID card and she saw it and said, "Oh, you DO have ID- yes I can do that for you!"
(Because everything else just DOES NOT count these days...)

I got my future pin code to be sent to my future address (since I am really moving there in less than a week now..yet blogging when I should be asleep!) and she advised me that there are NO fees on this account at all.
None for withdrawing, spending - nothing.  Not sure about depositing because I just planned on spending what I collect from the S Bonus card.
Once I get that all set up (aka get the S Bank card) then I can destroy my S Bonus card and when I shop - if I am at an S-location, it will automatically calculate the bonus onto the account if I am spending with my bank card.
If not (or if I am at a regular shop that does not accept S cards) then I have to insert my card and press "BONUS" when it shows up on the machine, then remove it and then pay in whatever method I planned on using.
If I want to spend with it - I just put it in the machine and (it has a chip card) use it like normal.
She asked what would be the maximum daily limit on the account that I would withdraw from.  I advised her and then she asked if I was interested in having it as a credit card too.
I told her nope just bank card and she got me to sign some forms.
Their internet banking site is only available in Finnish.

Also, if you lose your internet banking ID number - you have to pay 20� to get a new one.
And if you lose the pin, it costs you 5� if you need a new one set up.

Ah, you want to know what I plan on buying?  A small washing machine for the future flat.
Running between buildings to do my laundry is no fun, especially with colder weather coming up and my youngest can walk already...so there's no such thing as "quickly getting the laundry" anymore.

Oh and most Finns have never seen this Finnish brown ID card for foreigners - so to REALLY get a party started, pass it around if you like!
For some reason, there are 4 identical photos of myself on the card.
3 on front, one has a hologram partially on it (the larger photo), my date of birth is written on the 2nd photo - to the left of the largest one (which is interesting because there is my DOB on the card already) and the back photo is just a mirror of the 3rd identical photo.

I guess Finns want to make sure people cannot forge them!

In my Home Flea Market!

Hi folks - Jyv�skyl�-area only!!

I am currently having an indoor flea market to try and get rid of as much stuff as possible!

For sale?

Imse Vimse Diapers - 1�each (20 for 15�)
Imse Vimse Covers - 1,50� each
Other Diaper Covers - 1� each
Fuzzy Bunz with Liner - 5� each
Cuddle Bunz diaper - 5� each
Carena Walker - 10�
Baby Blue Bouncing Seat - 3�
Emma Play pen (small hole in mesh) - 10�
Wooden High Chair 20�
Craft Magazines (English) - 1,50� each
Baby body - 0,50�-1� each
Baby pants - 0,20� each
Baby T-Shirts - 0,25� each
Baby Sweaters/Dress Shirts - 1�
Baby Pajamas - 0,50�-1� each
Baby GAP Hoody - 4�
Baby brown sandals - 1,50�
Baby Car Seat (NO car accident) - 4�
Breast Milk Storage bags - 2�
Breast Feeding Pillow 9�
Donut Maker (Used once)- 12�
Silicone bowl/steamer - 4�
Silicone baking sheet (Never used - orig. 14�)- 10�
Forever Aloe Face Mask - 2�
French Fries Cutter - 1�
Recipe Books - 0,50� each
Frog Decoration - 3�
Music Light Up Toy (needs new battery but works) - 3�
Maternity Jeans (XS) adjustable - 2�
Maternity Denim Capris (M) - 4�
Women Shirts - 0,50�
Women Sweaters - 1-2�
5x Flower Pots (new) - 4,50�
Blue Halti Coat - 8�
Reima Blue coat - 10�

And that's not all!  I have Party Lite candles, 2 double strollers, a single stroller (strollers are downstairs in storage) and so much more!

My hours today are from 10am-2pm.
Also, if it's not all gone today by 2pm - I will have more hours available this weekend based on appointment.

I am located near before the student village and the grocery stores in Kortepohja - near the 1st bus stop on that road.

15D, Apartment 47

If you need better directions or would like to book an appointment - please contact me at:

                                          learningaboutfinland     (at)    hotmail                         (dot)     com

Appointments are available this weekend and up until October 24th.

(All spam or un-related emails will be deleted.)

**Dog friendly home and smoke-free!!**

The Drunker The Finn - The Braver They Are!

Now this is not a story that happened to me - very unfortunate and you'll see why soon.

My husband had to go pick up a visiting scholar from the train station and take him out to dinner then drop him off at their hotel last night - as they had never been to Jyv�skyl� before.
Afterwards he decided to go for a beer with a colleague and they were having a good time chit-chatting when a couple of Finnish drunks asked if they could join them.  There was plenty of available seating but because they were speaking in English - the drunk Finns were VERY interested in their conversation.
After some basic discussion about where my husband is from and why he is living here (I assume that's what they asked because that's what we ALWAYS get asked - ask any foreigner!) one of the fellows says to my husband:

"You have pretty eyes."

The hubby just said thanks and one of the other drunks said: "You're very handsome."

Now, I'd like to point out that these are 2 very drunk Finnish men.  They are straight according to Tim but when I asked why in the world would they pick that sentence to practice their English with, he responded to me with: "I think they just tried to use every English word they knew."

So if you ever encounter a drunk Finn - you're probably quite safe as they just REALLY want to speak English to you and learn about your culture and where you are from!
Alcohol in large amounts encourages Finns to do what they normally wouldn't do if they were sober and not in a party/put-on-the-spot kind of position...like talking in a different language and to a foreigner!

Pretend Your Bike Is a Human

Do you have a bike in Jyv�skyl�?
Well, if not - and you are able to ride one - you should probably get one!  There's lots of advantages of riding a bike!
Let me, a terrible and not so experienced cyclist tell you the awesome benefits of biking around Jyv�skyl�:

• It's exercise and with all the hills in JKL - it'll BURN at first (unless you have a super awesome bike with gears - which I do not) but you'll feel empowered and perhaps terrified as you zoom down the hill...
• There are lots of FREE parking places for bikes - just make sure you don't park your bike where you're not supposed to (look for a sign).
• You don't need insurance to ride a bike - unless you're a terrible cyclist...or just learning...then it might be recommended!
• No drivers license required - although one should know the hand signals...and actually use them.
• You don't have to wait for your bike to warm up in the winter, like you would with a car...and yes - people DO bike in the winter!
• You have a perfect excuse for NOT giving your friends a lift as you only have 1 bike seat...nobody enjoys sitting on hard, cold metal while you hit every rock, snail, stick and curb possible on your way to school or home.  Only crazy teens do that...
• No speed limit - as far as I know....
• You can store a bike inside your apartment building - can't do that with a car, unless you have a garage spot....which usually costs more.
• You don't wait for your bike like you do a bus, a cab or for a friend...
• It's often faster to travel because you can ride in the bike lanes or on the street beside cars, or in front of cars with the traffic or on the sidewalk.
• You can buy them easily and more cheaply than a car brand new or second-hand!
• Bicycles are eco-friendly because they just need some air in their tires every now and again...and some light maintenance regularly...they do not take gas or oil...Nobody gags over your bike fumes - because there are none! 

WOW - what a bunch of great reasons to get a bike!!!

Now you should probably give your bicycle a name...something more human-like...not "THE BEAST", "THE SPECS SMASHER", "Speedy" - you know..something like:

• "Tuomas" - Thomas
• "Juhana" - Johnathan
• "Petrus" - Peter
• "Olli" - Oliver
• "Pauliina" - Paulina
• "Helmi" - Pearl (or beads when referring to crafts)
• "Sohvi" - Sophie
• "Marita" - a form of Mary

And don't forget you should feed your bike, care for your bike and blah blah blah...

WHY am I writing such nonsense?!

Because in Jyv�skyl�, if you want to bring your bike onto the bus - you're now PAYING an extra 1,60�.
If you have a bus pass/card - then that is paying for you...then you have to pay 1,60� so your bike can take a ride with you.

Why the fee?
I don't actually know the official reason but I can think of some that make sense to me (and hopefully to others):

• Bikes are a form of transportation themselves.
• Bikes take up A LOT of space that people with strollers, walkers or large bags/luggage need to ride the bus safely.

But then there is the argument that if a bike is broken and in need of repair - the best way to transport it (without a car or bike rack to properly install it to the car) would be via bus.

OR if the route is quite far - then the fastest way to bring your bike somewhere by bus...

Or if the weather totally sucks and your bike isn't great in the rain, snow or on the ice...then bus it is!

I think charging to bring a bike onto the bus is a little much and the fee is quite expensive as well.  I think a better solution would be to install racks to the front of the bike like in Halifax and the cyclist takes full responsibility if the bus happens to damage the bike by getting rear-ended for example.

This way the bus has more space and the broken bike can get to a repair shop!!

What do you think of all this??
Do you get charged to bring your bike onto a city bus and if so, how much is it?

*Feel free to leave a comment if you know or have more information about this newest change!*

Finns Have Cold Feet?

I am not talking about a Finnish "Run Away Bride/Groom" kind of movie but really - Finns have cold feet.

I'm from Canada and yes, where I am from - it snows, it's cold, it's humid and damp and freezes you to the bone.
But until it hits a particular temperature or if it snows - I wear sandals.
Flip flops to be specific.
Why?

They are easier to take on and off, they go with most outfits (not that I care about that) and my feet are exceptionally warm when wearing a thin cotton sock and sneakers.
I HATE when my feet sweat!  It's disgusting and seeing as I dislike feet anyway - this is the perfect solution for me.
Also, if it rains - then I don't have a wet and soggy sock stuck to my foot or have to constantly stop to pull up my socks because they slipped down when I wore my rubber boots.

YES I wear proper socks and shoes when it gets cold enough but as soon as spring/summer peeks out - I am wearing flip flops.

Why the heck would I blog about this?

Because it appears that Finns have cold feet ALL the time except summer.  By August the temperatures have dropped and people are wearing thick sweaters, coats, gloves and so on.
I like having a bit of cool air on my feet...for the number one reason that I'd rather have cool feet than hot and sweaty feet (barf).

No, really, why blog about your feet?

Well, it seems that whenever I DO wear sandals - I get the MOST awkwardest and sometimes DIRTIEST looks from Finns.
First of all - I don't openly judge others by staring at them (perhaps if someone was naked and covered in piercings and tattoos while riding an elephant through the City Center of Jyv�skyl� in -30*C temperatures) for long periods of time...not even the drunks get that much attention or rude stares from me.
So why  are you judging me?
First of all, it's obvious I'm a foreigner... just take that for what it's worth, close your mouth please and stop staring at me like I am committing murder right in front of you.

Didn't your family teach you it's rude to S-T-A-R-E?!?!?!

And when Finns wear things that do not seem weather appropriate or in terrible taste - nobody looks at them.  Like the drunks, Finns just walk past and don't acknowledge their own "crazily clothed" kind.

Case in point?
The other day was a cool 4*C and in the grocery store I saw a fellow (I assume he is Finnish as he looked very much like one) wearing a long sleeved cotton shirt, Bermuda shorts (Hawaiian flower prints if you're THAT curious) that could have been swimming trunks...

And house slippers.

Not just ANY kind of house slippers but those brown plaid ones made in Finland and are targeted to the FREEZING toes of Finland...

And I just asked a friend and apparently they have a name.
The brown ones are called "Reino" and the salmon pink ones are called "Aino"...want to see more?  Check out their official site.

"Hi I'm Aino and pink!"
"Hi I'm Reino and brown!"

Anyways, the guy kept his feet warm and that's what made him acceptable.
Along with the crazy teenagers that run around in mini skirts and tank tops with light coats and stand shivering while attempting to look cool smoking and pretending to NOT feel the wind go through them...
But as long as they have shoes - it's not worth staring at.

Photo not taken by me but from another about Finland blog.

And apparently they have a beer and a cider (North Americans know them as "coolers") named after them....
And there's such thing as "Aino" ice-cream too.

And NO this is NOT targeted to my friends - I know you appreciate my crazy Canadian ways... :)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

For those of you that LOVE chocolate chip cookie dough ice-cream...I'm sorry.  They don't sell it in Finland, with the exception of Ben & Jerry's and it's super expensive.

A few of weeks ago, I received my Cookie Dough Lover's Cookbook...and had been experimenting with some of the recipes in it.
I brought some peanut butter cookies topped with double chocolate chip cookie dough (raw) and drizzled in dark chocolate for a card-making day with the girls and when I told them the cookie dough on top was raw - they were amazed.
But not a single person asked, "Are there raw eggs in these?!"
I told a friend of mine - who I feel is quite close to being an American with all the craft supplies she orders from the States...that I didn't use ANY eggs in the cookie dough (raw bit) and she said, "Yeah okay.  Well, you could have."
I instantly freaked out and asked about salmonella or other bacteria, and she said that the farms in Finland are very well protected by a wide variety of laws.

What did she mean?

Apparently if you want to visit a farm - you can't just pack up the kids and go to a farm to take a tour.
If you wanted to see where your eggs came from for example, it has to be arranged well in advance and to actually get in with the hens - you'd have to wear a head-to-toe suit to prevent contamination of ANY kind being transferred to the hens (for example).

She said, "Think Homer Simpson toxic protective suit."
Apparently it is this difficult even for camera crews who want to do any filming on a farm!

It IS possible to get salmonella in Finland but through the consumption of raw eggs - not likely.

*Please take this information for what it's worth ... I do not recommend eating raw eggs anyway (except the occasional egg nog - which is NOT sold in Finland) and after speaking to several other Finns - they have all confirmed that salmonella or any other bacteria from raw eggs consumption is very VERY rare.*

For more information on salmonella - check here.

Child Care Fees And Tackling Kela (again)

If you are living in Finland with children, you might be putting your child into day-care because:

• You have to go back to work or study
• You need a break every now and again from your child(ren)
• You are having a new baby and cannot take care of the older child(ren)
• You need to spend time with the other child(ren)
• Your child needs it for a regular schedule (like mine does with his Autism) - 

Then you probably have to pay SOMETHING.

Day care in Finland has so far - been amazing.
Why?

1. The maximum fee you pay per child is 264� and some change.
This is 5 days a week - full days like 8am-4pm (our son goes from 8am-3pm).
2. You pay based on what your total household income is.
3. Your child is GUARANTEED a spot in day-care...it may not be the closest one (especially if you have a vehicle)  but they do try to be flexible and get you somewhere convenient.  It's the law that your child is promised a day-care spot.
4. They feed your child breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack -depending how long your child goes for in a run of a day.

So how do you know what you pay?  Well, when you are confirmed for a location, you will receive an envelope filled with papers and forms in Finnish.
You need to fill out the form about yourself and your family and include a pay stub from each family member who brings an income to the household.
Then you will receive a decision advising you how much you should be paying and if you wish to appeal (if that is a possibility for you) - you must contact so-and-so within X amount of days.
The bill comes in the mail later.

Typically, if you and your spouse (or one spouse works and makes a lot for 2 people in their opinion) make a lot of money - I'm sorry I don't know the exact amount - you will receive a bill to pay the maximum fee per child.
Which is approximately: $334 CANADIAN.  (Based on XE site and current rates.)
I've been told via Facebook that in Victoria, BC (Canada) - one parent is paying $1715.00 per month and another parent in Vancouver, BC (Canada) is paying $1900.00!!
That works out to be:  �1355.00 and �1501.00 (respectively) per month.

CAN YOU IMAGINE paying that for only 1 child?!?!?!  And many Finns have more than 2 children!!

Well, I got someone to translate my note I got in the mail the other day, advising me that I did not provide information - so we should be paying FULL price for V's day care fees.
Um, that doesn't sound right because I don't make "any money" other than the child benefit allowance which hasn't kicked in yet for my youngest child...and my husband isn't a millionaire or anywhere near it.
So I brought the form with me to the day care and the teacher kindly called this person and explained my situation.
I had filled in my financial portion as "stay at home mother"...they perhaps did not understand that meant "not rolling in money" mother.
They looked into things and decided I should pay about 30� or less...great!
And no other allowances could be find through the Kela system...hmm!
All I could think was, "WOW I am that rich and have no idea where the money went!!  I WANT TO DO SOME SHOPPING!!"

I decided a trip to Kela was in order because I noticed I had not been receiving any maternity money for awhile now, as I have not received any receipts in the mail!
I waited awhile and when I did get in, the lady advised me that my youngest will be qualified for the child stay at home allowance when he is not in day care.
"He's not in day care though - he's not even a year old yet and you stopped giving me maternity allowance awhile ago.  My oldest is in day care however."
"Ohhhhhhh....let me see..." she says.
We discover (after a phone call) that he needs the residence permit - okay fine.  I'll get on that and can back date as far back as 6 months in child stay at home allowance.
(I thought the maternity allowance went for a year...but it's for only 9 months.)

The interesting point of all this is that I submitted a "child stay at home allowance" application when I was still pregnant with him, the same time I was applying for my maternity leave allowance...the lady told me I didn't have to do anything else and it would be automatic...

So much for that one.

*It is possible to get day care for free for therapeutic reasons or due to very low levels of income - please contact your day-care provider and Kela for more information.*

Smelly Rugs

This is rare that it happens and I think it's rude enough to blog about.

In Finland if you have a common laundry room - you typically have to sign up for it.  Dryers are not common - so make sure you are able to hang your laundry inside your home or sometimes your building may have a "drying room" with clothing lines and maybe a fan or heater to help speed up the process.
Of course, in the summer - if there is an actual summer with warm temperatures and no rain - then your fastest option is to hang your clothing outside.

Well, time for me to complain.

This morning I signed up for the laundry from 9am-2pm.  Why?
It takes about an hour to wash a load (there are 2 machines) and the huge tumble dryer takes 2 hours to heat and dry properly one load of clothing (and I only put the light items!) - maybe it's an old machine - anyways.
The drying room is effective if you use it for more than 3 hours straight to dry your heavier items like jeans for example.

This morning I walked in there with my soap and basket of laundry and someone was in the drying room - I had assumed they were removing their clothing.
I walked by again and noticed he was HANGING stuff up and I had already signed up for the time.
Fine - I don't really need the drying room at all from 9-10 because the clothes are being washed.
I'm hoping he picks up his carpets and rugs by the time 10 comes around because I have laundry to hang that cannot go in a dryer.

I go by at 10 and not only are his carpets still hung up in the same spots (I moved them closer to the door so he wasn't taking all the good spots) - they FREAKING STINK.
No soap was used at all and in general, there is a regular odour of too much booze and lack of personal hygiene on his floor and daily in the elevator.

Now call me a bitch if you want but here's where I am pissed about this whole thing.
My now clean clothes will now smell like smelly carpets because there is a heater AND a ceiling fan to help circulate the air...

Well, I called my landlord and asked what I should do because I am pretty mad about this and having to probably wash my clothing AGAIN due to the stench and she said there is absolutely nothing I can do.  Unless I wanted to hang my clothes inside, use the dryer or hang it in the other room but someone had hung up their stuff in the other room - probably because they signed up for it properly.

There is some space for my clothing but as I wash more - I would like to hang them up and not having them smell of booze and so on.
I suggested that I fold them neatly and drop them off at his door or outside of the drying room - and apparently "that is not allowed".

So now you're wondering, why not hang it up in your flat?
I would however I have a crap load of laundry to do so not all of it will fit on the drying racks or on the doors AND I am trying to get a good chunk of packing done - so the less dancing around I have to do (without breaking my neck) around drying racks and so forth - the better.

This isn't the first time it's happened either.  Although last time it was only 1 carpet and it was fairly small and put on the far side of the room - so I have a feeling it wasn't the same person.

Phew, I am done bitching.
Thanks and good luck with your laundry adventures in Finland.

P.S.  Dear neighbour:
Thank F*ck I am moving soon because I have been on the verge of barfing every time I enter the elevator and it's embarrassing having guests over and having to explain why it smells so darn horrible.

Not Quite Sonic

I made a little friend yesterday in my other friend's yard.

He's not blue but he's sharp, chubby, pretty fast and not very shy!

I rarely see hedgehogs during the day but if I let my dogs loose in the woods - they can find the trails easily but never the animal themselves.  I always thought they were more nocturnal but this guy wasn't shy at all!
Hedgehogs and hares are the two most common animals you'll find running about - even in the cities of Finland.

I'll be adding a separate page for photos in Finland soon! :)