Kahvila Muisto (Jyv�skyl�) - 2.5 Reviews

Why would a place get 2.5 Reviews?  I'll tell you.

In the heart of Jyv�skyl�, there is a little area called Toivolon Vanha Piha.  It opened up again to customers last year (2012) and has been quite successful.  There are little shops, a black smith on site, a small house that you can tour (be sure to cover your feet with the blue plastic covers!), a yarn shop called TitiTyy (the name is after the sound of a bird call), and a caf� called Kahvila Muisto.

I was there once this past summer (2013) with a friend and it was lovely being able to sit outside, knit, chat and have a cup of tea and a pastry!
The unique thing about Kahvila Muisto is that the wait-staff take your order from the table - you don't order, get your food then go sit down like at many coffee shops in Finland.
And they also serve alcohol.
Anyways - my friend and I heard many great things about this place and thought we would go.  She had been there once and thought she could go again - and since TitiTyy is nearby - we could pop into the yarn shop beforehand.  So we did just that, bought a skein of yarn each, grabbed a table in the sunshine and waited.
And waited...and waited for a waiter(ess).  I think we waited about 10-15 minutes just to place an order - granted it was summer and busy.  It took awhile for our food to arrive and we had to ask for our water again a couple times...again - a bit of a wait to get our bills - but overall - a nice place.

In JKL, we've started a handicraft group that meets weekly and you don't even have to have any experience at all!  We're of all different levels and backgrounds (it's mostly foreigners-based) and eager for new members to join us!
We decided that we would meet up at Kahvila Muisto (without reservations as it was a Thursday evening) and I arrived first to grab our table.
I managed to score the biggest one there - that holds about 10 people comfortably and told the waiter that there were more of us coming.  He said no problem and shortly after that - one person came.
More were on their way and I was getting confirmations on Facebook that the snow was slowing people down a bit - but they were definitely on their way.
My friend and I were looking at the menu and un-packing our bags of knitting and then the waiter comes back and asks us to move tables because in an hour there was going to be a big event of about 50 people (maybe he said "15"?  Because I don't think that 50 would have fit in there anyways considering most small tables were taken).
There was no reservation sign on our table we had  - but we figured okay - we'll move over and across the room - to a table that comfortably holds 6...when we reminded the waiter that more were coming - he apologized and said it was not a problem for a waitress to bring another chair.
So that's what we ended up doing - and the waitresses looked like they were THRILLED to be asked every 10-15 minutes to bring another chair.
Because in the end there were 9 or 10 of us, we were crowded too close together and it was a little difficult to do any crafts because we were constantly elbowing each other for the most part.  And it was kind of dark on that side of the room too!
We heard one short speech from this "party of about 50" people...and they were in a side room anyways...and I don't think there was ANYONE at that big table at all.   Nor did we hear a gaggle of 50 people...and nor would we be that loud that we would trump a group of 50 either.
It's not like we were having debates or improv group meeting..or board games...no - we were knitting.

Then when I spoke to a friend of mine - who belongs to a different knitting group in JKL (don't ask me the name of it- I don't remember) - she told me they had horrible experiences at KM because the owner requested that they take their knitting group elsewhere, especially on a Saturday, because other people pay to have their coffees there.  Perhaps they should've made a reservation - but at the same time - people cancel last minute (with or without notice) or people join last minute...so it's always a hit or miss with reservations.
It sounded to me (this is where the "0.5" part of the 2.5 comes in - as I wasn't present) - as if the owner didn't appreciate these regular customers who do nothing but buy food and drinks (refills included!) - because they also happened to bring their knitting too.
Then I happened to meet another member of this group - one of the head hunchos I guess - and she confirmed this story.
The owner of Titityy was very apologetic about the whole thing - but the owner of KM?  Not so much.  And this group even met in the summer up to 4x a week AT Kahvila Muisto!!!
Considering that Kahvila Muisto even charges 0,50� (50 cents) a glass of water - yep, even for customers who already ordered something - I'm shocked you would turn away customers that are not just drinking water because it's the cheapest item on your menu.  And at 4x a week?!
AND new customers whenever friends or family visit and want to try somewhere new?!

Oh and here's the thing about running a small business in a small city - word spreads like wild fire.

I don't expect Kahvila Muisto to shut down overnight because I wrote this review or to even see this - maybe they will - stranger things have happened!
But from a customer service-experienced and a could've been a regular customer's point of view - you're going to lose a lot of customers from kicking out a knitting group or two.

One last point these ladies noted to me about their observations from being in KM on any day of the week:

"Quite often there are other customers there with a single cup of coffee and maybe a pastry (no refills or other purchases) and talk with their friends for a much longer time than we are there for...they aren't knitting or crocheting...nor do they get asked to leave."

After thinking out loud on Facebook about whether or not to blog about this - a couple friends wrote on my status things like:

"Nice place but un-professional service!"
(I.e: long waiting times, forgetting orders, wrong bills, different staff and they were acting confused or nervous..."We thought we were on Candid Camera ..." - Guess it was bad.)
"Sounds so familiar..."

I hate to sound corny - but Kahvila Muisto is not really my cup of tea anymore at all.

My Speech Test Made My Teacher Cry...

This is the last week of school and I had three tests this week. The written one was on Monday and today I had a spoken and listening test.
I didn't know there was going to be an actual spoken test, but I guess it is to be expected in the end of a language course!
I was asked the basics like where I live, how long I have lived there...what do I like about the area, what do I do on the weekends and so on.
Then the fun part. I was given a black and white photo of a couple eating dinner in some posh restaurant and some suggestions on what to say were written on the side.
Describe what they are doing, their personalities, what they look like and their conversation.

After doing all that but their conversation part - my teacher asked what are they talking about?
Initially I started with :

His name is George and he is 35-years old and works in the hospital as a doctor. His wife Lisa is 30 and she's a teacher... they have been married for four years.
They are at a restaurant in Italy which is beautiful and very hot unlike Finland.
Lisa is eating chicken pasta and George is eating potatoes and beef.
They are drinking white wine.

Here's the conversation -picture deep manly voice for George and a soft high pitched voice for Lisa:

"Moi, Italia on kaunis!!"- Lisa
"Joo, sin� on kaunis my�s!  Haluatko menee katsoo elokuvaa?" - George
"Joo!  M� haluan katson 'N�lk� Pelit'" - Lisa
"Um - m� en.  M� menee baariin ja m� odotan." - George
"Oh....George -m� haluan lasta!" -Lisa
"Um...m� en. Mutta ehk� ostamme koira??" -George
"Ehk�...mutta m� haluan on vauva!!!" -Lisa
"Sin� nimi koira 'Vauva'"- George
"Ei sama. M� haluan eronut!!"- Lisa
"MIKSI?!?!"- George
"Koska m� haluan vauva ja m� nukkun sun velje� kanssa!"- Lisa
"Mit�?!?!"- George
"Joo!! Eilen kaksi vuotta...."- Lisa
"No niin!!...m� en tied�!!!!"- George
"Joo....heippa hei."- Lisa
"Heippa."- George

After changing my voice - my teacher jokingly suggested we record the conversation I make up and play it for the class later...
By the point I got to "M� haluan lasta!" - she had tears down her face and couldn't stop laughing...

Here is a translation of what I said...I apologize for the spelling errors and in-correct grammar above!

"Hey, Italy is beautiful!" - Lisa
"Yes, you are beautiful also/too!  Do you want to go see a movie??" - George
"Yes...I want to see Hunger Games!" - Lisa
"Um - I don't.  I'll go to a bar and I'll wait." - George
"Oh...George - I want kids!" - Lisa
"Um - I don't.  But maybe we can buy a dog?" - George
"Maybe...but I want a baby!!!" - Lisa
"You can name the dog 'Baby'" - George
"Not the same.  I want a divorce!" - Lisa
"WHY?!?!" - George
"Because I want a baby and I'm sleeping with your brother!" - Lisa
"What?!" - George
"Yes for the last 2 years..." - Lisa
"Oh well...I didn't know!" - George
"Yep....bye bye." - Lisa
"Bye." - George

After all this - I said I was done and she thought it was hilarious but very dramatic.
I told her it was the "Amerikalainen versio" - (American version)....I made a reference to Jerry Springer but she didn't get that part.

I think I passed.

My 1st 100% Finnish Phone Call!

I'm totally over the moon right now!!
My oldest is home with a nasty fever that started yesterday afternoon - but the medicine is kicking in now - so that's nice.
Anyways, my dentist sends me a nice little post card with an appointment time on it whenever it's "that time of the year".  I knew and was expecting a card in the mail soon because at my last appointment he told me he was moving cities - so this was the last one before he moved.

For those that don't know me too well - I am the Queen of Losing Things.  I put things down for just a moment and POOF!  Gone.  I'm starting to wonder if there's a little fairy that lives in my house that hides everything...the same one who steals socks (and we don't even have a dryer to blame THAT on) in most households - so you're forced to wear mismatched pairs...or wear the same colour everyday....(which I find personally a bit sad).

Anyways, all I remembered from this post card is that:
A) I have an appointment
B) It's in November
C) It's on the 20-something...

And of course I forgot to write it down or to in-put it into my phone's calendar...

So I had a hunch that today might be the day - so I gave them a call.

"Moi! Puhutko englantia??" - me hoping partly that yes, the receptionist does and partly hoping that no, the receptionist doesn't - so I can practice my Finnish...
She advises me that she knows a bit...alright - Finnish it is...time to *gulp* TRY.

"Ok - mun nimi on Dominique ja mulla on ajanvaraus Juha kanssa.  Mutta m� en muista milloin aika on?"  I'm practically speed talking because I want to say it as accurately as possible and at the same time - get off the phone as quickly as possible.
(Okay - my name is Dominique and I have an appointment with Juha.  But I don't remember when the time is?)

She was quite pleased and seemed to understand me because she confirmed my name and told me my appointment is today and gave me the time.

I feel awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(When school is done - I'll post a huge vocabulary list of what I learned in school...probably during Christmas break.)

Disability Benefits

I thought I would write something a little more personal in terms of family life here and how it affects me living in Finland.

Our (now) 4-year old son was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 2 - which you may have known already from reading my blog in the past.
Some benefits that we qualify for - are truly unique and I'm constantly amazed and grateful for all of it.

*This is based on my family's experience - so if you're interested in these services - contact your doctor or social workers to see what you qualify for.  I also reside in Jyv�skyl� - so different cities or districts may have variations to benefits.*

• Domestic Aids - these are people who are there to help you with your basic living/quality of life.  They can be hired to clean your home, care for your children (in your home so you can sleep properly or even outside - so you can get stuff done), they do grocery shopping or running errands for seniors etc. Contact your Neuvola for more information.  Your child doesn't have to be disabled for this service!!!!  
• Free (limited) therapy sessions- both speech (and recently) occupational.  You have to have formal requests from the doctors and fill out all kinds of paperwork - but I promise you - it's worth it.  We are thrilled with our speech therapist and our occupational therapist for our son is also lovely and patient too.
• Free Diapers - this only applied to us once our son turned 3 and proved he refused to potty repeatedly.  So I believe it's 3 or 4x a year - we can call this hotline and have diapers delivered to our door for our son.  The city will pay for up to 5 diapers (maximum) per day and that's how many you get.  You have to set up a delivery time and date and if you're not home to pick up the order - they'll just drop it off at the nearest post office...which would really suck if you don't have a vehicle to carry it all in...About 4-6 packages of diapers fit in each box and you get 4-5 boxes (depends on the size of diapers and how many per package etc.).
• "Extra caregiver benefits" - once a month we are awarded from the city a sum of money that helps us with all the extra bits we may need for our child or for ourselves.  Loosely speaking - it's more or less money to help us make it through the month and not stress about things so much because caring for a child with special needs can be very exhausting.
• With this benefit plan set by the city and our social worker - because we do not have family here (not that it's a requirement) - we also are able to have our child stay overnight at a special place where he gets 24 hours a day round-the-clock supervision and care.  Pretty much an overnight day-care (some are held in another family's home - that is specialized in handling and caring for children with special needs) that allows us a break from him and he gets a break from us for 3 whole days and nights per month.
• I was really hesitant about this "Overnight Care" for my son and felt like an awful parent for using this service (we get billed afterwards - approximately 30� a month for those 3 days and nights) - but it's really helped us as a family in terms of being able to do things with our younger son and even being able to go out on a date once a month...because it's a lot easier to find a sitter who can handle a "normal/average child" than handle both a busy average child and one who is Autistic too.
• We have less stress in our marriage and with our youngest - who often starts trouble to get more attention (and I can't blame him) -  because we're constantly busy with our oldest's needs - knows that when big brother is gone...he gets a break too.
• "Disability Benefits for a child under 16" - this is tax-free income and paid once a month via Kela.
• Free Day-Care - the reason a family can qualify for free day-care is because day-care in Finland is based on the total household income.  Another reason a child can receive free day-care is because it's part of their rehabilitative program pertaining to their disability.
• Taxi Service - this is provided to our son only (so myself or spouse cannot hop in for a ride too) - so he can be transported to and from his day-care.  It's not an easy service to qualify or be approved for - as I have other friends who applied for years before they were accepted (or they were not accepted at all).  Every week-day that he goes to day-care - a taxi picks him up at 7:30am and drops him off by 3pm.
• Why we applied for it:
• We don't have a car to get him to day-care and it's over 3 km away from our home (45 minutes and without snow to push a stroller through - snow could or ice can easily add another 30 minutes depending!).
• I tried to take him by bicycle (with him in a child's seat) and he freaked out so much and grabbed my back-pack and we nearly fell over, while speeding down a hill.
• My other child goes to a different day-care quite close to our home.  
• I have to be at school for 8am (class starts at 8:15) - so if I did drop him off by taking the buses - I would be late everyday for class...especially if he's having a difficult time settling down.
• My husband does have to go to his office regularly and also takes the dogs out in the morning (I do the evening shifts) so I can get to school on time.

Since having this extra help - it's been a lot easier being able to live in Finland with a disabled child.  

I am truly grateful for everything we have and don't take any of it for granted because I know in Canada - we wouldn't get half of these services.

"Back to Earth" (Another Finnbay-Related Post)

Sorry it's been awhile since I blogged but now I finally have something really worthy to blog about!

I recently have received a "Formal Notice" from Finnbay threatening legal action against me - Dominique Riggs on November 20, 2013.
What could I possibly do to offend the oh-so-mighty Finnbay while raising two kids, two dogs, keeping house, baking for Restaurant Day (and an up-coming Christmas market), studying Finnish intensively and trying to squeeze in weekly craft meetings and Foreigners in JKL meet-ups once a month??  (On top of all the regular household errands required...)

I wrote a blog post.

I know!!!!!!!!! So terribly scary and so on.  Well the company and it's creator, Mr. Onur Y., are super mad at me because of a privacy breach and defamation.
And possibly because when you go on Google and search for "Finnbay" - my blog post is the 4th link listed on the first page.  
Thanks my readers - I feel pretty famous!

Before you get your knickers in a twist about what I'm going to write - here's the law on defamation in Finland and Finnbay's own privacy terms and conditions (See section 3.1.9 and as well 3.1.7).
As of November 23, 2013 - there haven't been any changes but just in case you're on a mobile phone and hate opening new tabs like I do - I'll copy and past it all for you here:

"3.1.7. Neither Party will, without prior approval of the other Party, make any public announcement of or otherwise disclose the existence or the terms of this Agreement." (Accessed on November 23, 2013 from http://www.finnbay.com/about-us/legal-notices/)

"3.1.9. This Agreement shall remain in effect for a period of three (3) years from the Effective Date unless otherwise terminated by either Party giving notice to the other of its desire to terminate this Agreement. The requirement to protect Confidential Information disclosed under this Agreement shall survive until the volunteer has provided a written notice of their leave of FINNBAY."  (Accessed on November 23, 2013 from http://www.finnbay.com/about-us/legal-notices/)

Okay - so I get an e-mail first thing on a Thursday morning advising me that:

A) It's a formal notice directed to yours truly.
B)  Finnbay is taking the first step of legal action against me for the above linked post because of a breach of privacy and defamation of the named company.
C)  They hope they can find middle ground and we can work something out.
D)  While they support freedom of speech, they do not tolerate untruthful information being spread that damages other people's credentials in public...(I'll tackle this point in another blog post in the future but do note - I do have all e-mails confirming everything listed in this blog post.)

So! I went back to that blog post - dated August 13, 2013 - and out of the kindness of my heart - removed the name "Onur" and changed it to "Bob".
I also removed someone else's name as they have nothing to do with Finnbay - other than to want their remaining pay owed from this organization.

After doing some research - I discovered that Finland has a 100% Freedom of Speech law - so I can write (and so can you) anything about any business or public persons that may be of interest to the general public.
Considering Finnbay is a fairly new site and I had a difficult experience since leaving there - I felt it was only justified and fair that others interested in "volunteering" are aware of what is included and what might experience after your official resignation with this company.
Others that I know of - have also had difficult experiences and negative opinions of Onur's operations with Finnbay as well...which I'll be more than happy to share with y'all once I have collected enough resources and evidence to support a blog post about it.

I advised Finnbay that I had made some edits and removed his name (he's the creator and owner - although for some reason, a Bruce Stone is listed as the heir/holder of the site - which I can't find any information on either - so possibly it's just an alias??).
"Finnbay Team" (as Onur doesn't want to take ownership??) as the e-mails were all signed - thanked me and removed my articles listed on their site - which is great - because they were more or less just duplicates (with perhaps the odd slight edit) of articles listed on my blog here - which existed well before Finnbay was launched (February 2013).

It was then requested that I remove my post within a week or they would continue with taking legal action against me and have already (suggested) submitted paperwork to the Helsinki Court.
Okay - I don't see anything wrong the blog post - other than me using his name - it turned out it was legal so I re-edited the post (November 23, 2013) to reflect as such.

He/they (whichever way you want to read it) suggested breach of privacy - right?
Well, then he posted the link to Finnbay's legal notice page...and after searching through my private communication/e-mails with Finnbay - noticed that there was never any terms and conditions listed or privacy agreements for me to read, sign or agree/disagree to.  I was never sent any and never advised of any either. It should be noted that I sent Onur/Finnbay a couple of pieces/articles for him to use prior to the website's official launch.
So if any such agreements were listed on the site - I wouldn't have known and it was done so without my knowledge or consent (Section 3.1.7).
So what this really means - is that if you volunteer (or if you're lucky enough to get paid something) for Finnbay - you are not legally bound to any sort of privacy agreement because this agreement and terms were already made public prior to you typing your first word in their site.
Way to go Finnbay!

Also, it was requested in the 2nd e-mail from Finnbay - that I remove or re-write my blog post to reflect as "my despising" of Finnbay as a user and not as an ex-volunteer (his words).

So after a lot of research, editing and such - I sent him/them a lengthy e-mail advising and kindly pointing out the two most major flaws in their terms and conditions.
I'm sure there are others - but these two really stuck out.

A) I submitted an e-mail/letter of resignation due to lack of recognition for my Learning About Finland blog (it was never linked - although there was a promise of more networking and exposure to my blog etc. - which I do have an e-mail of - specifically from Onur) and due to lack of time.
I wrote that e-mail and had received a kind "thanks for getting us started - good luck with your stuff" response and that is dated on July 8th, 2013.
I published the "Finnbay= Waste of Time" post over a month later - on August 13, 2013.
So - that Section 3.1.9 fully supports what I did.
Apparently this blog post was only discovered 3.5 months after publishing date and I was accused of defaming Finnbay for the past 3-months....but I only wrote the one post, and only intended to write the one post - until now.

B) According to Section 3.1.7 - the agreement never existed to begin with.
Don't blame me - I'm just telling you how it is.

C) Finland 

Criminal Code

In Finland, the libel of State authorities and symbols as such has not been established as a criminal offence. In the case of State authorities, libel constitutes criminal defamation provided that the insult can be considered against certain persons (public servants). Under section 8 of the Act concerning the Finnish flag (Statutes of Finland 380/1978), a person who ruins or disrespectfully uses the Finnish flag will be sentenced to a fine.

Criticism against politicians and public servants is only punishable subject to certain conditions. Under chapter 24, section 9, subsection 1, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code (Statutes of Finland 531/2000), a person who spreads false information or a false insinuation about another person so that the act is conducive to causing damage or suffering to that person, or subjecting that person to contempt, shall be sentenced for defamation. Under paragraph 2, a person who makes a derogatory comment on another person otherwise than in a manner referred to in subparagraph 1 shall also be sentenced for defamation. Under section 9, subsection 2, criticism that is directed at a person�s activities in politics, business, public office, public position, science, art or in a comparable public position and that does not obviously overstep the limits of correctness shall not constitute defamation under paragraph 2 of section 1.

A person who spreads information, an insinuation or an image of the private life of another person, so that the act is conducive to causing that person damage or suffering, or subjecting that person to contempt, shall also be sentenced for invasion of the personal reputation under section 8 of chapter 24 of the Criminal Code (Statutes of Finland 531/2000). Under subsection 2 of the section, the spreading of information, an insinuation or an image of the private life of a person in politics, business, public office or public position, or in a comparable position, shall not constitute an invasion of personal reputation, if it may affect the evaluation of that person�s activities in the position in question and if it is necessary for the purposes of dealing with a matter of importance to society.

This is copied from the Council of Europe and is the first organization listed on Finnbay's "About Us" page underneath "TRUSTED BY".
So this clears me too.

I have sent Finnbay that e-mail (November 22, 2013) and haven't heard anything since.
_________________________________________________________________________________

But funny enough, I did receive an e-mail from one of those sites that hides your identity and sends it on your behalf and is listed as "Anonymous" with the following message:

"Dominique,  We have reported you to the tax office for selling cakes and food without permission and sanitary conditions! http://hookedonsweets.blogspot.com/ That will teach you to get back to the earth!"

I am curious who this person or party might be but have already explained how Restaurant Day works (hint: no taxes or hygiene passport required - or else it wouldn't be such a world-wide phenomenon would it?) in this specific blog post.

I'm also wondering if this above written e-mail was sent from a representative of a particular not going to name them company since I managed to prove there is no legal case at all??

However, this is merely a hypothetical theory and just me blabbering on my blog...since there's no official proof yet - since the author of the e-mail chose to sign it Anonymously instead of writing their name or what organization they represent.

If you are the author of that e-mail:  since I can't write back to you directly (since I don't know "know who you are") - please use proper spell check prior to sending me an e-mail.

Earth is a name of a place and therefor should be listed with a capital "e" - like this: Earth.

And yes, I am currently still here and haven't left.

PS:

Before threatening legal action for defamation - please re-read the above copy and pasted information from the EU Council site.

**Please note:  In case of any possible changes or updates to the Finnbay site - I have dated screen shots and print-outs of their Legal Notices page - confirming everything I have written here.

Dear Finnbay: 

You're welcome for the free promotional adverts on this blog.

Kindly yours,

An Ex-Volunteer 

Update:  I had misread the dates on my e-mail in which I had listed my resignation and Finnbay's recognition as August 2013 - it was actually more than a month prior to my blog post.  The date has since been updated accordingly in this blog post.