Coffee House Is Fur-Free - sort of.

Maybe you've heard and maybe you haven't.  There was a new law put out in Finland that dogs are allowed in restaurants if the owner of the business is okay with it.

I'm sure it goes without saying - your dog must be well-behaved, not steal food, and not get in the way of others...but anyhow.

But of course, there is a catch.  If the owner of the business says, "No sorry - your dog must be tied up outside (or not join you on the patio or outdoor seating area - now that it's summer).."  then you have to respect that and leave.

And you would THINK that a service or guide dog would be exempt from these rules.  However, there are some restaurant owners in Finland that are declining visually impaired/blind people who have guide dogs with them...
I totally support a guide dog being allowed to go anywhere its owner has to go - that's what they are trained for!
Now from the owner's point of view, I suppose if a blind person came in and couldn't tell their dog was stealing food from the other tables or from the counter of a caf� - then, yes, that could be an issue.

So if you are wondering, where can I take my pooch for lunch - have no fear.
There is a Facebook Group (in Finnish) called "Dog-Friendly Restaurants in Finland", where you should be able to find places that do not mind if you bring your well-behaved pup for a bite to eat!

In case you're wondering - Germany allows dogs EVERYWHERE it seems...bars, restaurants, shops etc.  France allows you to bring your dog on the bus but they must wear a muzzle - not a halti to prevent pulling, but an actual muzzle to prevent the dog from biting or licking anyone else on the bus....

Canada?  Well, I think it depends on what part but in NS - only guide dogs are allowed on the bus.  They are allowed anywhere the blind person has to go...it's wise to bring a seeing-able person with you, in case your dog is possibly misbehaving by sneaking food off your plate or using the bathroom in the clothing aisle...I've seen it done - trust me, it can happen!

The great thing about Finland is that you can take your dog on the bus but of course, they have to be well-behaved and usually I take mine to the center of the bus, where there is a lot of space for my dog to lie down or sit.  So far - I haven't had any issues.

One thing I will not do here - or at least haven't bothered trying, is to bring my dog to a caf� downtown.  My dogs are pretty well behaved (lots of bribery is required sometimes) but they would sneak food, try and get other people's attention by rubbing or licking their legs or hands and if another dog walks by - possibly there might be some pulling....so it's just a happier occasion for both if I leave my dogs at home.

My friend and I met downtown recently and she brought her dog with her (a small one - King Charles Cavalier Spaniel) and we decided to grab a bite to eat at a caf� with an outdoor eating area.  We decided to go to Coffee House as I haven't been there in ages and had a pretty good time.
Her pup, was pretty calm and quiet once he settled down under the table with a bowl of water and when we were done - we left.
My friend later on met some other colleague with HER spaniels (2 of them) - and they decided to go back to Coffee House and enjoy the sunshine outside and have a coffee.  *I wasn't there but was told of this situation after the fact.*
Apparently there were many customers, lots of downtown traffic and many of the staff coming and going to tidy up the tables outside and offer refills - and nobody had said anything about the dogs sitting quietly at their table.
I guess one waitress came out and asked them to leave with the dogs because they do not allow dogs at their restaurant, not even outside.
Which is interesting - because there isn't a sign anywhere saying "NO DOGS" (or a photo indicating this) and I was there with my friend about 2 hours prior!!

I really think all restaurants should clearly indicate if they are dog-friendly or not...for example, up the road by the University, is a bar named Sohwi - and they have a year-long outdoor eating area and there is a sign of a dog with a big "X" on it.  Fair enough!

I'm not saying ALL restaurants or caf�s should allow dogs - it's totally up to the owner and the environment...obviously a bar might not be suitable for a dog if there are many noisy drunks for example...
But if you're going to say no - then make it loud and clear for everyone and I don't know...be consistent? 


I recommended to my friend to file a complaint letter to the management...and I probably wouldn't go there again.  I'm glad they take S-Bonus Card - but the chicken Cesar on a bagel was pretty crappy.  The spinach was limp and the sandwich itself lacked flavour - just in case you were wondering.

SHHH!

This happened a few weeks ago, but I am only getting around to blogging about it now...

A few Friday nights ago, we had invited our friends over for our weekly "Pizza and Sauna" get-together.  It's a great time for all because they're on a strict diet - so Friday is their "cheating day".
We also invited another friend who also ordered pizza and she brought her Polish hound-dog (looks like a grey hound).

That's all fine and we're having a grand old time snacking on pizza and have already been to sauna (we split our hour into half, so they get some time for watching our kids while we're in there) and someone rings the door bell at 10:30pm-ish.
Not knowing who that could be, seeing as the front and rear entrances automatically lock at 9pm, I went to look.

A young man was there (probably older than me - in his 30's) and started talking to me in Finnish.  I advised him I don't speak Finnish, but one of my guests does and I could get her to translate.
He says that's not necessary but advises me that we are too noisy.

Oh.  My first noise complaint - ouch.
Okay, I ask where he lives, and he's directly beneath me (I've never EVER seen him before) - I apologize and ask what he can hear.
"We hear everything.  We hear you throwing a ball, screaming..."
(The dogs were recently chomping on dog bones but we removed those by 10pm - so perhaps that's what he meant by a ball?  As we don't throw a ball after 9pm and haven't done so in a LONG time.  We can't even find them.)
"Oh, I am very sorry to hear this.  How long have you been hearing noises from us?  Because we have a 2-year old that is teething...and a 4-month old too.  And 2 larger dogs..."

At which point all 3 dogs look at my neighbour and he has a mild-heart attack (not really).  I smiled and said the 3rd was a guest and is leaving soon.

WELL.
He tells me that him and his room-mate (girlfriend or wife) have not been able to sleep for a year.  (The previous renters had children as young as ours and we have never heard anything from them either).
BUT he now understands our situation - that we have a 2-year old who can scream non-stop (regardless of the pain meds we give him) and a couple dogs...(they don't bark by the way).

That's right....a whole year has gone by and he is FINALLY telling me.
I bluntly asked him, "Well, if it's been going on for the past year as you've said, why haven't you said anything?  We could have tried to deal with it much sooner instead of you waiting a year.  I'm sorry you're not able to sleep but neither are we - he's not screaming for fun, but because he's in pain and there's only so much medicine we can give him."

He shrugged his shoulders sheepishly and said again, he understands and hopes we can keep things quiet by 10pm, because that's when the building is supposed to be quiet.
I asked my Finnish friends why in the world he would wait a year to say something, and most said they would NOT wait a year (neither would I) and the others said it's because he's Finnish.  "Something must have really pissed him off if it took all of his guts and courage to come upstairs and face you to complain."  is what a friend said via email.
Well, I would have left a note or said something MUCH sooner than 12 months later - and told him that he could have done so....

Now, you have to look at your rental agreement or just ask your landlord - but this may not be true for all buildings.
In fact, our building's "quiet hours" are from 11pm-6am.  I was pretty sure it was 11pm, but didn't say anything more...that and it was a FRIDAY NIGHT.
We don't have large parties past 4-5pm and they only occur about 3x a year for the kids' birthdays and whatnot...when it's warmer, we take it out in the back yard and again, it's done by 6pm....we don't play loud music or loud movies at all....

So apparently the concrete block between our floors is not very thick and that's why he can hear everything.

Oh and if you get 3 "formal noise complaints" from your landlord or building supervisor - you're evicted.
No excuses - you're gone.
Just an FYI....

The Rules of Naming Your Child in Finland

That's right - naming your new baby is something a lot of parents are excited for - or are incredibly stressed about.
Our friends recently had a baby and upon leaving the hospital - you are given a birth certificate without the child's name on it.  Finns typically name their child once they learn the child's characteristics and personality...it's not often that it's planned ahead - like North Americans tend to do.
So our friends had picked out the first name already - but it wasn't registered through the Magistrate yet.
The Magistrate sends everybody information about what is okay and not okay to name your child.

You're probably thinking, "It's my child - it's none of their business what I name my children!"
Yeah you're probably right - go freedom of speech.  However, Finland has come up with these regulations of naming your child - so the child will not have "issues" or be embarrassed when they get older - and to eliminate confusion with other people who may have the same name.

Here's the rules (from what I can remember) - and I'll try and give the best examples that I can:

• A last name cannot be used as a first name.  (I.e. "Jameson, Ainsley")
• Your children's first names cannot match each other within 1 family.  (I.e. Siblings cannot be named "Paul" and "Paul")
• Siblings can have the same middle (or "second name" as it's known here) name.  (I know someone who has the same middle name as her two much younger sisters!)
• It is possible to name a child after yourself, like "Olli's daughter" - Olli being the father.  This is a very old Finnish way of doing things...it's not very common these days.
• The name given has to be a real name - not an object or name of something else.  (I.e. "Chocolate bars" or "Facebook".  Facebook was done in Egypt!)
• If the name is not approved by this council, when you register your child's name (and then can get a Kela benefits card for your child if you qualify) - you have to pick a new name.
• You cannot "make up" a name.  (I.e. "Nevaeh" is a popular name in North America...guess what it means?  "Heaven" spelled backwards.  And in case your'e wondering, yes Nevaeh is super popular!)
• Your child cannot have more than 3 first names.  (I.e. "Sarah-Jane -middle name- Smith" is acceptable - but not "Robert-Jason-Carl-Junior -middle name-Smith")
• No foul language or swear words for first or middle names... (Thanks to "Dominique D." for reminding me!)
• The name cannot embarrass your child when they get older or be overly foolish.  (I.e. "Taluah Does The Hula While Sipping On Kaluah" - there was an instance of something similar to this and the courts in Hawaii (?) had the parents change the name...and that was just the first name!)
• Boys cannot be given a girls name and vice verca (Thanks Pasi!).  There are very few and rare unisex names.

Remember- the purpose of these regulations is not to offend you or limit you in any way - but to protect the child from humiliation and embarrassment as they get older.

Just bear in mind all the forms people have to fill out as they get older - and the limited spaces available on the paper...and all the times they have to pronounce their names or announce it publicly - and if it's a tongue twister - it's not fun for anybody to learn or say!

Just in case you don't know what I'm talking about:

• Passport documents
• Drivers License document
• Bank accounts
• Credit Cards or student loans
• Travelling Visas
• Booking appointments (in person or on the phone) for doctors, specialists or reservations at a restaurant
• Registering for school or conferences
• Applying for jobs and submitting resumes
• Business cards
• Giving speeches or presentations in front of groups and having to introduce themselves
• Getting married and having to say their full name (and the spouse has to say it too!) during the ceremony

So - what will you name your kid?!

Buses

Here in Finland, the buses are all equipped with a bit of space near the rear entrance (middle of the bus) to allow passengers with strollers or walkers.
Depending on what city you live in, you may or may not have to pay if you have a young child in a stroller with you.
In Helsinki, if you take the tram (sometimes known as an electric street car) with a young child - it's free.
In Jyv�skyl�, you do pay and it's increasing twice a year or so...currently it's 3,10� one way!  (Although your ticket is good for 1 hour - so you could transfer to another bus or take the return bus back if you can do this in time).

Here's a link I'd like to share about the buses in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  In the bus schedule book, it does state that you have to remove the child from the stroller and hold them in your lap, fold your stroller and prop it upright- to make space for others to sit.  Fair enough.  However, quite often, those buses are packed to the brim with both sitting passengers and standing (not to mention the odd 2-5 of them with strollers of a variety of sizes) - it's difficult to do this!
And if you don't own a stroller - quite often they are your savior.  I mean, your child is asleep in their stroller - and who wants to wake up a sleeping child (that is desperately in need of their afternoon nap?!)...there's usually a basket to hold some of your groceries or your coats and diaper bag....so who wants to remove all of that and occupy even more seats or floor space with all of those items?!

So I guess I'm saying, Finland has a way better bus system than Canada.  I've been able to squeeze in beside another stroller (without really squeezing) on a bus in Finland and not have a problem.  Thankfully, the bus routes I do take (occasionally) - are not very long, so someone usually gets off before another parent and their stroller need to get on!