- Posted by:
- anjci
- Under:
- Finland, Travel, Travel: Nordics
It has been forever since I last wrote, although not exactly because things have not been happening. Quite the contrary – this life has been doing its utter best to carry on forward. Sometimes I need to give it a little bust. I dislike being so passionate, emotional and very easily attached to people. The move from Frankfurt was just painful.
Again, life has been going on since 14 January. My plane took off at FRA on a brilliantly sunny winter day, soared over the “Main-hattan” part of the city and the Europaturm (TV-tower), and left a chunk of myself buried in Frankfurt. Yes, I can visit sometimes, but it will never be the same again – unless I move to Frankfurt one day and settle there properly. Who knows what lies ahead. I appreciate knowing how many good friends there are currently in Frankfurt, working, residing, and simply likely to sporadically appear. Thanks to everyone again; it is agonizingly difficult to fight the longing to go back.
…Riga settled into a bluish shade of dark as we touched down. My mother was waiting at the exits, impressed by my ability to sneak over 50 kg of luggage through the check-ins without paying extra. Hand-luggage, mum, fake accent, and smiling with full teeth. Honestly, I do not know how I have never been forced to pay my way in 🙂
I was tired of Riga after 12 hours. Sunless place striken with carefully exposed poverty. The government is not happy about us Latvians heading to Ireland in flocks? Maybe cutting public service salaries would at least make a good impression. I understand that nothing can be done about the climate, but Latvia might consider emitting more CO2 to “improve” those bitterly cold winters (ok, of course not). At least I was not born in a place where people live in tents, suffer from endless hazards, or attack each other commonly. Instead, they live in tiny flats with poor insulation, struggle through dark icy winters, and always moan about, though cannot fight against, their politicians and life in general (I could be the president of the club?). Come on, I do still love my Vaterland.
There were some good bits of Riga. I went out to a new restaurant called “Alberts”, at a hotel bearing the same name. Who would have thought this Soviet-type block building could be renovated to standards like this – full marks! Lovely evening with friends from the UK Embassy. Babysitting their happy threesome a few days later. Swimming at Kipsala – the cleanest swimming pool I have ever used. Seeing mates from the SSE Riga times – great to see Svetik, Darja, Anja, Ira and Natik. Darja happens to know Inna S. – wow! Sometimes I think she knows the whole world and its second cousins. ssneg turned down our coffee at the last minute due to -26C cold and saved me from inevitable freezing… Similarly, Julija elegantly avoided our lunch, though work commitments are probably nothing elegant. I shall call again once in Latvia and the cold has departed!
Who else thinks Riga is becoming darn expensive to live in? How can this be that German food is either cheaper or costs exactly the same, quality held constant, unadjusted for wage levels? It is also mean from Western clothing retailers to off-load their non-marketable stuff on us. If you cannot sell it in the civilised world, donate it to those in need. Yes, I know they would not want rubbish on their territory, but neither do we. Stop using Latvia as a litter bin for impractical, off-season clothes in traffic-light red and acid yellow.
After ten days in Riga, I had to flee to Finland. The ferry lingered along the water. It was mysteriously pretty to see brightly lit Tallinn disappear behind, while the boat continued into a sort of a black hole. At the end of the tunnel, came light: Helsinki. Tervetuloa takaisin, after a break of seven months! I have missed the cosy sights of the Finnish capital.
Things have been going great in Finland. I am staying in Puistola, very close to the city border with Vantaa. My bed is in a garden house, which my friends have converted from a garage. The main house smells like wood and is very cold. The coldest part of the house is, unfortunately, the shower/lavatory, where temperatures rarely climb above the outdoors – brrr! Moreover, some bits of the house are greasy and old, but who cares. My friends are an English/Finnish couple in their early thirties. They are unemployed, have a baby and a dog and expect another one in April (obviously, not another dog).
Never mind – I have an extra incentive to stay at Hanken and work on my Thesis. My supervisor rocks! The course in Real Estate Portfolio Management is interesting, too. Helsinki has been sunny and never too cold. Rejoining Itäkeskuksen uimahalli is absolutely superb. Attending St. Nicholas Anglican Church again and seeing dear friends is fantastic. I have re-established myself as a nanny, and my first time with darling twins, Katie and Alec, is a week away.
Generally, I think I can survive here. Back in Riga on 27 February for the TFAS event on 1 March.
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