diary of a nomad

croeso i gymru

2005-10-18T22:02:00.000+03:00

That's Welsh for "Welcome to Wales!"

People are probably wondering if I've drowned in Welsh rainfall but no, here I am, finally able to update my blog.

The last three weeks have been a whirlwind of sorts, what with me moving house, getting used to British English, braving the rain without an umbrella and trying to have a life in between. Not to mention the fact that going back to being a student after five years in the corporate world is not as easy as it seems.

Anyway, to more important things.

Cardiff is a lovely city, and as people say most places can be reached by foot - though admittedly sometimes the trek might be an hour or more. Most of the university buildings are concentrated in one area, very close to the city centre which is where I live. I spend most of my time in the Bute Building which houses The Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies (JOMEC.)

Rain is an intrinsic part of everyday life, apparently even moreso in Wales compared to the rest of the UK. So it could happen that one minute it's all nice and sunny and the next minute it's raining cats and dogs. Pardon the pun.

The Welsh have developed an immunity to the rain which has them walking about with their heads held up high in their tight miniskirts and short-sleeved shirts as if it's not raining. I regret leaving my denim miniskirt in Denmark categorising it as 'summer clothes' because apparently it's the only thing girls wear on Friday and Saturday nights (with a top or some semblance of it, that is.)

In a nutshell the move to Cardiff was off to a rocky start due to a barrage of things coming in all at once; but as the days go by the more I think that it's not that bad a place to be.

The Bute Building and Cardiff Skyline

next stop: cardiff

2005-09-22T11:51:00.000+03:00

In just 12 hours I'm about to board the plane that will take me to my next destination: Cardiff, the capital of Wales. (And for the nth and surely not the last time, NO, Cardiff is NOT in England!!!!)

I just finished re-sealing the boxes I brought to Denmark which I thought I could take with me, but alas, remain full. If there's one thing I abhor about moving, it's not so much the move itself, but rather all the packing involved. If I could just teletransport all my things to the next place I'm living in, then surely I will.

I look forward to tomorrow: breakfast with a friend at the Central Station in Copenhagen (for lack of a more convenient venue) then off to the airport for my flight that will take me to London Heathrow. Cardiff University has arranged coaches for us that will take us all the way from Heathrow to our doorstep - literally - for free. Isn't that grand? My evening is already booked - dinner with a British friend I met whilst she was in Finland on exchange. Lovely.

That's it for now. I should get back to sorting the mess around me. Attached is a map of Wales, for perspective. Clearly, I'm not moving to England (can you see how frustrated I am when people ask me "When are you moving to England?" Gosh!):

john legend live!

2005-09-20T13:00:00.000+03:00

Last night, I had the opportunity of watching John Legend live! The concert was held in the Vega Kongressalen (=concert hall) which made for a really cozy atmosphere - room for only 1500 standing and 900 seating guests. My friend and I arrived early enough to take our pick (20 minutes early), and eventually decided to mesh with the rest of the crowd in the standing area - 2nd row, close enough to touch John Legend (which of course, we did, when he went down the stage and started singing right in front of us!)

The concert was absolutely amazing! Especially when he did "Used To Love U" which was my personal favorite, and obviously the crowd's as well. He sang with so much soul and you could really 'feel' the emotion in all his songs. I could go on and on about how great it was, but words cannot do it justice.

The opening act was by Jonas, a Danish singer who does 'modern soul.' It was actually really good and I think that his album, Sweet Dreams Guaranteed, is well worth checking out.

ny carlsberg glyptotek

2005-09-14T20:32:00.000+03:00

"Probably the best beer in the world?" Think again. While it uses the same name (well, almost) the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek has little to do with the famous Danish beer - save for the fact that the founders hail from the same family. The Danish word Glyptotek, meaning 'collection of sculpture' was used in order to stray from the stereotype of a museum where people can expect detailed explanations of everything on show.

Consistent with the founder's idea to give people a place where they can enjoy, the Glyptotek has an indoor lounge area knows as the Winter garden. Note that it is not a botanical garden in that there are no signs explaining the particular plants either - it's all just there to give off a relaxing atmosphere. This was practically a highlight, because I am so used to museums being massive buildings with nothing to give off a cozy feeling.

We were lucky to take part in a free guided tour in English of the Greek and Roman sculptures. It was great, very informative and actually quite interesting. Thereafter, we visited the rest of the museum(unfortunately, since it is undergoing renovations for its centennial anniversary in June 2006 not all collections are on display) and stumbled upon a Van Gogh (pictured on the right), some works by Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin and even a Picasso. All in all I really enjoyed my trip there, and look forward to seeing the entire collection in the future.

last chance saloon

2005-09-08T22:24:00.000+03:00

Finished reading: Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes
Fun fun fun! Marian Keyes never fails to make me laugh - from Sushi for Beginners to this! It started out a bit slow and I almost thought that she's lost her spunk, but she pulled through in the end. I read it in just two sittings, one of 200 pages and another of roughly 400 (since I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to watch a tennis match.) It was an enjoyable read, chick lit as it is.
Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks.

a dose of culture

2005-09-07T20:30:00.000+03:00

Today being a Wednesday was high time to hit a museum due to free entrance! I went with a Danish friend to the Statens Museum for Kunst (kunst = art) where we spent a few hours browsing the collections. Both fans of more conventional art, we did not really appreciate everything on Sculpture Street where there were strange fixtures (say, statuettes of 20 grisly growling dogs entitled "These are dogs" or something like that) nor the 'modern art' that was in the last room we entered. We were lucky though to see a few pieces by Matisse and Picasso in the Highlights section. That was enough to make the trip worthwhile.

laughable loves

2005-09-07T12:41:00.000+03:00

Finished reading: Laughable Loves by Milan Kundera
A compilation of seven short stories about love and what not, this was probably an easier read than most. In any case, I found that I had to plough through the last few short stories. The plots were odd, but somehow not riveting.
Rating: 3 out of 5 bookmarks.

walking after the camino

2005-09-06T18:39:00.000+03:00

On Yahoo! Music: One Thing-Finger Eleven

If living in Scandinavia has taught me one thing, then it's this: never pass up the opportunity to stay outdoors when you can. Today was one of those days: sunny, over 20 degrees Celsius, but not too hot because of the wind. So what's a girl like me to do? Don her bikini, grab her beach towel, pack a good book and obviously... hit the beach! Luckily, there's one near where we live.

The 2km walk (give or take) there and back seemed like nothing after doing the Camino. My aunt insisted that I take the bus (which would only take me half the way anyway) but I politely declined saying I'll make a day of it and enjoy the good weather outdoors. I didn't regret it at all. It was a pleasant walk to the beach and surprisingly, I was able to stand the cold sea breeze - lying on the sand for almost 3 hours and making it a point not to sit up to avoid feeling the wind in its full force.

200 pages and 4 hours later, I am home - happy and content at a day well spent. Glad I took advantage of the weather, since tomorrow they are forecasting rain. Time to hit the museums!

game, set, match

2005-09-05T22:42:00.000+03:00

On Yahoo! Music: Wake Me Up When September Ends-Green Day

"Game, set, match:" my three favorite words when watching tennis - if of course they are used in conjunction with the names of my favorite players!

If there's one sport I've been watching since I was young, it would be tennis; if there's one tournament I've been keeping tabs on, then it's got to be the US Open. And if there's one player I've been a big fan of, it would have to be Andre Agassi - from the days he had all that hair, to now that he has almost none.

With time on my hands and Eurosport on my TV, I've been watching Agassi go from the 1st to the 4th round. Up next is the quarter finals, where he's up against American James Blake, who I've actually been supporting as well as he's got good game. He'll be a tough one but I hope Agassi makes it as I'm rooting for him all the way.

The other night, I had the privilege of watching a really good match between the Italian Davide Sanguinetti and the Thai Paradorn Srichaphan. It was intense, with both players fighting until the very, very end. With three tiebreaks (including the last set) the winner was difficult to pin down. What I probably enjoyed the most was the emotion-filled antics from both sides - Sanguinetti with his gesticulations and constant swearing (in the earlier parts of the game I could still read his lips and understand what he was saying, but when the cursing got more complicated I realized that apparently I didn't learn that in my Italian 101) and Srichaphan with his cramped leg, dramatics and unnecessary push-ups on the court. It was a breath of fresh air compared to the calm, cool, collected stances that most players take during a match.

summer lovin'

2005-09-02T23:19:00.000+03:00

Last Monday, I just got back from a 6-week holiday in southern Europe: Spain and Italy to be exact. Hurray for that! Besides sightseeing, I really appreciated the opportunity to meet up with old friends - and likewise make some new ones. Here are a few pictures that give a glimpse of my summer holiday!

25 July: Santander, Spain with Party Animals from Spain, Germany and the Philippines
From top, L to R: Miguel, Koldo (ESP), Carol, Z! (PHIL), Javier, David (ESP)
Front: Peter (GER), Maria, Iñigo and Juan (ESP)

31 July: Platja de Sant Tomas, Menorca with my Filipino friend Carol

15 August: Santiago, Spain with fellow pilgrims from Italy, Spain and the UK
L to R: Christopher(UK), Fabrizio(ITA), David(ITA), Z!, Anna(UK), 2 Spanish girls and Julian(UK) lying on the floor

24 August: Lignano, Italy with Italian friends Valeria (left) and Sara (right) on the beach (Pineta)

26 August: Udine, Italy with Elina (FIN), Marco, Alessia and Ale (ITA)

28 August: Udine, Italy with my Italian friends Ale and Petra (we took exactly the same picture 2 years ago)

harry potter and the half-blood prince

2005-08-19T12:20:00.000+03:00

Finished reading: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
I'm a big Harry Potter fan and was anxiously waiting for the release of Book 6. Prices in Denmark were almost double what they were in the UK so I put off buying the book until I got to the London Stansted airport when I began my summer holiday.
A month later (not because the book wasn't interesting but rather I had to leave it behind as I did the Camino or went sightseeing) I am done reading the book and I am more than satisfied. But where's the next book?! J.K. Rowling leaves a lot of unanswered questions in the end that leave you wanting more.
Rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks.

almost french

2005-08-03T18:44:00.000+03:00

Finished reading: Almost French by Sarah Turnbull
This book was written by an Australian journalist who took a year off her work in Australia to do freelance work in Europe. A chance meeting with a Frenchman brings her to Paris, where she eventually lives and battles with the eccentricities of the French culture. Coming from an Anglo-Saxon background, the author vividly describes the contrasts in culture - leaving me smiling (and even laughing at times). This was a very easy read and recommended to people who enjoy the colorful cultural contrasts one is often surrounded with.
Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks.

the polish plumber

2005-07-10T14:45:00.000+03:00

Browsing news on the BBC site today, I came across this article on how Poland wants to be the EU's Mr Fixit. But that wasn't what caught my attention though - it was this small ad of The Polish Plumber alongside. The ad aims to answer France's fears about cheap labor coming in from the east via a campaign that spoofs this fear, simultaneously encouraging French tourists to come to Poland.

I've been to Poland a couple of times but I'd have to say that this Fabio lookalike present in the ads is probably not representative of the average Polish guy (what's with the square jaw and sharp features?!). Great marketing in that regard, I must say.

If only plumbers were so good looking.

English translation of text in the ad: "I am staying in Poland. Come in large numbers."

islands brygge

2005-07-09T23:59:00.000+03:00

On WMP: Feeling You, Feeling Me-Alicia Keys

Fun in the sun!!!!

We've been having great weather in Copenhagen for the last week - it's been really hot! With temperatures hovering around 27C or more, it's almost like walking through a sauna.

Today, my cousin and I, with a couple of her friends, headed out to one of Copenhagen's sunbathing spots - Islands Brygge. Just a stone's throw away from the heart of downtown, languid bodies littered the grass, all hoping for that perfect tan. An area of the port was cordoned off and turned into a swimming pool of sorts (havenbadet) where one friend and I took a dip. After getting our limbs caught in some sort of algae though, we decided to get back on the grass.

Overall it was a great day. I can't wait to get back out in the sun.

nectar

2005-07-09T13:42:00.000+03:00

Finished reading: Nectar by Lily Prior
I'd seen this book in airport bookshops for quite some time now, and the cover is quite enticing. The book itself is a bit of a disappointment though, as the plot was a little bit unreal, and as a whole I thought it was boring. I just read it to while the time away in the train. It's not that bad of a read, but it's not something that I would recommend.
Rating: 2 out of 5 bookmarks.

copenhagen jazz festival

2005-07-08T11:57:00.000+03:00

On WMP: What Am I To You?-Norah Jones

Dubbed the biggest festival of the year, the Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2005 runs from July 1-10. There are various shows round the clock, outdoor, indoor, free or otherwise. Today, an Italian friend (who is moving to Copenhagen from Oulu as well) and I went to see an outdoor concert by a band called the Latin Dance Band in a square called Blågårds Plads. The performance lasted for two hours, the first of which we'd missed, and the last of which we enjoyed with a pizza-kebab for her and a normal kebab for me.

After the concert, as we were walking away from the square, we came across street performers who were presumably from Serbia, Eastern Europe or just plain Denmark. Honestly, I'd have to say that I enjoyed the street performers more than I did the actual band - and I think I wasn't alone in my sentiments. They basically played instrumental music from different places (one of which I recognized from an underground boat party I went to in Paris in March) but it kept our feet tapping and our bodies moving. I spared one of my many holed coins (some Danish coins have holes in them, with pretty hearts embossed - how dainty) as a sign of my appreciation.

Overall it was a good day with a lot of walking (need to train if I'm planning to do the Camino de Santiago!) - looking forward to a sunshiny day tomorrow.

without a trace of sadness

2005-07-02T14:50:00.000+03:00

On WMP: They Stood Up For Love (Live)-Live

Yesterday was the day I finally left Finland for a longer and undefined period of time. It was a day that began by my friends leaving after a good dinner, me packing until 530 am, taking a siesta until 645 after which I had to get ready to move my stuff to a friend's place at 7. Siesta from 8-9am and off to the airport at 11. Hectic day. Luckily 2 friends were with me on the same flight so we kept each other company (not to mention the fact they were instrumental to me being able to bring over 50 kilos of my stuff without paying!)

Anyway, more than one person asked me how I felt about leaving, specifically if I was sad to be doing so. And, without flinching, I had to say "Hell no." Living in Finland was a great experience, not so much because of the place but rather the people I met. And seeing that most of them were foreigners that have already left the country, there was nothing really keeping me there. There comes a point in time when you realize that enough is enough and it's time to be moving on - that point actually came to me sometime back but it just took some time for me to actually make the move.

And I'm glad I did.

the shadow of the sun

2005-06-30T01:57:00.000+03:00

Didn't finish reading: The Shadow of the Sun by Ryszard Kapuscinski
Unfortunately I did not have enough time to finish the whole book since I had to give it back to the library... but given the chance, I would pick it up and read it through. It was the first book I'd ever read on Africa and it had little bits and pieces of information that were very, well, informative. It's the first book I'd read by a Polish author as well, who is also a journalist, which really gives an interesting perspective to the book. It almost read like a movie.
Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks.

travel light

2005-06-28T19:05:00.000+03:00

On WMP: Through With love-Destiny's Child

I have been in an insane packing frenzy for days on end. I can't believe it's taking me this long! Sorting through four years worth of stuff really is a huge task. And figuring out what's going with me, what's coming a month later, and what's staying is another deal altogether.

A friend told me that she couldn't believe I was taking so long... I should just be ruthless. After all they are only material things. She's right. I think people have a tendency to keep a lot of things which they usually end up not needing anyway. It just sits there and gathers dust.

This little piece of wisdom came a little bit late into the game though, so I've managed to box clothes that I haven't worn in awhile because "I might wear them in the future"; or I've kept so-called important documents because "I might need them in the future." I suppose if I haven't worn or needed them in the last year or so then I probably wouldn't in the long run, right?

If I could I'd probably go through the boxes again and toss out a ton of stuff or give it away to charity. But right now I have barely 72 hours to go so I'll have to live with the work I've done in the last few days. Honestly though, living away from home has taught me that I don't need to live with a whole lot of stuff. Besides the fact that I don't need it, it becomes a serious hassle in times like this when you have to move.

When I pack in the future, I'll remember two things: be brutal, and travel light. Life would be so much easier that way.

no man is an island

2005-06-27T00:35:00.000+03:00

On WMP: Sweetest Goodbye-Maroon 5

Amidst the mess that now makes up my flat due to my endless meticulous packing, I stop and write on my blog.

For some time now I have been meaning to write about a recurring theme in my life: that of a certain emptiness against a backdrop of supposed success. Going through life 'alone' is something that is not new to me - while I of course have my parents (and God) to thank for where I am today, I must admit that a lot of it is because I made things happen. But even if I am where I am and am going where I am going, I still experience a certain lack of fulfillment. When I look at the equation that is my life, sometimes the things just don't make any sense.

Maybe I'm the one not making any sense right now.

Let's just put it this way: however busy your day is, however much you have to do, however occupied your mind may be, at the end of the day, if you go home to an empty room in an empty house, then something must be out of place. If you are not even within 1,000 km of anyone who really matters to you, then what is the point in living the life that you live?

the benefits of a good meal

2005-06-26T17:16:00.000+03:00

It's a little past five pm today and I just finished a long lunch with two friends. We started our day off by meeting at half past ten to walk to church (we were blessed with great weather) and we hit the grocery thereafter to buy some stuff for our impromptu lunch.

One of the two friends I had lunch with was Italian, and so my other friend (who was British) and I decided to leave the cooking to him. We had a wonderful meal of spaghetti with zucchini and bacon, crema pasticcera for dessert topped off with a bottle of red wine from Italy. It was a lovely, lovely lunch, with good conversation, fantastic company and great homemade food.

Time flies when you're having fun they say. And it sure soared this time. I almost forgot how the simple things in life can bring so much pleasure to one's day.

live life

2005-06-21T22:12:00.000+03:00

Today I got a link to an inspirational speech given by Apple Computer and Pixar Animation CEO Steve Jobs to the graduating class of Stanford. I was truly moved by his words, especially because he paints a view of life that does not follow the usual formula we have for success. Personally, I was struck by this part of the speech:

And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.

Sometimes I wonder why I push myself too hard. But deep inside, I know why. I'm the kind of person who will settle for nothing less than the very best; and if I have to go through more hardship and pain to get there, then so be it. I guess that at the end of the day, finding a life that you love is what makes life worth living.

mr big

2005-06-16T23:28:00.000+03:00

Sex and the City is one of my all-time favorite shows. They've started showing old episodes again on Finnish TV, and tonight I saw one about men dating models. It features Mr. Big who is probably my top choice for Carrie despite the difficulties he put her through. In the end of the episode, he gives Carrie a surprise visit in a café and says:

"There are so many damn beautiful women in this city but after awhile, you just want to be with the one that makes you laugh. Understand?"

And he flashes his big smile.

german - a romantic language?

2005-06-15T01:14:00.000+03:00

I was never a big fan of German as a language basically because I felt that it sounded a bit 'hard' and seemed too difficult on the tongue. Today though, I spoke with two German friends and they gave me some quotes in German (loosely translated into English):

"Alte Liebe rostet nicht" Old love never rusts
"Für wahre Liebe ist es nie zu spät" It's never too late for true love

If only all these things hold true, wouldn't life be just like the movies?

never without passion

2005-06-14T15:25:00.000+03:00

On the radio: Ordinary People-John Legend

When I was in high school, every batch had to come up with their motto of sorts. And I remember that the batch below me had something like "Nothing without faith, never without passion." Having zombied through life in the last few months, with a utilitarian approach to most things, I almost forgot how it felt to be totally in my element and actually excited about something.
Yesterday I met up with some foreigners for a new project that we are working on - coming out with an English-language newspaper for the city of Oulu. I admit, I wasn't all that prepared before coming to the meeting, but once I got started, I was on a roll. All of a sudden I was full of bright ideas that I didn't even know I had - from topics to outlook down to having a mission-vision statement. All my previous experience with project management, marketing, and admittedly AIESEC, came out.

Today more than a few emails have been exchanged regarding the said project, and everytime "I got mail" in my inbox I was almost-thrilled. Again, I was full of one bright idea after the other and was enthusiastic about sharing them all. And mostly being there to see everything come into fruition.

This is definitely another reassurance that I'm taking a step in the right direction.

lolita

2005-06-13T20:56:00.000+03:00

Temporarily shelved: Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Honestly, the long and winding prose was just too much for me. The intense detail about how an adult man was obsessing about a young girl... I didn't mind the topic at all, but it got stale after awhile. Maybe I should've tried to get through more pages and after that it would be an easy read, but right now, I just couldn't bother. Sometime in the future, I hope.

world naked bike ride

2005-06-12T01:36:00.000+03:00

A few minutes ago I saw a news feature on BBC regarding the World Naked Bike Ride held in Madrid today. People took to the streets and cycled in their "birthday suits" in protest of oil dependency and car culture.

This was side by side with a news item talking about a march for gay rights in Warsaw, in defiance of a ban by the city's mayor.

I love protests.

mr and mrs smith

2005-06-09T23:37:00.000+03:00

Watched: Mr and Mrs Smith
I love Brad Pitt!!!
Okay, this is not the only reason that I liked this movie. The sexual tension between Brad and Angelina was great. Plot interesting as well. Obviously it's not the kind of film that leaves you thinking in the end, but it sure is one that leaves you smiling.
I'd give this a rating of 4 out of 5 popcorns. :)

without a visa

2005-06-09T14:09:00.000+03:00

Being on a Philippine passport proves to be very difficult at times, specifically when it comes to needing visas to enter almost every country on the globe. Recently, my attention has been called to a few more places (besides countries in South East Asia) where Philippine passport holders won't need a visa:

Brazil (Ironically, citizens of Australia, Canada and the US need visas - when they usually don't)
Israel
Maldives (I think all visas are issued on entry)
Mongolia (as long as we don't stay for more than 3 weeks - surprisingly UK citizens need visas!)
Morocco

This is of course is in addition to our friendly neighbors:

Cambodia
Hong Kong
Indonesia
Macau
Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam

Apparently, visa-free travel will be instigated within Southeast Asian nations by end-2005. This covers the 10 ASEAN member countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Seems they want to have a multilateral visa agreement for all ASEAN countries as well - much like the current Schengen visa.

I have yet to find a comprehensive list of countries where Philippine passport holders can enter without a visa. In any case, I think the list of countries to visit just got a bit longer.

discrimination at its best

2005-06-06T22:15:00.000+03:00

A few weeks ago someone told me about the story of a Filipino mother living in the US who was not accepted into an elite group of mothers of soldiers who died in war - just because she was not an American citizen. Today, the same article recounts the injustice done to her. I thought the whole citizenship-visa thing was a mess in itself; but I can't believe that it extends to something as seemingly trivial, though quite important, as this. I hope that something is done to see that this mother gets what she deserves.

Watching: Medium
Don't have an opinion yet. It's my first time to see it on TV. Though the graphics gave me the impression that it might be interesting.

you have the right to remain silent

2005-06-05T01:08:00.000+03:00

In temperatures over 20 degrees today, friends and I walked around the city and took pictures of landmarks and such - the most important of which is probably this policeman (toripoliisi) standing in the middle of the marketplace. Due to overcast skies, a randomly parked bike and empty jars of jam, I decided to postpone having my photo taken with the policeman. Luckily my friend asked me to strike a pose (put your arms around him, she says!) and I'm quite glad she did.

warm is a relative term

2005-06-04T10:35:00.000+03:00

Listening to: Dido - Here With Me (from the Love Actually Soundtrack)

Around two weeks ago we had great weather here, reaching a high of 25 degrees in one day (only to have it drop to 15 with matching rainfall in a matter of minutes!) Lately though the weather has been a bit gloomy and windy, not the best for anything outdoor.

Yesterday afternoon I headed to town after work to run some errands. As I left home, it was quite warm so I rid myself of the cardigan I was wearing. Lo and behold, 6km down the line, it was raining! Since I wasn't equipped with an umbrella nor raincoat (don't seem to own either) I was wet from the rain.

So imagine my surprise when, while sitting for a cup of coffee with my friends, the sky cleared up and the sun shone through - hurray! I was so inspired that, for the first time in the almost-four years I've been living here, I decided to WALK home.

People who know me would know that I'm probably not the biggest fan of walking (I take the bus to my workplace, which is about 2km from home - for weather reasons mostly!) but yesterday was an exception. It was averaging 15 degrees out, warm weather, the kind where you can take off your coat (I just had a light denim jacket on.) In a country where the weather is unpredictable and hitting 20s is just a miracle in itself, 15 degrees is very welcome weather.

It took me a little over an hour to go the 7km from downtown to home (with a matching pit stop at the local grocery store where I ran into 3 more friends!) I must say that I really enjoyed it, the solitude, finding my way and observing the things around me. Today we have warm weather again, so I'm taking my cameras and heading into town (by bus!) to take pictures of the city. Something that has been loooong overdue.

Another thing to cross off my to-do list.

sunrise, sunset

2005-06-02T02:52:00.000+03:00

As the days get longer here in Finland, there is but a very thin line between sunrise and sunset... and this wonderful view from my window, taken just a few minutes ago, is that of the sun rising - or at least trying to.

I love the beautiful colors a sunrise (or sunset) paints across the sky.

what would jesus eat?

2005-05-23T13:17:00.000+03:00

After Atkins, South Beach, and whatever else, comes a new diet being tailored to the American market - a 'biblical' one which would be based on what Jesus ate according to the bible.

Faced with extreme problems of obesity, Americans seem to be turning to their faith to save them. God save America.

episode iii

2005-05-19T23:56:00.000+03:00

Watched: Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith
Booked the tickets a week in advance and got great seats to the movie. Although the text in the beginning was in Finnish, we managed to understand what was going on after awhile. I really enjoyed it, perhaps more for its entertainment value rather than the story itself - but hey, at least now we all know why Darth Vader is who he is.

the valkyries

2005-05-17T14:57:00.000+03:00

Finished reading: The Valkyries by Paulo Coelho
I really enjoyed this book because of the disturbing proposition that men destroy the things that they love. Because people always kill the things they love, the book says. It could be out of fear or something else. I actually bought this book because of a passage I saw in the first part, which goes:

And each man kills the thing he loves,
By all let this be heard,
Some do it with a bitter look,
Some with a flattering word,
The coward does it with a kiss,
The brave man with a sword.

Coelho also says:
"One way or another, I have wound up destroying what I've loved. I've seen my dreams fall apart just when I seemed about to achieve them. I always thought that was just the way life was. My life and everyone else's."

I might've been witness to people sabotaging their happiness for whatever reason they deem fit. Don't know if that's the same thing. Anyway, I hope I won't be one of them.

filipino wit

2005-05-16T12:26:00.000+03:00

Wit of the Filipino
By Nury Vittachi
(From THE FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW)

THERE'S A SIGN ON Congressional Avenue in Manila that says: "Parking for Costumers Only." This may be a misspelling of "customer." But the Philippine capital is so full of theatrical, brightly dressed individuals that I prefer to think it may actually mean what it says.

This week, we'll take a reading tour of one of the most spirited communities in Asia. The Philippines is full of wordplay. The local accent,in which F and P are fairly interchangeable, is often used very cleverly, such as at the flower shop in Diliman called Petal Attraction.

Much of the wordplay in the Philippines is deliberate, with retailers favouring witty names, often based on Western celebrities and movies. Reader Elgar Esteban found a bread shop called Anita Bakery, a 24-hour restaurant called Doris Day and Nig! ht, a garment shop called Elizabeth Tailoring and a hairdresser called Felix The Cut.

Smart travellers can decipher initially baffling signs by simply trying out a Taglish (Tagalog-English) accent, such as that used on a sign at a restaurant in Cebu: "We Hab Sop-Drink In Can An In Batol." A sewing accessories shop called Beads And Pieces also makes use of the local accent.

Of course, there are also many signs with oddly chosen words, but they are usually so entertaining that it would be a tragedy to "correct" them. A reader named Antonio "Tonyboy" Ramon T. Ongsiako (now there's a truly Filipino name) found the following:

In a restaurant in Baguio: "Wanted: Boy Waitress;" on a highway in Pampanga: "We Make Modern Antique Furniture;" on the window of a photography shop in Cabanatuan: "We Shoot You While You Wait;" on the glass wall of an eatery in Panay Avenue in Manila: "Wanted: Waiter, Cashier, Washier."

Some of the notices one sees are thought-provoking. A shoe store in Pangasinan has a sign saying: "We Sell Imported Robber Shoes." Could these be the sneakiest sort of sneakers? On a house in Jaro, Iloilo, one finds a sign saying: "House For Rent, Fully Furnaced." Tonyboy commented, "Boy, it must be hot in there."

Occasionally, the signs are quite poignant. Reader Gunilla Edlund saw one at a ferry pier outside Davao, southern Philippines, which said: "Adults: 1USD; Child: 50 cents; Cadavers: subject to negotiation."

But most are purely witty, and display a love of Americana. Reader Robert Harland spotted a bakery named "Bread Pitt," a Makati fast-food place selling maruya (banana fritters) called "Maruya Carey," awater-engineering firm called "Christopher Plumbing," a boutique called "The Way We Wear," a video rental shop called "Leon King Video Rental," a restaurant in the Cainta district of Rizal called "Cain! tacky Fried Chicken," a local burger restaurant called "Mang Donald's," a doughnut shop called "MacDonuts," a shop selling lumpia (meat parcels) in Makati called "Wrap and Roll," and two butchers called "Meating Place" and " Meatropolis."

Tourists from Europe may be intrigued to discover shops called "Holland Hopia" and "Poland Hopia." Both sell a type of Chinese pastry called hopia. What's the story? The names are explained thus: Holland Hopia is the domain of a man named Ho and Poland Hopia is run by a man named Po.

People in the Philippines also redesign English to be more efficient. "The creative confusion between language and culture leads to more than just simple unintentional errors in syntax, but in the adoption of new words," says reader Rob Goodfellow. He came across a sign that said "House Fersallarend." Why use fiv! e words (house for sale or rent) when two will do?

Tonyboy Ongsiako explains why there was so much wit in the Philippines. "We come from a country where you require a sense of humour to survive," he says. "We have a 24-hour comedy show here called the government and a huge reserve of comedians made up mostly of politicians and bad actors."

quote

2005-05-14T16:40:00.000+03:00

There's no way to take the pain of a really heartfelt goodbye.

Enough said.

dream for an insomniac

2005-05-14T01:42:00.000+03:00

Anything less than mad, passionate, extraordinary love is a waste of time.

As I was sifting through some files earlier, I unearthed an essay I saw written by a lovesick author after watching Dream for an Insomniac. Then I remembered this GenX 90s movie I saw a long time ago that seemed a bit too good to be true but nevertheless left you with a few relevant thoughts, some of which were:

There are too many mediocre things in life and love shouldn't be one of them.

I don't want to be sixty years old and married to my second-best choice, wondering what ever happened to the one who got away.

The heroine in the film fights for her life for the one she loves - even if at the moment she met him he was living with someone else. How crazy is that?

I think one of the many many fears that people have in this world is that of settling - of ending up with someone second-best, thinking of the one that got away. Some people have told me that this is their reality - that they (and people they know) did not end up marrying the one they really loved but rather the safer option. They lead happy lives, somewhat, but something seems to be missing. Anyway I hope that doesn't happen to me. I want my love to be extraordinary.

passion fades

2005-05-12T15:13:00.000+03:00

It’s not just a problem of spiritual search, he continued thinking, as he alternated between looking at Chris and watching the road. He loved his wife, but he was getting fed up with marriage. He needed some strong passion in his love, in his work, in almost everything he did in his life. And that went against one of nature’s most important laws: Every movement needs to pause at times.

He knew that if he continued the way he was, nothing in his life would last for very long. He was beginning to understand what J. had meant when he said that people wind up killing what they love most.

This is an excerpt from the book I'm currently reading (The Valkyries by Paulo Coelho). A few weeks ago someone told me that passion fades - which made me think that there should be something stronger in its place. Often times, I think that people tend to confuse passion with love, or something else - without realizing that passion is something fleeting, even possibly impossible to thoroughly sustain. We need not panic and just accept that we won't always be as passionate as we once were; we need to understand that every movement does needs to pause.

procrastinating

2005-05-11T20:59:00.000+03:00

Your Birthdate: January 4

Being born on the 4th day of the month should help make you a better manager and organizer.

You may be more responsible and self-disciplined than you realize.

Sincere and honest, you are a serious and hard working individual.

Your feelings are likely to seem somewhat repressed at times.

The number 4 has something of an inhibiting effect on your ability to show and express affections, as feeling are very closely regulated and controlled.

You are apt to be much more practical, rational, and conscious of details.

There is a good deal of rigidity and stubbornness associated with the number 4.

Pretty much true, but it makes me sound absolutely square and boring!

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

just a bit of fun

2005-05-11T17:32:00.000+03:00

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free.

In love, you feel the most alive when things are straight-forward, and you're told that you're loved.

You'd like to your lover to think you are optimistic and happy.

You would be forced to break up with someone who was ruthless, cold-blooded, and sarcastic.

Your ideal relationship is comforting. You crave a relationship where you always feel warmth and love.

Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment.

You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred.

In this moment, you think of love as something you thirst for. You'll do anything for love, but you won't fall for it easily.

Sounds about right to me.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

you say it best, when you say nothing at all

2005-05-11T16:56:00.000+03:00

A bit of insight into the Finnish way of life.

I got home from work today thinking it was just like any other day, when, as I hung my coat in the closet, I noticed that the closet next to mine was empty. I thought - one of my two flatmates had began packing up?

A few steps later I realized: I thought wrong.

As I looked right, I was faced with an empty room - with no traces at all that someone was there, in fully-furnished glory, the night before. All that was left was an unwanted black leather couch and a LAN cable strewn across the floor. It took a fraction of a minute for the realization to sink in - my flatmate had already moved out, without so much as a strand of hair left behind. And that was that.

Well, a lot of Finns have told me that as children they were taught one valuable thing - that Silence is Golden.

singelringen

2005-05-10T15:29:00.000+03:00

Freedom on a finger.

Yesterday I was reading through Scanorama, one of my favorite in-flight magazines, and came across an interesting piece of information. Gone are the days where only taken/engaged/married people can proclaim their status by means of a band on their finger - now comes the Singelringen, a ring for single people! It's made of azure acrylic against a silver band where there is a crescent shape cut on the acrylic that supposedly signals something "missing" from the single person's life (or an "openness" as is stated on the website!) Now one might think that this will only work if people know about the Singelringen, but the way I see it, it serves as good conversation piece as well!

I just might buy one if I have the time. Hurray for the ring for singles!

it's raining, it's snowing...

2005-05-09T20:28:00.000+03:00

You must be kidding me.

I arrived Oulu today as scheduled after an over-24 hour flight from Manila (via Frankfurt and Helsinki.) I was greeted by light rainfall which really dampened the welcome since I was expecting some sunny sunshine. But lo and behold - since then, the rain has turned into ice, the ice has turned into snow, and yes, when I look out my window I see that the cars and parts of the ground are covered with a white layer that is just all too familiar (not to mention unwelcome at this point in time!) And they said this was supposed to be spring???

I think I'm going to go to bed.

shattered glass

2005-05-05T23:35:00.000+03:00

Watched: Shattered Glass
I enjoyed this movie a lot because it depicted something very real yet surreal. We are all so easy to believe what we read in the paper or see on tv without really knowing whether it's true or make believe.

kingdom of heaven

2005-05-05T17:19:00.000+03:00

Watched: Kingdom of Heaven
Saw this film about the Crusades today. Main highlight of the film for me was Orlando Bloom - beyond that, I'm not sure there was a whole lot else. It was entertaining though, even if a bit too long.

gin and a spin

2005-04-30T02:55:00.000+03:00

I just got back from sitting and drinking with my parents and their friends. These are people I'd known since I was one-digit old; it was probably a bit of a paradigm shift for them to have me sitting and drinking as if I was their peer. After more than a few glasses of gin with calamansi soda, my father proclaimed: "My daughter is a chip off the old block." I guess you get what he means.

Albeit they were generally twice my age (remember, this is my parents' group of friends) I had a great time. I'd met a new face, an aunt who was actually living in Denmark for 16 years; we had our little Scandinavian corner where we swapped stories and experiences. On the whole it was a great night, and now I'm ready to doze off into la-la land.

Here's to more than three gins and a spin.

xxx2 the next level

2005-04-28T23:47:00.000+03:00

Watched: XXX2 The Next Level
I hadn't even seen the prequel to this sequel so I had no idea what it was about; but overall, the movie was entertaining. I liked the effects - and the fact thaqt Samuel L. Jackson was part of the cast made it a bit more credible. Scott Speedman wasn't too bad either, though I think he looks funny when he tries to use a gun.

white oleander

2005-04-25T02:21:00.000+03:00

Watched: White Oleander
I was about to go to bed when I caught the start of a movie on HBO (Thank God for 24-hour movie channels!). I actually think it was the font used in the beginning that caught my eye - until I saw familiar names like Michelle Pfeiffer, Robin Wright-Penn, Renée Zellweger and Noah Wyle. So since I wasn't really all that sleepy yet, I decided to sit out and watch.

I really enjoyed the movie (considering I saw it on TV and not in the cinema-the last few ones I'd seen there seemed to disappoint.) I loved the twisted way Michelle Pfeiffer 'mothered' her daughter. I loved the way the movie portrayed different intense human emotions. I felt that it was real and was the type of film that didn't need a happy ending. As we know, life is not a bed of roses.

veronika decides to die

2005-04-22T00:51:00.000+03:00

Finished Reading: Veronika Decides to Die
I've been wanting to read this book for awhile now and luckily got ahold of it from a friend. While it's not my favorite Coelho book, it was still a good read. There were a few things that struck me along the way, such as Veronika's vigor for life in the face of death. If we would all only live as if this day were our last, I think we would all live differently. It's unfortunate that, more often than not, we worry ourselves about things that don't matter in the long run.

There was a handful of quotable quotes from the book, but I end with one that I saw towards the end:

"Be like the fountain that overflows, not like the cistern that merely contains."

We shouldn't be scared to go beyond our limits and live life to the full.

guess who

2005-04-21T23:27:00.000+03:00

Watched: Guess Who
If I'd have to rate it, I'd say it's a 1.5/5. The movie itself lasted almost 2 hours but honestly was a bit of a drag at some points. I almost felt like Ashton Kutcher felt he was still on his MTV show Punk'd. But don't get me wrong, it was funny, at times.

the interpreter

2005-04-20T23:49:00.000+03:00

Watched: The Interpreter
The first movie filmed in the UN; on the whole, it was engaging. I enjoyed it even if there was a bit of Hollywood romance.

when music is enough

2005-04-18T02:02:00.000+03:00

I was surfing the internet and found a site where you can listen to some Filipino songs, one of which is a popular one by Kitchie Nadal. This link contains the lyrics to the song, so you can read (or sing along?!) while listening - but I've posted the lyrics here as well with my rough translation of the words into English. The song is in Tagalog, and I don't think the English translation does justice to the depth of emotion that the song tries to convey. But I tried my best to get her point across, so read on and enjoy.

Huwag na Huwag Mong Sasabihin Don't Ever Say
by Kitchie Nadal

May gusto ka bang sabihin Is there something you want to say
Ba't di mapakali Why aren't you at ease
Ni hindi makatingin You can't even look (at me)
Sana'y wag mo na tong palipasin Hopefully you won't let this pass
At subukang lutasin Or try to solve (it)
Sa mga sinabi mo na With the things you said (that)

Refrain:
Ibang nararapat sa akin I deserve someone else
Na tunay kong mamahalin Who I will truly love

Chorus:
Oh.. huwag na huwag mong sasabihin Oh.. don't ever (ever) say
Na hindi mo nadama itong That you didn't feel this
Pag-ibig kong handang Love that is ready
Ibigay kahit pa kalayaan mo To give (you) even your freedom

Ano man ang 'yong akala Whatever you thought
Na ako'y isang bituin That I'm one star
Na walang sasambahin That won't worship anything
'Di ko man ito ipakita Even if I don't show it
Abot langit ang daing My pain reaches the heavens
Sa mga sinabi mo na From the things you said (that)

(Repeat Refrain)
(Repeat Chorus)

Bridge:
At sa gabi sinong duduyan sayo And at night who will cradle you
At sa umaga ang hangin ang hahaplos sayo And in the morning (who will be) the air that will caress you

(Repeat Chorus 2x)

encore provence

2005-04-18T00:29:00.000+03:00

Finished reading: Encore Provence by Peter Mayle
Finally finished reading this book today - it was actually a disappointing follow-up to his previous book that I'd just read, A Year in Provence. This book went into a detailed description of various things in Provence - which was quite interesting really, but had me spacing out after awhile. Maybe it was just me.

kitchie

2005-04-16T02:16:00.000+03:00

Lately, I haven't had much time nor inspiration to blog. So let me share some more words that have hit home - this time from a young Filipina singer named Kitchie Nadal.

Same Ground
by Kitchie Nadal

My love,
Its been a long time since i cried
And left you out of the blue.
Its hard leaving you that way when
I never wanted to.

Self-denial is a game
Its strange i never would've
Wanted if until there was you.

Because i have learned that love is beyond
What human can imagine,
The more it clears
The more i have to let you go.

CHORUS:
But now i don't understand why im feeling
So bad now when i know it was my idea.
I could've just denied the truth and lied.
But why am i the only one standing stranded
On the same ground?

My love because i have learned that love is a
Word gets thrown a little bit too much.
The best excuse to fill the infinite abyss
I never have to if all else fail

Would you be there to love me?
When all else fail,
Would you be brave to see right through me?

Reading the words is not the same as hearing her sing it - I think she has a very beautiful voice and I'm happy to have found another Filipino artist that I appreciate. One of these days I just might go and buy her CD.

closing cycles

2005-04-15T01:33:00.000+03:00

The other day I got a forwarded email entitled "Closing Cycles" that I decided to give a quick read. Glad I did - what was said to be a work of Paulo Coelho (probably my favorite author) is actually just an adaptation, and it goes:

Closing Cycles
One always has to know when a stage comes to an end.

If we insist on staying longer than the necessary time, we lose the happiness and the meaning of the other stages we have to go through. Closing cycles, shutting doors, ending chapters – whatever name we give it, what matters is to leave in the past the moments of life that have finished.

Did you lose your job? Has a loving relationship come to an end? Did you leave your parents’ house? Gone to live abroad? Has a long-lasting friendship ended all of a sudden?

You can spend a long time wondering why this has happened. You can tell yourself you won’t take another step until you find out why certain things that were so important and so solid in your life have turned into dust, just like that.

But such an attitude will be awfully stressing for everyone involved: your parents, your husband or wife, your friends, your children, your sister, everyone will be finishing chapters, turning over new leaves, getting on with life, and they will all feel bad seeing you at a standstill.

None of us can be in the present and the past at the same time, not even when we try to understand the things that happen to us. What has passed will not return: we cannot for ever be children, late adolescents, sons that feel guilt or rancor towards our parents, lovers who day and night relive an affair with someone who has gone away and has not the least intention of coming back.

Things pass, and the best we can do is to let them really go away.

That is why it is so important (however painful it may be!) to destroy souvenirs, move, give lots of things away to orphanages, sell or donate the books you have at home. Everything in this visible world is a manifestation of the invisible world, of what is going on in our hearts – and getting rid of certain memories also means making some room for other memories to take their place.

Let things go. Release them. Detach yourself from them. Nobody plays this life with marked cards, so sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. Do not expect anything in return, do not expect your efforts to be appreciated, your genius to be discovered, your love to be understood. Stop turning on your emotional television to watch the same program over and over again, the one that shows how much you suffered from a certain loss: that is only poisoning you, nothing else.

Nothing is more dangerous than not accepting love relationships that are broken off, work that is promised but there is no starting date, decisions that are always put off waiting for the “ideal moment.” Before a new chapter is begun, the old one has to be finished: tell yourself that what has passed will never come back. Remember that there was a time when you could live without that thing or that person – nothing is irreplaceable, a habit is not a need. This may sound so obvious, it may even be difficult, but it is very important.

Closing cycles. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because that no longer fits your life. Shut the door, change the record, clean the house, shake off the dust. Stop being who you were, and change into who you are.

the wedding date

2005-04-14T17:30:00.000+03:00

Watched: The Wedding Date
Had some time to kill today and went to watch this movie with my cousin - while it's not the greatest film of all time, it was funny and entertaining. A romantic comedy, it's the kind of movie to watch when you don't want to think too much and just want to feel good.

vanity is my favorite sin

2005-03-31T20:57:00.000+03:00

Less than a week ago, a friend told me that she was "anti-sunglasses" because she thinks that the person who wears it tries to be "super cool." But I told her that more often than not you actually NEED them, especially in Finnish spring because the sunlight hitting the snow is just a surefire recipe for a migraine.

So this morning on my way to work, I looked out the window and saw how sunny it was - I put on my sunglasses to protect my eyes from the sunlight. Yes, I'm one of those people who suffer tremendous migraines from sunlight or the mere flash of a camera.

Good choice on my part. As I was walking to the bus stop, I managed to slip quite bad (the snow has transformed into ice while I was away on holiday) and fall forward - landing on all fours with my head hitting the ice. It wasn't pretty.

I was going to hurry on and catch my bus when one quick look at a car window showed a trail of blood on the right side of my head - I thought it would be prudent to head home and wash it off instead of having Finns think I was Halloween a few months early.

After a few splashes of water on my face I realized that there was a cut where my eyebrow ended - corresponding to the exact same spot where my sunglasses broke. I guess the right side of my face went full force against the ice so I not only had broken glasses but a cut as well.

A trip to the doctor gave me a quick treatment (he offered stitching and I said no, thank you)and the the reassurance that the cut wouldn't scar (if it would, it would be under the eyebrow - virtually undetectable) and that I probably didn't suffer any concussions. It also earned me a "Get out of work, free" card (or paper, in this case) with orders that for today, I'd be staying home.

So, thanks to my 'vanity' I didn't suffer any serious damage - I have a broken pair of sunglasses and a cut, but nothing more. Without my sunglasses I guess I could've fallen with my entire face smashed against the ice. The doctor was very nice, and what he said before I left his office made me smile: "Don't worry - women and cuts on the face, I know all about it."

my broken sunglasses

a year in provence

2005-03-31T13:53:00.000+03:00

Finished reading: A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
This was a very good read - I couldn't put it down. I actually had to stop myself from finishing the book in the plane on my way to France for fear that I'll have nothing to read on my way back. I probably looked like a bit of a lunatic laughing to myself as I was reading - but the writing was so witty that I couldn't help but chuckle out loud. The author gives a very vivid description of what it's like to live in the south of France - and I must admit, it makes the whole idea sound more tempting.

final rendezvous

2005-03-29T23:35:00.000+03:00

Last meal in France

easter sunday en bretagne

2005-03-27T23:17:00.000+03:00

Easter Sunday started out with an early French breakfast and an easter-chocolate-hunt for the children (unfortunately we were overaged and not qualified to participate!) We then took off for the hour's drive to Mont St-Michel.

Actually located in Normandy and not Brittany, Mont St-Michel is a tidal island surrounded by sandbanks. At high-tide the water can cover up your car.

An impressive Gothic abbey sits at the top of Mont St-Michel. Armed with our umbrellas, we braved the rain and walked through the Grand Rue, the one small street that leads to the abbey.

Due to bad weather and hungry stomachs, we decided not to go into any of the museums but rather head off to Normandy and grab some lunch.

After a hearty meal, we went to the medieval city of Fougères. Blessed with great weather, we made our way from the Église St-Leonard, through the Jardin Public and on to the lower town. The view was absolutely fantastic, and the well-preserved medieval houses were well worth a look. So was the massive castle, which unfortunately was closed by the time we got there.

at the foot of the église st-léonard

We capped off our little visit to Fougères with drinks at a terrasse - authentic Breton cider in a little bowl.

And what Easter Sunday would be complete without a French dinner from an authentic French chef (my friend's mother!):
Apéritif: Crackers, chorizo (from my Spanish friend) and Muscat
First dish: Quiche Lorraine and vin rouge
Second dish: Rôti de poulet aux patates and more vin rouge
Dessert: Gâteau chocolat avec crème and a sweet dessert wine
Digestif: Eau de vie

priorities, priorities

2005-03-14T16:05:00.000+02:00

So, to kill a bit of time today I took an email test sent by a friend. I'd already done it a few times before, but I think this time around the results surprised me a bit. One of the questions in the test asks you to rank 5 animals, where each animal corresponds to some aspect of your life. My results are as follows:

1. Pride
2. Family
3. Career
4. Money
5. Love

Now now, I don't really know how accurate this is because I ranked the animals from the strongest to the weakest, in my opinion. Oh well.

Weather: -7C, it's a sunny winter day!

my 50 things to do in my lifetime

2005-03-11T12:00:00.000+02:00

I'm a big fan of drawing up lists: Things to do today, Things to do this week, Things to do before I die. Thanks to a late-night edition of BBC Click Online, I not only found a better way of naming my list ("Things to do in my lifetime" does sound better than "Things to do before I die") but also of a way of keeping track of them - and putting them on my blog.

I just started my list so I haven't got all 50 slots filled up yet. I'm thinking of taking the challenge to end up in the My50 Hall of Fame - since I have completed a good number of those things listed anyway.

Here's to an exciting life ahead!

we asians love food

2005-03-10T22:45:00.001+02:00

One thing that always surprises my foreign friends is how I gush and get excited when I talk about food and how I constantly proclaim that "It's one of the best things I've ever tasted!" I often defend myself by stating that food is a central part of Asian culture. At least in the Philippines, things revolve around the table - where sometimes we have breakfast, a morning snack, lunch, an afternoon snack, dinner and finally a midnight snack. Yum yum yum.

So I wasn't surprised to see this article on the BBC website: roti canai in space. It starts by saying: "No self-respecting Malaysian is likely to leave the planet to spend a week on the international space station without a good meal when he gets there." You can figure out the rest.

what's in a name?

2005-03-09T14:34:00.000+02:00

I was cleaning my mailbox today and came across results of a search I made for the meaning of my name sometime ago (don't even remember when.) I'd say that most of it holds true, although I wouldn't really say that I experience "limited verbal expression."

Here was what I found (things I identify with are in bold):

FIRSTNAME
--------------
Your firstname creates an intense desire for association with people and new experiences, many of which have been rather bitter. This name has given you a gregarious personality and a quick-thinking, creative, and versatile nature, but one that is unstable emotionally. You desire change and travel and would enjoy opportunities that allowed you to be creative and to act independently, rather than to conform to system and routine. However, this name does not allow you to complete your undertakings, as farther fields always look greener. Although you may appear confident and positive, you actually lack confidence and feel self-conscious at times. This name spoils patience and depth of thought, and weakens your stand in matters of principle. You are too open to suggestion, and thus you could become involved in detrimental associations which could lead you into by-paths of thrill-seeking or emotional indulgence. Any weakness in your health would appear in the fluid functions as kidney, bladder, or circulatory problems. or in a sensitivity affecting your stomach.

SECOND NAME
-----------------
As second name you have a great love of nature and the out-of-doors. All the finer things of life and beauties of nature are an inspiration to you and you are attracted to the mysteries of nature. Difficulty in expression results in your being too positive, blunt, and candid in speech and although you are easily offended by others, you do not show it. You crave affection and understanding, but rarely find it as others do not understand you and accuse you of being cool and aloof. The average person would never realize the true depth of your nature. A very individual, independent person, you live within your own thoughts. The insecurity you experience from limited verbal expression and social ease results in a jealous possessiveness and suffering through frustration, repressed emotion, and self-consciousness. This name would cause tension affecting the eyes, teeth, sinuses, ears or throat. There could also be a sensitivity in the heart, lungs, and respiratory organs, and frequent headaches.

if it's sunny, it's cold

2005-03-08T10:40:00.000+02:00

With spring kicking in and summer just around the corner, the amount of daylight in Finland is increasing: at a steady-almost-rapid rate to reach its goal of white nights (read: no darkness) in June-July.

This means that we've been having our fair share of fun in the sun - the Finnish way. When it's bright and sunny out, it doesn't mean that it's time to strip down to your basics and frolic in the world outside - it actually means that you have to wear a bit more clothes than yesterday. Because yes siree, sun does not equal warmth, a surprise to little-miss-tropical-me.

Sun = light. That's right about it. Heat is just a figment of your imagination.

If you accept this reality, then you'll appreciate the fact that the day is much more beautiful when the sun is out with its light striking the soft white snow - just like it is today. Remember to wear your sunglasses though to prevent from getting snow-blind.

so you want to learn polish?

2005-03-06T15:36:00.000+02:00

I was surfing the net for some Polish courses in Warsaw and came across this page. It lists the Top 10 Reasons people study Polish, my favorite of which, is entry #8:

"To know what your mother in-law and husband have just decided for you"

Now, that seems to be a very compelling reason to learn Polish. Add to that one of my personal reasons, which would be:

"To know what your husband and children are talking about"

and I'm sure you have all the reasons you need to get started.

You wouldn't want unfamiliar food served at your wedding now would you? Much less be the central topic of conversation (with the inability to participate) at your own home.

Temporarily shelved: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabríel Gárcia Marquez
The winding prose, detailed descriptions and unconventional storyline just makes it a bit too much for leisure reading right now.
Breakfast: Bavarian bread (baked by Kati!) with garlic cream cheese spread and ham
Lunch/cooked: Tortilla de patata
Watching: The Apprentice

take my money and run

2005-03-03T00:05:00.000+02:00

Never having scored very high on the risk-taking scale, there are a number of things that keep me from doing just that - from throwing all caution to the wind, from doing the one thing I've wanted to do for a very long time: take my money and RUN.

Run - to the farthest ends of the universe, to the deepest recesses of the world; run - for as long as I can and as far as I can; run - until I don't want to run no more.

Exactly four years ago I was presented with the perfect opportunity to do so. To pack my bags, move from country to country, experience life the best way I knew how: by living and communing with the locals. But what did I do? I went for the safer option, took yet another corporate job, and have been living the past four years in Finland. Hardly the wandering nomadic life I was aiming for.

And as some people say, sometimes your dreams come to bite you in your behind.

During my short and adventurous stop-over in Bangkok, I met, befriended, and shared a room* with a Canadian with Asian roots (Chinese-Filipino-Vietnamese.) On the bus from the airport to the center, I overheard him telling his story: he's a 28-year old Canadian who quit his job back home and decided to explore the world. He moved to China to teach English, and took a break from that by going to Thailand to do volunteer work in national parks. He explained that he was out of Canada indefinitely, until sometime someday he'll decide to settle somewhere.

Wow.

When we finally did converse (we were roomies, remember) he explained his motivation for moving around to me. He mentioned that his father worked hard all these years, now has his retirement pay, but can't really use it to travel the way he'd imagined. He told me that he had a 40-year old friend who was doing the same thing that he was doing - and this friend told him that he'd wished he'd done it at a younger age. My Canadian roommate said he'd wished he'd done it at a younger age too. And I thought to myself - comparing my age to his and my desire to move around as well, that doesn't really leave me with a very big window. If I'm going to act, I should probably do it now.

If it is to be, it is up to me. -Jo Parfitt-

The ten two-letter words that hold so much power.

I remember one day in Manila, when I was about to go on a scuba diving trip and my father told me: "I envy you. I've always wanted to go scuba diving but didn't manage to. So I feel like I'm living my dreams through you."

I'm not about to live my dreams through anyone. That's just not who I am. I don't want to be 40 and saying "I wish I did that when I was younger." When I'm 40 I'll be saying "When I was younger, this was what I did."

* Obviously not the smartest move in the book but hey, sometimes you've got to live dangerously.

thrill-seeking perfectionist excitement junkie

2005-02-27T21:32:00.000+02:00

Yes, that's who I am.

The last two days saw me attending the Expat Oulu Conference, the first of its kind in Finland. Speakers were invited from both Finland and abroad to discuss life as an expat in general and in Oulu/Finland in particular.

The term thrill-seeking perfectionist excitement junkie came from a (very good) speaker named Mary van der Boon, a native Canadian who has been living outside Canada for almost 30 years. Obviously, she has a clear understanding of the expat profile - and was so bold as to state that there is a sharp divide between people who get it, and people who don't.

So she said, thrill-seeking perfectionist excitement junkies like myself need not try to explain to non-thrill-seeking perfectionist excitement junkies why I do what I do. Why I want what I want. Why I wouldn't want to settle down just yet - as she stated quite clearly (and as I've learned from experience,) "people from your hometown won't understand your motivation."

Apparently I fit into a particular demographic that I didn't even know existed.

The conference as a whole was rewarding, with speakers touching on issues such as having a career in your suitcase - one that is portable, flexible, and may be tailor-fit to your brand new location. What generally began as help for the expat wife (the one that follows her husband through his numerous postings all around the world and suddenly loses track of her career) might be applicable to wannabe-employed-nomads like myself. We'll see.

Watching: The Shipping News
Reminds me of life in Finland.

don't wanna be a corporate whore no more

2005-02-24T19:04:00.000+02:00

Today I had a development discussion with my direct supervisor - and despite my obvious desire to abandon the corporate world (as evidenced by the title of this post), things went quite well. So well in fact, that it made me think: sticking it out in the corporate world isn't so bad after all.

Then again, maybe not.

20 years, 5 boyfriends, 2 husbands and 6 children... and all this while I spend over 50% of my time within the same four walls?! Thanks, but no thanks.

There are people in my life who serve as constant reminders that things don't have to be this way. An Australian friend who just quit his job in Hong Kong and is moving to China to learn Mandarin. An Amerasian one who did a stint in Mongolia and is waiting to make her way back there via Europe. An Estonian friend who is doing her masters in Finland and will hit either Scotland, Germany, or Spain next. They're not on the corporate path, but they are happy.

So what makes me think I'd be happy sitting in a corporate office for the greater part of my life? All I'd be doing is looking out the window, wishing that life didn't pass me by.

I feel trapped in the corporate world, almost as if I'd sold my soul to the devil. The profit-driven routine is just not for me. So now my task is to find my own little niche and, soon enough, bid the corporate dream goodbye.

the fine print: Any numbers mentioned in this post have no actual bearing on my life - so no, I don't want to get married twice.

of sun lamps and dog passports

2005-02-18T13:46:00.000+02:00

Just when I thought that I knew everything about Finnish winters, something comes up that amazes me. Welcome to the invention known as the 'sun lamp' ; also commonly known as the Philips HF3305 Bright Light Energy De Luxe, this fluorescent wonder brightens up your flat in the darkest of winter days! For the bargain price of £170, you will be able to cure your winter blues with a bit of artificial sunlight!

I was visiting a friend when she surprisingly told me about her latest household appliance. "A sun light?!" I asked. "Yes, it really works! It's amazing how having it improves your mood! Although there is someting unnatural about enjoying artificial light, isn't there..." "Something unnatural? You mean it's completely unnatural!"

I went on and told another friend about this new-found discovery, to which he replied: "My wife (a Finn) has been researching on the sun and its effects on people. She found out that for people who are used to the sun like us (he's from Brazil,) lack of it is really more difficult. Not only mentally but physically." Apparently, there's a gland that is powered by the sun which produces hormones that are necessary for some bodily function. And Finns, with their body prepared for such lack of light, possess larger glands than others. Therefore, they get the necessary amount of these hormones that are needed as opposed to foreigners who are used to warmer climates.

At least that is the rough explanation. So yet again another discovery relating to a foreigner's response to the lack of sunshine. He's been given some special vitamins by his wife. My other friend has her sun lamp.

-----

That friend of mine not only has a sun lamp, but a dog with an EU passport. Yes, the European Union decided sometime ago to track dogs better - by inserting chips that when swiped produce a distinct barcode, where details of rabies shots and vet visits are recorded. But imagine, this dog gets free movement in the European Union and I don't? Maybe I should just be a dog! Sans the rabies shots and chip in the neck though.

lazy sunday

2005-02-13T22:19:00.000+02:00

Just relaxed today, read my book, watched a bit of TV and went for dinner downtown with a Finnish-Spanish couple. We went to Ravintola Pannu (Restaurant Pannu) where I treated myself to steak and potatoes. Yum.

Finished reading: The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
I'd have to say that this book wasn't as interesting as it tried to be. It does paint a picture of the magazine world, with a whole lot of materialism and superficiality, but that's right about it. It's not too bad a book but I wouldn't say that this is something that would come highly recommended.
Dinner: Chili Dijon Beef with goat cheese potatoes on the side (Ravintola Pannu)

closer

2005-02-08T23:34:00.000+02:00

If you believe in love at first sight, you never stop looking.

Just saw the movie Closer starring Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman and Clive Owen. I've been itching to see it since I saw the poster (yes, just the poster, not even the trailer) in Warsaw over two weeks back.

I admit that the movie leaves you a bit hanging in the end - in the sense that there were no clear-cut explanations for the characters' actions. But I think that therein lies the beauty of it all - in the inexplicable, incomprehensible actions of people with a seeming twisted fate. I enjoyed the movie a lot, and absolutely loved the song that played in the beginning and the end of the film. (Tip, if you check out the official site, you'll be able to listen to the song, the lyrics of which I've posted here below.)

The movie is based on a play written by British playwright Patrick Marber and has been staged both in London and Broadway.

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The Blower's Daughter
by Damien Rice

And so it is
Just like you said it would be
Life goes easy on me
Most of the time
And so it is
The shorter story
No love, no glory
No hero in her sky

I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes...

And so it is
Just like you said it should be
We'll both forget the breeze
Most of the time
And so it is
The colder water
The blower's daughter
The pupil in denial

I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes...

Did I say that I loathe you?
Did I say that I want to
Leave it all behind?

I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind...
My mind...my mind...
'Til I find somebody new

------

Finished reading: The Tattoo Murder Case by Akimitsu Takagi
Set in postwar Japan, this was a real page-turner - although I was always a fan of detective novels. It's interesting to get a look at a bit of the Japanese culture with regard to tattoos. At the end it doesn't really leave you with a big cultural feel but at least you had a good read.
Dinner: Ham and cheese pastry, ham panini and café mocha from Cafe Bisketti

laskiassunnuntai (shrove sunday)

2005-02-06T23:30:00.000+02:00

Is actually the Sunday before Ash Wednesday - but in Finland, there's nothing religious about this celebration. Basically, it's traditional for everyone to go sledding; luckily I was invited by some friends to a place called Virpiniemi (translation: Cape Virpi - where Virpi is a Finnish name), which is around a 15 minute drive from Oulu.

When we got there, the place was packed: "This reminds me of a crowded beach in summer" says a Finnish friend. "Sure" I agreed - if not for the people dressed in layers of clothes and the piles of snow all around. For me, the crowded parking lot in Virpiniemi was the only thing resemblant of a popular summer destination.

My companions were feeling a bit competitive and decided to head to the ski-jumping area, wanting to go downhill sledding there. God forbid. Thankfully the guy overseeing the area told us that it was off-limits. So we had to settle for some other similarly steep hill. (With the stress on 'hill' - in Finland, there are no mountains!)

It took awhile before I decided to go down - I didn't have the usual safety belts that I was used to. I started on the halfway point "Start here first! This is where we make kids start!" says my Finnish friend. Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence.

Peering fearfully atop the hill

Going down

Eureka!

Eventually I worked my way up from the halfway point, to the top, using the round-plastic-butt-protector first then the actual sled. My adventurous (read: crazy) companions decided that we should do a train: connect 3 sleds with 2 people each (from 1.7m tall and up, mind you, except for myself!) and go down the hill together. The first run went quite well, with the third sled disengaged; the second run was a bit worse, with 5 of us piling on top of one person. Since there were no injuries, I'd have to say that the whole endeavor was a success.

After grilling some makkara, we rewarded ourselves with kakkao ja laskiaispullat (hot chocolate and 'shrove' buns) prepared by a Finnish friend. Staying out in the cold was well worth the wait.

Laskiaispulla: with cream, jam and marzipan in the middle

Breakfast/cooked: Mushroom and onion frittata
Lunch: Grilled makkara (Finnish sausage)
Dinner/cooked: (mini) Penne alla matriciana

a little bit of crazy

2005-02-05T23:32:00.000+02:00

Today was a gloomy day, where the temperature hovered on zero or warmer meaning that instead of snow we experienced light rain. But don't expect such sorry weather to deter the very outdoorsy Finns - on went the Finnish Ice-Hole Swimming Championship in downtown Oulu. Running from Friday through Sunday, Finns and foreigners alike, men and women, stripped down to nothing but their swimwear and raced 25 meters to the finish line.

Contestants getting ready

Freezing on the water

The women towelling off after their race

The crowd cheering their favorites on

In the end I don't know who's crazier - the people who went to swim or we who went to watch them. Either way, it was great fun.

Dinner: Tortilla de patatas y vino tinto

a dose of caffeine - the unconventional way

2005-02-04T23:18:00.000+02:00

Finland holds the world record for the most coffee consumption per capita - consuming more than 14 kilograms of coffee per person annually, or 9 cups per day! That is why it's with no surprise that I came upon, and purchased, this little coffee-flavored yogurt (kahvijogurtti in Finnish.)

Thinking that the purchase might have been a product of fatigue, jet lag or what-have-you, I decided to wait a few days before trying it out. This morning, with nothing else left in the fridge - no fruit or other normally-flavored yogurt - I was left with no choice.

And, I'm still alive. In fact, my little "coffee cup" saw me through news of a friend's sudden death, another friend's pregnancy, and the mystery of the missing TOEFL scores.

Then again, don't try this at home.

Finnish ingenuity in a little coffee cup

Dinner: Kebab with rice from the friendly neighboorhood pizzeria, Baabel
Watching: Euronews documenting Condoleezza Rice's visit to Europe, and the US' possible take on Iran

snow snow go away come again another day...

2005-02-03T22:09:00.000+02:00

That was probably the nursery rhyme being sung by little children in and around Scandinavia - instead of wishing the rain away, they might've wished the snow away. Then again, for children, is there ever too much snow?

As I was working today, looking out at the dim sky and semi-heavy snowfall I thought to myself: "Today, I'm staying in for lunch." You'd be amazed at how trips out are drastically reduced by fear of your nose hair freezing. Really, it is as unpleasant as it sounds.

Luckily it seems to be a warm February, for Finnish standards. Where we should be averaging temperatures of -25 Celsius, we're closing in on almost zero. Hurray to that. Hopefully my body readjusts to the Finnish winter consequently obliterating my sudden need for thermal underpants. Long underwear - shudder. Haven't really used them in the last three years; no need to start now.

Dinner/cooked: Pork with herbes provencale cooked in olive oil, accompanied by a side of tomato-mozzarella-green leaf salad

back to the real world

2005-02-01T17:57:00.000+02:00

It was my first day of work today after a three-month hiatus in warmer parts of the world. January went by pretty fast: New Year's, my birthday, family leaving for the US, family leaving for Europe, and me making my way back via Bangkok and Warsaw. I might get to adding stuff about those one day, but right now, let's concentrate on the present.

After a 2.50 euro bus ride to work (I forgot my bus card at home!) I got there and found that I'd been moved floors... again. For the 2nd time in less than a year. Luckily they'd given me the seat by the window, otherwise it would've been utter chaos.

Did groceries, got Chinese, went home and finished unpacking. Then curled up with my book, finished it, and now I'm off to bed.

Finished reading: Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris
The book was quite interesting, painting a vivid picture of the French countryside, simultaneously making your mouth water with descriptions of traditional French cuisine.
Dinner: Shrimp in Chili Sauce with Rice (Chili Katkarapuja) - Chinese take-away

on divulging

2004-12-17T19:54:00.000+02:00

The reason why I can't figure out what to put on this blog is because I'm not sure I'm the type of person who wants to divulge her life to the world. But isn't that what these blogs are for? Anyway, I'll just start with a little something.

Today my cousin had a party for her 12th birthday, which is actually still on Sunday. She wanted a slide but she didn't get it... not. I'm not sure this is the kind of thing I want to do.

Right, I'm off to bed now. Long day tomorrow. Shopping either in Greenhills or Baclaran... odd choice?

Reading: Eleven Minutes by Paolo Coelho
Watching: The Apprentice

to blog or not to blog

2004-12-17T11:54:00.000+02:00

Okay, I'm trying this out. I don't really have anything to say yet but I want to view my first post, on the first page, so here goes...