There probably aren’t too many parents for primary school aged kids in Finland, who to at least some degree don’t get chills, when “There is a message for you in Wilma” pops up on the screen. Getting a message with subject “Accident today” definitely was one causing chills. Although my instant first reaction was did […]
Author: CTmeetsHelsinki
FLASHBACKS
We left South Africa only a few days after our last big South African roadtrip. Whether it was denial, living in a moment, or just plain hurry, the end result was certain things turning into loose ends. One of them was our beloved and trustworthy companion, our Kia. Faithfully serving us for more than 100,000 […]
ONE SIZE FITS ALL
ONE SIZE FITS ALL IN FINLAND? When we moved to South Africa we pretty much knew, the country isn’t going to adapt to us, we are the ones who need to change. When we moved back to Finland, we had changed, and knew we needed to revert closer to our already partly forgotten original mindset […]
WINTER FUN
Getting dressed was so easy in Cape Town, says Talky when putting on third layer of clothes. Value of stuff lost was so much lower in Cape Town, I’m thinking. The truth is, I think we all are loving the proper white winter, arriving the day I landed in Helsinki after five weeks in Cape […]
HOW SOUTH AFRICA MADE ME DEMANDING
To save some time – we are culturally bound to busyness – I bought Talky a rug online. You know, here in the developed part of the world we do everything online and digitally. The rug was supposed to be delivered in 2-3 days. A week passed, so did the second week, and I had […]
WATER ISSUES
It doesn’t happen too often, it most certainly never happens in a positive context (apart from occasional travel stories): news or articles about South Africa in Finnish media. Well, Day Zero in Cape Town has made news. Those of you who don’t know what Day Zero is, take a look here. Both articles in Finnish. Our […]
LAKE PEOPLE AND SEA PEOPLE
Lake people like lakes. Lakes that come with clear boundaries and unquestionable limits. Lakes with calm winds and nearby shores. Cosy safe cottages with a fireplaces and terraces. Where everything stays the same, and where one goes again and again, year after year. Certainty and predictability providing comfort and happiness. Sea people like seas. Seas […]
BEST AND BIGGEST 2017
Happy this year everyone! The following includes some random reflections to the previous one. Best run. A run I didn’t run: Vaarojen Maraton in Koli, Finland. My role was to be the supporter, photographer, driver (after-race bar visit) and volunteer. It was a fun and casual event with good vibes. It made me buy trail running […]
10 WHYS
Some random thoughts from “Africa”. Now that I live in “Europe”, I’m allowing myself making some previously-stupid generalisations. Both ways. So this is a collection of random wonderings from the past week. Why do people in Africa smile and laugh so much? Why is alcohol such a huge issue in Finland? Why do we take […]
DIAMONDS AND DREAMS
A trip from Helsinki to Cape Town takes some 20+ hours from door to door. Regardless transfer city, the long flight (from Europe to Cape Town) takes 10+ hours. It’s a long time to sit next to a kicking toddler. Shame on parents not placing the kicking ones in between them, but next to an […]
NOVEMBER IN HELSINKI
is in a way similar to Winter in Cape Town. It’s only a month, yet feels like three. Focus is on survival, a day at a time. There is certain beauty in the darkness, but when there is nothing but darkness that beauty quickly loses all value. This Autumn also has been the wettest in […]
SCHOOL STRUGGLES
Back to where I can read Jacques Pauw’s The President’s Keepers from a safe distance. I don’t think I could have read this book if we’d still be living on South Africa, said Sporty. I agree. So back to my comfy first world problems. School. The world famous Finnish school. My mom is annoying. My mom […]
WHAT I TALK ABOUT WHEN I TALK ABOUT RUNNING
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is a memoir by Haruki Murakami in which he writes about his interest and participation in long-distance running. Not only is Murakami one of my favourite writers – currently reading The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle – but I also happen to be passionate about running. Addicted to jogging. Last weekend I participated in […]
MIXED FEELINGS
NEGATIVE MIXED TIA. According to Wikipedia In Africa, there’s a saying “TIA” meaning “This Is Africa” – term of endearment/explanation typically used when tourists from western countries visit Africa, or expats work in Africa, to shrug off power shut downs, old technology, slow pace of business, questionable business ethics and dealings etc. I used to […]
TOP 6 PLACES TO VISIT IN SOUTH AFRICA
I find it rather silly to write this kind of list, as “top” in my opinion totally depends on personal preferences. Therefore, this is MY list on top 6 places to visit in South Africa. Those of my readers who know me, also know I like it active, authentic, real and off-grid. I don’t do […]
8 THINGS I DON’T MISS ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA
Once upon a time there was a promise not to complain about the weather in Finland. Hence the rain – yesterday, today, tomorrow – is just an observation. Focus on the things you can change. However, I feel it’s time I remind myself about the things I don’t miss in the place of sun, sea […]
“MY MOM DOESN’T BAKE”
Before getting started with this baking thing, let me tell you there is one new item added to my “what I miss in Cape Town” list: Woolies Chocolate Cupcakes. They’ve saved me not once or twice but dozens of times. Our class will be hosting a language café for the school on the 26.9. which […]
CULTURE SHOCK FINLAND
You can’t go home again. -Thomas Wolfe What do you think has changed in Finland is a question I often get to answer. My honest – or routine – answer is: Not much. More cycle lanes, and more diversity in people. More gyms, and more people who run. The strong feeling of not belonging […]
MY HELSINKI
My Helsinki is not always just grey, or grey and green. There are days when it’s golden and blue, but in a very different way compared to Cape Town. The sun is shining low and mild instead of high and harsh. The blue of Helsinki is light instead of deep. The golden is warm and […]
OUR SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNEY – HOW IT ALL STARTED
It’s been a month. A month and two days exactly. It feels like we left Cape Town two years ago. There are moments when I miss everything badly. Like BADLY. I miss checking on HBO (a Facebook group for Hout Bay people). I miss not knowing what’s going to happen today. I miss people, I […]