Not a big traveller, me, thus far. Well, since my kid brother was studying in beautiful French speaking region of Switzerland I had to find my way there. Eventually - at the beginning of January 2012. And because of me it took some weeks to write some stuff out of my first real European vacation. By the way, pardon my French. I am too lazy to try and get all my few letters correct.
Day one - southbound flight(s)
After far too little sleep it was time grab one's baggage and head to Helsinki-Vantaa. Of course the weather was somewhat nasty - wet snow almost horizontally. So me and my brother were going to miss our connecting flight from Arlanda to Geneva. No chance to stay in schedule. To rub it in my face over Baltic Sea I read from a Blue 1 cup that only thing you can't recycle is wasted time. Oh really?
We did get tickets to a Lufthansa flight towards Frankfurt. Where we weren't suppose to go at all. Anyhow, those Germans at least serve something in the flight as opposed to SAS - nothing without extra money. Guess what are white sausage balls? Not telling here. We figured that there was no way that our baggage got to the same plane as the brothers did. Again I was forced to kill some time in the German main hub before entering already third flight of the day.
Eventually we got to the Geneva airport around sunset time, white Jura peaks looming in the background. Our baggage didn't - that's what we thought. After waiting and searching it ended up in a surprising result: our baggage had raced us through Germany and beat us comfortably. We left them far behind in Sweden but wasted so much time in Frakfurt that our stuff passed us via Munich. Now we know that your baggage can actually get to your destination before you do.
Luckily Swiss trains are much more reliable than Finnish compatriots. After an irritating day it was nice to by tickets and enter the train in the airport with ease. Two tired fellows headed for some self cooked food and sleep with aching muscles.
Word of the day: mure de marais (cloudberry) - some home made jam for my brother's friedly landlord.
Day two - open skies for heavy rainfall
My first morning in Switzerland could have been better. Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) about hundred meters from the apartment seemed like a sea. Weak visibility and bad rainfall. Just like my brother had told me. Well, some starch down your stomach and out there with newly acquired camera. I'm the one who likes to walk around to get used. My kid brother is the one who does proper training, whatever the weather.
I did get some photos to proof the shi... wetty day. And I got my pants wet - stupid to leave one's Goretex pants in the baggage. A glimpse of the lake and downtown Morges I did get though. Rest of the day was quiet cooking with student budget, stretching the stuck muscles and planning following days in the corner cafe. Kronenbourg 1664, favorite bulk lager of France, is OK for a refreshment. My brother also introduced me to hit series How I Met Your Mother. Now I probably have to start using my spare time also for that. Not a bad thing though - since I cannot yet spend time with mother of my future kids... Just read that as you like. A fool I am.
Word of the day: tempete - storm (if I recall it right)
Day three - Olympic Lausanne with beer to go with it
Second morning started with rather aching back. Not the best of matrices I was sleeping on and apparently I am not that young anymore. Weather was OK, cloudy but with visibility to the foothills of French Alps. How nice it is to see snow clad mountain tops over a famous lake first thing in the morning! The older brother, tourist and plain walker he is, headed for some photos and tries to by cheese with his three word French. The younger however, student and sportsman he is, went to get more training mileage under his belt. I got the cheese, goat and sheep versions, and loaf of bread. But with English and help from friendly locals. Merci!
Come afternoon, we headed to the local technical university EPFL. One of the best, if not the best, in its field in continental Europe. First and actually the only restaurant visit of the trip. Student food with Asian touch, something to fill your stomach quickly. Switzerland is many things but not very affordable. The university was no super destination for the architects and wannabes if you don't count local Rolex learning center. A weirdish slice of cheese -style steel and glass structure that would make for a great skateboard track.
They have a metro, or more like quick tram line, from the technical university to the city center. Unlike we Finns for some years still to survive. Two long time sports enthusiasts that we are, me and my brother headed to Musee Olympique at the shore of Lac Leman. A must with no entrance fees for the month by coincidence. There was too much interesting stuff for our two hours. Probably one of our favorites was the Olympic Games torch collection. IOC, do something to stop those freaky Hey I'm a weapon from scifi series kind of torches (Turin 2006 as the most plastic one)! Medal collection was of course interesting like old equipment of Olympic heroes. Zatopek's marathon shoes for example got some respect from us - quite some slippers. I would like to have a Boycott Moscow Olympics with Misha the bear crossed over T-shirt for the sake of trivia and history induced laughter.
Once we were finished with the museum it was time to find local beer. Naturally my brother had a suitable place in mind. Metro line to upper Lausanne and nice brisk walk. We tried some really local beers from Lausenne outskirts brewery Docteur Gab's and also from a Jura mountain region brewery Franche-Montagnes. The bartender was really helpful in English and also happened to add some local beers to the tap during our brief visit. My first pint, Docteur Gab's Chameau (camel), had the taste of typical wheat beer if not the instant millet on the palate. Hopefully Google translator is correct with that. Second one was an interesting beer from the Jura, Franche-Montagnes 14th seasonal. Strong color, smell and taste of black currants. Yes, sounds weird but works well in the dark winter night!
Words of the day: fromage du brebis & chevre - sheep milk cheese and goat cheese
Day four - silence in Morges
We couldn't get a visit to local brewery. So it was another quiet day around Morges. I had lost my voice. My brother went running back and forth some hill, that's what real athletes do. I get it but don't do it. In the mean time I took my trusty Ecco shoes (6th year in the making!) and camera for a walk in the surrounding foothills of Jura mountains. I found my way past local ice hockey/curling hall, through wine yards to quite some castle in Vufflens. Then headed back downhill towards the lake and Alpine backdrop. I had this one moment of strong symbolic meaning - a lonely old leafless tree in the middle of wintery field with sun giving its rays through cloudy sky. Snap with camera and hurry back to the town center to let my brother in. Since I was the key user of the day. Oh the irony! Silly old me...
For the rest of the day we put some effort on getting food on the plate. And had a beer each in the nearby bar. Docteur Gab's Houleuse is what I went for. Interestingly a strong taste of buckweed for a couple of seconds before entering the wheat beer region of palate. It was really nice to continue to chat with my kid bro about our experiences and listen to his somewhat crazy actions during training camps. We do share the ability to tell stories, never a bad thing in my books! Also did watch quite some How I Met Your Mother episodes, a daily routine of trip since no access to telly or internet. But could not buy a Swiss watch with hefty price tag.
Word of the day: houleuse - storming
Day five - Alpine stars or not
This was the day. My first real experience of Alpine skiing - yes, in the Alps! Overslept in the morning and then headed to the railway stations. In Switzerland you can buy easily a combined ticket for train trip and daily skilift rides. I was like a kid taking a good look of closing Alps in the Swiss express train. Some steep hills these Swiss people have their wine yards located. And there was Montreux, no VIP dazzle anyhow. Then came Martigny, shift to Saint Bernhard express (yeah, you know the dogs for sure) and up towards Verbier - our chosen ski resort.
A lot of firsts for me again. A cabine lift to 1500 metres and then in search for some rental equipment. That was not cheap but it was a kind of once in a life time experience. We did not have a clue of the routes and slopes but up we went. Once there pointed our ski tips downwards. My brother first and then me, somewhat hesitant as a first timer. For sure we had been skiing with cross-country skis as kids in all sorts of terrains but this was no cross-country. Anyhow we went on, my brother gently waiting for me the tumbler.
After a couple of descends a thick fog took over the landscape. So no fancy photos - and more importantly no idea where to ski. We made it anyhow, some less and others more snow around their gear. Darkness began to arrive. I gave green flag to my brother so that he could ski like he wanted. I went for just one more run down some red slope. Hard enough for me while my bro was taking some black slope head on. Well, sports generally are no place for me to excel over my younger brother.
I was happy and tired when we headed back to the valley. Baguette filled with some sheep milk cheese, salami and lettuce tasted so darn good after a day of winter activity. Especially since it was self-assembled. Two merry chaps went asleap that night with nice experiences and less money - the other with higher tumble tally and with a souvenir bruise in his elbow region.
Word of the day: Je suis perdu. - I am lost.
Day six - the fun is over, for now
It was my final morning in Swiss landscape. Of course the weather was getting really beautiful. So I did get a sight of the perfect landscape over Lac Leman to France (one photo available in the blog for now). Scenes on film it was. I did also my first ever mere French shopping:
Bonjour! Un Baguette (and francs in). Merci. Au Revoir!
And I still had my voice quite lost. One more tourist thing to do was to send some postcards - last day action. Then it was time to take an express train to Geneva airport, really easy and enviable from Finnish point of view. Last shopping to have some Swiss chocolate (naturally) and white wine as souvenirs. Then aboard SAS flight to Arlanda...
...in which I ended up in Swedish baby boom region. Three crying babies and one humorously staring one in the neigboring seats. I am no fan of SAS: my legs barely fit in the seat rows and nothing is served as an inclusion of the ticket price. Lufthansa kicks you ass, Scandinavians! SAS sucks also other that air to its jet engines. Anyhow, in the home I was eventually with many stories to be told.
Word of the day: sortie - exit
Afterthoughts
I can see why my brother probably lost a part of his heart to the region. And I am so happy to see that we have a lot in common. My kid brother is all grown up also - with his own twists like I do. I can boast now with a hundred per cent Alpine skiing in the Alps stats. I want to travel - since a little boy - and now I finally can.
You can enjoy life in many ways. But if you cannot share your experience with someone close to you something is really missing.
sunnuntai, 29. tammikuuta 2012
keskiviikko, 25. tammikuuta 2012
Niin paljon, niin vähän
Pää täynnä ideoita, joista voisi kirjoittaa. Niin paljon elämää, niin paljon annettavaa. Asioita, jotka pitäisi tehdä. Sitten kenties helpottaisi, kunnes alkaisi taas polttaa mieltä.
Ei siis ole oikein syntynyt blogitekstejä, vaikka päässä kuhisee ajatuksia ja sanottavaa liiaksi asti. No, tällainen mies olen. Vaikea on päästä alkuun juuri millään elämän osa-alueella, mutta kesken ei aloitettuja juttuja toisaalta hevin jätetä. Huono käynnistys, hyvä matkakestävyys. Oletteko muuten kokeilleet työstää omaa heikkouttanne päivästä toiseen? Menneet mukavuusalueen ulkopuolelle, kun ei ole vaihtoehtojakaan? Raskasta ja parhaimmillaan sangen antoisaa touhua.
Kyllä sieltä ajatussammiosta vielä annostellaan tekstiä. Hyvä haudutus voi toimia muuallakin kuin ruoanlaitossa. Pää täynnä tekosyitä olla tekemättä sitä, minkä oikeaksi kokee. Niin vähän rohkeutta, niin vähän voimia.
Vajavaisuus ja epätäydellisyys eivät ole syitä luovuttaa kuitenkaan.
Ei siis ole oikein syntynyt blogitekstejä, vaikka päässä kuhisee ajatuksia ja sanottavaa liiaksi asti. No, tällainen mies olen. Vaikea on päästä alkuun juuri millään elämän osa-alueella, mutta kesken ei aloitettuja juttuja toisaalta hevin jätetä. Huono käynnistys, hyvä matkakestävyys. Oletteko muuten kokeilleet työstää omaa heikkouttanne päivästä toiseen? Menneet mukavuusalueen ulkopuolelle, kun ei ole vaihtoehtojakaan? Raskasta ja parhaimmillaan sangen antoisaa touhua.
Kyllä sieltä ajatussammiosta vielä annostellaan tekstiä. Hyvä haudutus voi toimia muuallakin kuin ruoanlaitossa. Pää täynnä tekosyitä olla tekemättä sitä, minkä oikeaksi kokee. Niin vähän rohkeutta, niin vähän voimia.
Vajavaisuus ja epätäydellisyys eivät ole syitä luovuttaa kuitenkaan.
keskiviikko, 18. tammikuuta 2012
OMG! I'm in Facebook - I'm a sell-out
I haven't exactly been a great big fan of social media. Supposedly everyone should be there - well, because everyone is there. Doing things just for the sake of following the pack is for the simple minded, I still reckon. Anyhow, I have joined the Facebook due to a must of a situation.
Finally I decided to go for Spotify to get my share of great music more easier. Apparently you cannot do that anymore without a Facebook account. At least I did not find any loop holes to manage my way to Spotify. So I had to put my jacket on inside out, turn my sled, follow the pack - for the sake of getting something done. I am aware of my short comings and limitations in thought process. I try not to rant against social media enthusiasts but I won't listen to any kind of propaganda without offering another kind of a view. Fundamentalist pot holes are in all cases a nasty place to spend ones limited time.
Time will tell whether my account stays as a sleeper or if I start to channel bits of my somewhat weirdish intake of life in another media also. After all, if you want real friends you need to dare much more than open up your laptop. Open the door, open your mind and eventually open your heart! Social media is no salvation and no damnation if you have your values in the right place.
Now I can plunge into the further depths of music. One goal is to swipe away certain prejudices I have towards big chunks of music. Still I refuse to listen voluntarily some supposedly popular hits and genres if they do not strike the right cords in me. The big pack, masses of folks may go down that road but I ain't gonna take general opinion as an automatic reason to do and believe.
Rock on 'cos you have a Soul inside!
Finally I decided to go for Spotify to get my share of great music more easier. Apparently you cannot do that anymore without a Facebook account. At least I did not find any loop holes to manage my way to Spotify. So I had to put my jacket on inside out, turn my sled, follow the pack - for the sake of getting something done. I am aware of my short comings and limitations in thought process. I try not to rant against social media enthusiasts but I won't listen to any kind of propaganda without offering another kind of a view. Fundamentalist pot holes are in all cases a nasty place to spend ones limited time.
Time will tell whether my account stays as a sleeper or if I start to channel bits of my somewhat weirdish intake of life in another media also. After all, if you want real friends you need to dare much more than open up your laptop. Open the door, open your mind and eventually open your heart! Social media is no salvation and no damnation if you have your values in the right place.
Now I can plunge into the further depths of music. One goal is to swipe away certain prejudices I have towards big chunks of music. Still I refuse to listen voluntarily some supposedly popular hits and genres if they do not strike the right cords in me. The big pack, masses of folks may go down that road but I ain't gonna take general opinion as an automatic reason to do and believe.
Rock on 'cos you have a Soul inside!
torstai, 22. joulukuuta 2011
Hieman erilainen poikamiesjoulu
Joulu on taas, vaikkei ehkä siltä niin tunnukaan. Itse vietän ensimmäisen jouluni nykyisellä kotiseudullani, en sentään aivan yksin. Poikamieskliseistä mukana on olut, kinkkua, pöytälätkä ja jenkkifutiksen joulunajan ottelut - viimeinen ei tosin lainkaan suomalaista. Joulupuun virkaa saa nyt toimittaa parikymmensenttinen sypressi, kinkku puolestaan on valmiiksi kypsä ja hieman toista kiloa.
Joulun varjolla sain sentään itseni siivoamaan ja tietysti laittamaan ruokaa sekä leipomaan. Jouluksi kotiin -sarjan matkarahat menivät nyt siis ruokiin ja juomiin. Nyt on hyvä mahdollisuus haastaa itsensä tekemään jouluruokaa omin käsin ja ehdoin. On se jännä, miten paljon kummastusta lanttusurvoksen tekeminen voikaan aiheuttaa. No, sen siitä saa, kun on tottunut kotiäidin poikana syömään rehellistä kotiruokaa. Liisteri kuuluu suksen pohjaan tai tapetin taa.
Viettäkää levollista joulua - mieluummin vähäeleistä kuin vähä-älyistä. Kukaan ei jaksa kauan ilman aitoja levon hetkiä. Syökää ja juokaa hyvin muttei ylen. Iloitkaa siitä hyvästä, joka osaksenne on suotu. Unelmoikaa niistä asioista, joita ette vielä ole saavuttaneet. Muistakaa myös ne vaikeudet, jotka ovat teitä matkallanne koulineet. Nauttikaa rakkaiden ihmisten seurasta, jos olette onnekkaita. Emme ole täällä yksin, sillä meille on annettu toivo!
Joululla on sanoma. Se ei oikeasti muuten ole "kuluttakaa niin paljon että pelastumme". Elämä on niin täynnä syitä stressiin, että silloin täytyy vähitellen löytää tapoja irtautua suorittamisesta. Väkisin ja teeskentelemällä ei koskaan synny mitään todella kestävää ja aitoa. Näin synkkään vuodenaikaan totean lopuksi, että pimeydessä pienikin valo näkyy kirkkaasti!
Siunattua Joulua tasapuolisesti kaikille!
Joulun varjolla sain sentään itseni siivoamaan ja tietysti laittamaan ruokaa sekä leipomaan. Jouluksi kotiin -sarjan matkarahat menivät nyt siis ruokiin ja juomiin. Nyt on hyvä mahdollisuus haastaa itsensä tekemään jouluruokaa omin käsin ja ehdoin. On se jännä, miten paljon kummastusta lanttusurvoksen tekeminen voikaan aiheuttaa. No, sen siitä saa, kun on tottunut kotiäidin poikana syömään rehellistä kotiruokaa. Liisteri kuuluu suksen pohjaan tai tapetin taa.
Viettäkää levollista joulua - mieluummin vähäeleistä kuin vähä-älyistä. Kukaan ei jaksa kauan ilman aitoja levon hetkiä. Syökää ja juokaa hyvin muttei ylen. Iloitkaa siitä hyvästä, joka osaksenne on suotu. Unelmoikaa niistä asioista, joita ette vielä ole saavuttaneet. Muistakaa myös ne vaikeudet, jotka ovat teitä matkallanne koulineet. Nauttikaa rakkaiden ihmisten seurasta, jos olette onnekkaita. Emme ole täällä yksin, sillä meille on annettu toivo!
Joululla on sanoma. Se ei oikeasti muuten ole "kuluttakaa niin paljon että pelastumme". Elämä on niin täynnä syitä stressiin, että silloin täytyy vähitellen löytää tapoja irtautua suorittamisesta. Väkisin ja teeskentelemällä ei koskaan synny mitään todella kestävää ja aitoa. Näin synkkään vuodenaikaan totean lopuksi, että pimeydessä pienikin valo näkyy kirkkaasti!
Siunattua Joulua tasapuolisesti kaikille!
sunnuntai, 4. joulukuuta 2011
A Kind of Travel Story
So I was sent to another world behind the Atlantic for working matters. First time overseas for a guy approaching his way to fourth decade. I haven't been travelling that much for sure - if one does not count the force of imagination. It would be somewhat boring and also inappropriate to go into working details. Since I seem to have a livid mind I won't leave this experience untouched though. Just to state a disclaimer, it wasn't all for fun - quite some nine hour days in the office. However, I tried to get some out of it.
***
First day. After three hours in bed I had to take a cab to the airport. No queueing though and plenty of tired waiting time. Some Finnish sweets for the colleagues. I had a nice little discussion in the plane with a Serbian student. From that point of view Finland sure looks like a - if not paradise - safe haven of secured living.
Shift to a bigger Jet towards Atlanta, Georgia. Another first for me. So over the Atlantic and some time zones. Lufthansa had quite a nice entertainment system for the passengers. And also one really atractive stewardess who had some resemblance with a colleague of mine. Her slight clumsiness at times only made it all that more fun to follow! Thought of throwing the young lady a nice little compliment. Well, I ain't that kind of guy. No syrup if there aren't pancakes to go with. It sure was nice to eat the cheese with white wine while listening to some jazz in the headset. And the ocean kilometers beneath seemed like a wrinkled deck of blue steel. Over the icy Labrador and along the east coast of America went the jet.
Of the plane to the soil of new world, through the security checks and customs. I did some replay dance in the scan chamber - apparently a kind of waist alert. Next headed for local metro, all good with a Breeze card from a vending machine in my hand. And then it hit me: where the heck is my digital camera. Too late to go back, first casualty of this conquering was somewhere behind me. Suspect the space under plane seat. Well, I survived the metro ride with slightly bitter taste from my own foolishness. Had some burger and a big fat dessert accompanied by a local colleague of mine, after which just needed to deck the hotel bed. Georgia evening still had warm breath with some sprinkles of water in it.
Beer count 0/1: a pint of Franziskaner Weissbier in Frankfurt airport, something familiar to start with.
***
Second day and first morning in USA. I had to do some streching to have my stuck legs and back going. Then learning to deal with local shower kind of system. Next breakfast - here comes the starch and animal fat! Ham and mushroom omelette and a load of wheat based produce. Learning to tip. Georgia weather turned its back on me - high 30's in Fahrenheit and rain. So no walk yet for the European without driver's lisence. Nice shuttle bus driver dropped me to the office.
(here was the secret work stuff in office)
First day of work in another continent was completed. Crazy European headed for hotel some quarter of a mile away. As it was expected, someone just simply dropped to the kingsize bed. I did try to see some Monday night football but managed it poorly. It was about half time when the hunger sent me to scavenge something to fill the void in my stomach. Restaurants were everywhere but mostly closed. Pedestrian surely felt himself somewhat out of place. Finally I was able to find some corner place which served a log sized stromboli with sauce surprisingly similar to my own patented tomate sauce. Back to bed then over the not so nice crossing. By the way, Saints stomped Giants.
Beer count 0/1: no beer for me since I took the hotel death night straight on.
***
Second morning in USA. Some stretching and morning TV before breakfast. First some fruits and yoghurt since it all cannot be that heavy. Then pancakes with butter and caffeine dose. Now it was OK to head for the office with own two feet. Another Georgia morning started in cold and damp conditions.
(here was the secret part again - have to mention the oddiness of having subs and potato chips as lunch though)
I did notice a pub along the way to office in the morning. So it was my instant destination on my way after working hours. Straight to the bar table and a new brew for me. I had a cod burger with crisps and went for another beer also. Local bartender named Chris certainly knew his job. Well, to the hotel I headed since there was more to come.
A colleague picked me up for some bar trivia with his friends. So I went. There sure were no tailor made questions for the Finnish guy. The team did finish in second place for the evening, not much of my effect there. I had some pizza and beer along with gained respect of answers to certain questions and apparently quite fluent English for a true foreigner. It certainly was fun to meet locals in a bar of good music, beer and food.
Beer count 4/5: Samuel Adams Winter Lager and some excellent IPA (outside the official list) in the corner pub, Michelob Ultra and Laughing Skull in the trivia bar - all new acquaintances for me.
***
Third morning in USA and finally some Georgia sun. Newly developed morning routines of streching, local news and learning to shower in US. In the breakfast my tips had started to make a difference since this sir was already being served to the table with his waffle. Thanks for the fruit and yoghurt combo it was not pure starch attack with some fat from animals.
(not for your eyes and ears stuff here - with more bread, meat and mayonnaise based lunch served with Coke as lubricant; pecan pie with vanilla ice cream in the afternoon was on unexpected extra)
After office hours same colleague from yesterday took me for real southern barbecue - accompanied by his son. I got to see the skyline of Atlanta both in the sunset and in the night lights - from a car window. A glimpse of Georgia Tech, Olympic swimming center and Martin Luther King Historic Site also. But the best was served in a hard-to-find restaurant next to a railroad track field. A crispy rib as a starter, Brunswick stew and collard greens as sides and burned ends (really tender and smoky beef) as the main atraction. Really good southern stuff with intense, sour and rich taste jam packed my stomach for sure. And seasonal plenty-of-hops beer as the beverage of choice was another great pick.
To see the really good local things you have to be able to bounce around with the good people of your destination.
Beer count 5/6: Sierra Nevada Seasonal in the barbecue house.
***
Fourth morning and the same routines again. Crispy and clear low 30's morning it was. Back to protein batch in the form of an omelette with rich fillings. I gave up to the lure of having some baked sweet goodies early on. Then a brisk walk to the office on an alternative route.
(secrecy bound and somewhat dull work - powered by American Italian food)
For the evening I was dropped to a mall quite some miles east. Now I'm not a big shopper but since in USA I had to have my small share of it. I found something to bring back home and also fit in my cabin luggage. Not that cheap in those close to city malls though. It was funny though to hear from a black guy "cool pants, man". My red pants weren't the usual choice. I managed to get lost in an American mall for a minute and found myself shopping cosmetics. That really spells time to find exit and run to the hills with one's money!
I found the metro station and headed for a new region of Atlanta for me. I had agreed to meet a friend of a Finnish colleague and that I did. Two strangers in a totally new environment for me. Well, what the heck. I might just go with flow and rise to the occasion. I'm quite bad company while shopping and more keen to good food and beverages with interesting people. Should be bound to great discussions then - and that's what the evening offered. Along with another new beer and buffalo burger. Got to give thumbs up for women who drink their beer graciously!
Eventually it was time to try some local cab on my way to the hotel. Of course the cab driver was a Pakistani immigrant with fourteen year experience from the streets of New York. Again nice to talk with different kinds of people. That cab driver had a hefty tip.
Beer count 6/7: Leinenkugel's Fireside Nut Brown to go with the burger.
***
Fifth and last morning in USA for now. Same morning stuff with packing included since I was bound to take flight back to Europe come evening. Ham and cheese omelette, more starch and a brisk walk in a sunny Georgia morning followed.
(once more the office stuff here - with some generic burrito to keep me going)
So compliments and direction to local metro station. If it had been a game of who doesn't belong here I was the certain pick. Anyhow, I made the airport without any problems and cleared the security check. Then final spending on some random and foolish souvenirs. I had also supposedly cajun style fried shrimp dish in a pub along with one more new beer in American soil.
To the confined seat of an Airbus I pressed myself and took one last look at the sea of fireflies - metropolitan Atlanta lights they were. Had a nice but brief conversation with a woman of Asian background. Apparently she was a nursery professor heading for Cairo. And also very thankful of me using my height to help with her luggage.
Beer count 7/8: Sweetwater 420 to go in the Atlanta airport.
***
A bad night's sleep it was. No room for long legs and head dizzy of tiredness. Very thirsty feeling which only with water could be written off. Well, finally the flight was over and I was back in the old continent. Food in the plane was OK, entertainment good enough and another quite attractive Lufthansa stewardess aboard. So it was survivable although not all pleasant.
I was forced to spend some five hours in Frankfurt airport. Damn tired but no real opportunity to get some sleep. I strolled around the shops and did my final spending. I was amused in the security check since I was guessed to be niederländisch. Well, I taught the clerk quickly that danke in Finnish is kiitos.
Had to go for frankfurters and potato salad to make my whining stomach quiet. I threw in a pinch of work and tried read a paper. Not a huge success story. As one final encounter with a stranger I shared a discussion with French man living mainly in Finland. He was an entrepreneur of some sort, nice guy to talk to. I managed to throw in words of my employer's current business.
There was one final surprise for me. In the same flight back to cold dark north was a familiar person. Someone quite a few steps higher than me in the company hierarchy. Infact, almost the opposite ends. My secret identity was probably not revealed since I'm pretty much nobody. And my brief moment of shame in the form of stand up kind of a performance some eight days earlier was from behind a mask.
Well, in Helsinki I took a cab home and had some words with the driver. As a tip, I know where I'm not going to buy an apartment.
Beer count 8/9: Licher Hefeweizen as the liquid to flush down the frankfurters.
***
All in all, my first visit to the American continent was excellent. If not the lost camera. Still I give value to the experiences acquired. Atlanta seems to possess some really good food and plenty of warm hearted people. Hopefully I'll get to return sooner than later and land some golf in. Spring or fall would do good but first got to take care of the business.
Someone did not bother to check his spelling or grammary. And managed to write a lot of not that much. And again sabotaged his good night's sleep.
Beer total: Intense, rich, full-bodied, exciting, surprising, unique, does not leave bitter after taste - the way I like my women... BEER. Always joking and dead serious at the same time...
***
First day. After three hours in bed I had to take a cab to the airport. No queueing though and plenty of tired waiting time. Some Finnish sweets for the colleagues. I had a nice little discussion in the plane with a Serbian student. From that point of view Finland sure looks like a - if not paradise - safe haven of secured living.
Shift to a bigger Jet towards Atlanta, Georgia. Another first for me. So over the Atlantic and some time zones. Lufthansa had quite a nice entertainment system for the passengers. And also one really atractive stewardess who had some resemblance with a colleague of mine. Her slight clumsiness at times only made it all that more fun to follow! Thought of throwing the young lady a nice little compliment. Well, I ain't that kind of guy. No syrup if there aren't pancakes to go with. It sure was nice to eat the cheese with white wine while listening to some jazz in the headset. And the ocean kilometers beneath seemed like a wrinkled deck of blue steel. Over the icy Labrador and along the east coast of America went the jet.
Of the plane to the soil of new world, through the security checks and customs. I did some replay dance in the scan chamber - apparently a kind of waist alert. Next headed for local metro, all good with a Breeze card from a vending machine in my hand. And then it hit me: where the heck is my digital camera. Too late to go back, first casualty of this conquering was somewhere behind me. Suspect the space under plane seat. Well, I survived the metro ride with slightly bitter taste from my own foolishness. Had some burger and a big fat dessert accompanied by a local colleague of mine, after which just needed to deck the hotel bed. Georgia evening still had warm breath with some sprinkles of water in it.
Beer count 0/1: a pint of Franziskaner Weissbier in Frankfurt airport, something familiar to start with.
***
Second day and first morning in USA. I had to do some streching to have my stuck legs and back going. Then learning to deal with local shower kind of system. Next breakfast - here comes the starch and animal fat! Ham and mushroom omelette and a load of wheat based produce. Learning to tip. Georgia weather turned its back on me - high 30's in Fahrenheit and rain. So no walk yet for the European without driver's lisence. Nice shuttle bus driver dropped me to the office.
(here was the secret work stuff in office)
First day of work in another continent was completed. Crazy European headed for hotel some quarter of a mile away. As it was expected, someone just simply dropped to the kingsize bed. I did try to see some Monday night football but managed it poorly. It was about half time when the hunger sent me to scavenge something to fill the void in my stomach. Restaurants were everywhere but mostly closed. Pedestrian surely felt himself somewhat out of place. Finally I was able to find some corner place which served a log sized stromboli with sauce surprisingly similar to my own patented tomate sauce. Back to bed then over the not so nice crossing. By the way, Saints stomped Giants.
Beer count 0/1: no beer for me since I took the hotel death night straight on.
***
Second morning in USA. Some stretching and morning TV before breakfast. First some fruits and yoghurt since it all cannot be that heavy. Then pancakes with butter and caffeine dose. Now it was OK to head for the office with own two feet. Another Georgia morning started in cold and damp conditions.
(here was the secret part again - have to mention the oddiness of having subs and potato chips as lunch though)
I did notice a pub along the way to office in the morning. So it was my instant destination on my way after working hours. Straight to the bar table and a new brew for me. I had a cod burger with crisps and went for another beer also. Local bartender named Chris certainly knew his job. Well, to the hotel I headed since there was more to come.
A colleague picked me up for some bar trivia with his friends. So I went. There sure were no tailor made questions for the Finnish guy. The team did finish in second place for the evening, not much of my effect there. I had some pizza and beer along with gained respect of answers to certain questions and apparently quite fluent English for a true foreigner. It certainly was fun to meet locals in a bar of good music, beer and food.
Beer count 4/5: Samuel Adams Winter Lager and some excellent IPA (outside the official list) in the corner pub, Michelob Ultra and Laughing Skull in the trivia bar - all new acquaintances for me.
***
Third morning in USA and finally some Georgia sun. Newly developed morning routines of streching, local news and learning to shower in US. In the breakfast my tips had started to make a difference since this sir was already being served to the table with his waffle. Thanks for the fruit and yoghurt combo it was not pure starch attack with some fat from animals.
(not for your eyes and ears stuff here - with more bread, meat and mayonnaise based lunch served with Coke as lubricant; pecan pie with vanilla ice cream in the afternoon was on unexpected extra)
After office hours same colleague from yesterday took me for real southern barbecue - accompanied by his son. I got to see the skyline of Atlanta both in the sunset and in the night lights - from a car window. A glimpse of Georgia Tech, Olympic swimming center and Martin Luther King Historic Site also. But the best was served in a hard-to-find restaurant next to a railroad track field. A crispy rib as a starter, Brunswick stew and collard greens as sides and burned ends (really tender and smoky beef) as the main atraction. Really good southern stuff with intense, sour and rich taste jam packed my stomach for sure. And seasonal plenty-of-hops beer as the beverage of choice was another great pick.
To see the really good local things you have to be able to bounce around with the good people of your destination.
Beer count 5/6: Sierra Nevada Seasonal in the barbecue house.
***
Fourth morning and the same routines again. Crispy and clear low 30's morning it was. Back to protein batch in the form of an omelette with rich fillings. I gave up to the lure of having some baked sweet goodies early on. Then a brisk walk to the office on an alternative route.
(secrecy bound and somewhat dull work - powered by American Italian food)
For the evening I was dropped to a mall quite some miles east. Now I'm not a big shopper but since in USA I had to have my small share of it. I found something to bring back home and also fit in my cabin luggage. Not that cheap in those close to city malls though. It was funny though to hear from a black guy "cool pants, man". My red pants weren't the usual choice. I managed to get lost in an American mall for a minute and found myself shopping cosmetics. That really spells time to find exit and run to the hills with one's money!
I found the metro station and headed for a new region of Atlanta for me. I had agreed to meet a friend of a Finnish colleague and that I did. Two strangers in a totally new environment for me. Well, what the heck. I might just go with flow and rise to the occasion. I'm quite bad company while shopping and more keen to good food and beverages with interesting people. Should be bound to great discussions then - and that's what the evening offered. Along with another new beer and buffalo burger. Got to give thumbs up for women who drink their beer graciously!
Eventually it was time to try some local cab on my way to the hotel. Of course the cab driver was a Pakistani immigrant with fourteen year experience from the streets of New York. Again nice to talk with different kinds of people. That cab driver had a hefty tip.
Beer count 6/7: Leinenkugel's Fireside Nut Brown to go with the burger.
***
Fifth and last morning in USA for now. Same morning stuff with packing included since I was bound to take flight back to Europe come evening. Ham and cheese omelette, more starch and a brisk walk in a sunny Georgia morning followed.
(once more the office stuff here - with some generic burrito to keep me going)
So compliments and direction to local metro station. If it had been a game of who doesn't belong here I was the certain pick. Anyhow, I made the airport without any problems and cleared the security check. Then final spending on some random and foolish souvenirs. I had also supposedly cajun style fried shrimp dish in a pub along with one more new beer in American soil.
To the confined seat of an Airbus I pressed myself and took one last look at the sea of fireflies - metropolitan Atlanta lights they were. Had a nice but brief conversation with a woman of Asian background. Apparently she was a nursery professor heading for Cairo. And also very thankful of me using my height to help with her luggage.
Beer count 7/8: Sweetwater 420 to go in the Atlanta airport.
***
A bad night's sleep it was. No room for long legs and head dizzy of tiredness. Very thirsty feeling which only with water could be written off. Well, finally the flight was over and I was back in the old continent. Food in the plane was OK, entertainment good enough and another quite attractive Lufthansa stewardess aboard. So it was survivable although not all pleasant.
I was forced to spend some five hours in Frankfurt airport. Damn tired but no real opportunity to get some sleep. I strolled around the shops and did my final spending. I was amused in the security check since I was guessed to be niederländisch. Well, I taught the clerk quickly that danke in Finnish is kiitos.
Had to go for frankfurters and potato salad to make my whining stomach quiet. I threw in a pinch of work and tried read a paper. Not a huge success story. As one final encounter with a stranger I shared a discussion with French man living mainly in Finland. He was an entrepreneur of some sort, nice guy to talk to. I managed to throw in words of my employer's current business.
There was one final surprise for me. In the same flight back to cold dark north was a familiar person. Someone quite a few steps higher than me in the company hierarchy. Infact, almost the opposite ends. My secret identity was probably not revealed since I'm pretty much nobody. And my brief moment of shame in the form of stand up kind of a performance some eight days earlier was from behind a mask.
Well, in Helsinki I took a cab home and had some words with the driver. As a tip, I know where I'm not going to buy an apartment.
Beer count 8/9: Licher Hefeweizen as the liquid to flush down the frankfurters.
***
All in all, my first visit to the American continent was excellent. If not the lost camera. Still I give value to the experiences acquired. Atlanta seems to possess some really good food and plenty of warm hearted people. Hopefully I'll get to return sooner than later and land some golf in. Spring or fall would do good but first got to take care of the business.
Someone did not bother to check his spelling or grammary. And managed to write a lot of not that much. And again sabotaged his good night's sleep.
Beer total: Intense, rich, full-bodied, exciting, surprising, unique, does not leave bitter after taste - the way I like my women... BEER. Always joking and dead serious at the same time...
lauantai, 26. marraskuuta 2011
Kymmenen vuotta myöhemmin
Syksyllä 2001 maailma - henkilökohtaiselle tasolla - oli murentunut. Vuosien yksinäisyys, vähättely ja liiallinen itsekriittisyys olivat murtaneet nuoren miehen mielen. Minne menet, kun olet alta kahdenkympin ajautunut burnouttiin? Maailma oli tuolloin lähinnä synkkä ja masentava paikka eikä tulevaisuutta juuri tuntunut olevan. Ilman tukea, jota ei paljon näyttänyt olevan, tuskin kirjoittaisin enää juuri mitään. Lapsuudessa sydämeen syttynyt elämänhalu piti kuitenkin vähäistä vaan silti vahvaa toivoa yllä.
Nyt kymmenen vuotta myöhemmin, vielä alle kolmekymppisena, olo on usein kuin konkarilla. On totta, että ulkoisesti en ole tehnyt moniakaan asioita kuten useimmat ikätoverini samoissa olosuhteissa. Matkailut maailmalla ovat jääneet vähiin, rakkausrintamalla ei ole juuri mitään tapahtunut, paljoa ei ole biletetty. Tutkinto sentään on, armeija käytiin siihen viitekehykseen vanhana, ajokortti puuttuu edelleen. Kymmeneen vuoteen mahtuu surkeat puolitoista vuotta yliopistossa heti alkuun, masennusta ja terapiaa, opiskelijaseurakuntaa, työttömyyttä, myös eräänlaista omaishoitajuutta. Kuulostaa varmaan ahdistavalta?
Kaikki rankat kokemukset ovat minusta muokanneet sellaisen kaverin kuin nyt olen. Lähtökohtaisesti olen ujo, varovainen, suunnitelmallinen ja syvällinen pohdiskelija. Ja varsin heikko aloittamaan asioita, vaikkakin alkuun päästyäni hyvä viemään ne loppuun. Nykyisin pystyn jo huomattavasti paremmin tarttumaan toimeen ja luottamaan asioiden hoitumiseen. Olen huomannut tulevani juttuun sangen monenlaisten ihmisten kanssa, ja osin tarkoituksellisesti olenkin pyrkinyt saamaan kokemusta erilaisista työyhteisöistä ja vapaammista viitekehyksistä. Uskallan myös heittäytyä tilanteisiin ja useampaan otteeseen olen asettanut itseni esiintymistilanteen tuomaan stressiin.
Jos en olisi joutunut selvittämään alle kolmenkymmenen ikävuoden useita keski-ikäisille tuttuja ongelmia, en taatusti kykenisi sellaiseen empatiaan ja sopeutumiseen kuin nykyään. Helppoa se ei koskaan ole, sillä ulkoinen ja sisäinen minäni eivät monen silmissä varmasti oikein osu kohdilleen. On itse asiassa valtavan raskasta olla synnynnäinen ajattelija; itse en pysty katkaisemaan ajatteluprosessiani juuri lainkaan. Ja siihen kun vielä yhdistetään voimakkaat tunteet sekä pyrkimys analyyttisyyteen, niin toisinaan päässä vilisee aivan liikaa asioita. Viime vuosina olen kuitenkin alkanut löytää itsestäni kykyä tarttua hetkeen ja nauttia asioista liki lapsen kaltaisesti. Lisäksi minun on alati helpompaa nähdä mitä moninaisimmissa asioissa humoristiset ulottuvuudet.
Pahin ihmiselämän ongelma on oman kokemukseni perusteella yksinäisyys. Kaiken kestää paremmin, jos ei tarvitse yrittää tehdä sitä itse. Kavereita on helppo löytää, mutta syvällisen pohdiskelijan on jo paljon vaikeampi saada läheisiä ystäviä. Ei ole kovin pop nuoren aikuisen elämässä käsitellä ihmiselämän vaikeitakin puolia. Toisekseen on rankkaa olla yksin, jos on pohjimmiltaan vankasti perheihminen. Itseäni alkaa hiljalleen korpeamaan yhä pahenevassa määrin se, että joutuu toimimaan alinomaan jonkinmoisena go to guy:na - etenkin naisille. No, töissä minulle siitä maksetaan eli siellä rooli on työnkuvaan sisältyvää. Ei sen puoleen, lauma naisia kimpussa ei ole mikään todellinen unelma. Yksi riittää, jos on oikeasta puusta veistetty.
Pystyn suoltamaan valtavat määrät paskapuhetta, mutta sitä en tee ilman ironian ja mustan huumorin vivahteita. On säälittävää lähteä toheloimaan ihmissuhderintamalla valheiden pohjalta. Jos irtiotot ja hauskanpito pohjautuvat vain maan tapoihin ja päihtyneeseen olotilaan, ei oikeasti uskalleta tulla laatikon ulkopuolelle. Missä on silloin kekseliäisyys, luovuus ja aito rohkeus - kyky ihmetellä ympäröivää maailmaa hymynkare huulilla ja tippa silmäkulmassa? En yritä väittää olevani täydellinen tai muita parempi, puutteeni tiedän kivuliaasti. Täydellisyys on tässä maailmassa silmänräpäyksiä, joita kaikki eivät valitettavasti koskaan opi huomaamaan. Tässä ilmentyy myös kristillisen uskon ydin, ainakin tällaisen pohdiskelevan maallikon silmin.
Taas alkoi jutut lavenemaan liikaa. Pitäisi jo vetää hirsiä, sillä asioiden mennessä suunnitellusti pääsee allekirjoittunut vihdoin uuteen maailmaan alle vuorokauden. Jatkan tielläni, jossa hyvät asiat tulevat kohdalle yleensä vasta pitkällisen kypsyttelyn ja kärsivällisyyden virutuksen jälkeen. En enää suostu olemaan hiljaa, koska jo aikaa sitten olen huomannut omaavani paljon jaettavaa ja sosiaalisia kykyjä. Ei mitään kekkeripelleilyjä tai valtaisia sosiaalisia hermoverkkoja vaan kykyä kohdata ihminen silmistä silmään ja käsitellä myös niitä elämän vaikeimpia asioita ahdistumatta liiaksi. Teen aika ajoin irtiottoja, ja nautin yllätyselementistä. En ole vain sitä, mihin minut usein assosioidaan. Uskallan olla erilainen ja elää omalla tavallani. Haluan myös seistä muiden tukena kykyjeni mukaan ja rohkaista heitäkin olemaan rohkeasti ainutlaatuisia.
Ihmettelen edelleen suuresti sitä, miten vähän ihmiset - jopa älykkäinä pidetyt - oikeasti ajattelevat elämää. Ei elämän tuntemus synny vain suorittamisesta vaan ihmettelystä ja jakamisesta. Onneksi en ole yksin - vielä kun löytäisin lisää kaltaisiani. Yhä useammin kohtaan myös niin erinomaista palautetta toimistani, etten ole oikein tunnistaa siitä itseäni. Itsekriittinen kaveri kun olen. Tehtäväni näyttää olevan yhdistää humoristisia piirteitä vakaviin pohdintoihin - ei niitä moni varmaankaan ymmärrä vaan en minäkään monia oikein ymmärrä yrityksestäni huolimatta.
Nykyisin ohjenuorani on pyrkiä oppimaan yksi uusi asia päivässä ja kuulemaan yksi kiitos hyvin tehdystä työstä. Kaikki sen päälle on bonusta. Vie armollisesti eteenpäin.
It ain't easy to be me. But what choice do I have? Seriously.
Nyt kymmenen vuotta myöhemmin, vielä alle kolmekymppisena, olo on usein kuin konkarilla. On totta, että ulkoisesti en ole tehnyt moniakaan asioita kuten useimmat ikätoverini samoissa olosuhteissa. Matkailut maailmalla ovat jääneet vähiin, rakkausrintamalla ei ole juuri mitään tapahtunut, paljoa ei ole biletetty. Tutkinto sentään on, armeija käytiin siihen viitekehykseen vanhana, ajokortti puuttuu edelleen. Kymmeneen vuoteen mahtuu surkeat puolitoista vuotta yliopistossa heti alkuun, masennusta ja terapiaa, opiskelijaseurakuntaa, työttömyyttä, myös eräänlaista omaishoitajuutta. Kuulostaa varmaan ahdistavalta?
Kaikki rankat kokemukset ovat minusta muokanneet sellaisen kaverin kuin nyt olen. Lähtökohtaisesti olen ujo, varovainen, suunnitelmallinen ja syvällinen pohdiskelija. Ja varsin heikko aloittamaan asioita, vaikkakin alkuun päästyäni hyvä viemään ne loppuun. Nykyisin pystyn jo huomattavasti paremmin tarttumaan toimeen ja luottamaan asioiden hoitumiseen. Olen huomannut tulevani juttuun sangen monenlaisten ihmisten kanssa, ja osin tarkoituksellisesti olenkin pyrkinyt saamaan kokemusta erilaisista työyhteisöistä ja vapaammista viitekehyksistä. Uskallan myös heittäytyä tilanteisiin ja useampaan otteeseen olen asettanut itseni esiintymistilanteen tuomaan stressiin.
Jos en olisi joutunut selvittämään alle kolmenkymmenen ikävuoden useita keski-ikäisille tuttuja ongelmia, en taatusti kykenisi sellaiseen empatiaan ja sopeutumiseen kuin nykyään. Helppoa se ei koskaan ole, sillä ulkoinen ja sisäinen minäni eivät monen silmissä varmasti oikein osu kohdilleen. On itse asiassa valtavan raskasta olla synnynnäinen ajattelija; itse en pysty katkaisemaan ajatteluprosessiani juuri lainkaan. Ja siihen kun vielä yhdistetään voimakkaat tunteet sekä pyrkimys analyyttisyyteen, niin toisinaan päässä vilisee aivan liikaa asioita. Viime vuosina olen kuitenkin alkanut löytää itsestäni kykyä tarttua hetkeen ja nauttia asioista liki lapsen kaltaisesti. Lisäksi minun on alati helpompaa nähdä mitä moninaisimmissa asioissa humoristiset ulottuvuudet.
Pahin ihmiselämän ongelma on oman kokemukseni perusteella yksinäisyys. Kaiken kestää paremmin, jos ei tarvitse yrittää tehdä sitä itse. Kavereita on helppo löytää, mutta syvällisen pohdiskelijan on jo paljon vaikeampi saada läheisiä ystäviä. Ei ole kovin pop nuoren aikuisen elämässä käsitellä ihmiselämän vaikeitakin puolia. Toisekseen on rankkaa olla yksin, jos on pohjimmiltaan vankasti perheihminen. Itseäni alkaa hiljalleen korpeamaan yhä pahenevassa määrin se, että joutuu toimimaan alinomaan jonkinmoisena go to guy:na - etenkin naisille. No, töissä minulle siitä maksetaan eli siellä rooli on työnkuvaan sisältyvää. Ei sen puoleen, lauma naisia kimpussa ei ole mikään todellinen unelma. Yksi riittää, jos on oikeasta puusta veistetty.
Pystyn suoltamaan valtavat määrät paskapuhetta, mutta sitä en tee ilman ironian ja mustan huumorin vivahteita. On säälittävää lähteä toheloimaan ihmissuhderintamalla valheiden pohjalta. Jos irtiotot ja hauskanpito pohjautuvat vain maan tapoihin ja päihtyneeseen olotilaan, ei oikeasti uskalleta tulla laatikon ulkopuolelle. Missä on silloin kekseliäisyys, luovuus ja aito rohkeus - kyky ihmetellä ympäröivää maailmaa hymynkare huulilla ja tippa silmäkulmassa? En yritä väittää olevani täydellinen tai muita parempi, puutteeni tiedän kivuliaasti. Täydellisyys on tässä maailmassa silmänräpäyksiä, joita kaikki eivät valitettavasti koskaan opi huomaamaan. Tässä ilmentyy myös kristillisen uskon ydin, ainakin tällaisen pohdiskelevan maallikon silmin.
Taas alkoi jutut lavenemaan liikaa. Pitäisi jo vetää hirsiä, sillä asioiden mennessä suunnitellusti pääsee allekirjoittunut vihdoin uuteen maailmaan alle vuorokauden. Jatkan tielläni, jossa hyvät asiat tulevat kohdalle yleensä vasta pitkällisen kypsyttelyn ja kärsivällisyyden virutuksen jälkeen. En enää suostu olemaan hiljaa, koska jo aikaa sitten olen huomannut omaavani paljon jaettavaa ja sosiaalisia kykyjä. Ei mitään kekkeripelleilyjä tai valtaisia sosiaalisia hermoverkkoja vaan kykyä kohdata ihminen silmistä silmään ja käsitellä myös niitä elämän vaikeimpia asioita ahdistumatta liiaksi. Teen aika ajoin irtiottoja, ja nautin yllätyselementistä. En ole vain sitä, mihin minut usein assosioidaan. Uskallan olla erilainen ja elää omalla tavallani. Haluan myös seistä muiden tukena kykyjeni mukaan ja rohkaista heitäkin olemaan rohkeasti ainutlaatuisia.
Ihmettelen edelleen suuresti sitä, miten vähän ihmiset - jopa älykkäinä pidetyt - oikeasti ajattelevat elämää. Ei elämän tuntemus synny vain suorittamisesta vaan ihmettelystä ja jakamisesta. Onneksi en ole yksin - vielä kun löytäisin lisää kaltaisiani. Yhä useammin kohtaan myös niin erinomaista palautetta toimistani, etten ole oikein tunnistaa siitä itseäni. Itsekriittinen kaveri kun olen. Tehtäväni näyttää olevan yhdistää humoristisia piirteitä vakaviin pohdintoihin - ei niitä moni varmaankaan ymmärrä vaan en minäkään monia oikein ymmärrä yrityksestäni huolimatta.
Nykyisin ohjenuorani on pyrkiä oppimaan yksi uusi asia päivässä ja kuulemaan yksi kiitos hyvin tehdystä työstä. Kaikki sen päälle on bonusta. Vie armollisesti eteenpäin.
It ain't easy to be me. But what choice do I have? Seriously.
torstai, 10. marraskuuta 2011
Isälleni
Isänpäivä on kohta käsillä. Koska kirjoitin keväällä äidilleni, kirjoitan nyt isälleni. Yritän olla olla vähäsanaisempi, sillä isäni ei ole juurikaan vuolas sanojen kanssa.
Tätä ei ole helppo kirjoittaa, koska isäsuhteeni on luultavasti vaikein läheinen ihmissuhteeni. En taatusti ole ensimmäinen enkä viimeinen esikoispoika siinä tilanteessa. Minulla on ollut aikoja, jolloin olen henkisesti vastustanut lähes kaikkea mitä isäni minulle on edustanut. Jossakin vaiheessa arvostin isääni huomattavasti enemmän opettajana kuin vanhempana. On varmasti aivan yhtä vaikeaa olla kaksoisroolissa isänä ja opettajana kuin on olla lapsena ja oppilaana.
Isä, parhaasi olet varmasti yrittänyt. Kaikki me toimimme omista rajoittuneista lähtökohdistamme, niin sinäkin. Monta hyvää asiaa juontaa juurensa esimerkkiisi enkä kenties pelaisi golfiakaan ilman vaikutustasi. Isä, sinulla on vielä aikaa ja mahdollisuuksia tehdä monia asioita tässä elämässä. Anna itsellesi lupa ja mahdollisuus siihen. Mitä nuo asiat ovatkin, niin pohjimmiltaan on sinun ne päätettävä, vaikka meillä läheisilläsi voikin olla omat vahvat mielipiteemme.
Hyvää isänpäivää tulevana sunnuntaina! Toivottavasti minäkin voin muutaman vuoden kuluessa viettää isänpäivää kaksoisroolissa - isänä ja poikana. Ei siksi, että se olisi helppoa vaan siksi että sen on elämää.
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