Late December Saturday

It's a saturday before noon. We all slept late (until 8 o'clock at least) and M is having his late breakfast. The kid is in a hut made of pillows and blankets. I am going to get dressed and become effective - there is a lot to do.

Our guests from Japan are now safely back home. Before they left I was honoured to see baby guest's first steps. It must be a good omen for a little girl to start walking in Finland. I miss seeing her ever so happy "ohayoo"-face in the morning. I hope I will see them soon again.

My sister and her boyfriend came to have fondue with us last night. It must have been more than 8 years since we last prepared fondue. It was delicious. We should have it more often. The secret of good fondue is good cheese. We used Swiss Gruyere and Finnish well stored Emmental.

But that's about cheese for now.

The picture on this post was taken on christmas eve sometimes around one in early afternoon. Sun stays low this time of the year.

Merry Christmas

Merry christmas to everyone. Eat a lot and drink enough.

We'll head for a three days' tour from a christmas table to another. Our lovely ex-neighbour from Japan will be with us to share the fun - with her super cute baby girl.

I'll be back a bit heavier (thanks to all the christmas food) and a bit more rested (hopefully). Until then, be good.

Busy Hostess

I have been tagged again by lovely Tim. I will return to her tagging once I have other than a Japanese toddler's book or a Finnish translation of latest Harry Potter next to me.

It's fun to have visitors: my friend from Japan with her super-cute, 10 months old baby girl. I have enjoyed their company a lot as well as showing wonders of Finland to them.

Next on our scedule is to get ready for christmas, that is to increase gradually our food intake to be able to survive all the christmas gluttony.

Potatoes

Potatoes are important part of a Finnish meal. They are usually served with a sauce. The sauce often brown and has meat in it. And that's about it.

Of course I am not telling the whole truth here. Now a days pizzas and pastas are often seen on dinner tables instead of the traditional potatoe+meat-surprise. But still, Finns eat loads and loads of potatoes.

(If someone wants to know what Finns really eat and how to cook that, you can check it out here.)

My kids doesn't like potatoes. My kids doesn't like food in general. He agrees to eat pasta with ketchup or pesto, oat meal, rice with soy souce, fish fingers, tomatoes, nori seaweed, soba or udon noodles, sushi and french fries. Who knows, he might eat meat too, but we haven't given him any, because we don't buy or prepare it to ourselves. If he could choose his meals himself, he would live on ice cream.

I used to love cooking. Since I started house-wifing I have lost my inspiration to cook. I hope it comes back someday.

And here's what I wanted to share: tomorrow my lovely neighbour from Japan will arrive here to delight our dark days for two weeks. I am looking forward to see her and her little daughter again.

Berries and Suicides

Trees and bushes are full of berries this year. They say it's a sure sign of a coming especially cold winter. We will see if that's true. So far this been the warmest and rainiest winter in 40 years, during my life time.

I wouldn't put my money on betting for white christmas this year.

We spent the weekend at my mother-in-law's. On the way there our train killed a man. Just before our station there was a sound of a food processor under the train, then the train stopped and a shocked voice announced that there had been an accident. Then came two abulances and the police. Ambulances left the place and the police begin to inspect the scene and pick up pieces of a former human being. After hour's waiting another train stopped next to ours. We hopped on that one and soon reached our destination.

Everyone's guess was that the crash victim commited a suicide. For him, I assume it was a man, it was a quick end. He got what he came for. For the chap who drove the train it was a terrible tragedy and he will surely see the accident happening before his eyes for the rest of his life. I think it's cowardly to commit a suicide: everyone dies for sure anyway. But I guess you don't give a shit about your own cowardliness if you are determined to end your life, all the same, it's double cowardly to make someone unwilling do it for you.

No Ball

It's rainy, it's dark and it's cold. It's Finland!

Tomorrow is the independence day. Our Mrs President will have a huge ball and as before, I haven't been invited, which itself isn't a wonder: I haven't done anything I would be mentioned for in history books and I am not Mrs President's personal friend or even a member of the parliament.

Of course I would be panicing, if I suddenly found a forgotten invitation under my doormat. I have no dress to wear and my hair looks like a jungle so much that I am half expecting to hear Tarzan doing his howl any time, the Johnny Weissmuller way.

Oh well. A friend has asked our family unit to join theirs tomorrow afternoon and we'll have a nice dinner together. I can wear jeans and these people won't ask me if I have taken a perm. When people ask that, I wonder how low they think I've gone during my years away from this arctic land. If I saw a perm that looked like my hair, I would feel sorry for him/her.

Why don't I do something to my hair disaster? Well, I am lazy and I secretly like looking like I didn't give a poo about my looks.

Five Things, Instead of Three or Four

I got tagged by Timorous Beastie. Now I am wondering what five things I could tell about myself that I hadn't told already.

Thinking, thinking, thinking...

1. Long ago someone told me to start modelling. She arranged me to a shooting and that was the only one I ever did. The photographer complained about my bad skin (at that point my acne wasn't that bad anymore) and I didn't think I had looks for the job anyway. So I quit before I even started.

2. I think "the natural way" to give a birth to a baby is the most unnatural (been there, done that) and everyone woman should have a right to have a cesarean section, if they wanted one. Or even better: men should carry unborn babies. I guess I have to consult Universe's Biological Design Deparment (UBDD) about these improvements.

3. I used to have a sweater saying: "I love mankind - it's people I hate". I wish I still had it.

4. I am in an acute need of a vacation. I know, I've told that about 100 times before, but I still am.

5. A palm reader told me that I have been a sailor during three past life times. That explains my shameless swearing (in Finnish).

Distances From Water

In Tokyo we lived next to Tokyo Bay, in Odaiba. I liked that a lot. The closer to sea the better, is my secret motto.

Now sea shore is a bit further away from our home - about 15 minutes walk - but it looks like this.

Ok, it looks freezing cold but you see the horizon and all is built by mother nature.

With'n'without

I experienced moments of happiness in a food store today: I went there alone!

Quite many other parents had decided to take their little monsters along. I heard fathers shouting at their kids "do not touch that" and mothers running after their fast moving short companions. Right then I valued the absence of my personal screamer, who was having fun with M in a park.

The kid told us later today that M is nice and I am nervous and therefore bad. That's what you get if you consciously enjoy doing grocery shopping without him: polls drop.

Lazy Days

This is life: both me and the kid are sitting by a computer. I am surfing on the net and he is playing Linux kid's game. (M has that incureable computer virus called Linux on his computer). Of course we could go out doors, to a play ground or for a walk, but not just yet. In no time we are living times when I am away studying in Sweden and the kid has to wake up with larks (and M), eat quickly and rush to his day care and sundays will be only days for this kind of waiste of time. So, I am not starting my day yet.

And an important notice for everybody's knowledge: I am a Mermaid.

You Are a Mermaid

You are a total daydreamer, and people tend to think you're flakier than you actually are. While your head is often in the clouds, you'll always come back to earth to help someone in need. Beyond being a caring person, you are also very intelligent and rational. You understand the connections of the universe better than almost anyone else.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

Keeping Warm

The kid isn't happy about our new home. He says that we are still living in Odaiba and it's M who lives here in Espoo. It will take some time before he accepts the fact that we are living here. It took some time a year ago when we moved to Odaiba.

It's gray, rainy, cold and dark here this time of year, but I don't mind. I can sit indoors - even naked if I want to, which itself isn't that high on my todo-list - and I don't freeze. After two winters in Tokyo I can truly appriciate the fantastic and well functioning central-heating system in Finnish houses.

Living in a Storage

We have finally settled down to our new home. Interiors look still like a storage (I am sitting on floor and there is no lamp in this room). But, we have internet. What else you need for a good life?

M came to Finland on wednesday and went to work the next day. I wonder if he has noticed that he isn't in Japan anymore.

I have lost some things since we left Sweden two years ago: I can't find my nice iron frying pan anywhere and tools are nowhere to be found.

Finnish Cashiers Give Me Evil Looks

In Finland you have to weigh your vegetables and fruits yourself at food stores. The self service scale is placed next to products and not hard to see or find at all. Still I manage to forget to weigh most of times and get scary looks from the person at a cashier.

I find it hard to understand why finns don't use the same system they have in Sweden: the cashier weighs your fruits. Finland must be the only place on this planet where they trust customer to place the price on the product. People try to cheat. A friend who worked as cashier said that it happened all the time. You could tell the price was too low for that number of fruits or the customer had "accidentally" pushed a wrong, cheaper product's button.

One country where this self pricing would work is Japan: people are very honest there. But shops wouldn't allow customers to do service job them selves. Someone's job is to put (rediculously expensive) prices on fruits.

Customer service is suberb in Japan. I really, really, really miss that among these northern zombies who don't even try to hide the fact they hate their jobs and their customers.

Moments of Horror

It's been a pretty rough and dramatic three days: serious illness in my family, strong emotions because of that and ongoing session of major tantrums from my son's side. Fortunately it seems that everything is going to be allright with my little relative and I live in a hope that my son will some day quit being a loud and determined opposition to anything I do, say, or even think.

Next week M will arrive to Finland. Thankgod!!!

Finland Finland Finland

Damn, standing at that bus stop today was cold. We have minus degrees and wind - not my favourite combination at the weather department. But I don't care: it's warm indoors!

The kid is loosening his tight grasp on me and agrees to stay with other people while I take care of things. He seems to like being in Finland and he has enjoyed playing on piles of snow. Those piles we found at my mother-in-law where our ex-dog lives too. There we'll go this weekend to dog-sit the ex.

Our new home is still a mess. Today I found out that the washing machine our land lord left there for us isn't working. Crap.

We have huge piles of books and no bookshells or any other furniture. No interior magazine won't be willing to show our home on its' pages, unless "less is more" turns to "nothing is more" and a messy version of that becomes popular.

And, happy b-day you 40 years old you.

Moving

I am in Finland at my parent's place. Jetlag is gone. I am working on moving to our new home, which seems to take more time than what I expected, and trying to keep the kid entertained at the same time (he spends lots of time watching videos).

The kid doesn't accept anyone else's company than mine, which is understandable in a stressfull situation like this and which makes it quite difficult for me to do anything. Everyone is very helpful and hospitable. I can't tell yet how I feel about being back "home": too much to do and no time for myself. I will let you know as soon as I can.

Tokyo Housewife's Leaving

Tomorrow my career as Tokyo Housewife is finally over. A weekend full of goodbyes has gone (god, it's sad to say goodbye) and the last bit of packing is left to be done.

I think I am one of the luckiest people on this planet what comes to the people I've met. I must have met all the most wonderful people in Tokyo and I have a feeling we'll meet again don't know when, don't know where... (at his point I am singing out loud). Why can't everybody move to Finland with me?

I won't abandon you my dear readers. I will go on reporting about my ever so exciting life once I have an internet access in Finland. Until then - Sayonara.

Karaoke Is Always A Good Choice

Our last guest will leave early tomorrow morning. She will take some Vimme's toys with her (about 10 kg) in an ancient plastic suitcase, which propably won't travel anywhere after this journey, if not to a garbage container. Toys, of course, will be removed before that.

I have packed another small suitcase full with Vimme's clothes. There is a cardboard box to fill with stuff and send it to us in Finland. And I haven't even started to think about packing my own stuff.

Oh dear.

But I don't think about all that today. I go to Karaoke instead.

Loosing My Touch

I have always been good at finding my way and in Tokyo, finding the right train and taking it to the right direction. Not anymore. I am flipping out.

Yesterday I took us first to a wrong platform, then to a wrong train and got us where we've never been before (we did end up having a nice evening walk and a dinner at a restaurant on our way to a station we should gone to).

Today I first didn't find my way to a metro station (elevator was lost) and then I took a train to the wrong direction. I wonder what is wrong with me. Time to leave Tokyo I guess.

How To Handle A Jetlagged Guest

Our last guest from Finland arrived today. I know I thought our previous guest was the last one, but someone needed to come to Tokyo before we leave. I think it's fun and keeps me from freaking out before the big move. And - our guest is special. She is a female and the kid likes her. That rarely happens.

Everytime a jetlagged person comes to our humble home, we try to keep the person up until Vimme goes to bed around eight. The jatlagged will be so tired at that point that s/he will sleep until the next morning and won't be too tired when the kid wakes up at 6:30.

Keeping awake strategies are: taking a tour through Venus Fort (shock effect) and other malls, hanging on the Odaiba beach and having a dinner (read: buying a sushi box and a sixpack). Seems to work well.

Art And A Small Room

Last night I went to an opening of an exhibition at a gallery in Aoyama. The weather was as bad as it was earlier, but going somewhere didn't feel impossible because I was able to leave the kid home.

The exhibition was good. I don't think art that I would define good had to be done with skill and good technique, but every time I see en exhibition that "talks to me" and one can see the the artist is really skillfull, it gets number of extra points from me. This was the case last night.

I was there with my Japanese friend and we went to have sushi when we left the gallery. I am panic-eating sushi. I eat it like the end of the world would be knocking on my door - and a way it is. The end of my housewifing period in Tokyo is definitely ending and also my access to Japanese sushi. All the same, sushi was good, like it always is.

Then we went to Shibuya for a drink. Since another Japanese friend told me about this tiny area next to Yamanote Line (X marks the spot), where you can drink in a tiny, little, closet sized bar - as soon as you've been able to decide which one you enter, I have wanted to go there and sit in one of those claustrophobic interiors. We did that.

The bar we picked up wasn't the most crowded (that's why we went there). The only beer they sold was white beer from Belgium, we had that. The most unexpected thing happened: a Japanese man started to talk to me!!! And in English!!! Now I've seen it all and I can leave Tokyo with no regrets.

Hi, It's Tanaka Nanba

Weather is really horrible. We were supposed to leave to meet a Finnish mother-kid-unit this morning, but I decided to cancel the meeting. The kid is in a screamy mood. Combine that to wet clothes and trains running late, you'd figure out in no time why I am staying home today.

Your Japanese Name Is...

Tanaka Nanba

What's your Japanese Name?

Friends and Cities

Vimme has spent time with the new friend every day now. The only difference in their characters I've noticed so far is, that Vimme is more into taking physical risks, thus getting more cuts and bruises.

Such a pity there isn't a Star Trek type of a transporter room service between Tokyo and Espoo (where we'll move). For those people who have never heard of Espoo: it's the same for Helsinki as Yokohama is for Tokyo - a big city right next to a gigantic one... except that Helsinki isn't gigantic at all and Espoo isn't big. But you know what I mean. And if you don't - what can I do? Give finglish lessons?

Anyway, one of the only things I've been secretly wishing for Vimme (one shouldn't have any expectations what comes to one's kids) is that he would have friends and he would know how to be a good friend to his friends. I might get lucky with this one. Happy happy, joy joy!

A New Friend

Here's another picture from our Odaiba.

Vimme has a new friend in our building: a boy who is about two weeks older than he is. They look alike, they are exactly the same size, and they are both into learning (numbers, letters, hiraganas, flags, countrie's names, train station's names, etc). A perfect match in other words. Only things they don't have in common is a language. All the same, they had fun playing together for hours today.

Too bad we learned to know them so late - soon we have to wave bye-bye to all our friends in Japan and that's sad.

Getting Ready to Go

I had a list of things I thought I would buy before leaving Japan, like shoes with separate big toe, baggy workman trousers, 'Hello Kitty' pocket watch, all kinds of kitchen stuff, T-shirts with Japanese text etc. Today at shops I looked at various objects and while watching them came to a conclusion that I don't need any of those. I didn't buy anything I had planned to buy. Let's see how much I will regret that when I'm back in Europe.

It looks like we are going to have a flat ready to move in when we arrive to Helsinki in the middle of this month. It's a huge relief. Now I can focus on hunting a day care place for the kid + packing, moving and unpacking. Any volunteers to help me?

Doesn't "A day care place for the kid" sound just fantastic!

At Disney's

A friend of mine took me and Vimme to Tokyo Disneyland today. The weather was nice and sunny and the kid wasn't on his worst mood.

Keiyo Line had suspended the operation, thanks to a small fire at Tokyo Station early the same morning and that's why we decided to walk to Disney Resort from Shin-Kiba - which is at least an hour's walk. Vimme took a nap while we walked, which I thank-god-or-anything for.

Three hours at the park went fine, but after that both I and the kid got tired and then we headed back home. When I asked Vimme what had been the best, he said 'The Dancing', by which he ment the Parade. My kid is into parades! I wonder where that gene comes from.

Vimme/Benny/Daikon

Vimme is pretending to speak English. Of course it is his own personal version of the language and fully incomprehensible. That doesn't have any effect on the fact that it sounds terribly cute. When he speaks his English, his name is Benny.

His other recent alterego is the God of Daikon raddish from Miyazaki's film 'Spirited away'. While being the Daikon god, he doesn't speak at all.

I have started to buy things to bring home, like extra tubes of Wasabi and packages of Origami papers from 100 Yen shop and such. There are still some other things I will buy before leaving, but not a lot and nothing heavy.

Talking About a Product Without Mentioning What It Is - And All That For No Particular Reason

The kid got caught by the Ultraman today.

I should concider become supporter of this product - or I should have done that a long ago already: another friend of mine has praised the object and said that every woman should use it. But it seems I have to hear more than one recommendation before I believe thigs are the way they say things are.

I Said No

A guy in our yard wanted to interview me for a Japanese TV. I said politely no and told him I am shy - I am! - and he went to hunt for another gaijin for his needs. So, now I missed my 15 minutes of fame.

My Little Agneta

The kid spent all day watching and listening to ABBA. He danced and sang along when Agneta and Frida did their wonderful performances.

At some point he told me that: "You are her", pointing at Frida, " and I am her", pointing at Agneta. Well, hair colours do match. And who said that gender mattered anyway.

One Of These

Here is another one of these things. These are fun to do, godknows if anyone has patience to read them. But who cares - here we go!

Things that scare me.
1. all kinds of fundamentalism
2. religious fanatics
3. seeing my morning-face in a mirror

People who make me laugh.
1. my kid
2. my friends
3. anybody in a right situation

Things I hate most.
1. religious fanatics
2. racism
3. elbowing old ladies (an international phenomena)

Things I don't understand.
1. child abusers
2. wars
3. why can't I be Katharine Hebburn

Things I'm doing right now
1. house-wifing
2. getting ready for the big move back to Europe
3. letting my hair to have a life on its own

Things I want to do before I die.
1. finish my studies - should be easy
2. see my kid grown up
3. have a work I love, without being a workaholic... but I don't see that kind of -holism happening to me

Things I can do.
1. draw and paint
2. knit
3. leave my dignity home when I go to karaoke

Ways to describe my personality.
1. hysterical - in a "running from wall to wall and screaming" way
2. uptight - no patience at all
3. do I have a personality?

Things I can't do.
1. advanced yoga asanas
2. recognize expensive handbags - other than ugly LVs
3. drink a lot two days in row

Things I think you should listen to.
1. people who talk to me
2. my instincts
3. I beg your pardon?

Things you should never listen to.
1. people who think they know what is good for me
2. gossips
3. cheesy country music first thing in the morning

Things I'd like to learn.
1. to fly an airplane
2. japanese
3. to take it easy

Favorite foods.
1. sushi
2. sushi
3. sushi

Beverages I drink regularly.
1. coffee
2. water
3. beer

Shows I watched as a kid.
1. Charlie's Angels
2. Star Trek
3. Finnish stuff you wouldn't know anyway

Sumo Rocks!

Oh god. I have been born again: I love sumo!

Today we went to see sumo wrestling at Ryogoku Kokugikan (Tokyo's Sumo Stadium... or what ever it would be called in english - or in finglish... hmm, but finglish I can define myself, so let's say it's a stadium).

I already enjoyed watching sumo on TV - when we still had a TV long ago in Europe. Now I saw the whole spectacle live and I can say that if I had a chance I would be there watching the game every helluva day of the tournament.

Today I was there with M and the kid and our Japanese friends - a family with two small kids. Of course it's not as relaxing to watch the game with children as it would be without them, but kids aren't an obstacle either - nobody seemed to give another thought to kids being kids, which means, not sitting still and jumping on everything.

So, if you are living in Tokyo and you haven't seen sumo yet, then you better get your bones to Ryogoku at once and see it yourself. It's extreamly enjoyable.

Knock, Knock, Knock...

My friend left for Finland this morning. It's a cold and rainy day. I haven't gone out else than to get food from the closest convenience store. But none of that really matters or makes me sad or anything, because (happy, happy, joy, joy) - the kid hasn't got a tantrum today... yet.

Yes, I am frantically knocking on wood at the moment.

Stitch Report

Stitches have been removed from kid's head. I wish he won't get another stitch on his head ever again.

My friend went to Kamakura today and I stayed back home with the kid. When she came back, she told about a place I have missed on my visits there: a Fox God's Shrine on a forest hill. That's where I go on my next visit to Kamakura.

Foggy Nikko

Yesterday we went to Nikko. The kid stayed home with M and that way I had a chance to focus on enjoying what I saw.

Nikko's temples were beautiful and area's atmosphere was nice and peaceful, though the place was quite crowded. The air was good to breath and foggy weather didn't bother us at all. It was a nice trip.

On friday we went to Karaoke again. Boy, I love it. Now I can say: if I go to Karaoke I have to sing Ramone's Blitzkrieg Bop. I've done it every time so far.

How To Eat Sushi

Here's an informative video telling people how to eat sushi. My favourite part of it is when they tell what to say when you pour a drink or when you are holding a glass while someone is pouring a drink for you.

A Wednesday

Yesterday my friend spent a successfull shopping day at Shibuya on her own. She even bought a pair of glasses at a shop where no one spoke English. The eye sight test was a bit tricky though, they showed Japanese kanji letters and she was supposed to name them... maybe it was a language test. All the same, she came back home with a new look.

Me and the kid stayed at home and I scrubbed the washing basin, like that would solve the problem of world hunger and end all the wars. Maybe it does, maybe I should just scrub harder.

In the evening we went for a walk and I took this picture.

The kid is screaming - I better go.

Dinner at Tim's Place

Me and my Finnish friend went to Tim's place last night for a dinner ( Jo was there too and another friend of ours, plus - of course - Tim's Beast). It was a fun night and the day after (today that is) wasn't hang-over-wise as bad as I expected it to be. I was just very tired.

Tim prepared a lovely dinner: smooth veggie soup, salad, fried mushrooms and tasty crepes. We ate a lot and drank even more ( I had Pimms for the first time in my life). At that state of my drunkeness, where I usually start telling stupid, endless anecdotes and bad jokes to anybody who cares to listen, we went to karaoke. So this time, instead of making fool of myself by telling bad jokes and such, I did that by bellowing my lungs out in a karaoke booth. But boy it was fun!

A Stitch In Time Saves Nine?

The kid got stitches on his head again. This time he fell off an armchair and hit the back of his head on a table on his way down to the floor. The good thing is that he didn't get other more serious injuries on his head than a wound. He is carrying his clip-stiches with pride and he is fine. I am not so sure about myself.

A Thursday Morning

The kid woke up around six this morning and guess who woke up as well. Oh god! Even my morning swollen eyelids haven't woken up yet. I can hardly see anything behind them.

Yesterday a good friend of mine arrived here and will stay with us for two weeks. It's fun to have company again. She will be our last over-seas guest here in Japan.

What is good about this morning: I'll have real Finnish rye bread and nice Finnish cheese for breakfast - thanks to my friend! I could also have a drink of Finnish Koskenkorva, but it isn't really my cup of tea.

Samurai Goes To Finland Again

Did you know that Airguitar World Championships are held every fall in Oulu, Finland? I was born in that town a looooong ago.

Here's Japan's own Takeshi Kongochi doing his performance in last year's competition. He is the champion of airguitarring in Japan. Here's a quote from his site:

"Takeshi Kongochi is a pioneer of air guitarist in Japan.
He has left for Finland, northern Europe, so far, so far away from Japan.
in 2004 , and in 2005 , he gets the 4th place in the world .
This is the great achievement of course.
His style , oriental , exotic , moody and imaginative,
has been breaking a machine of air guitar kids in all over the world."

A Better Person

Weekend went by quickly. I was a good mother and a wonderful wife and spent the whole weekend with my family. No bars or pubs this time... like I sat in one every moment I have free - I could say to myself: dream on!

Both on saturday and on sunday we did things the kid enjoyed doing (pool, playground, fast food, playground etc). In the evening me and M suffered from terrible withdrawl symptoms, because we ran out of 'Lost'-episodes.

What do you do when you can't watch TV shows - not that I watched TV, I just watch TV series on a computer. This is a wonderful way to give a bit false picture of myself to outside world: I can honestly say that I don't watch TV (sure sign of a better person) and still I watch TV series when ever I can.

Today, on monday, I took the kid to the Children's Hall again. He loved it, like he always does.

Cute

Did I need mayonnaise when I bought this jar today? Let me tell you: no I didn't.

This is a sign that I have lived in Japan for a long time - I buy things just because they look cute.

Eek, somebody, help me!

Learn to speak Finnish in 3 minutes

Ok folks, have you already booked your tickets to Finland? If you have, here's a site for you to practice your Finnish.

More About Days

Here's the kid is posing by a dead bug.

Today he's been a Mr Sunshine. If I only knew where bad days and good days come from, I would cancel the bad days and take those good days instead.

And don't tell me about not being able to value good days without experiencing bad ones - I know a good day when I see one, even in disguise.

Various Kinds of Days

This morning I decided to take the kid to Metropolitan Children's Hall. On our way to the train station he started loudly to object all and at the station he began his well trained and effective scream performance. When the train came and I was about to push the stroller in, he looked at a lady sitting in the train and did his notorious 'psycho' scream. That moment I turned on my heels and told the kid we are going home.

It took a while for us both to calm down and people spotted me yelling at an angry, screaming 3 years old when I walked towards home from the station. God, I hate days like this.

I had a pleasure to spend a nice and relaxing saturday night with my Japanese friends. They had booked a table at a restaurant called Gonpachi. The view from the table was fantastic, the restaurant is on the 14th floor, and the food was delicous. I even tasted a raw oyster (first time for me) and I liked it. After the dinner we had a drink at a tiny, well hidden, luxurious cocktail bar. I want more nights like that!

On a Beach

I took the kid to the Odaiba beach today before noon. One isn't supposed to swim there (some beach!) and to be honest I wouldn't propably swim there even if I was allowed to do so. Water has to be pee warm before I sink my butt in it. Or if the water is cooler than that there has to be a hot sauna close by.

All the same, the kid liked playing with sand & water( = mud).

Congratulations!

A good friend of mine in Gothenburg has had a baby. I am looking forward to hear how all went and how the new roommate is. I am also looking forward to that time when I can meet all the babies that has been born in Gothenburg since I left for Japan. That day is coming closer and closer.

Japanese Food and Swedish Books

My lovely neighbour made me a lunch today. She is a fantastic cook. I might concider hiring her as my personal Japanese cook, if I was filthy rich and she didn't have any other obligations, like family, work, and such. Oh well... I have to come up with some other plan to get delicious Japanese food on my plate once I am back in Europe.

The kid has been mellow-minded and I have been on a low energy level - that means we haven't done much of anything since my sister left. I am reading a pile of swedish books from Marianne Fredriksson. A friend of mine sent the pile to me (which I'm über-grateful for). It's fun to read in swedish, even the book that has a lot written in an half incomprehensible dialect. Jajamensan!

Ambivalence

My sister and her boyfriend are on their way back home. Now we have about two weeks time to be unproductive before our next and possibly the last over-seas guest will arrive. Then it won't be long until I'll hop on a plane to Helsinki with the kid and start looking for a flat there. I don't know what to think. It is absolutely wonderful to go back and get on with my own projects, but there'll be so many things I will miss from Tokyo. And moving causes me stress.

Beeing Busy

My sister and her boyfriend arrived here on sunday. Our family unit felt better and ready to socialize by then.

The picture was taken yesterday at Metropolitan Government Building. I was - again - separately grateful that there wasn't an earthquake during our stay on the 43rd floor. It was a clear day and we could even see Fuji-san. The picture is taken to our home's direction, but you can't see our house. It's too far away.

Summer Flu

Our family unit is going through some sort of summer flu. Vimme has been coughing for a while already and me & M been dizzy, achy and tired.

My sister is coming here tomorrow with her boyfriend for a 10 days visit. They won't be meeting a tidy flat when they step in through our front door. My cleaner lady later ego doesn't appear when I am feeling ill.

Back in Tokyo

I am back from my two's days get-away. It was a lovely trip. I felt very welcome at my friend's in-laws, who were extreamly hospitable people. I wonder if I can ever give all that good back to them. Oh well, they'll have a place to stay if they decide come to Finland.

It is a hardcore extreme sports to nerves to travel with a three years old. Still I think it was worth it. We saw some amazing fireworks (V's 1st), had delicous meals, did some great sightseeing and had a good time with our friends.

The picture is taken at Matsushima where we went for an hour's cruise to look at these beautiful Pine tree islands.

Tomorrow

I'll be off to Ishinomaki with my little monster. I told the kid that we'll ride on a Shinkansen tomorrow and stay away for two nights. He seemed to be excited. He wanted to know if we could take the Shinkansen already today. I said 'No'. I find myself saying 'No' to him all the time. Three years old's ideas aren't the most functional ones from a mother point of view.

Reason for us going to Ishinomaki is a friend of mine who invited us to join her and her family while they are having a holiday week there. I am looking forward to see another kind of Japan than just Tokyo, socializing with my friends, and breathing some fresher air - without the usual diesel flavour.

Tomorrow is also my last 30+ birthday. You can send your luxurious gifts in cash to my Finnish bank account!

Over The Bridge

Last night we crossed the Rainbow Bridge with kids. We hoped to see Asakusa's fireworks from there, but the bridge wasn't high enough to give a view that far away. And it was foggy. So no fireworks this time.

Our guests are on their way back home to Finland. Vimme is better, still coughing though. It has been a lovely, sunny day which I've mostly spent at home, indoors, just because I could.

A Report

Monday: At Asakusa, Kappa Bashi and Ueno. It was a rainy day, but the rain didn't slow us down. We took a boat from Odaiba to Asakusa, which could have been nice and relaxing - I just happened to be busy with a 3 years old's tantrum. Asakusa was an excellent place to visit on a rainy day: number of streets are covered with roof or rain shelter.

Tuesday: at Sumo Museum, Children's Hall and Akachan Honpo shop. The Museum wasn't that extraordinary, but they had a nice little shop in the same building selling Sumo items. Kids were wild at Children's Hall and 50% of them slept when we were at the shop.

Wednesday: at Shinjuku Central Park. It was a nice and sunny day. Kids played in a pool and at the play ground for a long time.

Thursday: at Kodomo-no-kuni. Same procedure as the previous day but in a bigger place. It is a great place to spend a day with a kid and worth the long train ride there and back.

Friday - today that is: I was supposed to have a lunch with my neighbour and baby sit friend's boys, but Vimme isn't well, so I cancelled everything. Now he is sleeping and I had this moment to write a report.

Geriatric Sandals

I used to think only geriatrics wear Ecco sandals. Now I own a pair of that sort. And it is actually a second pair of Eccos I have. Previous pair is dying. Pieces of their soles are grumbling all over Tokyo. They lived a full life for four years and served me well. I expect the new pair to serve me as long as the old did.

Anyway, if you (female) have been blessed with big feet and live in this city of midget feet (Tokyo), here's some good news: Ecco's Store in Ebisu sells women's shoes up to size 40.

Conclusion

The kid is better, our guests arrived safely and M is back home.

Visitors, Fever and Vandals

We'll have visitors from Finland tomorrow! I received a call last week from my friend, asking if they could come to Tokyo 'next week'! I said 'yes of course!'.

I wish people would call me more frequently asking that same question. I haven't got my full guest-dose during our stay in Japan.

M's away for his job and the kid got ache in his tummy and high fever this evening, which equals with me getting worried. But he seems to be better already, so I suppose it isn't anything serious.

Until now there has never been any problems with thiefs or vandalism here in Japan. (I mean, in our life). Yesterday I went to our bicycle cellar and saw that someone had ripped off Vimme's seat's cover and got rid of it for good. We couldn't use the bike: Vimme wasn't able to sit on the seat without the cover. I got pretty pissed off. My guess is that it was a wild kid of our fellow foreigner (most people in our house are gaijins) expressing his/her frustration on our property. Damn, why don't people look after their kids?

Lost Keys

M solved my problem with dying keys on my laptop's keyboard and bought me a separate, cheap, Japanese keyboard. Now I have an access to all the alphapets again. Thank you M.

Hakone

I am exhausted after a relaxing weekend in Hakone.

M's job had their annual Summer Camp there: we stayed over night at a hotel, had nice bath in hotel's onsen and a good Japanese meal and breakfast (dry fish and rice - I like that). Vimme too seemed to like his Japanese meal (sashimi and such) & he did enjoy having a bath at the onsen. If he could choose, we propably would live in a Japanese hotel.

Today we went to see Hakone Open-air Museum. It was half fun half duty - Vimme was there with us after all and he announced that he wanted to break all the sculptures!

It's a great museum: a good collection of modern art - mainly scupltures - spreaded around in a park surrounded by mountains. They even had some climbable scupltures for kids - but not as many as Vimme thought there should have been.

It took us five hours by train to get home. I dragged a stubborn back pain through all this. It's still with me and I am wishing it away.

Star Trekking

Now we (me & M) are watching the 4th season of 'Star Trek Enterprise'. The 3rd season has been the best so far, but I am eager to see what happens during this last season of the series.

I mentioned before, that the theme song was plain impossible to listen - it was so annoying. They managed to make a new less irritating version of it for the 3rd season, but that was too late: the song had scared watchers away (my theory why the series didn't become popular). Another improvement is that sub-commander T'pol (the babe in the red catsuit) isn't wearing her 'giant fake boobs'-out fit anymore.

Cultural Nourishment

I had a pleasure to see a Kabuki play, The Seagod's Villa, at Kabuki-za theater in Ginza. I was there with few friends. We bought the cheapest tickets to the 4th floor and rented ourselves earphones - without those the whole spectacle would have been much less giving especially for a person who doesn't undestand Japanese - so gaijin, if you go there, don't forget the earphones.

The play was slow and every now and then even a bit boring, but that wasn't a problem: I was fully entertained by watching every carefully designed beautiful scene on the stage.

Male head role was played by one of Kabuki's hottest names today, Ebizo Ichikawa. After checking him out on Google I realized that I had seen his face before. I am not totally clueless - only 98,5%.

Kitchen

A lovely Japanese neighbour of mine prepared a lunch for me the other day. It was delicious and something that I had never tasted before. I wanted to try if I could cook that myself and bought picture's products from a food store. It wasn't bad, but the original version was so much better. I have to ask my neighbour to reveal her cooking secrets.

The First Search

The kid made his first Google search on his own: he turned on my computer, clicked 'Firefox' open, and wrote 'PMMP' (a Finnish group) on Google and hit the enter button. Quite good from a three years old.

Off Housewifing

It's one of those phases again: I am missing being something else than just a Tokyo housewife. I know that I am actually doing what I want to do: being with the kid now that he is still small. But I can see that this period coming to an end and I am getting ready to go on with my on life, to do things just for me.

I did have a little time off from housewifing on saturday. I met with Jo and Tim, had a dinner and few drinks. Boy, they are fun to be with!

Tokyo Elvis and a Day's Trip to Yokohama

I wonder if we'll be seeing Japan's Prime minister Koizumi at Yoyogi Park after September dancing with all the other Tokyo Elvises. He should be there if he is half as big Elvis fan as they say he is.

Yesterday I took the kid to Children's Land at Yokohama (Kodomono-kuni). There he rode a pony for the first time in his life. He liked that. And I liked the nice warm weather and the fact that the kid waisted his energy on something else (running, climbing, playing with a friend) than screaming at me. I am definitely taking him there again this summer.

Surviving

I was at a party last night and for some reason I needed to drink quickly all the wine that was served - someone else could have taken my share. I ended up being pretty drunk and today I have been on the survival-mode.

Bad Film, Bad Shopper

Me and M went to see 'The Da Vinci Code' yesterday while an entire family baby-sat Vimme. He knew them all well and had spent hours and hours of time with them before. Still he screamed for an half an hour after we left asking for me and M. Then he decided to play a little, then scream a bit more and then have a nap with an 'I vant to be left alone'-attitude (he has some good 'drama queen or king'-qualities). But, he seemed OK when we came back home and hasn't talked that much about the whole incident.

The film wasn't good. I knew it would be a terrible film, but I wanted to see it anyway.

Today I went to a clothing shop. I looked at clothes at the 'On Sale'-section when a nice looking sales-person came to tell me something in Japanese. I wondered if he wanted to underline the fact that those clothes were on sale and therefore not the hippest thing to buy or if he told me that one can't buy them at all... he left me puzzled. I tried to look as if I was looking for something particular while I found my way out. Could someone send me instrucions for shops?

Another visit to Museum of Contemporary Art

I got two tickets from a friend and decided to take my family to see the exhibition I saw on my own few weeks ago (Cartier Foundation's Collections). M had a look at pieces of art and I supervised the force of nature I'd brought to the museum. The force enjoyed himself and found some works intresting, but he would have caused major damage to the whole exhibition if I'd let him do what he wanted to do. So, call me 'the keeper of the force'.

Drowning Finns

Today is a big party day at least in Finland and in Sweden: Midsummer Day's eve (Juhannus aatto). People rush to drink their arses onto their shoulders (a Finnish saying) by a lake or sea shore.

On sunday's paper there'll be this year's numbers of how many people got drowned. Drowning takes usually place, when a male citizen needs to pee on a small boat in a state of heavy intoxication. The boat starts to rock while the citizen is balancing on his to unsteady feet and terrible accident happens. So, you party people: take a pail with you on the boat and sit down if you have to pee and you'll be fine.

Useless Beach and Orange Hair

The ever so scary, scientological monster, Tom 'Yuck' Cruise did some stunts on my beach on tuesday. Now I have to avoid the beach until all Tom-molecules have dissappeared - I wonder how long that'll take.

To comfort anyone who (for some unknown reason) happens to like Tom: I am sure he wouldn't like me either. So no harm done.

Yesterday I saw the dog in the picture. Oh yes, it was dressed - of course - the extra nuance was orange dyed paws, ears and tail.

Good to Know

The kid comes to say good night. Before he goes back to bedroom he asks me if Haneda airport is that way (pointing at a window) or that way (pointing at a wall). We agree that it's at wall's directions. Then he needs to know the same facts about Narita airport before he runs off.

A wise move. People have stayd up all night thinking about such questions without getting any satisfactory answers.

Salarymen

By now I am quite used to seeing women who are putting on their make up on trains. I don't pay attention to them (or to dressed dogs)anymore like I did when I first arrived to Tokyo. But today I saw a complitely ordinary looking salaryman plucking his eyebrows on a train - that was unusual. On the same trip another salaryman was having a loud conversation about something with someone whom no one else saw. All the same: the kid was happy to ride on the train.

Minor Annoyance

When I tried to log on to my e-mail account this morning, I noticed that e and w on my keyboard had died. It took me a while to figure it out though. Now I have to use the 'cut and paste'-method when I need to use either of those letters. Very annoying.

I should get myself a new computer.

Oh, we've been married for 18 years today. Happy anniversary M.

Free PR

As a person who is always ready for challenges and excitement, I went to Interior and Lifestyle Exhibition at Tokyo Big Sight with Vimme. I got two tickets from a friend who didn't have a chance to go there.

I have to say I didn't get much to look at the exhibition - only those booths with toys and kids' stuff in them. It was intresting though that Japanese exhibitors were thrilled to see Vimme looking at toys. He happened to be the only kid in the hall at the moment (...and I wonder why) and that way he was the only one who could do real PR for toy-producers by playing with their toys. And he did.

Today has been a rainy day. I was suppose to clean the flat, but my energy was elsewhere and I started to read Zadie Smith's 'On Beauty' instead. It was a good choice.

Fountains

Today was a perfect day for the great outdoors (read: the park near by). Thin clouds covered the sun and it was very warm and pleasant to sit on the lawn. A friend of mine joined us with her kids and our kids jumped around in a huge shallow fountain. There are no signs that tell it's prohibited to let kids play in park's fountains, therefore kids may play there.

Once the heat wave lands on Tokyo in July, we'll practically live by the fountain. Join us anytime.

Elvis and the Usual

Here's another 10 minutes mouse drawing of a Tokyo Elvis. In this picture he has his chihuahua with him. He is waiting for his pals to arrive, so that they can start dancing. (Note his worn out dancing boots).

In my real life not much worth a report is going on. Just the usual: me being tired, the kid's screaming, crowded trains, low clouds, skyscrapers and sushi.

Ukiyo-e

Yesterday I had pleasure to see Japanese woodblock prints (Ukiyo-e) been printed at The Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints. The "show" was all in Japanese, but it didn't make it any less intresting.

Of course it would have been great to be able to ask about what kind of glue they used on blocks before brushing the colour on it or about colours, if they still use traditional pigments - and such, but that I may do another time.

It is inspiring to see craftsmen doing their work.

Party Party

I was at a birthday party with the kid yesterday. It all went pretty well after half an hour's horrendous screaming (Vimme woke up from his nap a bit too early). Birthday boy become five years old and all the kids wanted desperately to eat cake until the moment a piece of it was placed on their plates. Kids always do that.

After the party we went to a playground close by. This picture is taken there.

Whiter Shade of Pale

Weather has been really lovely for some time and people tell me my face has got some colour. Does that mean I don't look my usual living-dead pale now?

Saved

I must have lived in Tokyo a bit too long, otherwise I wouldn't have looked at a pair of PINK pirate trousers even concidering to buy them.

They were on sale and they looked so... pink. So, I took my usual size and a size smaller, that sometimes fits me and went off to try them on.

It must have been god that saved me from looking like Miss Piggy this summer: even the bigger size was absolutely too small. Those pink wonders on I looked like I was ready to be sliced to bacon for someone's breakfast. Oh lord, I am overwhelmingly grateful because I was saved: I remembered who I really was and the pink tokyote devil didn't get me!

Yet.

Shady Spot

We had a nice picknic with some friends today in a park close to our home. Weather was perfect: not too hot and still sunny most of the time. I will definitely have few more picknics during this summer - as often as I can - at that same spot under that particular shade. It's located perfectly next to a playground and no cars are in sight.

Being a Finn

This is one of those things that make me proud being a Finn. Though this reminds me of how bad it also can be.

Tests Tell the Truth

You Should Learn Japanese

You're cutting edge, and you are ready to delve into wacky Japanese culture. From Engrish to eating contests, you're born to be a crazy gaijin. Saiko!

What Language Should You Learn?

Other than doing useless on-line tests today I have hosted a meeting of Finnish mothers and their kids, invited a neighbour for a cup of coffee and done some joyriding on Yurikamome. What else would a woman want from her wednesday?

Tokyo Elvis is smiling at a sporty tourist

If you should clean the ever increasing mess at home, you suddenly may have an urge to make a mouse drawing of some touching subject - like Tokyo Elvis.

Another Art Exhibition

I saw 'Collection of the Foundation Cartier' exhibition at Museum of Contemporary Art today. It was good.

Some works were very impressive and beautiful. Like Liza Lou's installation 'Backyard' which obviously had taken years to make (a scene covered with beads) and Ron Mueck's 'In bed' (a giant woman sculpture).

Animal Prison and Euro Fun

Yesterday I took Vimme to Tama Zoo. It was a nice zoo - I don't like zoos that much to begin with, but this was one of the nicest I've seen. Vimme enjoyed watching animals and I enjoyed being in a place where he can't end up driven over by a truck, when he starts aimlessly running away from me. Usually he does that at some point anyway.

Today we watched Eurovision Song Contest with three other fellow Europeans. Boy it was fun. And not least because we won! When I was little, I used to watch the contest every year and I eagerly waited for Finnish covers of the best songs to be released. When I got older I didn't watch the show for years until I discovered its fantastic camp factor. So, since Dana International's victory I have watched the show when ever I'd had a chance to see it.

Quiet Front and Series

I wondered why it is so quiet on Finnish front on the internet. Then I remembered, it's a national holiday in Finland.

I have started to watch Lost. M has downloaded episodes from the internet (we don't have a TV) and now we have watched an episode or two per night. Another series I'm hooked on, is Star Trek Enterprise. It isn't really as good as previous Star Trek series I've seen and the theme song is utterly irritating, but it's good enough for me to want more.

The picture is taken today. I asked Vimme to look at the camera and smile. This is his interpretation of my instructions. I think he is cute, but I am his mother.

A Documentary

Last night I went to see a Finnish documentary 'About a Farm', which was part of EU Film Days program. I enjoyed the film with all my heart.

Before I saw the film I had no idea that it took place in that area of Finland where I grew up. It was a pleasant surprise to see sceneries I was so used to seeing when I was a kid and to hear people speak slowly with few words and long pauses.

Kaurismäki's dialogue style isn't that fictionary after all.

Another Night Out

I totally forgot how old I am and danced like a maniac with everyone on the dance floor of a gay bar/club last night. I even danced on a stage - I dragged bunch of guys with me there avoiding to meet the public humiliation alone. And no, I didn't strip, so I have some of my dignity left, if I ever had any to begin with.

All the same, it was a fun night out and the hang-over wasn't as bad as I expected it to be.

Now Anything Is Possible

When Finland wins the Eurovision Song Contest... I used to use fraze instead of 'when hell freezes over'. Now it has happened. Lordi won the contest. Therefore anything else can happen too. I wonder if I can win now in Lottery without buying a ticket?

Design Festa

I was at Design Festa today with two other Finnish mothers. It was at Tokyo Big Sight, which is a huge exhibition center quite near to where we live. We didn't manage to see all of it, though we walked around for a long while.

I expected it to be an art exhibition, but it was more like a fair where people sold their own products, mostly T-shirts and postcards. I did find something nice there and I even bought myself a pair of action figure paperdolls. I didn't know I missed anything like that from my life before I saw them.

Monsters - other than mine

I wrote long story of this and that and was about to publish the post when I misshit a button and lost the whole master piece. Oh god I hate when it happens. And only time I write real english instead of finglish is when the big fish swims away with my hook - quite a terrible metaphora by the way.

Anyway, Finnish Lordi is making history and took Finland to the second round on this years Eurovision Song Contest. Finland is usually not very popular on that scene. Now that we've(yes, we!) sent a team of monsters, no one dares to do other give their votes to Lordi in a fear of a curse. And we do know that Finnish curses are the most powerful on this planet.

I haven't heard the song (Hard Rock Hallelujah) but I think Lordi should to win.