Fortnight in Finland

Here it begins.

Friday 27th of July, in our lord's year two thousand and seven.

Journey to Finland begins: We head off to the Hong Kong International Airport. I am traveling with Toni, who has just spent his two-week vacation in HK, and we had earlier booked ourselves to the same flight to avoid ultimate boredom during flight.

The flight was quite ok. The 9 hours 40 minutes passed without much event and before I could say: "But if a woodchuck could chuck and would chuck some amount of wood, what amount of wood would a woodchuck chuck?", we had already landed in Helsinki-Vantaa airport. Nice.

NOTE: After being free to speak your mind out loud without concern for a long while, it's hard to remember that already in the airplane there are a lot of people who understand Finnish.

I got out of the airport and my first notion is that I'm not wearing a jacket and it's quite cold.

The first bus to Valkeakoski left quite conveniently after a 15 minute wait. If it was cold outside, it was damned hot inside the bus - and the aircon wasn't working. So, after sitting almost 10 hours in an airplane, I was stuck for another 2 hours in a hot bus, sweating - removing any hope that I wouldn't reek of rotting wombat carcass on a hot summer day.

Well, I got home pleasantly enough anyway. The welcoming was warm and quite instantly I remembered why it's so nice to be home.

First day, aside from traveling some 8,000 kilometers, I didn't do much.

Saturday 28th of July, in our lord's year two thousand and seven.

Nothing much happens: just as I like it. It's cool and rainy out side: just like I wanted it. No stress over anything and no obligation to go outside because "ooooh, it's such a nice day so don't waste it by being inside all day!". Just a perfect day for me.

I just stayed within the premises of my home, going to the backyard from time to time. I never really understood the true value of a nice backyard until I didn't have one. I don't have a backyard in Hong Kong - albeit I have about 150 yards of free fall from my balcony to a certain death - and just being able to step outside the back door to a nice lawn, refreshing air and nature all-around... well, I liked it!

Being at home in Finland is really great! No arguing about that.

Monday 30th of July, in our lord's year two thousand and seven.

So, what about outside of home?

I went to the city central of Valkeakoski at 09:30 with set plan of going to the bank to deposit some money. However, it turns out I've arrived 30 minutes before the bank opens.

So, I go through the list of things I need to do on that day and pick one.

My list included: Going to KELA to sort my things out concerning Finnish social security in my case; going to an insurance company to sort out whether I can have an insurance from Finland; getting a pre-paid cellphone line because I messed up my old one.

I chose the 'pre-paid'-option. It's the easiest and closest by to the bank.

I went to the closest R-kiosk because I remember something from their annoying commercials on TV: they have some pre-paid's. So, I go in and ask for one. Turns out I can get it with about €7 - valued at €10. A fancy marketing trick, I'm sure.

I got my phoneline so now I'm good on that part. I look at my watch: still 20 minutes to go.

I decide to have some breakfast so I go to the closest grocery store and get some kebab-salad. The price was ok - no heart attack for me yet.

I go outside to eat my breakfast, and I locate myself close to the legendary pyramids of Valkeakoski. Looking around, I am reminded of reasons I don't like Finland. It's almost 10am and I'm looking at all the bums of Valkeakoski, gathered to the central square, sitting and looking awful. Amids the bums are the first shoppers of the day: old people and housewife's - all dressed nicely to shell-suits. Just as I remembered.

If only it got any better during the day. But it doesn't.

While the average amount of "normal" people increases during the day, the proportion of the previously mentioned remains high. A sad fact, but very true. Especially the bums get on my nerve. Finland probably has the largest amount of self-inflicted bums in the world. If not, I pity the other place.

After a while of waiting, the bank opens. I go and deposit my money and head out.

Next on my list is KELA.

Earlier this year I had received a letter from KELA, explaining that I am no longer within the system of Finnish social security - meaning I will not be compensated by the government if, for example, I get injured and need to go to a hospital. The letter also told me to return my KELA-card.

Upon entering KELA I took a number to the queue, sat down and waited. Quite soon I my number was up and I went to talk with a nice lady, who explained me the same things as the letter. So, indeed, now that I am a "overseas-Finn", I am not entitled to the social security we Finns usually have. Nice, I also needed to leave KELA-card. This means everything depends on my insurance and savings account.

After KELA, I go check an insurance company.

Upon entering IF (and insurance company) I find myself talking to a strapping young lad who is obviously new at his job. I ask him whether IF offers any insurance packages to overseas-Finns - not just travel insurance. He needs the help of a more experienced employee so an older woman is called upon.

Her first question: "Do you have KELA-card?"

Ok, so I can't get an insurance for Finland. I need to get it from HK. It's ok, but I would've really preferred having a Finnish company do that part. I've heard the local companies here can be really sneaky at wriggling their way out of paying by various loopholes. Well, I don't need anything fancy so maybe I can find something decent.

Saturday 4th of August, in our lord's year two thousand and seven.

For most of the week, I didn't do much. I was enjoying it, relaxing as much as I could and since it was quite cool and rainy, I enjoyed the coolness too. Actually, many people were concerned my vacation would suck due to bad weather but they just didn't understand how refreshing it was after the hot weathers we had had in HK earlier. I could wear a jacket in Finland and it was mighty awesome!

I had been playing some PS2 games with Toni some evenings and I had spend some of my time playing some new PC games on my brother's ultra-fast-cool-super computer.

Saturday was the first evening out. We had a small get-together of friends in where we barbecued and had some beer. All very nice! It was fun after such a long time and it took me actually quite late to get home. Friends and family: the two things I miss most about Finland - all other things are just props; though nice, not necessary.

Sunday 5th of August, in our lord's year two thousand and seven.

My youngest sister gave birth to a strapping toddler! Just on time, because I *requested* the baby to be born during the time I'm in Finland so I can see it before I go back to HK. Timing was perfect!

Me and Toni spent a good portion of the day taking photographs. Toni has been studying photography and the agenda for the day was to teach some basic tricks to me about taking good pictures.

Sunday was the turning point in the weather. Thenceforth it was sunny and warm (even hot on some occasions).

Monday 6th of August, in our lord's year two thousand and seven.

With the turning of the weather, I started being out a lot more. I took hours-long walks and enjoyed the Finnish summer at its best.

Finland is quite spectacular during summer. It is very plain and boring but the calmness of the nature is almost tangible - something you can almost touch. In HK, the nature is awesome and there is a lot of it. I love the HK nature but somehow it feels different. Maybe it's because Finnish nature is just so much more familiar to me. Anyway, walking in the small streets that snake through the forest was really refreshing.

Actually, now thinking back at my time in Finland, it makes my concept of Finland as a summer resort much stronger. I like almost everything better in HK, but Finland has that serene nature and peace during summer which one use to relax.

Wednesday 8th of August, in our lord's year two thousand and seven.

While having a vacation was my main reason to go to Finland, I was also determined to do some work there too. Most of my customers are Finnish so I went to meet with them. So on Tuesday and Wednesday me and my Finnish colleague drove around Finland. Tuesday we totaled about 600 kilometers, on Wednesday 500 kilometers.

There is not much to say about those two days. I woke up early and got home late. It was quite interesting to travel so much, however, and I got to see some new places too - new towns and cities, forests and lakes.

Friday 10th of August, in our lord's year two thousand and seven.

Last full day in Finland. An action-packed day full of plans. In the morning I go buy an inflatable bed for myself to HK. My little sister and brother are coming to HK with me for a few weeks and I will give my sister have my bedroom so she can have some privacy too - me and my brother will sleep in the living room. So, I need that extra bed.

After that, I went to Tampere to see my youngest sister and the toddler. A cute little thing he was! After that, I went to see my friends who live in Tampere. Finally, I got back to Valkeakoski, where me, Toni and another friend of mine went again barbecuing for the evening.

I got back home at 1am. Slept like a baby.

Saturday 11th of August, in our lord's year two thousand and seven.

Woke up at 7am. Really tired but all hyped up by the idea of going back to HK. While I liked being in Finland, I missed HK a lot! Going back felt like going back home, and that's what HK truly is, my home.

Packed my final things and got ready to leave. My bus left at 12:30 to Helsinki, from where my flight left at 16:50 (actually we left 20 minutes later because some delays).

The flight was ok, even though the young and sexy flight attendants of Finnair tried my nerves on a couple occasions. Oh, and the service they provided was reaaaaaaaalllllly good. Ten points to Finnair for service and representation!

Summary

I enjoyed my time in Finland but I'm really glad to be back in HK. Finland is an awesome place to grow up and there are many things to do - when you're young. However, at my age I found the place really boring. Actually, the only place even remotely interesting was Helsinki - but I know that's an illusion since I lived there for a while.

My vacation was nice, relaxing and fun. I had forgot some of the good things there are Finland and I was glad to be reminded of them.

Finland is a country of serenity and peace. You won't find any action there (or if you do, it's usually in the form of idiots: bums, drunkards, rednecks or such) and you can live without much worry. Actually, Finland is at its best when you can stay on your own (with your friends if need be) and not have to deal with other people. Random people in Finland pose a threat to a good Finland-experience.

My point is: Finland is a great place for its nature and it's physical being, not because of its people. The people are ok too, but usually just the ones you know already. Especially during the night-time you don't really want to meet people. They're drunk and they're annoying.

I left some events out of this entry since it's becoming so long. I will probably, however, refer to them in the future anyway -- and it's not like there was much happening in Finland ..... I mean, it's Finland. If you're not drunk, it's not exactly an exiting place.

Have you ever heard a funny story from Finland that started with the words: "So, me and my friend were sober one day and...."?

It doesn't happen.