Hurray! It's working.
Today is Tuesday, June 11th. Common knowledge to the rest of you, but news to me. I had completely lost track of time and touch with the English speaking world. I've been essentially alone for the last two days and finally had time to think. Whew. Very therapeutic. Don't get me wrong. It's unbelievable how generous Tarja's family is being, but sometimes solo time is necessary. (After reading the book I referred to earlier, I'm not so sure a lifetime of solitude is a good thing, but you know where I'm going with this.)
Since I got off the plane, my time has been allocated to drinking excessive amounts of very yummy cofffee (mom: no sugar or milk), drinking cider, eating entirely too much food, and not getting sufficient sleep. I need more than 6 hours. In the dark. Even though I thought I packed my eye-patch-sleepy-thing, I've had to make due with the plain-vanilla one provided by SAS. (note: SAS is one of the best airlines I've flown on. 2nd best to Virgin. Unbelievable service, pleasant employees, localized food, and pure air. I'm not kidding. My skin didn't break out at all, the bathrooms were clean, the food was recognizable when I opened the plastic containers, and the stewardess was eager to bring me the breakfast I had slept through. G O O D airline.)
So far I've seen Tarja, her family (dad, mom, aunt, assorted cousins, sister, the dog, mean dumb cat, and then some), Avain-Tuoute (the lock security company), Pekka (Tarja's boyfriend), Henkka, Harri, Mariika, Johanne, and an assortment of friends of friends. I've been mainly splitting my time between Helsinki and Turku; two cities with very different attitudes and styles.
I'm writing in this journal because I'm so incredibly behind in my email writing, and desperately miss using the telephone on a regular basis.
Should anyone wish to call me, the number of my temporary mobile is: +358 50 361 8466.
(Tarja's family was concered I'd wander off and get lost. Impossible since I've been accompanied virtually 24 hours. Until yesterday that is! More on Tarja's Dad later. He's too funny. And acts like Dads do around the world. Over protective and worried about everything. But very funny even without speaking much English to me.) The phone is a loaner from Tarja's mom. As she pointed out, she never uses it and doesn't need it b/c she's always with someone who has a phone. (But so am I but don't think I'm complaining.) There are no charges to receive an incoming call, only to make them. And it costs something like 15 cents to make a text message. If you do decide to call, just remember that I'm 7 hours ahead.
If I shush you when you call, it's because I have to step outside of the very quiet office I'm sitting in. Talking at work would be disruptive (since the office is like the rest of Finland - quiet) and I would have everyone's rapt attention focused on my every word. Even though the majority of my coworkers understand a significant amount of English, many are still timid and are hesitant to practice their spoken English. Point being: too many ears for my liking. I'm in the office from 8 am to 5 pm. Come 5 pm, this place is desolate. People clear out like clockwork. And you're not supposed to work late. Which is bizarre b/c there isn't enough time to do anything with normal hours. (Most people come in at 9.) You figure an hour for lunch/exercise and you've got the shortest work day in history. (Well, compared to the French.) If you decide to stay late at the office you have to know the security code, and must expect a visit from the security guard. I'm not kidding! I know this is a security company, but it's still weird.
(sidenote: "J" is pronounced with an english "Y" sounds. Tarja is "Tar E uh")
posted by irene @ 6/11/2002 01:56:00 AM
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