Viikonloppu

I'm listening to music loudly in a pair of earbuds while my husband naps. In the hopes of making myself useful, I thought I'd discuss some of the mundane details that one inevitably notices when moving from one country to another.

1) Don't get caught bringing your produce to the checkout without first weighing it. This is a pleasantly do-it-yourself society after all, and what could be easier than putting your bananas on a nearby scale, pressing the appropriate button, and putting a barcoded price sticker on them? [I have noticed this trend catching on back home -- certain Stop & Shops now seem to have scales that print price stickers in the produce section, and there are of course the self-checkout lines, but if you really insist on having someone weigh your fruits and veggies for you, you still have that option in the states.]

2) The vast majority of cashiers I've seen are allowed to sit while they work. In the US (or, at least the northeastern US) they're not provided with chairs, and must therefore stand for hours at a time. I pointed this out to Rami and he simply asked, "Why?" Well, I'm not really sure, but I think it has to do with a bizarrely zealous customer service ethic. Do they look like they're working harder if they're standing? I mean, we consumers certainly can't abide slackers while we're purchasing our Cheetos and Mountain Dew. Then again, it's equally possible that a standing-only policy is a way to save on the cost of chairs.

Land of the corns and home of the bunions.

3) Finns tell time in a way that might seem slightly backward to English speakers. If it's 8:00, they'll say, "Kello on kahdeksan," or "Kello on tasan kahdeksan," which means just what what you'd expect: "It is 8 o'clock." (Literally, it means "Clock is eight.") For the first half of the hour, they'll say the time in the form of how many minutes past the hour it is. (8:20 = kaksikymmentä (minuuttia) yli kahdeksan.) In the second half of the hour, they'll express it in terms of how many minutes there are until the next hour (8:45 = viisitoista vaille yhdeksän.) Literally speaking they'll say "20 after 8" or "15 before 9."

 Of course, it's certainly not out of the ordinary to speak this way colloquially in English -- we'll say "It's 15 minutes to 9, dear!" or "Oh my, it's 20 after 8!" quite frequently. What is unusual, for me at least, is to do so all the time. I sometimes find it a little muddling, but that's exactly what Finnish class is for.

4) Lappeenranta is concise in a way that small cities simply are not back in Connecticut. Since Rami and I live keskustassa (in the center), we're within walking distance from most important things. You'd think having a car would afford you more freedom, but I have found that quite the opposite is true. I love not having that particular set of worries. The repairs, keeping the tank full, parking -- I could definitely go the rest of my life without owning a car.


That's all I can think of for now. I'll report more boring details as I think of them.

As for me, my stomach is much better, Finnish class is still wonderfully beneficial, and I'm in the process of a really pleasant weekend. I currently have no complaints.