Today, I went out in search of a place to sit and do homework. I didn't actually do any homework, but I did decide on a couple of spots that might be suitable.
There's something I enjoy about reading, writing, and studying in a public place. I'm not sure why, but I find that being in an environment where there's a small amount of bustling actually helps my concentration. First, Rami and I went to check out the library. Being an internet-y sort of girl, I hadn't yet visited the one here in the center of Lappeenranta. I was very pleased to discover that the blocky, sort of soviet-looking building housed what's pictured here.
The book in the photo was a rather hilarious find. Long before moving here, I had read the Finland installment of this series. It talked about taking your shoes off indoors, the solemnity of the Finnish people, and what it means when someone invites you for a sauna. The US version took great care to assure the reader that not all Americans are gun-toting, tongues-speaking zealots. But, it said, some of us are.
Anyway, despite its dull outward shell, this is a very pleasant library. I think it will be a really nice place to sit when I feel the need to escape the confines of my apartment. They even have a fairly wide selection of language and grammar books. I found an Icelandic/Finnish dictionary! How cool is that?
[Hey, it's the little things.]
Afterwards, we went to a coffee house prosaically named Coffee House. It's a chain that I believe is owned by S-market. Rami and I have been there on a few other occasions, but this time I was eyeing it with reading and studying in mind. While it's not the most intimate setting, that's precisely why it's suited to my purpose. I want to be able to sit for a long, long time, unnoticed and undisturbed. I wasn't quite so lucky today, though, since my husband fancies himself a paparazzo.
If you live in the Lappeenranta area and you happen to have a favorite study-spot, let me know.
Finally, I have some more Finnish music to share with you all.
I like Black Twig's drone:
There's something I enjoy about reading, writing, and studying in a public place. I'm not sure why, but I find that being in an environment where there's a small amount of bustling actually helps my concentration. First, Rami and I went to check out the library. Being an internet-y sort of girl, I hadn't yet visited the one here in the center of Lappeenranta. I was very pleased to discover that the blocky, sort of soviet-looking building housed what's pictured here.The book in the photo was a rather hilarious find. Long before moving here, I had read the Finland installment of this series. It talked about taking your shoes off indoors, the solemnity of the Finnish people, and what it means when someone invites you for a sauna. The US version took great care to assure the reader that not all Americans are gun-toting, tongues-speaking zealots. But, it said, some of us are.
Anyway, despite its dull outward shell, this is a very pleasant library. I think it will be a really nice place to sit when I feel the need to escape the confines of my apartment. They even have a fairly wide selection of language and grammar books. I found an Icelandic/Finnish dictionary! How cool is that?
[Hey, it's the little things.]
 |
| "Would you like me to punch you?" |
If you live in the Lappeenranta area and you happen to have a favorite study-spot, let me know.
Finally, I have some more Finnish music to share with you all.
I like Black Twig's drone:
I like Regina's dreamy pop (and yet not dream pop pop):
And if you're looking for something that actually rocks rather than rolls, here's a great band that was suggested to me by fellow blogger JottEff:
Musical suggestions are always welcome, no matter the genre. I hope you enjoy these offerings.
WOW...that's a HUUUUGGEEEEE library! Our library here is very small (just one floor). I remember going to Helsinki's library once in 2004 (the first time I visited Finland) with two friends and they could borrow books by swiping the library card themselves. Over here in our side of the village, due to the small amount of borrowers, the librarian still does that job for us ha ha ha...
ReplyDeleteThe Helsinki library that we went to was located in this old building that had a little dome somewhere if I'm not mistaken. It was a lovely place. :-)))
Oh, and in our library here, we don't have a wide selection of English books. When I first moved here, I was SO happy to find someone who was selling her second-handed English books through Finland Forum (at €1/book) 'coz buying new ones in the local bookstore is very expensive.
Dunno why I couldn't listen to the songs, but I'm gonna try to find 'em in youtube.
Oh yeah, at the moment I like the upbeat song of "Ihanaa" by Kristiina Wheeler. It makes me wanna dance he he...
DeleteThis place was quite large. I was happy to see how spacious and pleasant it was inside. I'll probably live there during our upcoming break. :P
DeleteLove your music! It has been ages since I found anything like The Flaming Sideburns - what a great sound.
ReplyDeleteSomehow this track just came to mind:
http://youtu.be/VvfqzGhdH3o
It's a pretty random song by little-known Australian band The Sharp (and it is so old! - from 1994...) but somehow I've always liked it.
Look up The Hives. Come to think of it, there's a bunch of Swedish (garage) rock/punk bands that might fit the bill (Hellacopters, Sahara Hotnights, Mustasch, ...) depending on what you're looking for.
DeleteI dig the bass, Katriina. Thanks for the link!
DeleteThe Hives were huge in the US for about 0,5 seconds in...2005? Some people mistrust the resurrection of garage rock, but I'm all for it in principle.
Here's an American band that truly sounds as if it has never left the comfort of its garage, The Horrors (not to be confused with the UK band).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzxB-Ab8myQ