weather wise its like, would you like to live next to Santa (who hails from Lapland, a northern state in Finland) or live in a perpetual Sauna (which is invented by the Fins!) in swinging Swingapore? which is a hot hot place.
Yes it is that time of the assignment when the next assignment is in view... decisions to be made and pros, cons and compromises, what shall we do next? last week we made a quick trip up to Helsinki... can't announce any decision yet as a final one hasn't been made but here is what happened on the trip...
We get to finland, its rainy and cloudy and cold, was told to pack for 8 to 15 degree weather, forgot about "wind", brrr. We went to a really good restaurant called Farouge and our jeans were damp, the food was good the bill was well.... not of SA prices, we need to get used to higher prices again! (wherever the locateion). The mall we visited, called "Forum", is an old and tired mall. It rained and rained and rained.
The next day, we see a pre-school, here is the only image I took of the trip, other times it was too cold to take my hands out of my pocket! Every kid wears boots! Boots of all assortments! The school is small in comparison to Broadacres, have some interesting discussions with his teacher back here on what type would suit Nate's personality better. The international school was closed for a holiday.
We then see another mall, called the Apple, ah a newer mall, very nice, I drop in the kiddy clothes section and discuss all sorts of permutations of how to dress a kid in Autumn and winter. I was like an alien visiting earth with no clue on what these northern hemisphere earthlings wear. Goretex is the key, so are rubber suits (layer number 4) over a long underwear (layer number 1 - have been advised on buying cotton, silk and even wool), sweat pants (layer 2), warmer jacket (layer 3). Types of socks, mittens hats, some type of cream against the cold!
We then see 3 houses, well these guys really love their sauna's, it might as well be the living room as it is the biggest room in the house. There are two showers attached... then in the bedroom floor there can be 3 bedrooms to share one tiny bathroom!
Apart from that observation, one can live by the seaside or in the "woods". Autumn sure looked alot like new england.
By 3pm I was yawning, very typical cold weather, tropical girl losing body heat fast and I was constantly hungry. Dinner we were at Kosmos, a Finnish restaurant with a Malaysian, HK couple, ah Malaysian food will not be a problem!! already there are nasi lemak parties in full swing. Their kids are teenagers and they love the safety, the do-it yourself independant attitude and the "egalitarian" ness of the society, not the constant consumerism and comparison of Asia (they lived in Singapore and Beijing). Their kids cook, clean up, get to school by themselves...
Also once you pay taxes, one can get access to the Chinese teachers on the I guess Finnish socialist principal of "maintaining ones home culture".
Cars were quite small there, none of these Prada giants... apparently cars are expensive. Water and electricity is cheap though.
The next day we meet with another couple who moved back from Dubai and they were able to bring their Chinese maid, a bit of a hassle but possible. Then we were on a flight home.
So the boys?? how did they fair with Teacher Ave? when she got to our house, they weren't even upset that we were leaving!
The two conversations I was told about while we were gone...
Conversation 1:
Nate: Mabo when is my mother coming back?
Mabo: in a few more sleeps, on sunday early morning...
Nate: Not that mom, Avellyn!
Mabo: !!!
(woo hoo, more holidays for me and loren alone, I think we have stumbled upon a golden opportunity!)
Written in the School weekly newsletter: Avellyn was talking to Nate and calling him "my darling", Nate was most put out and said "don't call me all that stuff, just call me Nate".
He's quite cute, sometimes he asks what are his names, he lists them as Nate, Nate Zev, Kai Kai and Huang Kai. He has not had a bedwetting accident in a long time and Avellyn is also impressed by his 100 piece puzzle skills.
Ike went to school today and showing everyone his "boo boo" thumb.
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