Some business...

A week ago I went to Kazakhstan on a business trip. It was my first time there. We stayed in Astana all the time. I liked the city: it seemed very spacious and bright and clean.

Since I've not been able to make it to Ukraine for this or that reason for quite some time already, it appeared to be a very nostalgic trip as well. It's been a long time since I saw the "width of the Russian soul" reflected in the urban architechture (no sarcasm implied).

But talking business, it was a curious trip. I realized that the countries have made incredible changes, which I know did not come easily after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but at the same time there's such a long way to go yet. And I realized that the root to these further changes is no more in financial or political or fiscal reforms. It is in the mentality of people. And now it's the hardest part: how to open it up to the rest of the world, how to make them think they are just the same - not worth or not better (the latter being the prevailing point of view among the locals themselves, which stretches itself to quite scary circumstances) - that they can achieve the same once they respect the world and want to be an EQUAL part of it..? Is it an achievable goal..?

French humour and the Danish wedding

This should have been in the "cultural observations" post, but since I am mixing up the thoughts today, it will go here: have you ever heard French jokes? I mean, French people joking. Oh, brother, why are they so blunt and awful? And the most annoying thing about it is that all the French vividly laugh about them and you (if you are not a French) feel very funny in such moments, like as if you a) so dummy that you didn't get the joke or b) so intelligent that you are far above that rural humour or c) don't understand the peculiarities of the language and he actually meant something different or d) other option (please specify). But, oh brother, they are so low level.

That, by some funny coincidence, one of the topics we actively discussed last week-end at my table during my friend's wedding.

Yes, last week-end I went to my friend's wedding to Arhus, Denmark. Was a tough trip in terms of schedule (4 hours of sleep in three days!) but quite rich in terms of impressions.

So, back to cultural discussions: I was lucky to sit together with an Englishman and an Argentian (though already englanized) girl at one table as we allowed ourselves all the possible burst of political incorrectness (in its kind sense) as only Englishmen can allow and all the possible impolite (read loud and careless) merriment as none of the North European nations can afford. I hope I didn't sound too mean. In fact, I really like the Danes, very nice people, very... correct, polite, emotionless, structurized, quite... So quite that I felt really awkward when I came to a flock of relatives from the Danish side and introduced myself (as a newcomer), they kept quite and still looking straigt at me questioning "what's next". And their eyes seemed sooo "questioning" that "the next" could be only something as crazy as jumping into the chilly Nordic sea (the restaurant was on the very sea shore) or stripping just in front of them...

Then there were long 5 or 6 hours of sitting and eating. Food was good, but in the of this eating time even we ran out of jokes and started entertaining ourselves with the ongoing football matches. Oh boy, it was long! And then - as I mentioned before ALL is very structured there - half an hour fresh air break - and finally the dances!! The music was really good. Great, in fact. All four hours. Sharply. But we had some fun - thankfully there were three other Ukrainian girls and we could move that respectful crowd a little bit :-)...

Voila, my North European wedding experience...

But I liked the country. I was a bit afraid going there - remember in Finland I got drenched and frozen after two days of never ending autumn rain in the middle of summer. But it is a nice country. Would like to come back and see more... for sure.

Cheers,
N.

This too...

Yes, now a bit sad, worrisome, funny feeling... C'est dure as they would probably say here in France...

It's a great feeling to be a modern active (business-) woman, but in (such) certain moments one somehow understands, or rather feels with every pore, other values. Why people cannot live their lives as if they are themselves imagining it to live? I mean just at once, immediately, like in a wink. I guess I know perfectly the answer, and I guess I am still that great optimist I used to be to be able to accomplish all this... It still feels very sad. But one thing I am becoming more and more sure about: dream and dertimination hand in hand will lead you to whatever you only can imagine. It needs time, and it is painful, but so - oh so - sure and ... probably correct...

Yes, as my gtalk friends can see in my status: The best way out is always through.

Cultural features.

Okey, I guess I got a bit fed up with all these national differences which we as foreigners (or rather citizens of the world) have to deal with hopping around Europe (now). I mean, they are not necessarily bad, but... sometimes they do get under my skin.

And thus, I am starting a post where I will be collecting my cultural observations. I will be updating it furtheron as new ideas come. And please note, all listed here below is strictly subjective. So, you can agree or disagree... But who would care about it?!

And, since I am in France now, I will start with the French...

1) I am almost sure that the French people like to talk just because they enjoy listening to their own selves. The annoying thing about it is that they don't often realize that others don't necessarily enjoy their talking too.

2) But the French bread is the best, for sure.

Just Amsterdam. Or..?

I have just one simple comment about my trip or rather an advice: JUST GO THERE! You have to go to Amsterdam, and there's no other option! Man, it's one of the (or maybe the) most beautiful and feels-good cities I've ever seen. But another ... well sorry for being boringly exhortative... go their with your loved ones. You will feel the city (literally) much better :-)

The city just embraces and gives out all its stories and secrets. And week-ends are too short to listen to them all. :-)

Cheers.

Kiitos from Finland.

Hello again!

Just came back from Finland a few hours ago. It was a biz trip and I usually prefer not to put my biz trip impressions on the blog, but this one had a few things worth saying.

But since I have been hopping from ome plane to another for the past three days, I am dead tired right now to put it all in an eloquent way. So, just not to forget...

First of all, we landed in our final destinqtion - Oulu - in 1 am in the night and..... really, first time in my life I saw it.... we stepped out of the airport into a broad day light! (Uuuu, dizzy, what's going on?!)

Well, yes, it was that famous white night. Now, in summer season (which in Finland lasts from the end of June to the middle of July as we were explained) it is North day - light 24 hours. Well, it is kinda cool for the first day (or rather night), but guys, furthermore your brain just starts going mad of abnormalities and refuses to sleep when it has to, while merely switching off when it is supposed to work. Actually, you are just making those nights for yourself by pulling down the blinds.

Next. I dunno, whether it was those few days when we were visiting Finland, or whether it is like that anyways, but it was rainy and chilly aaaal the time and it poured even more depression on the brain, which desperately tried to find sunshine in the 24 hour long day.

Sauna. Oh, yes. We didn't have time to go there, eventually (I wouldn't anyways), but Finland does have this cult of sauna and as one can trace it everywhere, sauna appears to be one of the beloves (though few) entertainments. Even my shower cabin in the hotel was somehow customised under a sort of steam shower - sort of sauna...

We were wondering along the Oulu strees under the incessant rain, trying to find a "cozy" place to eat. We ended up in a ... MEXICAN restaurant AMARILLO Original taste Wings. Well, I bet the food was far from the Nordic traditions, but we shovelled it up like three hungry vikings and half of the restaurant were staring at us, most probably wondering where those uncivilised funny patterns came from.

And, I guess it was true we were three barbarians from the seemingly civilized western europe in this severe and proud country.

I am very honestly confessing that I stole this story, or rather not. I read it, and liked it a loooot. So, thought you might like it too ;-)


Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others, including Love. One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all constructed boats and left. Except for Love.

Love was the only one who stayed. Love wanted to hold out until the last possible moment.

When the island had almost sunk, Love decided to ask for help.

Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love said,"Richness, can you take me with you?"Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you."

Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel. "Vanity, please help me!""I can't help you, Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," Vanity answered.

Sadness was close by so Love asked, "Sadness, let me go with you.""Oh . . . Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!"

Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her.

Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Love, I will take you." It was an elder. So blessed and overjoyed, Love even forgot to ask the elder where they were going. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own way. Realizing how much was owed the elder,

Love asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who Helped me?""It was Time," Knowledge answered."Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help me?"Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is."