Jukkapoika

As I promised, there are a shit ton of great Finnish combos most people outside the borders have no idea about. This time I'm giving you a taste of the RRRRRRRRRRRRrrreaggae genre, introducing Jukka Poika. Next to chill notes, and melodies that bring a smile to your face, you got to love this dude for rocking the whole show in Finnish language!

This stuff brings back memories of warm summer nights and park parties with my friends in Finland. I suppose there's not a single song I wouldn't like from this guy. The lyrics aren't the smartest but definitely relaxed and in harmony with his music. Points for Jukka Poika for being an absolutist and a vegetarian.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

I woke up today when my bf called me to tell about the snow in Marburg. After 15min of talking, where I complained about the rain and mild snowless winter of Darmstadt, I stood up and had a look out the window. SNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW! Wooooopie woop woooop!! The last thing I expected to see today.

Of course I had to get dressed and head out with my camra to take some solid proof of the awesomeness. I forgot to eat breakfast too, that's how excited I was. Sorry to the people I woke up or left sleepy, random messages of shrieking joy.

mistletoe growing on the front yard

It was like stepping to Narnia through the front door. This wonderland turned a bit too wet for my taste later, however, but I hope we'll get more of the real thing tomorrow.

I really wonder how long I'll be able to get so hyped up over snow every year. It's always as magical as if it was the first time and I feel more home now. Not because I come from Finland but because I always liked Winter more than Summer or Spring.

 

I talked with mom today and she told me some really unpleasant news over the weather in the South of Finland. It's going to be a black Christmas with rain, +3 °C and no snow whatsoever!! What a bummer. I'm really disappointed now, since I've been waiting for the coldness, snow and beauty of the winters I grew up with :( Thanks a lot climate change. I think I have had only one Christmas without snow in my life before.

Quality Time Cheesiness

WARNING: THIS BLOG POST INCLUDES A HIGH AMOUNT OF GIRLY CHEESINESS AND LOVEY-DOVEY TALK

 

There I was, troubled and down because of the issues in my previous post, when my darling boyfriend came to save the Damsel in Distress with a wind of Christmas in his sleeve. Because we'll spend the holidays in different addresses this year, we decided to steal some time for us the weekend before. In Finland we'd call it "Pikkujoulut", a Christmas Party before the actual date. Anyways my gloomy shitty Friday was thus saved by a late night movie and cozy cuddling.

My mister won't like me adding the photo but I can't help AWWing to this one

Saturday's programm consisted of minor shopping, BoboQ and cooking the traditional Finnish Christmas dishes for dinner. I have to say, I was seriously surprised by the taste and success of our attempt! It all tasted like it should have, even if we used some time-saver-cheats with the receipes! With those homey flavours, music and candle light it really felt like the real Christmas Eve.

the dining table made more chic with Marimekko details hohoho

The biggest surprise on that evening, however, was the present we shopped ourselves online. My boy had been scouting for Playstation 3 ever since -I dunno- last summer when we decided to skip the Christmas presents and get ourselves a video game console. The favouring opinion has varied between Xbox 360 & PS3, and some extensive background research has been made ever since. (I've always been a loyal PS-player tho).  Later when the decision for Playstation's victory was settled, we only waited for the budget-friendly bargain to pop up some day. The prices have been dancing wildly between 260~360 euros, when suddenly on Saturday night, on our fake Christmas Eve the humble ad appeared: brand new Playstation3 with 199 euros!! Ka-ching, the Visa-Card flashed, slashed and the order was sent.

dressing up my room to match the holiday spirit

On Sunday we got up late, had a royal breakfast with honeymelon, fresh fruit juices and warm Brötchen. We had decided to study hard on that day, yet somehow it was forgotten in the hot bubble bath and watching the several Youtube-reviews for PS3-games. We have now Lost Planet 2, Katamari Forever and Unchanted 2(/3) on our Must-Buy-Play-list, but we're very open for suggestions! So PS3-people with experience, fans with ideas and knowledge, comment please.

A real highlight was that my Schnupferich (aka Nuuskamuikkunen aka Snusmumriken) isolated my windows from the in-blowing wind and the racket of the street! Ain't nothing more attractive than a man who can cook, fix up your crib, treat you nice AND look good while doing it. Thus once again, I fell head over heels with my baby ♥

♥

Playing Hooky

You know the feeling when you wake up and the day is all wrong already? That's why I still didn't get up today although I've woken up first at 6:45 then 8:50, 8:14 and lastly 10:08. Still in bed, still in pyjamas. It's stormy, gray and cold outside and I just couldn't get up. My body and mind decided not to have this day at all. I was hungry some hours ago but not anymore, not enough to move at least. I've been lying and thinking about things while watching the trees bend in the wind outside my window. Cried a bit.

I'm homesick as hell. I miss my mom very much, maybe the most. Or maybe it's too painful to even think about my siblings. I miss all of it. To be me again, to feel home again.

You see, there is a difference in what I am here and what I am at home. It might not be visible to other people but to me those are two different people. I sound different and am different depending on the surroundings and especially the language. The Elli speaking English is braver, funnier and way more relaxed than the German Eli, forced to keep up the positive & social image, limited with words and means to express herself. But whom I miss the most is the real me, the Finnish Elina, the one I always was but am no more. Now I'm some chameleon hybrid of all those three. Someone I don't like, someone feeling lost.

I miss home but am also troubled with it. I was away so long that some things have inevitably changed. I am no longer an active part of the lifes of my friends, and it never caught me before. I thought I'd come back and everyone'd be waiting for me but instead they have moved on, one way or another. And it's good and it's great but I feel more alone than ever. I've landed in some strange middle space, not being home here or there. The friends I still meet when at home are decreasing by numbers and we no longer send emails regularly to know what's going on. When in Finland, I cannot follow the recent events in politics, TV, music or in my (old) social circle. I cannot follow gossip as I don't know the people we are talking about. I've missed out on parties, sleep-overs, birthdays, hardships, break-ups, engagements and funeral. I haven't been there for the good nor the bad. I haven't been able to be the friend to give support at hard times nor to celebrate the achievements or happy moments of my loved ones. And it hurts for I have missed out on the life that I should have been a part of. That I wanted to be a part of.

photos from the movie The Terminal

Now I'm hanging loose being a stranger in Finland and in Germany. The odd one out where ever I go. Like Peter Pan flying off to Neverland, having his adventures for years, thinking his parents would always be waiting with the window open for him to fly in..

Soul Cakes

 irrelevant video

I'm pretty stressed at the moment with University, up-coming Christmas and some issues with my roomies. Long story short: somebody forgot to tell me that our home phone isn't any cheaper when calling to mobile phones. Thus I just ended up paying 50 euros extra for OCTOBER only and we're still waiting for the huge bill of November & the beginning of December. Not to mention my mobilephone bills. Fucking Fantastic.

I have about 15 days to go before my holiday in Finland, which is truely great believe me, but also sets me a time limit with homework and finding Christmas presents. My room is a mess, the flat is a mess, I have finally money but no time nor the equipment to get myself a bed and some cupboards. (I'm still living out of cardboxes piled up in my 13m²). It stresses me to have so many unfinished unorganized things around me. I mean, I haven't had the time to shop for groceries in 2 weeks! I'm exhausted and can't think straight or plan ahead at all atm.

I'll be visiting my boyfriend's family in Hamburg again this weekend. I love it, and wouldn't change it away but I'm already feeling quilty and troubled with all the things I SHOULD be doing instead. There just isn't enough days in the week or power in my body.

Soooooo.. to inspire myself from week to week in this cold, dark and wet "winter". I focus myself on small pretty little things each day. Like christmas decoration and burning candles.

I'm normally not into Christmas albums from any artist and think they're a sign of a dying career, but when it comes to my all-time-favourite artist, Sting, I have to disagree. For two years now, throughout November till January, I've been listening to "If On A Winter's Night" with awe. The man is a genious, what else is there to say? The album is a collection of old folk music, celtic sounds and churchy hymns in a new wrapping. Take it or leave it. This music helps me to catch my breath from the rat race.

Another thing to cheer me up is the O-sO-deliciOus home made Pear Marmalade from some relative of my honeybun's. (Help me out here, Josi?) Nevermind what kind of dubious bread you managed to score with your last copper, this jam will rock it.

..and so I feel like the Queen of England again, ready to start another battle day with my nice cup of tea and welsh corgis!