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My son went to the amusement park with his godmother. I went to Kiasma museum of contemporary art. It had many good exhibitions of finish video art and photography. I felt that pictures in the films where very Finnish. 

Maria was walking with a donkey in Eija-Liisa Ahtialans film Marian Ilmestys, the Annunciation, 2010. It was spring, with ugly grayness and a couple of snow piles a long the road. While watching it, I realised that it made me think of my springs of youth. I also grasped that my son will never have the same feeling about the long waited spring in Finland as I have. He will have English spring memories.

I sometimes feel like a stranger in Helsinki. I got a small culture shock first weeks here. People where dressed in ugly clothes here. There is still a cultural difference in every country about what is beautiful to wear. I was in Swedish or American mode still. People in the street seemed rude in their silence and I did not get any service at the stores. Culture shock in your own country is something that is difficult to admit and to talk about without someone getting insulted.

First time I felt really good about Finland was while eating a Finnish strawberry, how sweet it was. I feel also more blessed by everyday Finnishness than before. People also seem to get more beautiful with the summer sun. 

This beautiful and very meaningful piece ENEMMÄN/VÄHEMMÄN more/less 2013 by Marja Kanervo, sums it up. 

home number 5

 We live in a small apartment on Maneesikatu.

It is dark, but homy. 

 This is the tree outside our window. 

I have a habit of photographing trees that I see every day.

These tree pictures become a lineal of time. 

We got lots of books from the library,

for reading but also for decoration.

Mural from our corridor.

Sea is near and the city center.

Statue at our Varsapuisto (Foal park). 

My own foal feels so big.

reading about next destination at my local grocery store

This is our fabulous grocery store Anton&Anton in Kruunuhaka. 

My son is sleeping and I am drinking nettle tea and cabbage pie.

We are moving to London in July. I am excited and nervous.

party of dr. M

 My friend M. had her dissertation presentation.

As I listened her presentation, 

I was sure I understood something, now I am not so sure.

We had a pre-party prep,

with some serious putting make up on.

Party was great, 

with lots of speeches, 

good wine

 and glamorous dresses and hair.

Here she is dr. M

32

 Today is my birthday.

 I got a card, made with love and a small fight in the morning.

 All the flags where out just for me.

I got two breakfasts: 

One at home and

another one at Cafe Engel.

on the boat

Gazing at a sunset on the boat to Finland from Sweden.

Reading a book about Heinähattu and Vilttitossu 

(Hayflower and Quiltshoe) also traveling on a boat.

Looking at the map for new destination: Helsinki.

traveling wife

I have been reading these two Finnish authors. Merette Mazzarellas Easter is from 1983. Anu Silfverbergs Mother-Card is published this year. Both books talk about woman´s place. While I laugh with Silfverberg, I still feel standing on the other side of the fence with her. She talks about having two carriers in the family and dividing house work. I have been going through this in my head millions of times. Discussion in Finland about house wives is not very pleasant. I feel like a slacker there while not having a proper job. Mazzarellas main characters mother is a house wife, who believes that she is needed home and is happy. The mother realises that not all of her own ambitions can come true.

I have interviewed in America women, who had a different point of view to the whole. They talk about doing these decisions together, having a common goal. They wanted to travel and husbands where relocated. I learned from them that not everything can be measured in straight forward career. There are many roads to home.