Monday, January 26, 2009

Trip to Finland, part 2

I got back to Mexico about a week ago, but haven't had time to blog before. The past week has included running around the university like crazy (everything important apparently has to be announced as late as posible), writing a paper for an international congress (I got the acceptance letter 4 days after the deadline for sending the papers) and being sick. Who knows where I got it, but apparently I have had some kind of parasite, and have tried to get over it the last days. Welcome back to reality...

But well, to nicer topics: I can finally show you some pics from my trip to Finland.



It was lovely to be in Finland and see everybody. Although when you live abroad, you notice who your friends really are and who want to see you when you visit. With some people I had the sensation of being a curiosity that comes far away and makes them feel bit awkward because I just don't belong to their lives anymore. But luckily there are still many many friends with whom it feels I was never away. And of course being with family is always very relaxing.




And while I love visiting Finland, and always wish I had more time to spend there, it's also good to be back home. Being a kind of a tourist, moving around all the time and living in other people's houses is also a bit tiring. Maybe someday I'll move back, but for now I'm happy this way. And I know that after living 3 years in Mexico, it would be difficult to adjust to Finland again. It certainly would take time.





I'm not saying that living in Finland wouldn't be easier in many ways. Mostly in practical things, as everything works quite smoothly there. But the mentality... Not that there aren't good things about that too. Talking straight and being (mostly) honest are very good things. But does everything really have to be planned at least 3 months in advance? And while in general things are pretty well there, lots of people seem to complain about everything and make problems out of things that aren't really real problems (I admit, I do complain too much too, and yes, there are also people with real problems there. But you get the point). In Mexico, there are lots of really serious problems, but people have very different attitud towards them. There are lots of joy and happiness, too. It kind of makes the problems easier to bear, I guess.



I have also noticed that while there is solidarity in Finland in general as a society - in the form of a good social security system and taxation that is quite fare, for example - this solidarity doesn't manifest itself in the individual level. People don't help each other - at least strangers - too much. In Mexico, things seem to be other way around: the society as a whole doesn't really care about the poor or the needed, but people are really helpful (at least if they are in the same social strata). I hope it could be possible to have both qualities in one place...
More generally, a combination of the best things in Finland and in Mexico would make quite a good society, I think. Meanwhile, I just have to live in between, always missing something from one country while I'm in the other.

7 comments:

Jonna said...

Ihania talvisia kuvia! Viimeisestä Suomitalvesta on varmaan 8 vuotta aikaa *huokaus*
Hyvin totta kaikki mitä kirjoitit.

ColibriDreams said...

Itsekään en ole pariin vuoteen ollut talvella Suomessa, ja olihan se ihanaa. Tai siis oli ihanaa, koska juuri matkani aikana oli lunta. Ei räntää tai paljasta ja pimeää maata ole ollenkaan ikävä!

Anonymous said...

I loved the pics and the introspection. I have noticed differences when I travel (I've only lived in the NE US) I grew up in NYC and to be honest, I think that is the friendliest group of people you could ever meet. It has the reputation of being cold and indifferent, but it's not at all. When someone needs help, you always see people coming over to offer. Of course there are always so many tourists that maybe most of the people just walking by and ignoring others are the tourists who don't want to get involved.

purple-power said...

Welcome back. Thanks for sharing the photos of your trip. They are lovely. It is always difficult to go home but also wonderful.

juanita said...

niin totta mitä kirjoitit! ahdistun aina, kun eksyn lukemaan hesarin keskustelupalstoja, voi sitä valituksen määrää.. parempi katsella vain kauniita talvikuvia! :)

ColibriDreams said...

Rachel O: That's an interesting point! New York would be nice to see some day.

Purple-power: Thanks! It's true, coming home is difficult and nice at the same time.

Juanita: Hesarin keskustelupalstat ovat kyllä aika ruikutusta. Ja välillä ihan käsittämättömistä asioista.

Anonymous said...

Mutta ajattele, on tästä valittamisesta jotakin hyvää ja hauskaa syntynyt, nimittäin valittaja-kuoro :)) En muista ketkä sen loivat, pariskunta kuitenkin. Veivät toteutuksen myös ainakin Englantiin, muistaakseni.
Ja ideana on laulaa ihmisten lähettämiä mitä moninaisempia valituksia...