A Lunch Break That Nearly Brought Me to Climax

You put it in your mouth, placing it on your tongue. Then you carefully twist your tongue so that it is inside and press smoothly. You slowly take a bite. A mix of sweetness and bitterness explodes in your mouth and after savouring the moment for a little while, you yearn for more.

That’s what it’s like to eat fresh raspberries on a sunny afternoon, the last Thursday of October somewhere in Valencia.

The raspberries were only the starter; the dessert consisted of aloe vera and mango yoghurt that tasted just like one of the most delicious ice-creams in the world.

 

Politically Uncool

Right in the same zone with Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and Gandhi. Interesting... I suppose that´s quite good company.
If you want to know where you stand politically, visit this link

Thought of the Day

from Tao Te Ching:

 

Knowing others is wisdom;

Knowing the self is enlightenment.

Mastering others requires force;

Mastering the self requires strength;

He who knows he has enough is rich.

Perseverance is a sign of will power.

He who stays where he is endures.

To die but not to perish is to be eternally present.

(chap. 33, tr. Feng and English)

 

 

 

 

Я TAK хочу красивые красные туфли..

It's Wednesday  and there is no better day to start cooking up some plans.

 

This is also the week of Halloween, birthdays and food. The plans are in fact quite clear: no dressing up on Saturday but a big group of us will go to one of our favourite bars (and one of the best ones in Valencia) for tapas and then probably out out. My boyfriend's uncles turn 50 on Sunday, an event which will be celebrated in true Spanish style with food, and lots of it. These family gatherings sort of scare me because I still don't know how to act with a big group of Spanish people all shouting on the top of their lungs at the same time. By the time I have thought of something to say, the topic has been changed at least 5 times. Well, at least it is a bunch of loveable people (as long as they don't criticise my Spanish which will freak me out even more)... Maybe I will survive.

 

All I need is a pair of red shoes to be ready for the party.

 

 

----

 

Hoy es miércoles y sólo nos quedan un día y medio (según la manera optimista de calcular el tiempo) para el fin de semana. Es el día perfecto para hacer planes. 

 

Es la semana de Halloween, cumpleaños y comida. El plan ya lo tenemos bastante claro: nadie va a disfrazarse (somos unos tontos sin vergüenza), pero sí que vamos a cenar en uno de los mejores bares de Valencia y luego salir a algún sitio. Los tíos de mi novio cumplirán 50 el domingo y lo vamos a celebrar de una manera verdaderamente española: con comida en muchas cantidades. Estas reuniones de familia me asustan porque no sé cómo actuar con un enorme grupo de españoles gritando - todos a la vez. Nunca sé qué decir (tampoco sé gritar, así que nadie me oye)... Bueno, por lo menos es un grupo de gente bastante adorable (siempre que no critiquen mi español, esto me asusta aún más y me hace perder la lengua). Quizás sobreviviré.

 

Sólo necesitaré unos zapatos rojos para estar lista para la fiesta.

I tell my boyfriend I want to get married...

...and he shows me his bum. ¡Voilá! We are just so grown up.

Make a decision and you'd better make it fast...

I got a phone call from Barcelona and have until tomorrow morning to decide whether I want to go there for an interview. The job itself seems interesting and it is a lot better paid than the one I have now. I should face my fears and go for it: if you don't jump, you will never fly. But there is something holding me back: fear of being rejected? Fear of actually being accepted and all the consequences that would lead to... I feel that I should go for it but that little voice in my head is telling me that there is no point.

I wish I was one of those people who act instead of analyse.

Ready Steady Go

Time to study!

I like todays's quote.

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.

- Francis Bacon

Which book would you recommend to be chewed and digested?

Sunday Music Slavic Style

Oh so sad, but also very beautiful. Polish is a poetic language indeed and Myslovitz is one of my absolute favourites.



Maybe one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. Just close your eyes and listen to the voice of Victor Tsoy. Kino was one of the biggest groups in the Soviet Union in the 1980s, but they remain popular to this day. In this song, the singer Victor Tsoy poses a crucial question, which at first might not seem all that important at all: "who will sing if everyone's asleep?" (Kto budet' pet' jesli vse budut spat'?)

Friday Morning

 

Good morning Readers!

It’s still pitch black outside. A big cup of green tea is warming my cold hands and my eyes are still oh so sleepy. 7 hours until the weekend. This week has gone way too fast and I have not been able to do half of the things that I should have done, so the weekend will probably be dedicated to studying, although I’m hoping to find some time for pilates, a couple of nice long walks and meeting up with friends.

 

What are your plans?

 

Have a nice Friday!

Work

 

Time: 10:27

Place: work

Doing: translating an interesting manual about measuring sound

Wearing: lots of clothes - we are talking about winter boots and t-shirt + polo neck + woollen jumper. And still feeling freaking cold.

Listening: to radio music from outside and to people working.

Thinking: about non-work related stuff - basically, how to schedule my life in a more effective manner.

 

 

----

I got a question about my job but because I almost never log into my blog, I'll reply to that here: basically I'm some kind of an assistant who does whatever she is told to do. Usually I translate all sorts of texts (from measuring sound to instructions for digital printing to conference programmes, manuals and marketing material). I'm also coordinating installations and projects, contacting foreign suppliers, managing orders, creating databases and being treated like ... The job is OK, but the salary is not and as I already mentioned, the atmosphere is far from good. It's not what I studied for and for me it is some kind of an interim solution while I figure out what to do in the future and get my studies out of the way. However, our working hours are perfect (7.45 - 17.00 and intensivas every single Friday), and the holidays + puentes are really good, and the work place is close to home which means that I have lots of free time in the evenings.  

 

 

 

Negative Energy

The negative energy we have at work is really starting to get to me. I'm not going to talk about the details but I'm finally starting to understand the reasons for why I have been feeling so bad lately. Something needs to change.

At least one of our suppliers said something really nice to me this morning. Let me quote: "You are a star!!!". Doing complicated things for little money and no thanks from your employers can be both really frustrating and distressing, so I'm just glad someone appreciates my work. It only took him like 5 seconds to compose that little line but it definitely made my day :)

Tempted

Madrid - New York 610 € with BA next September. Although I'm not that keen on visiting NY, it'd be wonderful to go and see an old friend of mine somewhere near Pittsburgh, and maybe go for some trips to Philadelphia and Washington DC.

The Life of an Ant

 

The other day when I was philosophising in the bathtub, I realised that my life is quite similar to that of an ant. Ants are very hardworking little creatures who spend their lives building anthills, but it's highly doubtful whether they have any idea at all of what they are doing. They just work until they die without any specific goals in their life. And I do the same. Maybe I am slightly more independent than an ant, and more aware of the available options but still I decide to overwhelm myself with studies. Nobody forces me to, usually I just get weird looks from people when they hear what I do so I prefer to keep my mouth neatly shut.

But still in the bath I decided that I, and the ants, are doing the right thing. We might not be the envied leaders of the pack nor are we the cool kids but indeed we are enjoying ourselves. It's not the end result that counts but the process of getting there. A world without learning (and anthills) would be pretty boring to say the least. And it is a known fact that if you do what you enjoy, you will be happier. Not to mention that the obsession of curiosity and trying to figure out the world is probably a lot more useful than many other brilliant ideas that have occurred mankind.   

 

Shopping List

The winter is coming and although it's not as cold as in Finland, it is cold enough for me. Usually the Spanish winter makes me want to hide under a blanket (or three) and not get out of there until March. So, in order to cheer up myself with material things, I have wrote a list of things that I need and want to make the winter a little bit more colourful, somewhat more bearable and a lot warmer.

 

1 pair of black shoes: this morning I realised that I didn't have any stylish, yet walkable, black shoes. The ideal pair should be soft and comfortable, preferably with a bit of heel. They should also be great for walking longish distances.

 

1 thick cardigan. I want it to be long, soft and warm. Preferably navy blue.

 

Basic tees and tops in black, red and white.

 

1 black polo neck.

 

Some more tights of the thicker kind.

 

Body shop face protector - this is the only thing that manages to hydrate my crazy skin and keep it from going even crazier.

 

Mineral make up - some people love it, others hate it, I just want to give it a go.

Musisz w to wierzyc. Or you must believe in it.

I love you like the sister I never had. You are beautiful, stylish, compassionate, intelligent, sincere and you own a big heart. You deserve more than him, he is not worth a single one of your tears. All he sees is the surface, not the real you. He has no idea of your feelings, your suffering, the things you've been through. He doesn't understand you, and you are worth so much more than him. Don't give up on yourself, don't stop believing, don't let the illness get to you again. You are the best and you deserve the stars. Never ever doubt that.

Sugar Free

I have decided to challenge myself to cut down on the sugar. The last couple of months my sugar intake has increased drastically, and it really can't be healthy can it? Not only does it contribute to mood swings, but it is also bad for your teeth, immune system, and weight. Basically sugar contains a lot of energy but very little else.

My plan is to try this for a week or two to start with and try to incorporate it into my lifestyle, the main goal being more energy and less mood swings.

The idea is not to forbid it completely, but there are some easy steps that should help on the way:

1. don't add sugar to tea, coffee, whatever. Honey is an excellent natural sweetener.
   
2. avoid foods with high sugar content: ice creams, desserts, biscuits, cereal, chocolate, juices, alcohol... Here it is good to use your creativity: homemade orange juice tastes a lot better than the one you get in the supermarket, and you can avoid all the extra sugars. Fruit is an excellent dessert and it is possible to make all kinds of delicious things with yoghurt, fruit and berries.
   
3. swap the whites (bread, pasta, rice) for wholegrains. Wholegrain products tend to fill you up for longer and they also contain more vitamines, minerals and fibre.
   
4. add protein to the carbs to keep hunger at bay for longer.
   

Monday OFF!

Wonderful! Today is the National Day of Spain which means relaxing at home and no Monday blues. It means sleeping late and just enjoying the day; this far I have managed to do some yoga and get one more exam out of the way, while drinking lots of green tea (no surprises there). Later we will probably take the dog out for a long walk and then it's time for some more studying and Hungarian class at 7.

Weekend Walks

Back to Brown

Well well... After a year of desperate attempts to make my hair look decently blond, I decided to give up and go back to what it used to be like a long, long time ago. I must admit that the colour suits me, but it feels a bit boring. I mean, if you want to look exotic in Spain, it might not be a very good idea to dye your hair brown.

No need to say it: on the list of serious issues, this one is probably last.

Did you know...

..that the oldest alliance that is still in force today was signed between England (later the United Kingdom) and Portugal in 1373?

Total bluff and nu j**vlar!

First to the bluff: I dyed my hair yesterday. Result: dark and a lot of surprise. It seems that the people I have been working with for the past 15 months think that I'm a natural blonde. Hmm.

And secondly, I'm so inspired and I got my mind made up. I know what I want to do. I will slowly start preparing everything and also apply for a course in the relative field. I will tell more soon.

Apart from this I would also need to learn German really quickly (shouldn't be a problem) as well as improve my computer skills (can never be a minus).

So satisfied!

I've just enjoyed a great lunch (blackberries, banana, pineapple juice, two small tuna pasties and a bottle of water) and I'm so happy because I found chantarelles and blueberries so tonight I'll cook some typically Finnish food. Can't wait!
Besides, doing all the school stuff yesterday was a great idea because now I'll have all the evening off. This girl is going to have fun tonight. Whoop!

5/18

I thought I wouldn't make it when I crawled up the hill. But a bit of red bull gave all the necessary energy to get through one more module. 13 more to go. For now I'm satisfied, it's not that hard.

Now- porridge, berries and some chapters of How I Met Your Mother.

I love accents!

Just spoke to a shy Austrian on the phone who made that sweet "hehm" sound which is like half a laughter. Add that to a soft accent and I'm lost.

The embarrassing part was that I really didn't catch his name although I have apparently spoken to him quite a few times via e-mail (?)

Now, back to work.

Love conquers... what?

I just bumped into an article about a couple who has been in a long distance relationship for the last 10 years. Say what you will but that is completely crazy. I'm usually the one supporting people to get into this type of relationships: if, for whatever reason, it is not possible to be in the same place right now, doing it long distance can work. But you need to have a plan, a final goal that you are both aiming for. We were going through this for almost two years before I moved to Spain: at times it was pure torture, at others- fairly easy. I was happy to have a supportive family (poor students can't really afford that amount of travelling). We both had our time to think about what we really wanted from the relationship. And now I'm here, in Valencia. Careerwise it might not have been the best move, but for me there were really no other options.   

 

But, still 10 years. And still without knowing when they will live on the same continent?  It might work for a very few people, and if these two persons that the article was about are happy, then good for them, the love they must feel for each other must be exceptional because they are giving up so much: physical closeness, everyday life, sharing family and friends, maybe having a family.  And what if it doesn't work out in the end? What if you've spent ten years of your life waiting on someone who is on the other side of the planet and then you get nothing, what do you do then? Is it really worth it?

 

 

Uudet kujeet...

Good morning Sweetpeas!

New week and new plans. The absolutely best thing about this week is that there is long weekend coming up, with both Friday and Monday being public holidays. Anyhow, this week I will...

* add a bit more exercise to my life: apart from walking to and from work (which takes about 70-80 minutes altogether), I will also try to squeeze in a couple of sessions of pilates on the ball. My original plan was to re-join the gym, but that will have to wait until my body allows me to do actvities that require more energy.

* remember that my brothers will be turning 18 on Wednesday. In-cre-di-ble. I can't believe those tiny little babies will be officially grown up. The only thing they will not be allowed to do is buy hard liquor (the age limit is 20 for anything over 22% in Finland).

* continue with my "get-up-at-6.30.am"- regime which started today. It just feels great to have time to eat breakfast in the morning without rushing around like a crazy woman.

* dedicate at least 30 minutes to relaxation before going to sleep.

* cook at least one tasty meal that I have never tired before.

* dye my hair: the colour is still a mystery, though. I love the colour I have now, but I'm seriously considering going darker because of maintenance reasons.

* and then the usual stuff... study, go for coffee, study some more, watch series....

Found some sushi

My boyfriend is in Berlin and I'm sitting home alone with a plate of sushi and some vodka, wondering what to do next. Yesterday at around 4 pm my throat started feeling funny, and the funniness has now developed into a properly sore throat. Hence the vodka: I'm only following my mother's advice - whenever I complain about a sore throat she tells me to drink. So that's what I did this morning at 7: dragged myself to the fridge, got some juice, mixed it with some absolut raspberry, got back to bed and slept like a baby. And that's what I'm doing now. Drinking vodka, sneezing and having sushi (finally!). I will also take advantage of having the house all to myself: sleep in the middle of the bed, spend an hour in the bath and break all Spanish rules and eat dinner at.... wait for it... 7.30 p.m. Oh bliss!