Happy Fit Year!

Something tells me that nobody will read this until the end, so let’s start with the question: do you have any “fit plans” for 2013?

I have not written much about fitness during the latter part of this year, mostly because there has not been much to write about due to the lack of time to engage in any fitness whatsoever.

The year started well (fitness-wise), after moving to Bratislava it hit a wall and died a sudden death. Fear not, however, I have worked on a plan that I believe is a good one. More about that later.

At the end of spring I started feeling very uncomfortable in my own body. I wasn’t overweight, but there was something that didn’t feel right about it. Again, moving to a foreign country (as well as living on your own) does wonders to your figure. The amount of wine that I have drunk (mind you, a couple of glasses/week) has been compensated by very strange eating habits. Now I’m happy with myself size-wise: I don’t know how much weight I have lost, and it doesn’t really matter, but I’m content with the numbers the measuring tape is giving me. Anyhow, I’m craving for the gym.

So what’s the plan?

Food! Let’s start with the food because it’s so exciting a topic!

• Increase protein intake and cut back on “bad carbs “ (i.e. chocolate and sugar). this is slightly tough, considering that I very seldom eat red meat and poultry. The options? Fish, soy protein, eggs, dairy and certain legumes. Plus protein shakes (with berries, milk etc, yum!)
• Cook more. There is a kitchen downstairs. Use it!
• Proper breakfast. Three cups of coffee don’t count as proper breakfast.

Exercise. Well there is already a plan. A simple one. One that shouldn’t require too much time. 

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Shoulders	Cardio	Triceps	Yoga	Legs	Rest	Running
Back	Or	Biceps	Rest	Abs +HIIT	Or
Abs + HIIT	Something fun*	Chest	Or		Yoga
		Abs + HIIT	Something fun

Explanations:

HIIT: interval spring: 20-30 minutes
Something fun*: trying some new activity or do some sports that are not strength training
Walk where possible

Walking Abroad

So. This is what my facebook status read just a moment ago:

“This morning I woke up with a sudden urge to go abroad. So, after the morning coffee, I put on my running shoes and walked to Austria. It is geeky indeed, but there's just something so very cool about being able to walk abroad (even though it's just around the corner!)” A great walk it was, as well.

Click on photos to make them bigger.

2012.

In 2012 life was unexpected to say the least. Yours truly worked in 3 places and embarked on an MSc, finding two passions along the way. She also (randomly) moved to Slovakia, after spending most of the year travelling to Sweden, Finland, Spain and Hungary. She didn’t read quite as much as she would have liked to. Some of the gems that made it to her (non-existent) beside-table, however, are Dance, Dance, Dance and 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami, as well as The Great Gatsby (finally!) and works by Platonov and Kapuscinski. A 5+-year relationship ended, or more precisely, it transformed into a great friendship. At the end of the year a lot of her thoughts were doubting and melancholic in nature. Everything that wasn’t dealt with in the past couple of years is bubbling under the surface, and at moments those thoughts are really painful.

Spring 2012 in Mariehamn

Fortunately those thoughts have been accompanied with the knowledge that laughter conquers all. The people we meet, the stories we hear, the memories we create are the things to cherish in life. And as if that’s not enough, there are all those other activities, ideas and interests that can be pursued. Pondering about Marxism, laws and policies, travelling, boys, wine, laughing, social injustice, words, raw food, languages, time management (or the lack thereof), working out… and the list goes on.

Summer 2012 in Helsinki

2012 was also the year she became a coffee addict.

Autumn 2012: drinking coffee in Budapest

In the past few weeks I’ve been feeling a certain mix of anxiety and tranquility – it feels like the calm before the storm: there’s the knowledge that something will happen soon, something big. I don’t know what it is or where it will lead me, but rarely has my intuition been this strong.  Maybe that’s the best way to start a new year? With endless excitement?

Life List: 1, 22 & 25

In 2012, I took a few steps towards completing my life list.

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#1 on the list is to visit all European capitals. This year, three new capitals were added to that list.

Budapest in March and November

 

Bratislava

 

Vienna in October and November

The following capitals can be checked off the list: Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo, Tallinn, Riga, Moscow, London, Madrid, Vienna, Bratislava, Warsaw, Budapest and Athens. However, they are all lovely places, so I wouldn’t mind visiting again. At the moment there are some fuzzy plans for visits to at least Budapest and Vienna.

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#22: Fix my nails OR have my nails fixed

 

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#25: Grow my own herbs

Bulgur

One of my favourite grains is bulgur, and I was so happy to find it in a health shop the other day.
One of the advantages of bulgur is its versatility, you can mix it with almost anything – veggies, fish, legumes, meat – you name it. I like my bulgur with cheese (feta or mozzarella) and fish (salmon or tuna) + a lot of spices and seasoning.

The other advantage of bulgur is the relatively high content of protein, fibre and minerals.
I was so excited about the whole bulgur business that I decided to make a highly satisfying Christmas meal of it!

• Boiled bulgur (some olive oil added)
• 1/4 avocado
• Feta cheese
• Smoked salmon
• Garlic
• Grounded pepper
• Pomegranate seeds

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Food

You Say Bratislava, I Say…

• Cosy and charming. It is a little worn down in the edges. The traffic lights don’t work, the buses are from the 70s. At the same time, there is so much that is new and shiny.
• Grey. The winter is grey. There is a certain greyness to the city.
• Windy. It’s always windy.
• Great people. Some of the greatest people I’ve ever met, I’ve met here.
• Sports. Everyone seems to be doing sports and ice-hockey is one of biggest sports, now. We like that.
• Crazy working hours. When I flew to Austria, I read an article about starting business in Slovakia. Apparently Slovaks are the most cost-efficient workers in CEE. You know what that means, right?
• Wine and cheese. Slovaks know all about wine and cheese. For someone so into these particular products, Bratislava is heaven.

“Sjung en sång utan ord om ljusa nätter, sjung för mig igen, du lät som snöfall…”*

Sing a song without words about light nights, sing to me again, you sounded like snowfall.

Holiday! 5 days off. Yesterday after work a good friend took me to the Christmas market for some wine, after which we went to a friend’s place. He showed us photos from San Francisco and talked about America. I felt like going on a road trip.

Wanderlust, this is what you are. Endless butterflies clapping their wings, making you grasp for air and wanting to see the entire world while laughing and listening to lullabies.

 

Det är så många här som aldrig sagt nej
Och som aldrig kommer få en chans
Så många här som aldrig såg mig
Och jag vet att jag haft tur som få*

 

There are so many here, who never said no

And who’ll never get a chance

So many here who never saw me

And I know I’ve had more luck than most

 

 

* Kent - Det Finns Inga Ord

Album: Röd
Lyrics: Joakim Berg
Music: Joakim Berg / Martin Sköld

The Quote

“The best thing for being sad," replied Merlin, beginning to puff and blow, "is to learn something. That's the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you. Look what a lot of things there are to learn.”
― T.H. White, The Once and Future King

 

I’m not so very sad at the moment, but I believe this quote is still applicable. Is there any better feeling than when you have learnt something new and fascinating about the world?

One of the things that is so completely turning me on right now is my uni work. Crazy? Maybe. But all that thinking, analysing, pondering – it does do me good. It’s part of the process to finding inner peace. Another fun thing – as you might have noticed here on the blog – is the learning Slovak by doing. Translating. It’s so much fun! I still don’t speak the language, but it’s rewarding to see how well I actually understand it. *Patting myself on the head*.

The Good Man

Dobrý človek

Celú noc nespal. Pre bolesť. Nie však v srdci.
V ňom vždycky horel plameň nehynúci,
pahreba lásky, čistý ľudský zrak.
Za také dary letíš hoci nad oblak,
za také dary tvoje srdce rastie
a rozhadzuje svetom najprostejšie šťastie,
láskavý tlkot, najvrúcejší cit,
ten, ktorý nevie ani napalm spopolniť.
Celú noc nespí. Na všetkých myslí ľudí,
ktorých už bolesť nikdy neprebudí,
budú rásť pod slnkom, čo nikdy nehasne,
a šepoce si: To bude úžasné...

- Vladimír Reisel, Milovaní milujúci, 1954

 

The Good Man

He didn’t sleep all night. Because of pain. But not in the heart.
In it the never-ending flame was always burning,
the ember of love, the pure human vision.
For such gifts one flies above the clouds,
for such gifts one’s heart will glow
and scatter the world with the simplest happiness,
the gentle beat, the most ardent feeling,
the one that not even napalm can cremate.
All night he doesn’t sleep. He thinks of all those people,
whom pain has never awaken,
who will grow under the sun, that will never go out,
and he whispers to himself: it will be wonderful…
 
- Vladimír Reisel, Milovaní milujúci, 1954

Life On Hold OR Wonderful Saturday

Saturday. Noon. Taking it slowly. The skies are grey, Thåström sings and the neighbour is snoring.

Reading poems in Slovak, attempting to translate them. Just remember how much fun translating can be.

It’s raining. It’s Christmas in less than two weeks. The year is almost over. I’ve promised myself not to think of anything or anyone during these last weeks of the year. Now I’ll just be and let my mind rest It’s all about starting the new year with a clear mind and all that.

By the way.When I was back in Finland, I found the nicest notebook, isn’t it cute?

Byť (SK: To Be)

 

Byť

Byť ako strom, a nie ako trstina,

čo sa už pod vánkom zohýna.

Žiť ako strom, z ktorého robia

stožiare i hračky.

Žiť ako strom a umrieť postojačky.

To človek vydá, čo je v ňom.

Teda aj padnúť ako strom.

A potom, keď už zotlie celý,

byť práchnom, ktoré krotí včely

a núti ich tvoriť nie jed,

ale predovšetkým med.

Milan Ferko - z rukopisu, 1999

 

 

To be

To be like tree, and not like a reed,

which already bends under the breeze.

To live like a tree, of which

masts and toys are made.

To live like a tree and die while standing.

Man gives away what's inside him.

So he falls like a tree, too.

And then, when it's all rotten,

to be tinder, that tames the bees

and forces them to make not poison,

but above all honey.

 

Milan Ferko – from manuscripts, 1999 [translastion my own]

And What Kind Of A World Do You Want To Live In?

A few weeks back I felt a sudden urge to go back home, back to Finland. Only for a few days and to collect my thoughts. It’s easy to fall into a rut, into certain paths of thinking – this was an attempt to shake my thoughts a little, to make my head go bang and boom.

I’ve been turning the pages in books: cookbooks, literature, philosophical ramblings. I’ve been lying on my spikmatta*. I’ve been listening to people.

At the end of the day, my collecting of thoughts have led me to greatest question of them all: what kind of a world do I want to live in? How can I contribute to that world? And how do I want to live my life?

Of course, the answer – when it’s found – is clear. To live in a way that guarantees my own wellbeing while contributing to some kind of greater good. I have a certain view of how society and the world should look like - for me it’s obvious, evident – and for me that is exactly what constitutes the greater good.

*This is a spikmatta:

Mostanában olvastam ...

Winter Wonderland

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.” ― Roald Dahl

One of the most quintessential questions for me, ever since I was a child, is where is home?Today. when I stepped out of the plane and entered the airport of Stockholm. a warm feeling of familiarity and homeliness filled me. And I realized – my home will never be restricted and limited to one place. How could it if I, at the age of two and with great determination, decided to go and conquer the world? This kind of a life is complicated, building long-lasting conventional relationships of friendship and maybe something else is almost impossible. At the same time life is full of encounters with kind, interesting and clever people. And if this restlessness is inside you, then a life without going, seeing and conquering feels like a cage, and you are the bird longing for freedom but never being able to fly away.

Right Now

Place: Vienna Airport

Thought 1: is there anything better than tuna and eggs? It would be cappuccino.

Thought 2: hopefully Stockholm has recovered from yesterday’s snowstorm. I’d very much not like to get stuck there.

Music: something classic. Isn’t that awfully Austrian?

Feeling: surprisingly energetic – considering this is the 2nd night this week I sleep for 2 – 3hours.

december,joulukuu.

Maybe the Finnish word for December, joulukuu, describes it the best. It’s the month of Christmas.

Today I felt like crying even though the sour cabbage soup was delicious and I was surrounded by smiling, friendly faces. I was so tired I just wanted to put my head down on someone’s shoulder and forget about the world. I listened to the boys who were joking about everything from go carts to pizza. And the fitness guy who only eats protein. And the northern girl who was so excited about the snow covering Bratislava. Suddenly I felt so old. 

Then my friend took me for tea and we talked about group dynamics and wine and energies and escaping Slovakia for Christmas. I don’t know if it was the tea or the company or both, but I did feel better after that short while in the kitchen.

And I’m silently thinking of challenging myself. Asking myself to do that little gesture, to give away a little bit of myself. Mulling over this while listening to melancholic Finnish music really isn’t the best of combinations.

Life Is.

Sometimes the smallest words, the most unplanned sentences are the most important ones. I sleep too little, stress too much, find myself fat and stupid, and sometimes I feel like I’m not very important a human being at all. Days like that it’s more than nice to hear that your manager compares you to sunshine, your coworkers feed you pancakes because they claim they can see through you, a crazy 19-year old looks up to you, an old friend makes you feel happy and warm and your new friends make you shake with laughter.

And sometimes I just need to sit down and remember this.

23.58: Phew.

On  Saturday we walked so much in Budapest that we were a gang of really energetic people who arrived on the train to Bratislava tonight at 18.10 pm. Somehow I also managed to write a minor essay on philosophical research design AND discuss some potential work possibilities AND plan for my friend’s visit to Bratislava in the weekend AND talk to my mother on the phone.

Actually. Monday will probably feel like holiday.

Nem megyek én már haza… de jó nekem.

I like waiting for the bus in the morning. It’s such a peaceful moment – even though my eyes are usually still glued together and my brain works in slow motion.

Usually there are a couple of elderly women, some smart-looking men in long coats, some younger men wearing jeans and jackets and one girl or two.

This post made me think of all the things I’ve lost this year. (Yes, there’s still one month left of 2012, but I’ve already started the countdown. ). I have lost a lot of things – some hopes and dreams, a long-term relationship, a job, a country, the possibility (and time) to study Hungarian. I’ve lost some energy and at times I’ve felt like my sanity had gone, too. But at the same time I’ve received a lot – that long-term relationship turned into a great friendship, I have new friends and staying in close touch with old ones, I’m conquering a new city, a new country, a new language. I found a passion of sorts in sociology of law. I no longer study Hungarian, but now I’ve got Hungary right around the corner. At the end of the day I’m happy to be where I am right now.

A lot of things have happened in 2012, maybe that’s why I’m feeling so old and wise. Actually, I’m suffering from the feeling-like-an-old-lady-syndrome. Now it’s time to start living like women my age do!

And then.

Az intuíció (Hun: Intuition)

For being someone so completely out of touch with the spiritual world, I have spent an awful lot of time thinking about intuition lately.

The oddest things have happened lately. Quick moments, after which we’ve knowingly smiled and said I knew it.

I have very little faith in my own intuition. I doubt it, just like I doubt most things. Today, however, a very dear person told me “trust your intuition, but for this your mind must be calm: otherwise we might think it’s intuition, but it’s a thought. Intuition is like certainty”.

First Attempt

 

* * *Po kvapke tvojej lásky som dnes túžil,

ja, vetrom rozochvený list.
Možno mi slnko namaľuje na krík zopár ruží,
za tebou musím na kraj sveta ísť.
Na ceste sa mi biela šálka rozlomila,
z dňa zostal už len zlatý pás.
Noc, moja dobrá modrá víla,
nezahas svetlo, čo je v nás!
Potom ťa pojmem tíško za ruku,
ty si tá rosa krištáľová,
čo padá za skorého rána na lúku.
Na pásik tejto hnedej zeme
my budeme sa vracať stále znova,
kým spolu koniec leta nenájdeme.

Dezider Banga - Horiaca višňa, 1983

 

For the drops of your affection I longed today,

I, the leaf shaken by the wind.

Maybe the sun paints me on the bush of a few roses,

for you I must go to the end of the world.

On the road I was broken by a white cup,

only a golden strip remained of the day.

The night, my blue fairy godmother,

unveil the light that is in you!

Then I will take you quietly by the hand,

you are the crystal dew,

that falls from early morning onto the meadow.

To the strip of this brown earth,

we will return together, over and over again,

until we find the end of summer.

- Dezider Banga - Horiaca višňa, 1983 -

(Translation my own)

Expat Wisdom

Yesterday we were meeting up at a café at 1 pm. Two Finns, one Swede and one Russian. We were slightly surprised because the streets were empty and many of the shops were closed, but didn't think much more about it.

Shame on us.

17 November is a public holiday. In English it's the day of the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day and in Slovak Deň boja za slobodu a demokraciu*. On this day people commemorate the student demonstration against Nazi occupation in 1939 as well as the 1989 demonstrations in Prague and Bratislava that marked the beginning of the Velvet Revolution.

A lot of weird events and happenings are commemorated in the world; peace and democracy are probably two of the more important ones.

* a quick analysis. Deň (= day, subject) boja (=struggle, genitive masc.) za (= for, preposition req. accusative) slobodu (=freedom, fem. accusative) a demokraciu (=democracy, fem. accusative)

Men se på mig då.

Today I would like to write about something melancholic, grey and yet happy. What such a thing is, I don’t know. I just finished updating my research blog. We are comparing and contrasting the differences between the inequalities of Roma girls in an educational context in Sweden and Denmark. That sentence makes little sense, the topic is interesting.

It’s raining today. My room is a mess. This morning I thought about hugging and being hugged. Next weekend we are off to Budapest. The trip (bus to Budapest from Bratislava – train back – two nights in an apartment) ended up costing 50 euro. Not bad.

My stomach is feeling a bit funny and I would need to buy a new pajamas.  Today I bumped into a new flatmate, a boy I’ve never seen before.

It’s funny how weird one can be about totally useless things.

A friend recommended me a blog written by a 100-year old lady. That. my friends, is amazing. Think of all the things one can experience in 100 years: all the love and joy and adventures, and the sadness of course. I want to live until I turn 100 years old, and I want to love a lot. I think those are the main feelings in my head today.

Boldogság

Right now I’m feeling so happy – there are so many exciting things going on right now and I’m surrounded by great people – is there anything else one could possibly need?

Today I did some shopping. Surely it’s not a reason for my happiness, but having a proper coat does make life a little more bearable in wintertime.

The colour of this dress is lovely.

Let’s see if that Learning-Slovak-Project will start now. Do note that Slovak uses the preposition “pre” for “for”. Oh no, this is going to be confusing. In both Russian and Polish it’s “dla”. (sometimes “do”).

It’s Saturday and I’m home. Somehow I’ve managed to go out for wine three times this week and it has been a blast. Tonight was time for rest, though. This evening my best friend and I have been looking for flight tickets and in two weeks she’ll be here. I can’t wait!