May there be a lot of laughter

*** I wish you all a very happy and adventurous year *** Toivotan kaikille oikein onnellista, iloista ja seikkailurikasta uutta vuotta *** Med önskan om ett riktigt gott, glatt och äventyrsrikt nytt år till alla *** Os deseo todos un feliz año nuevo *** Życzę wam wszystkim bardzo szczęśliwego nowego roku *** С новым годом ***  Boldog új évet kívánok mindenkinek *** Prajem vám šťastný a veselý nový rok ***

[500 Days]] 2014

Natalie asked how life and work were going. It made me think back on the year and all the things I have actually experience. Once again, I can say wow! 95% of the time I think my life is uneventful, but when I start summarizing the year, the summary may include moving to a new country or crisscrossing across Europe.

So, in 2014:

• I moved to Sweden. This far I'm happy with the decision. There have been no great culture shocks of any kind and we have been very lucky with finding somewhere to live and finding jobs. Apart from this, my boyfriend's family has been really supportive, which has also helped us a lot. 
• Started a new job. Also happy with the decision, it has been stressful at times, but I feel that I'm doing something much more important (to me) than IT. Besides, they give me A LOT OF BOOKS. 
• Travels. The aim was to go to five new capitals: only one of the capitals I visited was new (Vilnius), but hey, I have been to more than five capitals :)
• I started tai chi. You know how yoga people can be completely obsessed with the benefits of yoga? I think tai chi is a bit similar, albeit in a less trendy way, 
• Language-wise I have not done much new. Unfortunately. I did read a couple of books in Spanish - does that count? 

When December came, I decided to be diligent with the blog. It started well, but ended not-so-well. I think this has been the most social month in a very long time. We have managed to squeeze in trips, dinners, and parties. 

Here are some photos from the past month. 

Alexander II guards Helsinki

I <3 helsinki="">

Christmas dinner Finnish style

Catching the sunset in Åland

Winter day in Stockholm

Cooking!

Food...

Food is among my favourite things on the planet. There is quite a collection of books on my shelves, so inspiration is never far away. Food is, in general, a fascinating topic. Issues relating to ethics, nutrition, the social are as widespread as they are important. In 2015, I want to pay a lot of attention to food. 

My apologies for the poor quality, I quite haven't lerant to manage this tool yet. 

Healthy stuff on a Sunday: spinach soup with boiled eggs. The cheese sandwich made it somewhat more bearable. 

Christmas Times

Christmas came and Christmas passed. There was snow and there was delicious food. Not enough time to meet everyone. Once more it passed. We are left with memories of laughter and plans for the year ahead. Plans, how could the human mind exist without them? Without the promise of à brighter tomorrow? 

I notice how our minds wander to the other side of the world. We dream of seeing the wonders of South America.

Like the layers of an onion, the layers of the mind are peeled off, one by one. What is left is the simplified version of the hopes and dreams of me. The mind always returns to languages. And to food. And to the gym.

Wall, hello

Desperately trying to leran using a smaller device than before. How are you? All good? 😄

[Photo Diary] Let There Be Some Glamour

[Book] Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

I am a fan of Murakami's fiction, often feeling that it takes me to places unknown. Unlike his other books, this one lacks the supernatural component, which is positive.
The reason I liked this book is strictly personal: I did not spend much time musing over the language used or literary finesses, I was attracted by the theme - loneliness, or maybe even colorlessness. Someone who has experienced this lack of color, often incorrectly, can relate with the story.  

[Joy] 10 Joyful Things

• Listening to the rain smattering against the window while cuddling under a warm blanket
• A tasty croissant and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice
• A really good conversation
• Finishing that puzzle that is called a translation
• Laughing until you cry. With no reason. 
• The beauty of nature
• Feeling that pang of inspiration 
• Creating
• Coming to a new place for the very first time
• Returning home

[Joy] Joy is.. saying no!

A couple of weeks back I decided to stop drinking coffee. As it turned out, it wasn't tasty anymore. The reasoning behind the decision was simply that what's the point in doing something that does not bring me in any joy. So I stopped. And I haven't looked back (yet)(who knows what will happen in the future).

And suddenly I realize that my life is slightly more joyful than before because...

...instead of coffee, I am now drinking tea. What's more fun than experimenting with different types of tea?

...it's easier to get up in the morning. Before I was unable to cope in the morning before having my coffee, now I cope a lot better since I know I won't be getting any coffee anyway.

The point being? I think that sometimes it is a good idea to break a routine to see what life can bring us. The change might be a positive one.

[Joy] Joy is... travelling!

I cannot imagine my life without travelling. 

2014 has been filled with some interesting trips and travels, mainly in central Europe, but we also managed to squeeze in a week in Spain. Sadly enough, I only visited Hungary once. The whole trip consisted of a few sad hours in lovely Esztergom, My love for Hungary seems to stick - I sometimes forget about it, but it will always eventually strike with full force. So, next year I definitely want to go to Hungary. Szeged, Pécs and Kecskemet are all places that I would like to see. Poland is another place that I need to visit now and then to keep my sanity. This year we experienced Warsaw and Gdansk, next year it might be time to visit Poznan.

However, one of my dreams for 2015 is to go further. The boyfriend and I have been discussing three possible scenarios: Australia, China/Japan or South America. The Wanderlust is increasing every day!