jul

Santa visited us. We got some presents: I got five, just like the machine in the internet told me! So thanks Santa for Sofi Oksanen's book, couple of bags, Synkkien laulujen maa (Land of Sad Songs) -cd, skull-necklace and MOST of all: I got a Eppu Normaali Nahka-kalenteri(!!!) this is something only finns can know. And IT is so camp, that It has to be good.

I've been visiting graveyards lately couple times. It's beautiful place on xmas-eve's. Full of candles and cold winter night with stars in the sky. I've been remembering last years, people and being alone with my thoughts. I visited again mom's brother's, father's, grandparent's graves, and today I went also to Father's brothers, grandparents and uncles graves. And light a candle in all of those.

We had something 18 persons visiting today. It's always hard to be with these people, because I don't share anything except blood-relations with them.

I am waiting for next week: meeting friends, greeting them and going to work (last day i was there on 18th of August!). And NYE party, which wont be big, but hopefully warm and nice happening.

Winter Solstice

And now I've been doing different things. Thursday went all while I helped Granny and Auntie with Shopping, driving a car and carrying stuff. Was nice, we also visited graves of my uncle, granpa, and great granparents. I heard on that trip also, that my great-great-grandmom is buried in same graveyard, but the grave is forgotten already. (and yes, I heard her name first time ever!). In the evening I had coffee and perunapiirakka (pastries) with granny and auntie, we talked a bit, some relatives and friends called and I saw my friend in TV!

In the late evening: some glögi (without alcohol) and a bit of chatting (or a bit more) and Disco Ensemble live from Kaapelitehdas in the end of November. I went to sleep half past 2, though I was quite tired. No worries though.

Today I started my day with 1000 EURO. Not really, though I was carrying such a money. I was shopping food for daddy and got the food to his place, greeted Aro (my sisters dog) and took some fantastic pictures of a shortest day of the year. I will post those before end of the year. Then I came back to home, had lunch (karjalanpiirakka(karelian pie) and vichy) and packed myself to the car and drove to other granny to greet her and Grandpa. They both have birthdays near xmas, this year was my grandpa's 86 yrs and for Grandma it was 81. It's a age which is should be rated as high as possible. My other granny is 84, so god how old the old people lives these days.

Right now I am at home, trying to be as quiet as possible. If Ella (my cousing, godchild) wokes up, she cries so hard and it annoys my Alpo-dog so much that he barks, Ella gets afraid, and Albert keep on with louder voice (and so on). So I hope they both just gets a good rest. I will take a sauna (and try to was it before, if I have energy) or then I do it tomorrow. I bought one bottle of Syrah yesterday, so I could relax with it in the evening.

24 h in Finland

...And I don't feel at home at "home". My family is somehow similar, but still so different. I become to get annoyed by other people noises and musics. And party and stressed sister: whats this all?

Suggestions?

Jag är livrädd för att leva, och jag är dödsrädd för att dö ... men älskning vi ska alla en gång dö

Here it is. The same house, which is on my first entries on this blog. Its a bit more grey, there is lots of snow coming from the sky. Today is my last day in Latvia on this year.

I will go to Finland, Varkaus, Savo-kingdom, where I grew up. The title of the day is from the song, its the one which has been on power-play during my year. It's a song of this year. Listen, and you know why (it's good to know some Swedish before doing so).

--

I will take a Ryanair in the evening back to Tampere. I wont stay there with friends, my dad is going to pick me up from there. Straight to home with little sister. My other little sister is going to graduate tomorrow, she will be a nurse. Congratulations to her.

--

What else, my flatmate will change when I am back in Latvia. Thanks to Kalle for these 3½ months, welcome Jeena. During my one month holiday, my room will be hosted by one spanish boy, Ivan and latvian girl, Gunta. I hope they'll have fun. I will be in Helsinki, most of the time, I can share time with you all, just contact me and I make appointments. Geographically I will be living outside of center (Not in my Helsinki flat, but some other flat), so don't go knocking my door there; though possibly Ansku, Emma and Emppu will let you in anyway.

--

After this year, there is new one: i need to practise be more nicer, more free and more wise on some cases. I will try to learn to manage with my feelings and also try to find solution for my illnesses. They have come back.

--

Anyway, I will post something from holidays as well, if connections works. Lets see what happens in Finland.

last pics of Riga-times

We had a party for 70. Was fun, though Messy. Where? In our flat...














I have been also hanging in the Hostel with people. In here are Boghdan, Zane, Elita and Marcus. Funny people all.














I went to Riga Arena to see this guy. He invited some people to join him on the stage. All of the Stoogees were there. Iggy inclueding.


















Last pic is about Kaisa, one of my best friends, who visited me, we went to Opera to see Lady of Aces by Tschaikovsky.

The Holiday

Haha, I had to see the film, The Holiday, just because I wanted to see, how JACK BLACK gots a lady. Funny and warm-minded movie, though nothing special. My holidays are not so shiny either full of happenings, I think, this year I will just sleep and eat and walk a bit with Alpo-dog and play some games, if we get one for xmas-present, like every year before this. Otherwise we have to find old games like Monopoly, Alias, Scrabble, Instinct, Star of Africa, President-game (where you can be Urho Kekkonen), Cluedo, Mystery of Peking and most of all: DRACULA-game, which is really scary if you play it with the cousins. You can not know who lies behind your back!

I am listening Radio Helsinki, the best radio in the world. They're playing some cool saturday afternoon songs and I was planning to clean up in the kitchen. Tomorrow then my own room and on monday livingroom and hallway. For tuesday I leave bathroom, so Ivan and Gunta can come to quite clean flat. My flatmate is also changing, from beginning of January I will live here with Jeena, she is also finnish student and living right now in Helsinki.

Anyway, all the friends are sleeping, I think I will walk to the center after cleaning and check out whether I find this Chaks old poem-book Sirds uz trotuaara (Heart to pavement). It's a compilation full of poems to Riga and it's streets. Really beautiful stuff. And Latvians of my age doesn't like it at all. Is it something? I don't know why they want to forget all. They don't all even know that there is a Spilve. Or or or. It's the people. I love the city.

winter solstice

There is one more week to go for winter solstice. It have been a bit more important day what it's right now. The year begings to crawl slowly to the light. I like the idea of the darkest day of the year. A promise to get back to the summer, when life is full of light. When I thought about this, I remembered this CMX song, from Aura-album, where is song called Talvipäivänseisaus. It's really dark story about losing love, losing life and in the end of the song this woman whispers:

Kädet tuntuu vierailta, silmät toisen omilta, ajatukset kuluneilta, sanat poikki sanotuilta. Miksi lähdit, miksi menit, rajan taakse ulkopuoleen, kauas luota ihmismaiden, vuoren juurelle pois.

Somehow, sometimes I kept on thinking this one. Is it because of dying that people lose power to live, or is it really a story made for our generation. Dying nowadays is something so scary and a living taboo to talk about deads. At least in Finland. There is only honour for the bygones, but we're this big amount of love which loses an object. Does it mean that love in the world is getting more and more limited and in the end that power-meter is empty. Or is there a stable amount of it anyway? Or if my close one dies, do I start to love more the other people around? With love, this time I mean a love towards people, like: mom, dad, granny, sisters, brothers, friends and so on. Nothing do to with love-love (which is pretty overrated love-section anyway, at least if you think how much good these family-friends loves have given to you.)

I have not seen dead person myself. I have seen my uncle (who died in age 33) in pains and nearly dead. I am not sure whether I saw him on his last day, but in one night he just get a attack and died either in a way to hospital or in hospital. I think, it was a day when our family moved to new house, quite near to Granny's (2km). We talked some day with mom, that maybe our uncle waited everything to be ok with the family (I bet, he loved us, the kids, like I love my little cousins: Emma and Ella).

The other time when dying got close to me was 1½ years ago, when my Latvian friend (who died in age 24) decided to drive too fastly with the car in the lightly summernight. I did hear it quite late, I was sad and angry (WHY?! we talked about his driving habits before). I know where he is buried, but I havent have time to get to the grave. Last xmas I lighted a candle for his memory in my childhood-villages graveyeard, on the place where you can leave a candle for those, who have been buried to some other places. I bet, in next weeks sunday, I take a car and drive back there in the middle of the night, and let the light come into the dark winter night.

Most talkable bygone person in our family is still Markku, my uncle (father's brother), who died in the age of 2. By drowning to a water tub, which wasn't full, just a bit of water. My granny have been telling her pain - when she found the lifeless body from there. And the fact, that this kid is always the first thought in her mind in the mornings, and a last before sleeping. I have seen a pictures of white baby in a coffin, it was normal to take a pictures from dead's on those times. And its also a fact, that there wasn't any picture of this little beautiful fella otherwise.

I don't know is it a normal to talk about bygone's in other families, but I think, these people, who I haven't even met, are part of me. Part of my family. And sometimes I miss my uncle yelling me (me, a kid age of 5) that dont cry there. Come here or go to see granny to upstairs. I was scared being alone in my aunties room, but it was warming and helping, when I knew that he was listening. Though he was already so sick that he couldnt move much. My granny was super, she take care of both - my granpa, who died in 70's, and then uncle.

Why I wrote today about dying? I don't know. I was listening Ryan Adam's Jacksonville City NIghts, which is really high emotional album with some country ballads. And then I thought about Winter Solstice, which is the darkest day in the year. But I remembered that I have found a light from my family on those days. I think you should meet them, if you haven't: I count to my closest family all my 5 sisters + boyfriends, mostly, my brother, my parents, my granny (mom's), my auntie, my two uncles, my uncles wife and two lovable kids. So... in total 20 people + me.

Otherwise, School has ended, I have one small thing to do for monday, when we have an last ensemble: singing songs, playing, eating some snacks, drinking xmas drinks. Like in preminaly school ;) I was looking for notes for some xmas song which my friends father has made. But I didn't. Maybe need to write from the head. If you know any traditional xmas song (meaning, words and composition trad.) can you give me hints. It would be nice as well.

Haha, and one more thing. It's nice that I can listen country-music and no-one is not complaining in the next room. Sometimes Kalle even listens Johnny Cash by himself. So greetings to my fabulous Helsinki-flatmates. ;)

pupu tupuna

...mä kaipaan sua, nyt kun oon voinut ajatella, kun pääni on pullollaan serotoniinia ja sinä oot kaukana ja minä oon lomalla vielä kaksi kuukautta ;)

Its a bit like this in here, I feel like in mental hospital(ityclub). I was thinking all the friends who are going to see Damn Seagulls without me. All the pakda's at least. One day I was looking my face from the dark window (which we btw washed with Kalle one day in November, i think) and I saw these black circles around my eyes. Such a pakda here.

I read from the internet (HS, baiji) that the baiji is extinct. What is baiji? It was a white dolphin which lived in Jangtse river, China. Reasons why it is extinct now is a growing of the power of human in those areas, new pollutions, new changes in enviroment. They didn't let the animal live there anymore. So right now, in the world, there is only 4 living species of sweet water dolphins. I hope humanbeings learnt from this case, Queen of the Jangtse is dead.

Last weekend was full of fun. I was talking stupid stuff with Viivi. Also Keijo, Kliment, Tomi and Vera were here. The best thing was that we rented a car and travelled a bit around. Went to hauska Bauska and Rundaale and Jelgava. I have been in Rundaale but not before in Jelgava/Bauska. I remembered what is the point with car. Freedom on travelling. Countryside. I WANT to drive somewhere when I am back in Finland. Maybe to Joensuu to meet Viivi and Keijo?

Its only 5 days to go, back to Finland again. I am missing all the things. Sauna, my dog Albert (who is old and sick :(, people, to see face of kids; Emma and Ella. To talk with auntie, to call little brother as an idiot, eating lots of chocolate (yep, surely too much). Xmas present book and new wolly socks.

What else you can wait for? Maybe a party in Helsinki. And meeting people in there. More about it later.

I'm the Passenger!

Today - a day of Iggy Pop and the Stoogees concert, which I am waiting quite a much. And I heard a new Damn Seagulls song: Human torch from Myspace, and it kicks ass. A "BIT" 80's but you can remember early MTV (Music TV) when it still was music tv.

Otherwise these are the weeks of ieskaites, kind of tests, for how we've learned in last half a year. Today was one. It was quite enjoyable, we had a discussion about folklore and traditional music. And my sight for those is totally different than Latvian view. Or at least they say, that Latvians don't know traditional songs, only some experts like my collagues. This seems to be something strange comparing to all the things I've learned about traditional music. So Latvian traditional (folk) music is performed and keep on going by experts, not folk.

Tomorrow we have flute "stabule" lesson, and exam. This means, we need to play 2 songs, other one should be fast and other slow. Nice, I think I will be playing something finnish as well, just to make the people realize, that even simply tunes are basicly full with cultural knowledge: I mean, for me, its easier to play tunes which implies chords which are regular to Finnish music, not Latvian, which is simply a different major/minor. We were practising polyphony in the ensemble yesterday and for me its difficult to sing with solfeges (do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do) because I've never learnt them. And think, that for the real singing it doesn't make anything... Only "help" which I've gained from music theory for my music hobbies, is a Circle of Fifths (kvinttiympyrä).

Heheh. I deleded a message from Ryanair. Kaisa called behalf of me to the Ryanair - Finland, Tampere Airport and asked is there a problem. They said no, so I will forget that also. All is fine here. How about there?

second part of movies which I've seen

So more movies.

The Lake house by Alejandro Agresti

I felt somehow sad and cold and it was wednesday after a flute lesson (if you know, I dont like the teaching style of my flute-teacher). I felt misunderstood and alone, so I decided to go to the movies. I had seen almost anything else which was going on that week, so I went though I hate Sandra Bullock. Anyway, it turned out that It wasnt just a normal love story, and I find it entertaining. It gave me somewhat warm feeling - which lasted - and I can feel it still, when I think about movie.

Koti-ikävä (Home sickness) by Petri Kotwica

Its a tragedy inside a family. I liked this movie much, and it almost made me puke. But still.. Things are not so certain as they sometimes look like.

Pirates of Caribbean 2 (Dead Man's Chest) by Gore Verbinski

Funny, entertaining. I didn't like the first, and not really about the second either. This kind of go without your brains movies are from Satan, but if people likes... OK. Though, I cannot say that I dont like Johnny Depp. :D

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan by Larry Charles

I love Sacha Baron Cohen! Hilarious.

Then I saw two WTC-movies, both which came out - United 93 (Paul Greengrass) and World Trade Center (Oliver Stone). Touchy and well, our common history of 21st Century. I was in the Politology lessons while it happened, we had a pause and went to see NEWs and after 1st part the teacher made a fast decicion and teached us things trough the WTC-attact. I believe I will remember power-stuff always through political conversation on those lessons. And what about movies. They were entertaining, not much more (and yep, a bit too patriotic...)

On last weeks I've seen only 3 movies.

First one was Snakes on a Plane (David R. Ellis) it was hilarious funny killing movie with funny snakes and how they kill people. And the ending was sooooo lame. But again... I didn't feel anything when I left theater.

The Lost City by Andy Garcia.

Andy Garcia is the hottest latino-actor in the world. And this movie was really good, I liked it. Story is about family who splits up in the beginning of Revolution in Cuba. The story is real, and the people are probably still waiting for a real freedom. I suggest anyone to see this.

Science of Sleep (La Science des reves) by Michel Gondry

Close your eyes, Open your heart. This tagline tells a much about this movie. Art of the movie was there and because of that (and of course the romantic schema) I felt refreshed after movie. I found out that I should start again to do with my own hands. Maybe when I am back in Finland.

Today, or tomorrow I am planning to see Babel. Its up to my feelings after 1-2hours. :)

And schools out early and soon we'll be learning, and the lesson today is how to die

I've felt really sick lately, despite the fact that I am on antibiotics, painkillers, nasal spray and asthma inhalators. Last nite I was overdosing with Bricanyl (which is opener medication for bronchuses). And overdosing lead to the state of shaking and too fast heart beat. I was scared and my lungs didn't work either then.

I decided to sleep no matter what, so I slipped into a dreams where I was travelling around. I was in the ferry to Tallinn and back with my family (whole family, mum and dad at same place (!) but I was sad, because they said to me, that I need to left all the others and take a tram to home from port. I didn't, I travelled in secret with them to some service station and left out there. It was some 20 kilometers from Tampere - and I need to walk from there to Tampere. I walked by some camp site where I met some OLD schoolmates: Antti and Asta L., Matti S., Riikka was there and Emmi, who lives now-a-days in UK (all of them are from Varkaus). I had a small conversations about my life with them and continued last 5km to Tampere.

I couldn't remember where my great-aunt lives there and I couldn't find my friends home's. I met Winston (a boy with grey jacket) and a girl with pink jacket. They were looking for each other. I helped them and get to problems by myself. I didn't have place to sleep, but I found my post box where I found out some letters which I've been waiting. All the letters had either my Helsinki address, or then some weird Latvian address: Seeru iela 8. Seru (with long e) means funeral in Latvian. I kept looking for a place to sleep, but again I came to post box and there was one big paper where was written in Finnish: I'm looking for you - Winston. I fall a sleep on the grass next to stream (it was Tammerkoski, I'm pretty sure of it). And didn't woke up anymore.

I suddenly woke up in real life. Time was 13:29. I had been sleeping more than 13 hours. I still had pain in lungs. I still had running nose. I still felt bad. I still feel. (Time to get scared, time to make plans).

Aura and Kaisa was visiting me. That's the reason I haven't been writing. With Aura we drank Mojitos and with Kaisa we went to OPERA and Akvaparks. Kaisa told me that I breath like sighing while sleeping. I am worried about me. Is anyone else?

Right now there is NATO summit in the city. I don't like their restrictions (not walking in old town areas, no cars on our areas streets), but I am not sure whether any kind of Unions are good for people. EU has made me to study here, but.. I've done it also without EU-money (so. Erasmus-grant). I will probably get my residence permit on 6th of December, which is independence day. I will celebrate already 5th of Dec, with Iggy Pop and the Stoogees in Riga Arena. (Ohh damn, I've waited for some good concerts again). This weekend I will join a summer-party to Depo. Hospitalu Iela will be performing there. And Depo is always a warm place to go. I saw Science of Sleeping and I am definately sure, that Sleeping mode is the best one you can have. I'm planning to see Babel. I should pay rent this week. I should go to doctor. I should rest more.

juoma?

Join kaksi siideriä ja voin pahoin (tiedätte kyllä, miten pahoin). Onko vika minussa vai siiderissä?

movies

I somehow promised someone to make a list of movies I have seen in this autumn. So now is time for it. (Time to write, nothing else to do!).

Most memorable movies have been in the festivals, mainly in Arsenals and Baltijas Perle. Some of the movies have been really crappy and some are ok.

But here they are:

Dead man by Jim Jarmuch
was the one of the best movies I've seen while staying here. Johnny Depp in the main role and the somehow warmness of the directing style of Jarmuch. Goes to my top 10 whenever.

Wristcutters - A love story by Goran Dukic
second movie which I can recommend to all the people. Desires of dying and Tom Waits as a strange "angel" guy ;) Also getting almost a place to my top 10.

Tumzie Briezi by Viesturs Kairiss
this movie stays in my head, not because it was good, but more because it was really STRANGE and almost meaningless. Story is about girl who wants to save their deer farms deers by not getting hunters food. Underlining here goes still to family matters, reaaally strange things.

Open Forest by Jill Culton & Roger Allers
Funny and sweet movie for kids. And me. And couple of other people. Bear going back to home, woods.

Perfume - The Story of a Murderer by Tom Tykwer
What french people can invent than a crazy murderer, which looks cute and kills for the scent of a woman. Somehow I liked the movie, because of the 1700-century athmosphere?

Children of Men by Alfonso Cuarón

I was waiting more from this. Cuarón as a director has been one of my favourites, but somehow this movie has partly only one leg. I waited a bit more for the background for this situation, and you see: all the plot is told in the trailer. What kind of thing this is?

Little Miss Sunshine by Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris

Sweet and warm and what else! Full of good mood in this movie. I was smailing half a week after it. But, where is Olive?

Grudge II by Takashi Shimizu

Horror? When youre same time with the kids, yep ;) Same as the first one, but this time I was alone.

The Da Vinci Code by Ron Howard

This was a last time choice to watch a film with Gavin. Entertaining, nothing else.

Ohh, I continue the list afterwise, good conversation with Raimis today. :)

Stambula

Is a place where Annette is right now. I would like to fly there as well, and some day I will do it.

What I'm talking about is Istanbul, and I learned the word today when I was watching Amelie with latvian subtitles, you know, I don't know french almost at all. (ok, couple of words, and I think my pronunciation is soooo bad... that.)

I have relaxed whole weekend, now I am just doing nothing and I cannot sleep because of full moon.

I try to hold on.

snow, here comes the ööö sun?

So, there is some snow...
And I LOVE it :)

parfume

I forgot your name from the list. But you know, I will be still waiting for you to float with me in Akvaparks. puss ock kram. :)

Ohh yeah, I bought one Tuborg today, its not red nor green, but gold. Gold. You're!

And I saw the movie Parfume, it was hmm... ajatuksiatuova. I will tell about movies more when I have time.

sail away

Time to check out new music!

I got some cd's:

Madrugada - The Deep End.

This is something after The Doors and so on, but its also norwegian Interpol, which has good songs like Sail away and Beautyproof. I've been looking for this cd already couple of years. Unfortunately, now I found it only from Library. Though I have not checked it from cdon.com, but tried to order through Stupido, didn't work. Ohh yeah, name Madrugada means wee hours, pikkutunnit, in portuguese.

Gåte - Iselilja.

Also been looking for this quite long time. Norwegian also, mixed folk&rock. Btw, Iselilja song is not on this cd?!

Mugison - Mugimama Is This Monkeymusic?

Strange strange music from Iceland!

Project Grimm - Huge Beings.

Once in a year I buy a cd which has a nice and comfortable cover. This year it was this one. And it was first time, when I can say, I really like it! You'll hear this one in the future.

and

Tribes of The City - For the Sleepy People.

They got album out. Nice and relaxing music, which I am able to listen at home now anytime I want. Thanks Sergejs, Ksenia, Andrejs, Ints, Juris, Mihails.

Now I am of to sleep a bit before evening halloween-concert in Depo, and yep, I borrowed also film "Populärmusik från Vittula" from Nordic Ministerråds Library.

viikonlopuksi Helsinkiin / for a weekend to Helsinki

I was in Helsinki. I love the city, I love the people, and easyness, which grows when you speak your own language. I saw a LOT of friendly faces: Mikko, Katja, Jukka, Maria, Pekka, Johanna, Antti, Suvi, Don, Ansku, Jenni, Emma, Emppu, Antti, Paula, Nils, Sofia, Tomi, Vera, Claudio, Tiina, Aura, Tuomas, Roy, Iina, Mikko, Emma, Sonja, Emilia, Kaitsu, Tarja, Mia, Sami, Lina, Lari, Annika, Miikka, Maria, Mirkka, Gian Andrea and mystic latvian student of architecture in a plane (mystinen latvialainen arkkitehtiopiskelija lentokoneessa). :P That makes 42 faces in a 3 days.

Anyway, in Tampere I managed to spend some 15 hours, by meeting old Tampere-friends, and on Friday morning calling to YTHS (Student Health Center). I didnt have to go there, just pick up the recipe from there, so I hang out with Johanna and Suvi, drank one cider (good, dry one). And took a train to Helsinki and met Don, went to my old flat to meet Ansku and Jenni and old flatmates. Evening was nice, meeting with people, talking a bit, jamming and drinking as in good old times. Don't know, but taking beer away from me, is not from me, if I get something back, like good conversation with interesting people. (So, you can read, I appreciate conversation more than price of beer = money).

Saturday was funniest, playing a bit Playstation and I loved being with Sonja and Emma, girls, I've miss you. Halloween party was nothing for me, so I ended to Kallio with some friend. And slept well.

Sunday was sad, I met my one of my best friends, Kaisa and Mirkka and Mirkka's Gian Andrea, who had learn to speak finnish. It was so great. :) We ate well in Chinese restaurant and in the end I ran to the train to Tampere. I managed to get there, drank one cider and went to sleep until we came to Tampere. In the bus stop I met this mystic Architect student, who was funny, we talked about music and architecture and ended talking in the bus stop of Basteja Bulvaris in Riga. Now I am in Riga, somehow loving the city, but again... the people. I miss people. If all the good people from Helsinki could move to Riga, I would be so happy. We'll see..

I talked about moving back. I have to think about it more. And decide later. Kela remembered to send me some paper about "why you havent done enough credits at University..." If they decide that I need to pay back all... Dont know what I do.

But here is some pics which made my trip so nice:

Sonja in the concert of Risto in Restaurant-Boat Wäiski. :)

Here is Risto by himself!

I went to eat thai-food to Antti's (on the left). There I met Paula and Nils, all my work-mates from last summers Faces! (great team, I like them much!)

Tuomas and Aura, Aura is one of my best Helsinki friends, somehow so greagreat person. And they both, they look so cute together. :)

On a field work trip

I've been listening my uncle's band clips from the website, The Seathieves. But I was also on a field trip to Latgale, which is region in east Latvia, I was IN the Russian border area, and the people there, they were nice! On a saturday evening we take part into traditional apdziedooshana, which is kind like finnish kilpa-laulu (competision singing - groups compete who can sing best about others and with best words and strenght). We were the youngs there, all the other groups, their average age was probably 60+. The place itself was called Medneva and its next to Vilaka. So its in the very north-east. On the traditional fest we had A LOT of food and A LOT MORE of home made beer, which was quite gourmet - beer with fine taste of smoke cannot be bad! Evening ended with jams with russian style accordeons (5-rows) and violin.

Next morning we continued to the church at 8:30. It was a catholic one, where I have never before been. I liked the way the kept the service, and thought about differents. I think, I still like more our wooden churches like in Joroinen, my first home village. After church we went to Natalia's house. Natalia was one of the oldest singer lady's in Mednevas Etnographic Ensemble. She offered us great amount of sandwiches and coffee from a can. Then she sang for us, and all the friends of her (born in 1920's) came to sing more for us. They song traditional songs like Tolku balss (Talkoo-laulu) and one Kalado (christmas) song as well. They wanted to hear finnish tradtional singing, so I had to decide fast what could be the old kalevala-tradition song which I could sing, so I went with lullaby: Nuku nuku nurmilintu (väsy, väsy västäräkki, nuku nurmelle hyvälle, väsy maalle mainialle... nuku nuku nurmilintu, väsy väsy västäräkki, nuku kun minä nukutan, väsy kun minä väsytän - so basicly I combined two versions together to make it last longer).

Last stop was to go for and look after Roma-people. (romanit in Finnish). As I had have friendly-relations to my own age Roma's at Finland, in Varkaus (they still wave me, if I drive on a same road with them...), for me it was interesting to look after them. Roma's in Vilaka where nice. We ended in one home of about 25yrs couple with one child, and some other young Romas came along. In the end the head of the village also came to dance for us, and his wife song with the younger people. I liked this encounter and in the end whole trip was succesful, so thought I and so thought all the others. I just hope this wont be the last one, even though my specialization lies in some other music styles, this one was most welcomed freshing!

On monday at Academy we had a talk how we felt about the weekend. I suprised all my collagies to let them know that all my interest (main) lies in the popular music, specially all the alternatives and harder corners of the popular sides. I told also about interest towards peace-songs in Finland. And my "bachelors thesis" about Latvian alternative music, specially about bands The Movies (now known as Tribes of the City) and hc-punk band In.Stora.

Here is some older ladies in their traditional suits - these ladies sings in the Medneva Ethnographic Ensemble.

And here are my Collagies in the stop-place in Gulbene. From left to right: Kristiine, from Latgale good trad. singer, Anda, my teacher, doctor of music, violist, Vita, mom of 2 kids, great person, conductor, Inese, quiet nice girl from Jelgava, good singer as well, Austra, violinist (classical side) and really helpful schoolmate and Rasa, who reminds me all the time about being a child of nature. Joyful person.

And here the second picture of our group in the morning of sunday right after church. There is also Ieva in the left, she has made her masters thesis about Roma-people in Ventspils and she teaches also us instrumentation and she is known also as a pianist. Old lady in the middle, in a blue jacket is Natalia, who was the leader of Ethnografic Ensemble. And in the most right there is this Lady, whose name I didn't catch, but she's the Balvu rajons (Balvi's areas) cultural chief or secretaire. Anyway, cultural person. Ohh yeah, and the guy in the picture is Oskars, nice quiet fella, who was our driver.

Most interesting thing in whole weekend was that all our experiences where shot by a journalists from the LTV1 (Latvian television 1) and we get into the telly. Me as well, and guess what: I got dubbed! So like Kalle said, being in TV is nothing, but get dubbed in TV is something :D All the cultural stuff was broadcasted on monday evening in 100g Kulturas, daily cultural half an hour where is allways interesting stuff. And my friends Gunta and Eliina, they both told that it was a nice shot. :)

And getting back to the first line of my text today, If I would made my uncles cd, I would done something a bit different, anyhow, I like the way it sounds also now!

last weeks again

So, what has happened in here. I would like to point out couple of days, which has been REALLY nice days. :)
Firstly:

I've seen 3 Tribes gigs this autumn. This photo is from Depos gig, which was extremely nice. I was there with Agnija and Kalle and some exchange students came also. And there we started "russian-english" lessons with Andrej. Who is a guitarist of Tribes of the City. :D

Next weekend was a concert of Hospitalu iela. I was waiting for it, because I LIKE MUCH their music and of course, I hadn't seen them playing. Par Kiosku was as good as I expected in Live. And new songs, they all sounded quite nice.

On a lazy sunday we decided to visit old airport of Riga: Spilve. It was working until some Soviet Times, but now there is just some aviation clubs working. Buildings there would be so great, if they could renovate. Money.. Goes to other places right now.

On a day before Field work I went to Ievas 24birthday. Party was hold in Riga Hostel (old town) where Ieva works. Party was nice, I met really nice people and hoping to see such a people again!

uusi kaveri / new friend

is here!

runonlaulu

Luulin, etten osaa runonlaulua, mutta kävi ilmi kun kuntelin tätä kouluun tarkoitettua kappaletta, että aina kun lauleskelin Emulille ja Ellalle kun olivat kesällä kyläilemässä ja yritin saada lapsukaisia nukkumaan, niin lauloin runoja. Samalla metrillä, samalla rytmillä, samoilla sävelmillä. Ilmeisesti ne ovat lapsesta asti jääneet alitajuntaan kiertämään.

Trolleybussissa nro 24 tänään oli mummeleita, jotka näyttivät ihan omalta Kyllikki-mummolta. Ihan varmasti samanlaisia ihmisiä kaikin puolin. Ongelmineen ja elämineen. Mikähän siinä on, että tänään on ollut tälläinen oivaltamisen päivä. Eilen kirjoitin tuonne toiseen vähän hullumpaan journaliini, asioita, esim. sen, että toivoisin, että kaikki elossaolevaa isovanhempaani kirjoittaisivat/lukisivat nauhalle muistonsa. Aina lapsuudesta asti, niin paljoin kuin jaksaisivat. Ja ihmiset voisivat muutenkin muistella enemmän. Se kun yhdistää jotenkin. Luin juuri Eeva Kilven lapsuusmuistelmat. Kovin oli herkkää.

Ainiin ja professori Dambis tuli vastaan rappukäytävässä tänään Akatemialla. Sanoi päivää latviaksi ja sitten sanoikin yllättäen vielä englanniksi. Olen ilmeisesti piirtynyt mieleen. Dambis oli musiikin historian opettajani Latvian kulttuuriakatemiassa. Miksei Suomessa voi olla yleishyödyllistä kulttuuriakatemiaa. Sen on oltava Neuvostoliiton perintöä?

Käänsin kaksosille amerikkalaisen jalkapallon Powerpoint-esitelmän. Meni ilmeisesti mukavasti. Vielä vähän Raised Fistia. Sitten kirja ja uni. (Oli muuten mielenkiintoisia kirjoja kirjastossa...) Siitä vaikka sitten kun olen tutustunut niihin enemmän.

Ohh yea, only foreign person whom I know reading this knows all the things already I wrote about. Others, you have to make yourself alive for me, to get translations.

last weeks

so i have thought of putting here good and bad things which has been in my life lately:

GOOD THINGS.
1) New people/people I've met only fastly and had good conversations. For example my last HC-guest Björn from Norway was a great conversationalists. He told me about Vipassana-meditation, which sounded so interesting, that I think, I need to try, when I am ready. It was also great to meet Aija, Latvian girl who knows finnish really well. She is interested about music and lots and lots of different things. I have also enjoyed to share short Russian/English -lessons with Andrej.

2) Movies. They are cheap comparing to Finnish one and because I like to live with vegetables and milkproducts and soya and bread, I have money to go 1-2times in a week. Well, still I use less money for movies than in Finland. I've seen funny, stupid, good, bad and average films, best one had been Wristcutters, because it was full of black humour. Worst movie, which I saw was latvian movie called Tumshie Briezi (Dark Deers). Story was stupid and only things which where something was filming (cinematography) and music.

3) School has been more informative since last weeks. It's worth of going there.

4) Fall is here. I like it a much. You know the colors and so on. And the thing, that I miss my finnish friends more than in Finland, though I haven't seen for example Ninni and Elli since last February or something like it.

5) Concerts which I have visited are awesome. Also the feeling which comes just by sitting outside of the classes in music academy gives so much new things to think. All those tomorrow's opera-singers, pianists and choirs. Think about it.

6) Walks around the city. Old town and new side. Something new everytime. This is thing which should be done more in Finland, but I think works takes all the energy and time.

BAD THINGS:

1) Problems with heating, electricity, toilet... Just small ones, but makes living a bit more difficult.

2) Violence in City: Sebastian's case, Maltes brother's case. All the beatings I have seen.. All the briberies I have heard. All the money which goes to WRONG places makes situation more complicated.

3) Problems with my mind, which are not so new one's but gets a different view in here.

4) Culture Shock, Home-sickness. Well everyone will gets it, mine has reached the worst point already. But you know, Helsinki is so much better place: safer, more variety of people, not so busy running after money and more softer values.

5) Stress of doing nothing. I will learn out of it! ;)

Not so badly here, in fact. It's just normal life.

tipatonko?

Ei ole ei. Tribes of the Cityn keikka ja Ievan kutsu Brakin kotibileisiin oli aika niittejä. Jukka ei uskonut, eikä kukaan muukaan, ei Eli eikä Charlene.

Noh, vähentänyt olen - pääasia.

Kuuntelen vähän Sigur Rosia ja ei ole mitään järkevää tekemistä. Olen soitellut huilua ja katsonut Lostin kolmannen tuotantokauden ensimmäisen jakson :)

Hyvin menee siis.

prove that i am

here, but i might be tired. I am. (joo vilkuttaisin, jos en olis niin vakavamielinen)

sauna party in 6 pics

we came there on after noon with some exchange students

A nice view towards haus.

People in the dark: Maaris, Valera, Charlene

More people in dark: Ziga and someone and Elina

Morning after: Estonians Lina and Liis

Finnish: Elina and Kalle

mosquitos + people

I have always been allergic to mosquitos, but here, here they make me REALLY feel bad. stiching and itching everywhere, I bet there is only one in my own room, but every morning I woke up with new itches. I've already thought going to see doctor, who could give me some helping medicaments.

3rd day of Sober October, I haven't even thought about beer/vodka, seen those though in a grocery store, but they are not moving me in any ways. Besides, I felt so bored with alcohol already last saturday in Sauna-party, so I left half a bottle of beer (2litre bottle) on the balcony and next morning I saw Maaris enjoying it. Sauna-party in otherhands went well. I enjoyed company, had a argue(s) with Russian born in Riga and also tried to understand what is moving in a head of 19 yrs old Latvians and Estonians. Seems I am so much further somewhere, other leg in a grave, almost.

Today I have been thinking about going to the cinema to see Brokeback Mountain. Or I could do it also on Thursday. I went to see BbM first time to Finnkino's Tennispalatsi on it's first showing in Finland. I wasn't only one, also Oscar was there. And I managed to learn how to play Stabule. I even could play some easy children songs with it. So basicly it's like "nokkahuilu", but a bit nicer voice because it's made by wood.

People: I've started to write a short stories. Maybe someday you will meet Marija, Stella, Kaisa (dedicated to Kaisa) and I. ;) There is also story about pakda-bear called Ki-o. And that's a fairytale of remembering how Paa-bears and Mii-bears help eachother to build up a common network where to feed more Ki-o with bambu-wine. One story is about staying one night in Paris, walking on streets which I have never heard about, but I saw it on a dream. That's "an on the road -story".

Do you think already I've lost my consciousness? Wrong! I've been better that I thought: enjoyed going to school, woke up every morning and went by walk to school a bit before 9:00. And people are looking me like they look lunatic: I'm smiling, wearing all black (my shoes, lovely black velvet-trousers, black jumper, black scarf, black gloves and black hair... wait for the winter: i have also black hat!) and listening iPod: some aggressive punk or alternative sweet sounds, which is up to mind on each morning. I like those 20minutes. Best time of the day (they will be even better when there is a bit more frosty climate.)

violence

well, there has been A LOT of violence in Riga lately. First our exchange friend Sebastian was beaten up by Russians in Maskavas and then I saw SECURITY GUYS beating up customers in Pulkvedis, which is now officially boycotten by me, and I will also ask all the Finns and other people who I meet, not to go there. It's not security guys should make you feel secure, not scared.

I am at home, I am mad against me, I havent done school when I should have done it, so I think I am a bad student. Thought with next week I'll start alcohol-free October, so I bet then I just have time to study. Good for me. To be honest, I know more than half of the things they've teached us lately. Still... I dont know: it feels like the teachers are teaching SAME things all the time! And thats something I cannot understand. Hopefully it changes, or then.. Don't know.

Movies today? Anyone in?

plogger kusee, some photos

joten pistin ihan vaa pari kuvaa nettiin toisaalle. Eli tänne vissiin

i know

Well, it was nice. Band is great (Tribes of the City) and I somehow like them everytime more and more. But why people cannot realize how good they sounds!

And now I found out again why I should keep on going. GIGS, gigs give me so much energy that I can flow on next one (which is btw 5th of October, and then again on 6th -- Hospitalu Iela!).

suicide blog

I have been studying suiciding in this month. Been reading books (4 of them, inc. Martin Page and Nick Hornby). I have been listening for music (Suicide is painless, made by Manic Street Preachers, Marilyn Manson and Lehtivihreät, ok, they made it as Mitään muuta ei oo).. I've seen movies: Philosopher Escaped (about thinking = living, otherwise you've killed yourself), Wristcutters: a love story (OHH GOD!), Dead Man (dead?! man?! social suicide?!) and end of this all Koti-ikävä (Homesick).

After all this I have to admit, Finns(OHH, yes, we) know better how to make people feel sick. I was almost puking after Homesick-movie, allthough my co-worker Emilia K. were acting nicely in there. Havent seen Virgin Suicides yet, but it's waiting on my computer.

Why do I do all this? All though, there is no reason, I do not want to really kill myself, I am just interested about it as a phenomena. When I was on my teenages years, some of the people on my hometown (quite many of them) killed theirselves. It has been quite a trend on those years, right after great depression in Finland in beginning of 90´s. Tired of life? Tired to live?

I have been doing stupid things. I have lost contact to all the people. I feel, I live only inside my head. Is there any way out?

painajaisia

Olen nähnyt painajaisia viimeisen viikon jokaisena päivänä. Milloin kuolleet nousevat haudoistaan, milloin murhaan (kyllä!) jonkun tuttavan. Toissayönä heräsin kylmässä hiessä, olin murhannut n. 10 vuotta sitten ala-astekoulukaverini Mikan (joka on oikeasti s. 1982 - k. 1998), joka kuitenkin oli ala-astekoulukaverini Kimmo (epäilemättä vielä elossa). Hautasin hänet (14-vuotiaana) hautausmaalle, ja nyt 24-vuotiaana tunnustin murhan, mutta minua ei otettu tosissaan, koska 14-vuotiaalla ei ole rahkeita murhata samanikäistä.

Uni tuntui liian todenmukaiselta, koska tiesin unessa, että Mika on kuollut, mutta onko niin, että olen sitten mennyt tappamaan Kimmon. Unessa molempien vanhemmat (jotka olen usein tavannut) olivat armeliaita minulle. Halasivat, ja sanoivat, ettei koko maailman painoa ja muiden tekoja tarvitse kantaa olallaan. Kylmät väreet menevät selkäpiissä, kun vain ajattelee asiaa. En osaa suhteuttaa asiaa yhtään. Muut yöt eivät sen helpompia ole olleet. Menisi vaan ohitse tämäkin kausi. Pelottaa vaan niin helvetisti.

Miksi pojat olivat unessani? Miksi myös Guntars ja Uldis (menneitä latvialaisia tuttavia) seikkailevat homehtuneina unissani? Olen yrittänyt rauhoitella itseäni kuuntelemalla Pärtiä. Juomalla vähemmän kahvia ja alkoholia.

Muutoin täällä on samanlaista kuin aiemmin. Syksyä ilmassa, lämpimiä päiviä ja sadetta. Tänään on sadetta. Flunssakausi meneillään, opetustakaan ei ole suurimmassa osaa ajasta (Andan lapsi on sairas, ei kansanmusatunteja ja Ieva on sairaana, ei soittotunteja). Ja Andan ja Ievan lisäksi meillä ei ole kuin Martinshin, toisen Ievan ja jonkun vanhan puolalaisen sedän tunteja. Toisinsanoen, huomenna menen vasta kouluun seuraavan kerran. Ahdistaa vähän, koska luentojärjestyksiä on muutettu, eikä mulle perinteisesti kerrota mitään. Opiskele siinä sitten. Eniten odotan kenttätyökurssia Latgalessa. Aikeena on siis mennä sinne viikoksi tai viikonlopuiksi kuuntelemaan mummojen laulua ja keskustelemaan heidän kanssaan kansanperinteestä. Lisäksi treenataan haastattelujen tekoa ja muuta vastaavaa, havainnointia ja sellaista. Voisihan sitä tietysti niissä pikkukylissä tehdä pienimuotoista tutkimusta myös nuorten musiikkikulttuurista: mihin se yltää niin syrjäseudulla; mitä he kuuntelevat, mistä saavat musiikkinsa, soittavatko, tanssivatko, laulavatko?

Äiti soitti. Kertoi kuulumisia. Niistä sitten mitään.

rudens (=fall, autumn, syksy)

I've listening music as a music and as a noises. Now I am having free day from school, my teacher is sick. Though I heard about it from schoolmates accidentially, but good that I heard it. Climate is changing, soft really high clouds, sun is shining, but is not anymore warm. A small ladybug fly just from outside, window is open. The song I wrote about couple times ago is also made in Latvian, then its name is Rudens. It's even more actual than English version of it. I bet, soon leaves will be red and all the colours. I like that world filled with all the colours except green. Green is like... half of the year, but those yellows, browns, reds and purples are staying here only week or two.

Soo, Skanu Mezs was funny festival, I was there with Kalle (finnish flatmate), Guillame (French guy who is doing his Sokrates here) and Segolene (French girl, Erasmus-posse). I met also some Latvians who are familiar from OLD times. Agnija, journalist-student, Eliina and Ieva, my Latvian sisters and suprisingly also some members of Tribes of the City (Latvian/Russian band) - like Sergejs and Mihails. I met also Gjints (or was it Gjirst!). Music there was quite crazy most of the time. I loved Jamie Lidell and Circle (of course). I also considered Blindsnakes quite GOOD. On Saturday there was playing more noise-stuff thingies. Which didn't were my stuff, I decided: I need a rhythm.

On the otherhand we went to see Baltic Document Festival free showing to K.Suns. That movietheater is cool, that kind of old school-theather. Beautiful inside and in the middle walking way. It's small theater, but one of the loved ones. Those documentaries were quite depressing/confusing. There was estonian Through the Darkness which was a document about Estonian oilstone mines, how ending those makes people desperate. People have only their believes, religion to safe them. Other movie was about a bit crazy Lithuanian old guy, who was a film director, but didn't get change to express himself, so he was left kind like with himself and he become odd. Name of the movie is Countdown, and I liked this one. As I liked the other one. We had SMALL discussion about movie 1 with people who were there (Guillame, Kalle, Marika (LV)). I find that first movie about about dying of a countryside, Marika find it like... dying of Mine. How differently we see life.

I visited also Graffiti Festival, it wasnt any special, but though it was nice picnic weather, so I bought delicious wild raspberry juice and enjoyed sunshine. Boys joined afterwise to take some photos of graffities.

Yesterday was hanging around and relaxing. Today I was thinking to go for a walk to Old Town, just to walk those streets, probably stop by for one beer, but mainly I need to take a copy of our Rent Agreement. And sent it to KELA. (WHAT is KELA asked our "Isännöitsijä" when Emma called him to ask about Housebook :D)

Good point to end today. I am of for the streets and coming back when its necessary.

dead man

You should never travel with dead man, either go to movies with simutanous interpretation in Riga. It will ruin your day.

1. This is culture shock. - I've found out that i hate Latvians because they cannot try even to study more languages (inc. English, which just happens to be one of the most used languages in the world between nations). They cannot say that's too hard, thought if they know Russian, English is easy to learn comparing to it. And they cannot just say, there is no time for languages, because there is (why I know basics in Estonian, German, Norwegian and Russian while I'm able to speak at least Finnish, Swedish and Latvian and of course English... that makes 8 languages.)

2. This is because of TV. For us it is so obvious that there is subtitles, but how you can just turn to subtitles to tv for.... I DO NOT KNOW. And this is point I HATE IN LATVIA. I'm off to watch some DVD's. Mainly I bought from Rimi: Amelie and Hostel. I also have some Lost season 2 on DVD, which I should complete.

NO TV HERE, go away!

there there

I've been keeping MTV-Latvija on some of the times on the days, and every now and then there is this beautiful animation for the Brainstorm's newest song Lonely Feel ing (to Be Lonely). Song is dedicated to Greta Garbo, and I MIGHT, might, know what they're singing about. Animation is great with this small penguing who finds some things to his/her's life from the leaves of autumny trees. You should check them out. I am not sure whether there is video on net, but I believe that on websites (www.brainstorm.lv) or youtube have it.

Anyways.

Here it goes.

like ships without anchors
wide is the ocean, no islands, no shores
all is well, only
this is such a lonely feeling to be lonely

fame is illusion
bright are the lights and you - you are left in confusion
all is well, only
this is such a lonely feeling
this is such a lonely feeling

driving fast as fast as i can
or sitting quietly on the windowsill
you've got all and nothing
just put no more loneliness on my bill

this is such a lonely feeling

---

this was first part of the song, check out more from their webpage.

Otherwise Riga breaths. Festivals after festivals: now it is time for Baltic Pearl (www.baltijasperle.lv) which is movie festival FOR GOOD movies. Next weekend there is documental movie festival and at same time Skanu Mezs (www.skanumezs.lv) -- for new music. After that is time for Arsenal (contemporary movies) and World Music Festival. At the same time with these all is also Sacred Music Festival, some festival in Jurmala (seems to be party-party-people's festival, where I am not going). There was some others as well, but I have forgotten. Maybe some kind of theather festival... I will let you know, what you'll be missing.

kirjoituksia menneiltä vuosilta

Täällä on ihan hämärää, on hiljaista, pesukone pauhaa hetkittäin. Ulkona tuulee, ikkuna on auki.

Päivällä olin koulussa, opin vanhoja asioita: gregoriaanisesta laulusta ja kuuntelin kaunista kansanlaulua ala opiskelutoverit. Ostin huilun. Ostin Hornbyn uusimman kirjan, se kuulostaa ajankohtaiselta: ehkä sieltä löytyy vinkkejä maailman katsomiseen. Ostin yhtenä päivänä jäätelöä ja nyt muistin, että sitä on vielä kaapissa. Joten nyt menee loputkin. Täytyy alkaa juoksemaan, tuossa on kiva puisto vieressä, joten...

Pitäisi hankkia lisää lukemista. Kävin kyllä kirjastossa, mutta kun aikaa on, niin luen kirjan päivässä. Onneksi kirjasto on lähellä. Koulumatkan varrella. Lainasin Pussikaljaromaaninkin. Hassua, että juuri se oli täällä. No mutta, täytyy vielä jutella hc-tsätissä ihmisille. On niin paljon asiaa, kun ei näe kerran viikossa.

last nite in Riga Old Town Hostel

James asked me to send some pics for him, I do not have time and connection for that, so HERE, they are for anyone to look at --- and yes, English is not my first language still.. Starring: Inese and James

rain, rain, rain

That is our yard. And neighbourhood house. From my Window.


It has been raining... Don't know what to do!

But yeah, I went to Old Town Hostel's bar for ONE BEER, and I ended evening at 3am after "couple of beers". So, HC-member jeldridge, James, was there with his friends.

rain

i was planning to go to old town to have some beers at Old Town Hostel and Orange-bar, but somehow weather was against me. It looked like its only raining a bit, but when I came out from the building, I could see ALL the big amounts of water coming down from the sky.

I walked to bus stop (Planning to take trolley 19), and was wet all around already there. I HAD to think again... It took some 5 to 10 minutes to think about what can i do when I'm like swimmer on a street. I decided to go to Maxima, which is a shop on Pulkveza Brieza. There I wanted to find something to buy, so i bought chips and kaarumies, which both are in a category "not needed, but some luxory stuff". Anyway, I was walking while it was raining some ½hour and it made my mind more clear. Good thing though.

Tomorrow starts school - should go to semetary, but i think i pass it and to academy to hear people playing music. I heard rumours about couple of cellists playing rock music.

some things i miss already from finland

Here they are. Enjoy yourselves.

Viivi

SamisI

SamisII

Pulina

Miksukka and Amelie

koti, katu, keskustelu

Koti on kiva, 78neliota, vanha talo, neljas kerros, kivat naapurit, kiva kamppis.

Katu on Vilandes iela, sisaanpaasy kuitenkin Rupniecibas ielalta, talo kadulle on musta, molempiin suuntiin, mutta meidan oma sisapihatalo on raikkaan keltainen. On puulattiat (narisee), sanky (liian pehmea), keittio (tekis mieli polttaa siella tupakkaa). Mitahan muuta voisin kertoa.

Kallen koneessa internet toimii ja minun ei. Epareilua.

Olen nettikahvilassa Barona ielan varrella. Bongaa Elise.

Ainiin se keskustelu viela. Puhuin Maija (nimi ei muutettu, akatemian tyyppeja) --- han oli jarkyttynyt kuullessaan, etta asun Vilandesilla. Se on kuulemma kaikkein kalliimpia alueita Riiassa. Noh, aika halpa kolmio meilla on. Ja ainakin itse pidan siita. Se on sympaattinen.

nukke nieminen

Tiedatteko semmoista laulua, kuin nukke nieminen? siina laulaa nieminen, etta "hah-hah-haa kun naurattaa / rikki meni paani kerrassaan". Se on soinut koko aamun mun paassani. En tieda mihin sen olen rikkonut, mutta nyt jotenkin tuo ahistus tulee taas aaltoina, ja pyyhkaisee yli ja sitten on taas levoton olo, ettei pysty pysymaan paikallaan.

Odotan iltaa innoissani: omat avaimet, oma tv, kuulemma oma sisapiha jossa kasvaa kaksi omenapuuta. Toisinsanoen, voi pistaa BBC Primen paalle ja katsoa puutarhan ja kodin korjaamisohjelmia. Ja ottaa vaikka bissen tai toisenkin. Tai jos ottaisi ihan viinia.

Tai lahtisi Old Town Hosteliin, jossa on aina joitain Hospitality Club -tyyppeja. Tai sitten ma voisin vaan nukkua. Tekis varmaan hyvaa. No huomenna voi niin pitkaan kuin jaksaa. Eika ole ketaan samassa asunnossa, ennen kuin Kalle saapuu kaupunkiin. Tulee ilmeisesti Ryanairilla.

Parasta kuitenkin on, etta tanssiva nainen on bongattu!

es esmu sheit!!!!

Ok, I'm already in here, Latvia, Riga, Blaumanja iela, in an old house with lots of lovely persons. Haven't done nothing yet, emailed though to Academy and now waiting just for some things to do. It's a bit weird feeling with these -- a bit lonely, a bit fantastic, i'm exited, i'm frustrated, sometimes also willing to know more.

Yesterday was beautiful, Riga's sky was full of thunder clounds, we we're walking in old town just when it started to rain. I also ate some delicious meal made by Eliina and so on. Nothing special.. Watched one nice Latvian movie from year 1982 (nice year, indeed) and ohh yeah, also a russian movie about "Doctor Zivago".

I slept well, my other hand was "puutua" all the night around. Don't know what is wrong with that. It has been doing it some time now in the nights when I'm sleeping. ok. ok. Think I need a coffee, which means either Coffee Nation or Double Coffee. I let the coin decide.

la tristesse durera

Kaivakaapa sanakirja.

Kiitos, että ette ole paikalla kun tarvitsen.

Kiitos.

happy birthday to me

Well, just woke up. I celebrated already yesterday by listening the most sad songs in Finland. The concert took place in Manala (Underworld) bar. Quite a feeling when hundreds of rednecks are stuck in a cool looking club and talking while one of the best opera singers in Finland is singing the most sad song in Finland: Peltoniemen Hintriikan surumarssi. Which lyrics are made by Reino Helismaa, the song is about dying of agrary culture and the melody is traditional from Kaustinen, which is one of the oldest and most active "spelman" village in Finland. In fact, this song hasn't always been sad, it has been played in weddings as a march.

So, I'm a bit disappointed for people's capability to take a look for what they're doing. Not saying, I'm the one who does so, because in the end, WE all are gonna die.

I'm eating my day cake, its made by Fazer Bakeries, Its nice raspberry filling and fresh raspberries on top --- delicious. Hopefully this is just a beginning of a great day: I should find a music store which sells Joose Keskitalo's cd. As a present for myself!

Happiness is a...

I was in a wedding and christening yesterday. We had fun... and it was really warm happening with all the cool people, whom, some of them, are my relatives.



I was enjoying the beat in the night..



The wedding couple: Enni and my uncle.



We did have some good faces with my little "sister" Sampsa.



Today we had some quality time with my god-child Ella Sofia, cutest baby in the world.

about the language

someone was complaining about my ability to speak or write in English. My answer to the friends; if you learn how to use Finnish, I will learn English. Thank you and good night.

if you still want me, please forgive me

So I have printed some papers. Just to let you know.

I'm listening Radio Helsinki, which I've got hooked. Jonna and Lasse are playing Arcade Fire's song, which I haven't heard in a long time. I tried to call friends, they didn't answer.

Good damn, I might be the shittiest friend then what one can have: always complaining, always trying to contact. Here at works there is some strange candies from somewhere IndoChina, ginger, my favourite spice. I've noticed that where ever I go, I tend to meet new nice people. Is it up to everyone or not, or am I in a situation where I need some new contacts.

I want to know why people are scared. Why people cannot see. Why we are here. Is it really for us, this place, this time. We talked with mysterious mister H on sunday evening that it doesn't make any difference when time is changing and times goes harder for people to understand. Man is made for transforming himself. But it makes somehow comforting feeling inside to understand, that people have survived over the years, and probably I am not going to make any difference to that.

It's also comforting to hear people's talking. I am not alone. I'm not.

it's over

it's so over.

Today is my last work day. I've been thinking about fabulous evening after last work day -- some sparkling wine and good food, but now.. I'm too tired of even think about food. My last HC-guests left at the afternoon. Lovely persons from Canada, Eric and Jessica, thanks for visiting Helsinki.

I haven't done the things I should have. I was shopping some christening present to the baby. I should bye needles to the little sister. I should pack up leftovers. I should make myself comfortable. I should email to my friends. I should write down couple of papers concerning our music association. I should find out which train or bus I should take on thursday. I should think about meeting people. I should meet people. I should listen music. I should decide what music I would like to have with me in Latvia. I should sleep. I should think. I should write. I should print "couple" of pages, yesterday I crashed down the printers at work... Now, I will read our yellow paper and concentrate on doing nothing.

laiva, vanna, maksaa, puika

Opetan teille tänään latviaa.

Ensimmäisenä Suvi "suv" "araw" T. voisi laskea kymmeneen.

Pietsi. = 5. Helppo muistaa, koska kuulostaa vähän hitsiltä, tai vitsiltä. Seitsemästä yhdeksään ovat nji-päätteellä: septinji, astonji, devinji - nj kirjoitetaan omalla merkillään eli tällä: ņ.

Nyt helpohkoihin sanoihin, joista myös teille on hyötyä vieraillessanne latviassa. Toista perässäni: laiva.

vanna!

maksaa. "mitä tämä maksaa" vrt. cik tas maksaa?

puika. "aika kaunis puika!". vrt. luoti skaista puika

Mikäli osasit lausua edelliset sanat ja ymmärsit niiden merkityksen, olet läpäissyt ensimmäisen oppitunnin latvian kielen opetuksessa, jota tänään pitää teille Elise.

Asiasta viidenteentoista. Tiedättekö, silloin kun olet jo päättänyt muuttavasi pois, koska kaupunki ei tarjoa sinulle mitään, löydät jotain mitä et olisi osannut odottaa. Olen löytänyt uudelleen katukävelyn. kts Käpylä. Olen myös tavannut uusia mukavia ihmisiä, joista esimerkiksi HC-tyypit ovat erittäin mainittavia. Myös jonkinlainen uusi yhteys #maniks-tyyppien kanssa, Anskun muuton johdosta hivelee. :) Miksei? Näinä aikoina voi tavata taas jonkun tyypin, jota vähän niin kuin kaivata sitten.

Kyllä te sen tiedätte.

Radio Helsinki, töissä taas, stalkkaan vanhojen kavereiden puhelinnumeroita internetistä. Puhelin ei soi. (Ohh, muistatteko vielä Tyynen, joka ihmetteli "Miksi puhelin ei soi?".)

Kukkaruukkuun. Olen kovin väsynyt. Työt ja kuuma kesä vievät voimat, kaipaan maalle. Lähiaikoina aion tehdä jotain järkevää: keskiviikkona alkaa loma.

nyt tiedän

Nukuttuani yön yli, juodessani pullon punaista Törleytä, päätin että tästä blogista tulee kaksikielinen. En tunne ketään suomalaista ihmistä, joka ei englantia ymmärtäisi, toisaalta taas on asioita, joita en välttämättä toivo latvialaisten ymmärtävän. Tällaisia ovat esimerkiksi minun ihmetykseni röyhkeydestä, jota ilmenee Riian kaduilla päivittäin. Siitä kirjoitin jo edelliseen nettipäiväkirjaani.

Miksen jatkanut pelkkää päiväkirjaa? Siksen, että näin ihmiset voivat suoraan kommentoida tekstiäni tarvittaessa. Ei taida tarvetta olla. Mutta kaikille tiedoksi. Tämä ei taaskaan jää tähän. Viilandes ielasta taitaa tulla kotikatuni seuraavaksi puoleksi vuodeksi.

And yes, sometimes one's just have do what one's have to do. Check out today tv: I heard, some good movies.

As my blogger friends Keijo and Riikka, I haven't have time to get ready for my year in Riga. I should find out what to do before hands, probably mainly vaccinations - Havrix and basics at least. I will try to call to YTHS (student healthcare center) on Monday, IF I have time in between of 2 works. I've been working quite much during last weeks, just to raise money for surviving abroad.

Of course I know that the prices are a bit cheaper in Riga than in Helsinki, but not much though. It happened in one night in the spring 2004, I was there seeing the rising of the prices. First time I visited Riga, milk (1 liter) was 18santims. Now - last time I was there in May, it was 30 santims. Soon it has reached double price in couple of years.

I should also get insurance for my computer. Which probably doesn't even need it... But as last time I had it, it was some 50e/half a year. It takes efforts to move around, so I hope that I do not need to do it again and again anymore.

Leaving in some weeks...

So, I'm leaving to Riga in couple of weeks. I have probably find a flat to live. Yeah. I think I can manage. I will post some more when I'm there. I also bought a digicam, so there will definately be some pics around at that time. I haven't decided yet, which language I will use for a writings. I've thought about Teemu's idea of having two blogs. One in some "familiar" language and other in Latvian. (He's doing the same with Russian)...

Anyway. Welcome to see how are abroads.