One of the things I like very much here is the fact that they make composting and recycling very easy. Garbage is easy too, but that is of less value to me. Tonight I learned from my guests that the garbage is sorted, my husband heard the opposite.
At our apt. there is a pail for compost, we found an abandoned bucket that we use to collect the bio-waste on the counter before we take it downstairs. If it gets too smelly we set it out on the enclosed porch. Apparently people sleep out there in the summer, there is no air conditioning in the apt.
We are diligent about sorting and recycling whatever we use. One thing that has a been bothering us is all the plastic refuse we have and we couldn't find a place to recycle it so we threw it in the garbage. When we were in Tampere we spoke with a very knowledgeable man Touku, who sent us information on a pilot program that is happening here. We can now take plastics 1, 2, 4, 5 to be recycled. The bins are in parking lots around the city. We will take ours to the one by the bus station, about a 25-30 minute walk from our house. Makes me glad. All the soda and beer cans are already taken in at the grocery store.
In order to keep the city clean and encourage recycling they have a bottle deposit law. We jumped right on that and started taking any can or bottle we found to the store across the street. They have a machine in the back of the store where we put the bottles/cans in and then get a ticket to be redeemed at the counter.
We were thrilled to be "making money." Glass is 10 cents, aluminum 15 cents and plastic 20 cents (times these times 1.4 to get dollars/cents) so it is a substantial amount. Some of the cans/bottles do not pay out and I finally found out why. Those not purchased in Finland do not pay, some are from the ships others I don't know. We find more of those than any others, but we still pick them up and recycle them. The machine still accepts them.
We quickly found out that some items are not accepted by the machine, and the nice clerk told us that items purchased at the state run liquor store, Alko, had to be recycled there. Alko is the only place to get wine or hard liquor. Had to run up there yesterday before they closed to get wine for Purim. Beer is available at the grocery stores.
They just passed a law that cigarettes have to be covered up. Every store now has them in a fortress looking machine, you have to know what you want before they will open it.
The city is quite clean, there are garbage receptacles on almost every block. The downtown square has about 30 all around it, and people use them.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
A day in Kuopio Finland
Today we had guests for Purim, so to get ready this is what I did today:
Washed a load of laundry
Emptied dishwasher
Made chicken soup
Filled dishwasher
Hand washed the rest of the dishes
Ran dishwasher (needed clean dishes to serve dinner)
Made melted chocolate and salty peanut candy and put on outside porch to cool
Emptied dishwasher again
Hung laundry
Played Scrabble (needed a break)
Vacuumed the apt. (thought my daughter would do it, because we talked compensation but...)
Washed the kitchen floor (not in the plan, but I spilled the bowl of soapy water on the floor while vacuuming)
Played Scrabble (really needed a break)
Scrubbed the bathroom
Showered
Dressed funny for Purim
Had guests over, nice dinner, good conversation , ate the new candy my daughter and I made)
Laundry (yes more)
Cleaned up
Playing Scrabble and watching TV.
This is not a normal day!!
Washed a load of laundry
Emptied dishwasher
Made chicken soup
Filled dishwasher
Hand washed the rest of the dishes
Ran dishwasher (needed clean dishes to serve dinner)
Made melted chocolate and salty peanut candy and put on outside porch to cool
Emptied dishwasher again
Hung laundry
Played Scrabble (needed a break)
Vacuumed the apt. (thought my daughter would do it, because we talked compensation but...)
Washed the kitchen floor (not in the plan, but I spilled the bowl of soapy water on the floor while vacuuming)
Played Scrabble (really needed a break)
Scrubbed the bathroom
Showered
Dressed funny for Purim
Had guests over, nice dinner, good conversation , ate the new candy my daughter and I made)
Laundry (yes more)
Cleaned up
Playing Scrabble and watching TV.
This is not a normal day!!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Visiting Santa's Village, The North Pole (Finland)
Last weekend we went north to the arctic circle. It is very beautiful there, pristine wilderness, interesting bridges, good local food, nice people and Santa.
My husband was in a very happy place, here was Santa in his own village. Everything dedicated to, "The Big Guy" including seeing him in person. Santa originated in Finland as far as I know. American's have changed Santa into something else. We spent Saturday there, walking around, taking pictures in front of the one story tall snowman, sliding on the ice slides-with and without sleds, and enjoying eating reindeer meat. My daughter picked out some souvenirs and we hung out with friends. We perused the offerings, reindeer hides and many items made of reindeer antler. The softest buttery leather that I have ever touched was made into purses and wallets and cute chatchkies. There is even a post office there, open every day, that has a special post box for letters to be sent at Christmas time. You can write a letter and leave it there and it will be mailed in time for Christmas 2012. They have Christmas stamps all year round and they will hand cancel your letter before sending it. There is no extra charge for this, just regular postage. Heavenly.
On the other hand, as a Jewish girl, I don't like Christmas. It is one big party that I am not, and will never be, invited to. I was always different, daughter of immigrants, olive skin and so on. So I was always on the edge of society and Christmas made it all worse, emphasizing how left out I was. As a result, in my life I include everyone. A positive from a negative.
Shabbat (Saturday for Jews) is my day off, I spent it in Santa's Village. Looking at Christmas stuff. While it was -33 degrees Celsius with a windchill of -40 degrees C (-40 is the same at Celsius and Fahrenheit) which irritates my lungs. Looking at the one story tall plastic snowman. While listening to Christmas music, which I don't allow in my house. Debating whether or not I would send Christmas cards to my nieces and nephews, which might aid and abet their view of Santa being real. In the end it was Shabbat and I cannot write on that day so I didn't send anything. So my husband's idea of Heaven was just the opposite for me. Same place, same people, same setting, different reactions. It was all good, we enjoyed being together even though we didn't go on the reindeer ride.
My husband was in a very happy place, here was Santa in his own village. Everything dedicated to, "The Big Guy" including seeing him in person. Santa originated in Finland as far as I know. American's have changed Santa into something else. We spent Saturday there, walking around, taking pictures in front of the one story tall snowman, sliding on the ice slides-with and without sleds, and enjoying eating reindeer meat. My daughter picked out some souvenirs and we hung out with friends. We perused the offerings, reindeer hides and many items made of reindeer antler. The softest buttery leather that I have ever touched was made into purses and wallets and cute chatchkies. There is even a post office there, open every day, that has a special post box for letters to be sent at Christmas time. You can write a letter and leave it there and it will be mailed in time for Christmas 2012. They have Christmas stamps all year round and they will hand cancel your letter before sending it. There is no extra charge for this, just regular postage. Heavenly.
On the other hand, as a Jewish girl, I don't like Christmas. It is one big party that I am not, and will never be, invited to. I was always different, daughter of immigrants, olive skin and so on. So I was always on the edge of society and Christmas made it all worse, emphasizing how left out I was. As a result, in my life I include everyone. A positive from a negative.
Shabbat (Saturday for Jews) is my day off, I spent it in Santa's Village. Looking at Christmas stuff. While it was -33 degrees Celsius with a windchill of -40 degrees C (-40 is the same at Celsius and Fahrenheit) which irritates my lungs. Looking at the one story tall plastic snowman. While listening to Christmas music, which I don't allow in my house. Debating whether or not I would send Christmas cards to my nieces and nephews, which might aid and abet their view of Santa being real. In the end it was Shabbat and I cannot write on that day so I didn't send anything. So my husband's idea of Heaven was just the opposite for me. Same place, same people, same setting, different reactions. It was all good, we enjoyed being together even though we didn't go on the reindeer ride.
Snow
We have experienced some different snow conditions since we moved here. There was one week where it snowed every day and night on and off. I loved walking to school to get my daughter and dancing with the snowflakes.
At home I look out the large picture window, and watch the schools of small flakes swim up, down and around before dropping out of sight. A few perch on the window sill and watch what we are doing.
Looking south last week, into the sun I watched as the heavens showered us with grated diamonds. There were a few clouds above us sending miniscule flakes our way and the sun picked them up and the sky was full of diamond shards. Will always remember that.
At home I look out the large picture window, and watch the schools of small flakes swim up, down and around before dropping out of sight. A few perch on the window sill and watch what we are doing.
Looking south last week, into the sun I watched as the heavens showered us with grated diamonds. There were a few clouds above us sending miniscule flakes our way and the sun picked them up and the sky was full of diamond shards. Will always remember that.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Entertaining
Tonight we celebrated my birthday. Having guests made my week because I had stuff to do to get ready. It kept my mind occupied with thoughts of decorations, necessities like wine and cloth napkins and all the myriad other things that one does when having guests. The menu was the easy part because I only know how to make a certain number of dishes, so I made the "company" dishes. Thankfully we have been here long enough that I have been able to find (or have sent to me) all the ingredients for the dishes tonight.
The menu consisted of Persian Rice, my famous coleslaw, and salmon (found it on sale) in orange juice, along with the pound cake recipe that I found in metric. Plus I made a green salad that I put a homemade vinaigrette over. Plus ice cream and tea to go with the cake.
It was a long day, I started with cleaning the whole apt., got some help from my family. Then I started cooking, baked the cake first (7 eggs!!) and realized while it was cooling that I would need the same Pyrex dish to marinate and poach the fish.
Managed to get it all done and on the table an hour after the guests arrived!
It was a lovely evening, the host family is helping us to learn Finnish and they have a daughter the same age as ours so the two girls would slip away to play cards (thanks Jenna!) and talk in English. I am looking forward to the day that we can go back and forth from English to Finnish easily. Classes start next week at the University and I will be there!
At some point in the evening I realized that time was passing and that we were so immersed in the conversation and the food that it was a delight just to be there. Even my husband, an introvert, stayed and chatted the whole time. It is very nice to have someone to ask about all these little things that are on our minds. Like what does "oy" mean? It stands for company or corporation, which is what I had figured out but wasn't sure of. Of course it means something else in Yiddish!!
My one gaff of the evening turned out okay in the end. The middle of the pound cake was wet, as in batter wet. So I cut those pieces out and put them back in the oven, They cooked so that the outside is crunchy and the inside soft and now finally cooked. Twice baked pound cake-Yum!!
We are learning to light candles, it helps to dispel the night. I guess our caveman days are not so far behind us. Fire represents warmth and security and hot food. We had those tonight and it was lovely.
The menu consisted of Persian Rice, my famous coleslaw, and salmon (found it on sale) in orange juice, along with the pound cake recipe that I found in metric. Plus I made a green salad that I put a homemade vinaigrette over. Plus ice cream and tea to go with the cake.
It was a long day, I started with cleaning the whole apt., got some help from my family. Then I started cooking, baked the cake first (7 eggs!!) and realized while it was cooling that I would need the same Pyrex dish to marinate and poach the fish.
Managed to get it all done and on the table an hour after the guests arrived!
It was a lovely evening, the host family is helping us to learn Finnish and they have a daughter the same age as ours so the two girls would slip away to play cards (thanks Jenna!) and talk in English. I am looking forward to the day that we can go back and forth from English to Finnish easily. Classes start next week at the University and I will be there!
At some point in the evening I realized that time was passing and that we were so immersed in the conversation and the food that it was a delight just to be there. Even my husband, an introvert, stayed and chatted the whole time. It is very nice to have someone to ask about all these little things that are on our minds. Like what does "oy" mean? It stands for company or corporation, which is what I had figured out but wasn't sure of. Of course it means something else in Yiddish!!
My one gaff of the evening turned out okay in the end. The middle of the pound cake was wet, as in batter wet. So I cut those pieces out and put them back in the oven, They cooked so that the outside is crunchy and the inside soft and now finally cooked. Twice baked pound cake-Yum!!
We are learning to light candles, it helps to dispel the night. I guess our caveman days are not so far behind us. Fire represents warmth and security and hot food. We had those tonight and it was lovely.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Rapeseed Oil
Since we arrived I have been using one bottle of extra-virgin olive oil, tasty and useful. This oil is good for eating raw and is less useful for cooking. So I went to the store to get a bottle of Canola or other cooking oil. What did I find? Rapeseed oil! I have heard of it but didn't know anything about it. Wikipedia here I come!
So what did I find out? That Canola oil is a form of rapeseed oil, one bred to be less bitter for us to use. So now I can go back and get some. Interesting the things we learn!!
When I was at the supermarket the other day I noticed some fresh herbs and since I couldn't find the price I asked a gentleman that came by and grabbed one of them how much they cost. He said, most of them are 1,55 Euros (about $2.15) and I could see that the sign for oregano was 4.99 Euros. So I was able to buy fresh (hothouse I am sure) basil and thyme--I could smell the thyme all the way home...
In addition, Finland grows it's own lettuce, all of these come with a bit of dirt in a small cup so they stay fresh longer. Learning!!
So what did I find out? That Canola oil is a form of rapeseed oil, one bred to be less bitter for us to use. So now I can go back and get some. Interesting the things we learn!!
When I was at the supermarket the other day I noticed some fresh herbs and since I couldn't find the price I asked a gentleman that came by and grabbed one of them how much they cost. He said, most of them are 1,55 Euros (about $2.15) and I could see that the sign for oregano was 4.99 Euros. So I was able to buy fresh (hothouse I am sure) basil and thyme--I could smell the thyme all the way home...
In addition, Finland grows it's own lettuce, all of these come with a bit of dirt in a small cup so they stay fresh longer. Learning!!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Cooking
My whole apartment smells like Caraway seeds! I just received the package in the mail (mail and seeds) and opened it and everywhere I go in this smallish space is redolent with the spice. Now I will have to make some of my famous coleslaw!
One of the things that we are getting used to here is the fact that the grocery store does not have everything that they have in the US. Things like rubbing alcohol, I finally figured out, are available at the pharmacy but not the grocery store. Basmati rice was no where to be found on the regular grocery shelves, thankfully I found a middle eastern (Iraqi owned) store last week and got dried beans (also not available) there along with the dill I needed for Persian Rice. Timing is everything with Persian Rice, so you must have everything ready (potatoes scrubbed and sliced, colander read to drain the rice, lima beans out to mix into the rice) you can end up with a result that you don't want to eat!
As you may have realized we are cooking at home a lot. Eating out is expensive and even eating at home can be too. So I will have to learn to expand my repertoire or we are going to be bored very soon. I think I "cheat" more at home, sandwiches, leftovers, canned foods stuff like that. Here even the canned foods can be expensive so I am cooking more from scratch. Also, we have more time here, no friends, no volunteer activities, no religious commitments--I am however writing more letters! In exactly two weeks I will turn 48, I plan to make a cake and have our one friend or maybe two over. First I will have to figure out how to make my favorite cake, butter is very expensive so I will probably use some of that and some margarine. Forgot to get vanilla today, maybe at the spice store tomorrow...
Today I stood in the store with my translator in my hand trying to figure out what I was looking at. Mostly I use it to figure out what kind of meat it is, wanting to avoid pork since we don't eat that. Thankfully they use pictures on some items (ie. pig) so I can tell at a glance. Saw a hotdog in a bun pre-wrapped in plastic at the store today!!
I am trying hard to stick to my routines back home. For example, I usually shop about once every three weeks and get most of what I need. Filling in with fresh stuff from Just Local. Here I have been shopping about 3-5 times a week! Granted the medium store is only 2 1/2 blocks away but it is difficult without a car. So today, I took our small wheeled suitcase (looks like a backpack, but on wheels, and filled it up (and two canvas bags, bring your own because they charge 20 cents a bag here--love it!) and dragged it all home. Still didn't get all that I need!
Working on doing it my way.
One of the things that we are getting used to here is the fact that the grocery store does not have everything that they have in the US. Things like rubbing alcohol, I finally figured out, are available at the pharmacy but not the grocery store. Basmati rice was no where to be found on the regular grocery shelves, thankfully I found a middle eastern (Iraqi owned) store last week and got dried beans (also not available) there along with the dill I needed for Persian Rice. Timing is everything with Persian Rice, so you must have everything ready (potatoes scrubbed and sliced, colander read to drain the rice, lima beans out to mix into the rice) you can end up with a result that you don't want to eat!
As you may have realized we are cooking at home a lot. Eating out is expensive and even eating at home can be too. So I will have to learn to expand my repertoire or we are going to be bored very soon. I think I "cheat" more at home, sandwiches, leftovers, canned foods stuff like that. Here even the canned foods can be expensive so I am cooking more from scratch. Also, we have more time here, no friends, no volunteer activities, no religious commitments--I am however writing more letters! In exactly two weeks I will turn 48, I plan to make a cake and have our one friend or maybe two over. First I will have to figure out how to make my favorite cake, butter is very expensive so I will probably use some of that and some margarine. Forgot to get vanilla today, maybe at the spice store tomorrow...
Today I stood in the store with my translator in my hand trying to figure out what I was looking at. Mostly I use it to figure out what kind of meat it is, wanting to avoid pork since we don't eat that. Thankfully they use pictures on some items (ie. pig) so I can tell at a glance. Saw a hotdog in a bun pre-wrapped in plastic at the store today!!
I am trying hard to stick to my routines back home. For example, I usually shop about once every three weeks and get most of what I need. Filling in with fresh stuff from Just Local. Here I have been shopping about 3-5 times a week! Granted the medium store is only 2 1/2 blocks away but it is difficult without a car. So today, I took our small wheeled suitcase (looks like a backpack, but on wheels, and filled it up (and two canvas bags, bring your own because they charge 20 cents a bag here--love it!) and dragged it all home. Still didn't get all that I need!
Working on doing it my way.
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