eTramping – Meet Agness and Cez With Passion for Travelling

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Some people know how to live their life the way they really want to. Mark Twain once said “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”
 Meet these two young people from Poland who live their life differently – I loved reading about them (the photos are from Myanmar, Thailand, Kuala Lumpur)


1) Please introduce yourself.

We are Agness and Cez – two friends who have known each other for 7 years and been travelling together for 5 years. Both born and raised in Poland, we never returned to our home country after leaving it at the age of 18 (we lived in the UK for few years first). Small tip from us: never go travelling because you will not go back home promptly, it’s so addictive!

Moreover, we are travel freaks and blogging passionates but you can obviously tell that if you visit Etramping – a travel site where all our secret budget travel tips and hacks are regularly posted. Moreover, we help others discover other cultures, like living and teaching English in China.

We are both independent, creative and above all adventurous. Always stick together and try to make the best out of this life not to be eaten by daily routine.

2) How did you end up in your current cities of all places?

I (Agness) simply fell in love with Amsterdam after visiting the city few times. It’s calm, it’s inspiring, it’s cheerful and creative. I love cycling and sipping on a coffee in cozy and hipster cafeterias so this city seemed to be a perfect match.

Cez is currently living in Dongguan (China) where he teaches English and travels around the country. He loves Chinese cuisine, the language he’s been learning few years now and teaching – good reasons to stay there, right?

3) What is the best and worst about your current city for you…what is a typical day and weekend?

I wish Amsterdam could be less touristic. I often struggle with cycling through Amsterdam Centraal or Dam Square in the afternoon because there are way too many people there. On the other hand, tourists make this city much more interesting and diverse and I like such cultural diversity.

Cez says that he has been so long in Dongguan that he feels a bit like a local. The food is amazing, but the best and most important are the people around. A typical day starts with teaching in a kindergarten, followed by a gym session. Weekends are usually spent in the bar or KTV (a place where groups of friends can rent a room to sing together).

4) How do you find the lifestyle in your cities compared to your hometown in Poland?

We both try to maintain a healthy lifestyle so no matter where we are, we keep ourselves active and busy with different activities and projects. Just to point out few differences, houses in Amsterdam are really cool – often crooked and very narrow. Food is all about sandwich spreads, cheese and more cheese.

The lifestyle in China is incomparable to the life in Europe. You’d have to visit for a bit to get the idea of how different things are: from the food and the way to eat it, through social interactions, to even toilets (basically holes in the floor).

5) How do you make your living now – and how would you like to develop that career?

I’m working full-time at Poki – a cross platform game developer where I’m developing myself as a marketeer, whereas Cez is teaching English in Dongguan part-time. Apart from that we are also generating some income from Etramping and it helps cover our travel expenses. Among other things, Etramping now offera cheap flights, cheap hotels and even travel insurance.

Right now our biggest project is ESL job board for China where travellers from around the world can find a great opportunity of well-paid job combined with a cultural experience.

6) Do you see the differences between nationalities easily – yours vs. Americans vs. other Europeans?

Definitely. Poles are more competitive and complain a lot about everything, starting from their current jobs, financial situations to relationship statuses and politics. On the other hand though, we’re very hard-working people who you can rely on and work with smoothly. We drink vodka much more and have more hangovers – but that seems so obvious!

7) What do you absolutely miss from your country/elsewhere heritage (food, culture, movies etc) …or elsewhere?

Although I miss my mom and my best friends the most, I can’t forget about mentioning Polish cuisine here that I have a very good relationship with. I’m a typical foodie who likes to dig into fatty dishes prepared by my grandmother in a very traditional way. Just to name few of my favourite: chicken soup filled with fresh veggies and served with long thick homemade pasta, Hunter’s strew made from shreds sauerkraut, cabbage and dried mushrooms and of course Polish dumpling called pierogi filled with meat, sauerkraut and mushrooms, seasonal fruits (I love strawberry and blueberry ones) and cottage cheese and boiled potatoes.

8) Workwise – how do you see Dutch/Chinese being different from your countrymen– also culturally, what stands out in your chosen profession?

Flexibility at work is something that is very rare in Poland.

You have to strictly follow certain working hours, typically 9-5, and being late is seen as something bad. Our current jobs allow us to be very flexible thus we can develop our careers as marketeers and teachers while exploring the world and writing about it.

9) Knowing more about life and having lived with your decisions for a while (like work) – would you still choose to be there and why? Why not..

We don’t regret things and never make ourselves do something we don’t like or enjoy.

Every decision that is made, whether it’s about blogging, travelling, career or relationships, is based on what we want, desire and aim for. Thus we’re happy and fulfilled people who would not change a thing!

10) What should everyone know and understand about Poland and its culture?

Poland is a very traditional and religious country where food and family play an important role. Our culture is closely connected with its intricate thousand-year history. We are also very patriotic, hospital and sociable. Come to Poland and you will be warmly welcomed with vodka, good fat food and plenty of Poles willing to share interesting stories with you!

11) What cafes or restaurants do you recommend to tourists to go to in “CURRENT CITY” and why? Or to do something else.

My favourite cafeteria is called Bagels & Beans where the best healthy lunches are served and coffee tastes like heaven. I also enjoy SLA restaurant with salads and homemade soups and often visit Lite Dark for powerful smoothies. All places can be found here.

Cez lives in Dalang district of Dongguan and he strongly recommends Shangralila restaurant. There are 3 branches in that district alone, while there was only one when he came to Dalang first time 4 years ago. It says something about the taste of the food!

12) What would be your ideal life – with no monetary issues to make it happen!

If we could we would be on the road all the time going from one city to another, talking to locals, taking pictures and blogging about it. This planet has so much to offer for budget travel freaks as us!

13) Would you move back to Poland full-time – yes or no (why and why not)?

Not at the moment. We enjoy our lives in such creative and inspiring countries like the Netherlands and China. We spent over 17 years in Poland so let us see what other countries have to offer!

How to connect with you two:

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/etramping/

Website: http://etramping.com/

Twitter: Agness https://twitter.com/Agnesstramp ; Cez https://twitter.com/cezkrol/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runagnessrun/ and https://www.instagram.com/etramping/

 

Iowa – the place for now for Elsa

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When people ask me why of all the places on the earth I ended up in Iowa, I like to say that it’s a good question. Because that is more than true. And every good question comes with a complicated answer. Or maybe without an answer at all.

Little bit of an introduction would be good before I get any further. My name is Elsa (aka Snow Queen) and I come from Finland. I’m working as an au pair in Iowa, USA. And for them who doesn’t know au pair is like a nanny who lives as a family member in a host family and takes care of their kids and light housework. This is a one year program here in the States and for me almost six months have passed, six more to go.

Last spring I passed my matriculation exams and graduated from high school. A next step in my plans was – honestly, I as usual didn’t have one. Continuing studies right away somewhere didn’t really feel like an inspiring option so didn’t just staying at home either.

One Saturday morning I happened to do daydream surfing in the Internet. Going through some options for my future life – in my home country, abroad, shorter and longer taking programs. Everything. And boom, there it was. Become an au pair and start living your American dream. Working as an au pair had been a thought in my mind at some point, but what I’d been thinking was mostly like maybe a couple of months in Europe or so. Despite that and the fact that actually United States had never been any kind of dream of mine, it took me around 20 minutes to decide and send the very first application.

I must have been out of my mind.

In a sudden I were picturing myself living one entire year of my life under the eternal sun of California. In a sudden I were sure about something that just found its way into my mind. All happened so fast. I started a process of filling paperwork, collecting references and trying to find a host family. All the confidence inside of me was strong. It kept on saying this opportunity is for me.

Of course not everything turned out like I planned. Not everything was easy. I didn’t end up moving to California or even somewhere that I knew to exist. Actually first I didn’t even come to Iowa. My home for the first four months was in Montana. I were little worried and skeptical before arriving there. A small city in the middle of mountains and wilderness wasn’t exactly like what I’d pictured. But oh, how much I ended up loving that place!

My time in Montana taught me a lot.

Stepping out of my comfort zone made me to learn so much about myself. It made me to go out and take risks. It made me to make amazing new friends. It made me to make mistakes and take responsibility. But most of all it made me stronger. Facing unfamiliar situations can be hard, but after all I can proudly say that I survived. And I will survive in the future as well.

Changes, they really were to come. Unlike the plan in the first place it was my time to begin a new adventure in an other placement. Again I needed to let a lottery to be in charge. The result was as surprising as last time. The result was Iowa, the state of cornfields and nothing really special besides that. Big breath in and out. Let’s give it a change. Let’s keep my head up and mind open.

Iowa has been my home since the New Year’s Eve.

At the same time it is not too different to home in Finland or the one in Montana. It’s not a place of my dreams, but it doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t be exactly the right place for me right now. It wasn’t an accident to happen to get placed in Montana. While living those months there I got as confident as I were when I first decided to apply to the program. Even though it sometimes was nothing but struggling I had always strongly in my mind that this is where I’m supposed to be. I’m sure it’s not going to differ in Iowa.

So, back to the beginning.

Why Iowa? The answer is that I don’t know exactly.

Not yet. But I don’t even need to. I can keep on living day by day, trusting that this is the place to be for now. I can stay positive and see what is to come next.

Connect with Elsa Makela:

Website: http://elsanneli.blogspot.com

Elsa @ Facebook

Our Osaka Blog – How Does a Finnish Associate Professor of Psycholinguistics Like Living in Japan?

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I am an associate professor of Psycholinguistics. I work as the Director of a language teaching and research institute at a University in Osaka, Japan. The institute’s aim is to teach English Language and Linguistics, test innovative methods of foreign language teaching, and conduct research into processes that are involved when children learn their native language and when adult foreign language learners learn their second language.

I am originally from Finland, but before moving to Japan in March 2014 I lived in the UK for 14 years.

Amongst other things, those 14 years saw me do an undergraduate degree in English Language at Sussex University in Brighton, a PhD in Language Acquisition (Psychology) at the University of Manchester, work as a researcher at the University of Manchester, teach Finnish to bilingual Finnish-English children at a Saturday school in Brighton, marry a British man and have two wonderful children.

Because I have lived a huge chunk of my life in England, I consider England ‘home’ in a very similar way as I consider my native country, Finland, as ‘home’.

My husband is a partner in a law firm in England and thus our lives are currently divided between Japan, England and Finland.

So, where exactly do you live?

In Japan, we live on the 24th floor of an apartment building in Osaka, Japan’s second largest city. Osaka is known as the ‘Kitchen of Japan’. The reason for Osaka’s foodie nickname is down to the huge number of restaurants in the city and it’s inhabitants’ love affair with food.

In England, we live in an old terraced house (built in the 1880s) in the suburbs of the wonderfully bohemian city of Brighton.

Our children and I are based in Osaka whilst my husband travels between England and Japan so that he spends roughly 6 months in both per year. We are very lucky that we have been able to juggle the logistics of our slightly unconventional living arrangements, and it would have been impossible to do it had my husband’s work colleagues not been so supportive about our work and family-life balance.

 Did you always want to move to Osaka?

No. We didn’t plan or have a desire to move to Osaka, or even Japan. We loved Brighton and were not actively looking to move anywhere, but then I heard that a university in Osaka was opening a new language institute, and the job sounded interesting. So, out of curiosity really, I applied for the post thinking that I probably wouldn’t get it – but got it. We then found ourselves in a weird situation where we changed our settled life in Brighton for a less settled, but a new and different life in a country with a culture that we knew very little about.

Half of our friends and family saw us moving to Japan as an act of complete insanity and the other half as a definite sign of mid-life crisis – and to be honest, our move to Japan was probably a combination of both of those.

Was it the right decision?

We’ve lived in Japan for a year and a half now and I can say:

Yes, it was the right decision.

What are the reasons for you saying that it was the right decision?

Overall: Japan is a great place to live in: It’s safe and clean; people are extremely polite and helpful; the food is amazing; it’s modern but has a lot of history; it has big cities but also a lot of natural beauty; the culture is very different from Western culture and thus we think that Japan is a fascinating place to live in.

Work-wise: I have been very happy working at my University – the students are enthusiastic and the department is supportive. Although, due to workplace and cultural differences between Japan and Europe, it took me while to figure out how decision-making works in Japanese organizations, and in fact I am still learning how to behave in meetings and other organizational contexts.

Would you ever move back to England?

Yes. And we will. Even though we love Japan, we will not stay in Japan forever. Our home is in England.

What do you miss from England?

I really miss pubs and quirky coffee shops in which I used to regularly meet up with my friends. And of course I miss those friends.

What about Finland?

From Finland I miss my family and the couple of friends that I still have back there. I also miss my family’s summer cottage near Mikkeli, and going wild mushroom picking and devouring the creamy mushroom sauce with boiled potatoes afterwards.

What is the funniest experience you have had in Japan?

There have been so many, given that we (still) constantly find ourselves in a bit of a pickle…but one of the most memorable ones was when I went to the hairdressers for the first time and the hairdresser gave me a gown and escorted me to a changing room. There I was standing in the cubicle wondering as to whether I was supposed to strip and wear only the gown for the appointment or not. Luckily I didn’t.

What is the scariest situation you have found yourself in Japan?

Japan is one of the safest countries in the World to live in. You are very unlucky if you experience theft or violence in Japan – even if you walk down the back alleys of big cities on your own at night. And so, the only scary situation we have experienced was when we nearly got arrested for accidently opening a bag of soybeans in a convenience store and my 4-year old eating a couple of pods from it before we had paid for it. In Japan the police can arrest you for 30 days without charging you – it would have been horrific to spend 30 days in jail for some soybeans.

You write a blog. Why?

There are three reasons.

First, I am fascinated by cultural differences and want to understand how people from different cultures see the world, behave and communicate. For instance, why is it not acceptable in some cultures (for women) to show their teeth when laughing and in other cultures you can laugh out loud so hard that your friends can practically count the number of fillings you have got. Or why a 10 second silence in conversation in a first date will make a Brit think that the date was a complete disaster while a date with a 10 minute silence might be perceived as a great success on a Finnish or Japanese date. If these types of cross-cultural differences interest you, my blog might be your cup of tea.

Second, like most expat bloggers, I also want to keep in contact with my family and friends back home, and writing a blog creates a window for them (and anyone interested) in our life in Japan.

Third, in 30 years time when my memories of our time in Japan will not be as fresh and vivid as they are now, I will be able to read my blog posts and chuckle at the situations we found ourselves in.

What do you write about?

My blog is about our experience of life and people in Japan, and the faux pas we make and what awkward situations we find ourselves in because we don’t know the language or the Japanese way to behave. And how peculiar or comical many Japanese (and Finnish and English) people and customs can be to a person who does not know the culture of those countries.

You haven’t told us your name – what is it?

I use the pen name Brightoneagle.

How to connect with you?

Blog website: BrightonEagle.wordpress.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/our.osaka.blog

Twitter: @OurOsakaBlog

Infographic: The EU’s Gender Pay Gap Visualised

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Gender inequalities in terms of pay vary widely among the European Union member countries (EU) and among groups of employees according to data compiled by Eurostat.
The unadjusted gender pay pap (GPG) is an indicator used within the European employment strategy (EES) to monitor imbalances in wages between men and women.
It is defined as the difference between the average gross hourly earnings of men and women expressed as a percentage of the average gross hourly earnings of men.

Women’s gross hourly earnings were on average 16.4 percent below those of men in 2013.
The most pronounced gap is in Estonia where there was a 30 percent difference in what men and women make per hour!! This was a real surprise to me.
Spain, the United Kingdom and Germany are also at the wrong end of the table. Slovenia has the narrowest gender gap when it comes to pay at just 3.2 percent.

Let’s just have a quick glance at some facts.

Gender pay gap levels
The gender pay gap varies significantly across EU Member States

By working profile (part-time versus full-time)
Pay gaps can also be analysed from the perspective of part-time or full-time employment. Information at this level of detail is not available, however, for all EU Member States (Figure 2). In 2013, the gender pay gap for part-time workers varied from -8.2 % in Malta to 33.7 % in Spain. A negative gender pay gap means that on average women’s gross hourly earnings are higher than those of men. For full-time workers, pay gaps varied also widely in the EU Member States, ranging from 1.9 % in Italy to 20.3 % in Hungry.

By age
The gender pay gap is generally much lower for young employees

By economic activity
The gender pay gap in the financial and insurance activities is higher than in the business economy as a whole

Pay gaps and economic control
In 2013, the majority of the EU countries (for which data are available) recorded a higher gender pay gap in the private sector than in the public sector.

Infographic: The EU's Gender Pay Gap Visualised | Statista
You will find more statistics at Statista

Travel Impressions: Jeff Hrusko on EuroCircle’s African Safari, 2015

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 Traveler bio: Jeff came to EuroCircle through a romantic relationship, so you could say he’s like the boyfriend you stay friends with after the girlfriend left. He’s a technologist, graphic artist, and strangely enough, brings both an academic knowledge and caveman sensibility to our travels. When we reviewed our African itinerary, we quickly realized we were unprepared for the remote wilderness of the Okavango Delta, Kalahari desert, and Nata. But Jeff, an avid outdoorsman reassured us, we could survive without hair dryers for a week. EuroCircle’s African Safari, 2015

All travel photos are available via Sherry’s Flickr account at HERE!

 Jeff, unlike most of our members, you haven’t traveled much outside the USA. What possessed you choose EuroCircle’s African Safari, 2015 as one of your first adventures abroad?

I figured I should go big, or stay home. I mean, now that I’ve been to Africa I feel like I can go anywhere.

Be honest, what did you think of our group of travelers?

I think we quickly became like a family unit. That’s not to say we weren’t dysfunctional, but I know we looked out for one another, and had to accept each other, warts, dirty wash, and worse.

Being in a social group that’s bound together by logistics and miles of savannah, there’s no channel to switch or website to keep you in your comfort zone. I love that. We had to engage with each other as people. Sometimes the scarcity of choice brings about an abundance of value.

Of all the travelers, you seemed to be the most easy-going, and laid back. Nothing seemed to bother you. Are you like that in real life, or was that your strategy to get along with the various personalities?

I try not to “sweat the small stuff.” Of course one person’s small stuff is another’s civil war, but I felt we were a good hearted group, for everything else there is always headphones.

What was the funniest thing that happened for you on this trip?

“Oh my god, a lion!” Or a donkey, it could be a donkey. “Ah, a snake, look a snake!” Or I guess it could be a stick. The adamant misidentification of animals was definitely a high-point of the trip’s comedy.

Beyond that, outside of Victoria Falls, when we were all dressed in white (me in the Alana’s sparkly tank top), I walked out ahead of the gang, and a local asked me “Why you all dressed in white?”

“Oh, I’ve just married wife number five.” I replied.

“You must be rich!”

“No, just very, very tired.”

If you could re-live one day of EuroCircle African Safari, 2015, what day would that be?

From an adventurous perspective I’d say being among the elephants in the Maun, but in truth, two times during the trip, once at the Thamalakane River Lodge and the second time on the Chobe river, I had a chance just to feel… it’s hard to put into words, and please shoot me if I say “one with nature” but I felt like just another mammal, and it was a good feeling. In our dominance as a species we’ve killed off the large mammals in Europe and America, and I miss them. There was a certain rightness being among them. Not in a Disneyfied way, but as fellow creations of evolution on this planet.

If I could stay in one moment, it would be that sensation. The smell of the soil and grasses, the setting sun streaming through the trees over the river, life was everywhere and I was a part of it!

As a single man, would you rather bring a significant other, or next time, join us solo?

Blow up doll? Did you mean to ask to go solo or bring a girlfriend? In a way I had the best of both worlds. Maryana and I grew close again during the trip. I think the answer is whatever enhances the experience. I mean, one can fight with their girlfriend any place, but kissing someone in front of Victoria Falls is another thing all together.

All travel photos are available via Sherry’s Flickr account at HERE!

EuroCircle Travels is an annual program, that takes our members on a global adventure. So far, we have explored the silk markets of Istanbul, trekked to the top of Machu Pichu, raced tuk-tuks in Siem Reap, Cambodia,, and sailed down Halong Bay for an unforgettable experience. As a group we experienced dune bashing in the Arabian Desert, UAE, dined in a palace in India, then trekked across 5 countries in Southern Africa on safari. Join us!

Ringing in Opera on Tap in Berlin for the First Anniversary

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Many of the original EuroCircle members from all the way back in 1999 from NYC recall how much I love Opera. So did Anu Arponen who used to organize fun ballroom lessons for our members with Benito Garcia. In fact I think Anu knows by heart almost all most famous operas. Eline de Kat –   current Déléguée Artistique/Artistic Coordinator @ Opéra de Monte-Carlo – organized some unforgettable after opera events for us. Hundreds of EuroCircle members went to the opera with us.

I just found out that our neighbor’s daughter Sarah lives in Berlin. She is a co-manager (with Anne Byrne) of Opera on Tap Berlin, the first international chapter of Opera on Tap (OOT).  They are producing a full production of Jacques Offenbach’s “The Tales of Hoffmann” in honor of OOT Berlin’s one year anniversary.  The incredibly talented team of singers, with Gidon Saks, an internationally renowned, Grammy award winning opera singer, at the helm as their director.  He will co-direct with Caroline Staunton, assistant director at the Staatsoper in Berlin.

 

They searched  for something visually striking that would transport the audience to another world as soon as they walked through the door.  The result:  the Delphi, a former silent film theatre from the 1920’s in Berlin.  The Tales of Hoffmann is about the author E.T.A. Hoffmann as he is going through a period of writer’s block tinged with alcoholism.  Perfect fit, isn’t it?

Everything in place.  Now all they need is financial support. Sarah and Anne launched their Kickstarter campaign to get funding. They need to reach €7,500 euros.

The deadline for fundraising is midnight on December 24th to raise all of the money for the project or they do NOT receive any of the pledged donations. Tip: read Gary’s Blog on crowdfunding!
Shall we give them a nice Christmas gift – and help to reach their goal!
Another way to help would be to share the video on your social networks at least in Berlin so they spread the news to as many potential donors as possible.
Here is the link to their video and the page where you can DONATE:

What is Opera on Tap

Opera on Tap Berlin at Facebook

The concept of Opera on Tap (OOT) was born in 2005 at Freddy’s Bar and Backroom in Brooklyn and incorporated in 2007 to promote opera as a viable, living and progressive art form and to support the developing artists who continue to keep the art form alive. What began as a small monthly gathering of ambitious, classically trained singers looking for more performance opportunities, has grown into a producing organization that has gained a loyal audience base and national recognition as an innovative force on the classical music scene. Through its Chapter program, which now has sixteen vibrant national chapters, OOT has created a large network of performers, creators, and supporters.  Opera on Tap (OOT) is a not for profit corporation with 501(c)3 status.  The organization is formed for educational purposes including:
1) Educating the public on culture and the arts
2) Providing support and performance opportunities to young opera singers and classical instrumentalists.

Their mission is to:

  • Expose new audiences to opera and classical music by taking opera and classical music out of the concert hall and performing it in alternative venues
  • To aid young performers in their development by giving them the opportunity to perform and to promote and support them through our organization
  • To help promote new classical works of contemporary classical and operatic composers

Contact with Opera on Tap Berlin
Opera on Tap Berlin at Facebook
Email Sara
Send Email to Sarah Ring

Astrid Swan – Finnish singer/songwriter looking for inspiration @ House of Songs, Austin

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My  name is Astrid Swan. I’m a Finnish singer/songwriter and a doctoral student from Helsinki.
I am currently in Austin Texas in The House of Songs. My stay here is dedicated to writing and co-writing with local songwriters. Luckily, I have also had time to explore Austin with my family, who I was fortunate enough to be able to bring along. It has been a wonderful break from the grey, cold and dark times of Finnish winter which we left behind. The bustling, warm and welcoming surroundings of Austin and its people have offered us a chance to pause and have some distance from our usual routines. Meeting local songwriters has been the best part of being here. It is quite a strange and exhilarating feeling to meet someone for the first time and then immediately write music and lyrics with that new person.

This trip to the USA has been significant for me personally, because for the past years I have remained very close to home – first with a small baby and then because I was in treatment for a life-threatening illness. The complete change of scenery has afforded me the freedom to redefine our day-to-day life, embrace new tastes, neighborhoods, friends, climates, thoughts and dreams.

Leaving our safe and sound home environment behind was not easy, but once we were on our way it has been fun!
After initial jet-lag, I have been surprised by how easily a young child adjusts to a new temporary home – embracing its differences and making gentle comparisons to his home far far away.

The nature in Austin has been a source of wonder and delight, our child has loved seeing palm trees, oranges, nut trees and millions of cactus variations. Another very material way of getting to know new surroundings is the local cuisine. We have enjoyed lots of Mexican food, some pizza, one meal of hamburgers and lots of home cooking from wonderful organic ingredients. Eating fresh berries, nuts and chilies and tasting the American cinnamon rolls for example, have been important steps in getting comfortable in a new place.

WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE 2007
Since my last visit in Austin (in 2007) the city has grown and changed significantly. What I see and feel is simply my own interpretation, but it seems that there is a two-way development in action: on the one hand the city is attracting big business, it is becoming more expensive, consumer-oriented, polished and mainstream, but on the other hand poverty, homelessness, need and despair is more visible than before. The divide seems bigger.

The ‘old Austin’ with its rich alternative culture appears to be mostly a memory and a facade that is held up for tourists. Not being able to drive in a city like Austin is a real limitation. The lay-out of the city is not designed for walking or for public transport. Using services like Uber and taxis has been the only way for us to get to different areas of the city. We have also walked more than the locals. Walking has been a great way of experiencing the city, but some distances are simply too long. I have thought about the differences in city planning a lot this time during my stay. Reachability and access are key aspects in deciding what kinds of people are welcome to visit areas and parts of a city. I have noticed that this question of location is also a question of class in the US. From this point of view my hometown in Finland could not be more different.

Writing with local Austin songwriters has been very rewarding. I have learned about what kind of a songwriter I am. I have gotten lovely feedback and have admired the talent and originality of the musical souls I have met. I have also been able to compare cowriting culture here and in Finland.
It has been delightful to realize that good songs are still the currency that counts.

As I write my stay in Austin is nearing its end. We will stay in the US for another week-long vacation in New Mexico visiting some dear friends of our family. On Monday December 7th (TOMORROW) I will perform some songs at the Strange Brew Cafe in Austin. My fellow musicians and cowriters Graham Weber from Austin and the Swedish Simon Stålspets will be playing too.

TONIGHT Dec 7 she is performing @ Strange Brew Cafe (5326 Manchaca Road, Austin) with a fellow Swede Simon Stålspets and Graham Weber from Austin.

Just a quick look into Astrid’s world (an older tape though):

Website: Astrid Swan

Amsterdam Calling – Sannankupla.com is about expat life and it’s feelings

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Meet Sanna Sneen who currently lives in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Who are you?

I am an expat-mom of two small girls, marketing professional and a blogger currently living in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, because of my husband’s job. Our family is trilingual with Finnish, Swedish and English spoken daily.

What is your story?

I was going to live and work happily ever after in Finland and preferably stay in Lauttasaari, Helsinki. However, life took me to Louisville, KY through my husband’s job. Suddenly I was a stay-at-home mom in the Midwest in between cultures, finding another layer of life.

The original plan of returning to Finland changed into yet another move to a different culture, The Netherlands in 2014. I do not even need to know “our plan” anymore. I have started to live my life without knowing where I will live within the next five years. Our kids go to an international school and I have started working as a marketing communication consultant, who can work remotely from where ever.

What is Sannan kupla?

It means Sanna’s bubble and it is my blog about the emotions of expat life, raising multilingual third culture kids and about life as a human on this planet. You can also find great insider tips about Amsterdam there. All texts are both in English and Finnish.

What’s the story of Sannan kupla?

When we first moved internationally from Helsinki to Louisville, KY, I did not know what to expect. I am well traveled, have an international education and had summer jobs in Canada and Germany when growing up, but still I had no idea what to expect when transferring the life of a family with small kids across the ocean. Our youngest was just six months at that time and I had a lot of questions and worries on my mind. I started jotting down my feelings and it gradually became a blog that interested readers too.

In Kentucky, my mind first noticed everything that was different from Finland, which is typical in the transition process. After a while I started paying attention to things that we all have in common, that make us human. The world suddenly seemed a lot smaller than before.

Moving away from Finland was a mind-blowing experience to me, little surprisingly. For the ones who decide to live in one culture for their whole life, it can be hard to understand why. It is not because life would be shinier or better or bigger somewhere else, but mostly because you start seeing yourself differently. The surroundings form a big part of our identity and we often let it have a strong power in defining whom we are. When the culture you were raised in is not there to support your picture, you are forced out of your comfort zone, at least for some time. That just simply means growing. This is the part that makes expat-life so interesting. Not always easy, but interesting.

You are most welcome to come and read my thoughts in Sannan kupla.I would love to hear about your views or feelings too!

www.sannankupla.com

www.facebook.com/sannankupla

instagram.com/sannankupla

Twitter: @twitter/sannasneen

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/sannasneen

 

Ann-Marie – How Did a Finnish Girl End Up on Gran Canary Island?

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Gran Canaria is the second most populous island of the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago, with a population of 838,397 which constitutes approximately 40% of the population of the archipelago. Located in the Atlantic Ocean about 150 kilometres (93 mi) off the northwestern coast of Africa and about 1,350 km (840 mi) from Europe. The island is called a “Miniature Continent” due to the different climates and variety of landscapes found, with long beaches and dunes of white sand, contrasting with green ravines and picturesque villages. A third of the island is under protection as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

Now, let’s meet Finnish girl who somehow found herself living in Gran Canary Island..

I’m Ann-Marie Merkel. I am originally from Finland and currently live in Spain, Gran Canary Island. I’ve lived here since last January (2015). I am a blogger.  However, I have plans to open a small bar here. I’m helping my boyfriend a couple times a week with his music performances when he has his gigs around the island.

My Spanish family is my boyfriend and my pitbull Jeremiel (2). The rest of my family – mom, dad, my brothers, grandparents and friends all live in Finland.

How did I end up here? Well I used to say that I would never go for a holiday in Canary Islands. It’s just proves Never say never – one of my best friends was working here during the winter 2014-15. We booked a holiday with the other girls to see her. Three days before we were supposed to fly back home to Finland I met this man – my boyfriend and future husband. So, life gives you what you ask for. In three weeks I returned to the Canary Islands.

The best thing about this island is the weather. 

It’s pretty much always sunny and warm. Even though I miss the fall right now, crisp mornings and wool socks – life is SO much easier with just a pair of flip flops, right ? 😉 I also love the ocean. As a matter of fact I can see the Ocean right now from my living room window. That’s the view!

My typical day goes more or less like this:

In the morning I work on my blog and some other stuff on my laptop. In the evenings I help my husband by being his technical assistant. When we have days off we go shopping, to the pool, movies, dinners, meet some friends etc. – all the stuff any normal couple might do!

Restaurants are far cheaper here than for example in Finland. I like to go and eat different foods and try different restaurants.

Lifestyle is a subject that I was actually thinking to blog about yesterday. For tourist, this is like a paradise, a really easy place to visit. However, when you live here it is a bit different story. Everything here is either tomorrow (manana) or not their fault, and many times it’s really pisses you off. Any regular stuff you take as granted like phone company: so far whatever they have said to us will happen or work – or promised us – has not been true or taken place. There is no timetable, no urgency, no prices, nada. NADA! I am not kidding.

Learning to deal with different mentality than you are used to… For example: there is a laundromat in Arguine (24h hyperdino gasoline station (self- service). Their dryers didn’t work and they do not bother tell you that. You find out AFTER you have tried twice drying your laundry and it is still wet. You would think they would tell you that, right? I didn’t realize this at first. I just listened to my husband telling how rude they are. Why – because when Finnish people are rude I am pretty sure anyone can tell that without understanding a word of Finnish. Not the same here.

Apartment hunting experiences… Let me tell you another example. We were looking for an apartment and the agent was a local guy. However, he spoke Finnish pretty well! He offered coffee at his office while we were waiting for the owner of that house to arrive. We spoke about different options, how the house is really big, private, great etc.

Well everything changed when we saw the house. A private house does not have a terrace shared with three other people. Not to mention you could also see inside the other house as people were having a siesta there. The house was smaller than we were told, one window behind in the bedroom – absolutely horrible – and not at all what we told him we wanted.

When my husband saw that I didn’t like it and he didn’t like it either (he has this slightly annoying habit to tell to everyone ”you are the boss”), I was in-charge. Well, I was shy and asked politely about other housing options. Suddenly, everything changed. The agent became rude: ”This is the only one you can get”- and that’s it. It really was such a surprise to me. Now I understand how they are, or how they aren’t. What happens when they can’t please you –  or you aren’t pleased what they have to offer.

In general people are very nice and easy going. They say hello to you everywhere – even the supermarket – people who you don’t know you at all. That’s a welcome change after Finnish people who only stare at their toes 😉

At the end, people here are kind and easy to get along with. You will have no problems as a tourist here. However, please rent a car and go see Mogan, go see north of the island, Agaete, caves, mountains and all the nature. There are wonderful small towns – such amazing places. The Play del Ingles (PDI) area is full of hotels and touristy places.

My Tips: I have spent enough time here to have some favorites where to take my friends and family when they come to visit. Let’s see – a few places to name in Playa del Ingles area:

Desnunos, it’s a kind off messy at first but once your look little bit closer, you can find shoes, clothes, home decorations or even bags really really cheap.

A big Chinese shop in San Fernando, I love it, you can find whatever you need.

Along the pedestrian road in San Fernando there is a shop where everything is 10 euros. I like to buy my handbags from them. The products are very nice. I’m gonna take my mom there next time !

When people ask me about moving back to Finland – Yes, we will make home in Finland. Maybe next spring, and also the wedding will be there in fall 2016. So no, this is not rest of my life home but in the meantime I enjoy my life here.

On my To-Do list is to learn Spanish. Many Spanish people don’t speak English so socializing and life in general would be much easier in their language.

Luckily the tourist season is starting soon. Many Finnish people come here so I can start speaking my own language again 🙂

Lastly, I wanted to tell you all if you come to this island, and like Asian cuisine, check out Fusion Restaurant next to Centro Commercial Yumbo. Amazing food !

Nice to meet you all online and below is how you can find me in the future !

www.facebook.com/bohemianlifeespana

bohemianlifeespana.blogspot.com.es/

 

 

 

 

How does Anoja – a South Indian Software Engineer – like living in Helsinki, Finland?

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You will not find many countries that are more different than India and Finland. For starters India is huge, they speak multiple languages, multiple dialects, religions, customs, food, climate – everything is so different. So I was curious to find out how an Indian female engineer finds life in Helsinki.

Please introduce yourself. How did you end up in Helsinki of all places?

My name is Anoja – I am from South India. I am a Software Engineer living in Helsinki with my family consisting of my husband and one daughter.
I came to Helsinki for my Master’s degree.

What is the best and worst about Helsinki for you…what is a typical day and weekend??

The night life is awesome here compared to India.

However, winter time is hard. A typical day is waking up early morning close to 4:30 AM and doing some religious rituals. After breakfast work till 3:30 pm and then head home. At home, I spend time with my daughter, have dinner with family, enjoy some family entertainment and then go to bed.

Weekend is also similar but instead of going to work, we spend time shopping or have hobbies with my daughter-  or party with friends.

How do you find the lifestyle in Helsinki compared to your hometown?

The lifestyle in Helsinki is far better than in India. There is such a professional touch with everything and also the quality of service is really good.

How do you make your living now? Do you see the differences between nationalities easily – Indians vs. Finnish vs. other Europeans?

I am working here as Software Engineer.
Culture wise noticeable differences are there and now we too learned those.

What is the essence of Helsinki to you – what do you absolutely want your friends to see or feel in Helsinki?
The weather in Helsinki is awesome. I would love to show my friends and relatives how Finns adjust to these extreme climatic conditions by just wearing the proper clothes.

Is there anything that you really miss/do not miss from your country/elsewhere heritage …or elsewhere? Are Finns different from Indians workwise?

Food is one of the important thing that we miss.
Friends………. Finns are more friendly and helpful.

Finns put more importance to time and their words. (they say what they mean and mean what they say)

When you think about what did you think about life in Helsinki before you moved there – did you have misconceptions that turned out to be wrong?

We were very concerned how to overcome the language barrier. After we arrived I understood Helsinki is more international than I had imagined.

Knowing more about life and having lived with your decisions for a while (like work) – would you still choose to be there and why?

I still would choose to stay here because of its international nature. Life is extra-ordinary because of the quality of service we are receiving.

What cafes or restaurants do you recommend to tourists to go to in Helsinki and why?

It depends what they are looking for. For coffee we recommend Starbucks. If they want some Indian cuisine then Samraat.
If they want to have some burgers then Hesburger or McDonalds.

Would you move back to India fulltime? Nevertheless, I am curious what has been the worst social issue to deal with in Helsinki for you?

No, we would not move back to India. Quality of education is best here. We also feel more connected to Finland now than to India.
In some places the language has been a barrier – especially in shops and hospitals.

I have noticed some very negative discussions against immigration in Finland in press lately – it seemed to be fueled particularly as the 3 Somali youths got a rather light sentence in some people’s opinions and some people felt that was only due to their race? India has had its own very bad rape cases in public very much so. Any opinion?

I would say it all depends on the person and should not be generalized as country or race as a whole.
Rape cases are not rare in India but it is not the only thing that is happening in India. If we just go in front of a Lion it will rip us into pieces. The same applies to any rapist. So better watch out and act accordingly.

Anything else you would like sharing with us?

Finland is a safe country to live with respect to law and order.

Connect with Anoja:

Anoja @ Facebook