suzi9mm

snow - kar

2012-01-28T20:30:00.000+02:00

its been snowing this week. :( makes the streets slippery.

the shop where i get fruits from in the morning. they are under snow covered plastic now.

this nargile/shisha cafe has made an ad from snow.

doctor is still happy abut his career choice (emergency medicine), after the first tough residency week. the hospital doesnt provide clothes so we bought all these a week ago. they also dont offer laundry service (or if it they do, they wont tell, which would be typical) so i am washing the work gear...

but im really happy that hes happy. the work is quite tough, no time to drink coffee or chat he says. and a lot of unnecessary patients, with flu etc... they are clogging up the emergency room and doctor time from more needy patients, but at the same time you need to examine everyone because '1 out 10' of those people is 'really' ill after all.

last night i went out with Elin. we went to Incir first. the outside terrace there is lovely. we had a real girls night out. we talked to some people and im not sure if there was a bet or something, but Elin 'had to' go out to the next bar to get a Jägermeister shot as Incir doesnt have Jägermeister... coming back the bouncer noticed the shot and took and drank it. only in turkey...

later we went to Karga where we sat by the fireplace.

Karga

in the photo it looks clean but the place where i got my blood type tested didnt seem clean... i had to get the test for my drivers license. i already forgot but i am either A positive or negative.

this is where i got my passport photo taken. little back room inside a sunglasses shop.

22kk vuosipäivä

2012-01-28T18:54:00.001+02:00

täällä pläjähti sitten ihan suomikelit. järkyttävää herätä aamulla kun sataa lunta ja on valkoista ja -2C. ja perkeleellinen tuuli. siihen kun ei ole henkisesti eikä pukeutumiseltaan valmistautunut niin kyllä se on ankeeta. eikä oikeen olekaan sopivia vaatteita, se on sit vaan kerrospukeutumista.

työt on pitäny kiireisenä. ja viikonloppuna pitääkin sit jo ehtiä vähän siivoomaan jälkiään... tätä kai arjeksikin kutsutaan.

eilen oli ennakkoäänestys konsulaatissa. taas kävin Pekkaa tönimässä eteenpäin, Sennin kanssa. tänään Senni tuli meille ja jää yöksi, sillä ei oo netti toiminu himassa 2 viikkoon joten ajattelin että se saattaa tulla hulluksi jossen yydä sitä meille nettaamaan :)

new recipes?

2012-01-24T22:18:00.001+02:00

there is a new law that people on the expat forums are talking about. finding an official, reliable source is impossible of course. based on all the different findings i have concluded the following: by the end of january, all residency permit holders (at least 1 yr but maybe less, too) that are not working, not covered by private insurance from their home country or by the insurance of their spouses are obliged to sign up for the public health insurance. whereas unemployed turks pay up from 34tl a month for this, unemployed foreigners have a more less standard fee that i have heard to range from 180 to 280tl. and still u dont have the right to work actually, work permit is another subject... i admit i do find it a bit unfair. the system here seems to always be milking on the foreigners. we are cash cows. whats scary about this that no one notifies you of this change in the law, january just comes and goes and then you owe the government a fine of 886tl for not signing up. surely the system is so crippled and slow that the fine may never reach you or even be implemented but i personally dont want to take any changes... so i should go to the SGK office in the next few days.

instead of 24h shifts, doctor found out that he is on 8-9h shifts - but we dont know for how long. and for a newbie it would be rude to ask. instead he should arrive early and leave late to show his dedication. so he is doing that now. and i found that i am the one first home and therefor in cooking duty! dammit.

friday iiiiiiiss VOTING TIME! AGAIN! sunday's results, and the amazing support that Pekka Haavisto received on the first round just proved that miracles actual are possible - fuck! so, 2nd round means just repeating it. for the first time in my life (as far as i can remember) i donated to a political campaign (20e). i am in a completely ecstatic state, where i quote the campaign of the north american head of state by saying 'yes we can' and nod with a stupid smile on my face.

laundry title keeper

2012-01-22T19:28:00.001+02:00

im really nervous about tomorrow - doctors new job/residency. mornings are not his forte, so to speak. and the shifts start at 8 (before my alarm!)... we are not sure yet how long it takes by car at that hour, or by public transport, anything between 30 and 90mins...need to test. and i think waking up at 6 to his alarm will prove to be a test for me too... relationships are hard work!

the first 2 months (at least) he will have to work more, every 2nd day i guess (24h shifts)... so theres another challenge. we wont be seeing each other much.

but at least (hopefully) things will stabilize. i need that. the 'knowledge' of what will happen in the near future. but in turkey such a 'state of calmness' might not exist anyway, i just imagine its coming, like the light at the end of the tunnel... but it keeps slipping away.

the 'plea' for Mattel to start producing a bald Barbie is idiotic. i understand the idea, but its still idiotic. from what i hear, Mattel made one bald custom Barbie for a little girl who lost her hair due to chemo. thats called a publicitiy stunt, to show 'good will'. but starting a whole product line, with its investments in design and marketing efforts etc... and it would create loss for sure... isnt that a bit much to ask?? hey guys could u pls make loss in one sector of your products, its for a good cause! cancer is common, but there is no way those dolls would sell much (enough). if a doll should educate little kids or girls about the realities of life, then how about a vaginal thrush Barbie? I am guessing every woman comes across an infection at least once in her life. probably twice. so a "Candida Barbie" would fill its purpose as an educating tool im sure. but maybe dolls could be just dolls, huh?

purchasing power in europe 2011/2012. interesting map. Norway is pretty...uhh, impressive.

Economist article on dual citizenships.

im also nervous about the elections today... i think the 'pre-vote' results that are published at 8pm, will reveal the situation more less...

this song and video by Birdy are very nice;

we are having pizza for dinner tonight cos were too lazy to cook anything. ordered 1 big one from Little Caesar's. not a healthy choice but oh well.

i think ive done a laundry record today, 4 or 5 loads :)

ei mitään ihmeitä

2012-01-22T03:07:00.000+02:00

joskus suomessa tuli vastaan kotibileissä tai muualla niitä ulkkiksia joille puhuttiin s-u-o-m-e-a h-i-t-a-a-s-t-i. nyt mä oon se ulkkis, joka sanoo hassuja juttuja ja paikalliset nyökkäilee ja yrittää vastaa niin että ymmärrän (siinä yleensä epäonnistutaan). "kuka haluta viiniä?". no ei tää nyt ihan* uus asia oo mutta kun yritän nyt olla aktiivisempi turkin opiskeluissani.

lähdin kasin pintaan Tamerin kauppaan, harjottelee turkkia. siellä oli Tamer ja sen joku myyjä. katottiin Fenerbahcen matsia telkusta joka oli kassalla jne. yks musta kisu tuli sinne hyllylle nukkumaan ja sit sellanen iso oranssi kisu tuli kans hengaa mut se on aika herkkä, sitä ei saa lääppiä liikaa tai se suuttuu, sähisee jne. kuten tämän jälkee;

Tamerin tyttöystävä ja sen kaveri Olcay tuli kans sinne kaljapullo kaa. sit Tamerin toisen kaupan myyjä ja sen tyttöystävä tuli. ja sit ei ollukaan enää paljoo tilaa asiakkaille joita tuli n.15min välein, se oli sellasta tetristä et kuka mahtu liikkuu ja missä.

joskus 11 jälkee lähettiin Heraan eli läheiseen vakkaribaariin. jätettii se toka myyjä sulkemaan kauppa.

tuli mieleen eka reissu turkissa kun tajusin sen et baarissa voi tilaa mitä vaan, ja tilasin baileys-kahlua-malibun. diili oli että arttu hoitaa meidät hotelliin sen illan jälkeen. ja niin teki. turkkiin muuttaessa muistan tilanneeni moisen kombon vielä kerran tai 2... tänään kun muistelin sitä niin irvistin. ei menis enää alas.

huomenna on äänestyspäivä. huh huh. musta on tullu aika intohimoinen näissä asioissa. kun nyt eka päästään tokalle kierrokselle ja keskustellaan sit uusiks... Haaviston kamppis on ollu aika pätevä ja vaikuttava. no niin kai se aina näyttää sille joka kannattaa kyseistä tyyppiä. mutta haluan nähdä tässä mahdollisuuden!

haluisin mennä suomeen käymään piakkoin. yleensä kun ihmiset kysyy että no on ikävä suomeen niin en oikeen osaa sanoo mitään. ei varsinaisesti ole. joitain tapoja (järjestelmällisyyttä), piirteitä (luotettavuus) ja kavereita on ikävä, mutta noin muuten ei kauheesti. mutta nyt haluisin mennä käymään. ei vaan oo lomia ja kesälomia ei ehkä viel voi ruveta käyttää eli palkattomia sit. to, pe ja ma on 3 päivää? katoin et suoria lentoja sais esim. helmikuu lopussa alle 200e. sit kun meen ni haluisin nähdä kavereita. ei oikeestaan muuta. kavereita. vähän kauppoja. fiilistelyä... joo, oon kai siin vaihees, et alan fiilistelee kun kävelen manskulla tai hämeentiellä.

aquan eli haalean turkoosin väriset seinät vois olla makeet jossai seinäs.

really empty and effortless

2012-01-21T19:31:00.001+02:00

last night me and doctor went to Hera, Volkan was DJ'ing and also played some finnish music that i had tipped him about (Chisu and Jenni Vartiainen). i agreed with Tamer that i could go to his shop once a week, to practise my turkish between lessons. he said i could practise with his customers too, help with the ear piercing and ...something. and we can have a beer. sounds like a deal, the shop is about 350m from here. ive become lazy. i just love it when everything is near. a butcher in the opposite corner, i can see it from the window sitting here. i should shop there more.

now i should go pick up the passport photos i got taken last night. need 4 for my driving license.

20.1

2012-01-20T16:54:00.001+02:00

it's been over half-a-year with iphone. the registration process here made me almost regret buying from finland but as for the product i cant complain much... of course it has its hiccups, maybe 2-3 times a month. spotify might shut down by itself. a couple times the browser seemed to 'be stupid'. as far as the general usability and whatever minuses i initially found, missing features and so, ive managed quite well. so overall im happy. finally.

these translation cartoons in "Mox's blog" are hilarious. i dont do much translation anymore, hmm, but as i work between clients and translators...these are more than familiar things. every day.

weekend! finally! doctor is working tomorrow but on sunday we can relax together... and on monday we both have an early wake up as he starts his residency at the hospital. exciting times.

im drinking milk coffee almost every day now. at work. but not after 4pm - i need to sleep at midnight after all! ive become a good girl, sleeping 8h/night, eating (more less) healthy...:)

thankies

2012-01-20T00:27:00.000+02:00

being that there was a 40 000 people demonstration out there today, just 200m from me (and i didnt hear a thing), expressing dissatisfaction on the Hrant Dink murder trial results... well actually its not so related but here is a list of things i am thankful for. the world is a bad and sad place a lot of the time so i should be more appreciative.

1. im thankful for having a home, where i want and decorated as i want, with heating and the whole set

2. im thankful for the internets. it has affected my social life, hobbies, relationships and career path and everything. i guess everyone can say the same but its really blown me away and opened the world to me.

3. im thankful for friends (and why not family too), and to have someone loving by my side

4. im thankful for having good genes

5. im thankful for bunnies and kitties in this world because their existence makes my life better

6. im thankful for being more less healthy

7. im thankful for having a job and income and money in the bank

8. im thankful for having had the chance to travel a lot and see the world and people

i watched the new episode of Sherlock tonight. i liked the first season last spring so i was excited. but i was a bit disappointed. the beginning was messy, and then the main female character, strong and playful, outsmarted Sherlock. yay, i thought. and in the end, she turned out to be a lovesick fool that needed rescuing, by a man - Sherlock. what a pity. i googled my concerns and found this blog post in which Vida S explains the Irene Adler issue much better than i do.

if my skin sometimes feels dry, i use creams but also for a quick small fix i spray some Vitamin E face mist on (by Body Shop). i actually bought it from Helsinki once, for my mom, as a gift. she had dry skin. when she died, i picked up some of her things, like this one. brought it here with me. also i took her purple winter jacket. the colour suites me well. that was weird, going through her things. i had never imagined it.

lauantai-illan huumaa

2012-01-14T22:45:00.000+02:00

ihmesarja tää Duudsonit tuli taloon. en oo ihan varma konseptista... mut täs ekas jaksos toi perheen äiti on ihan vittu hirvee. mietin et leikkiikse vaan tiukkaa kun on tää tv-sarja ja se on kai sen rooli? mut ei... ei helvetti. millasii lapsii noista kasvaa? ei toi voi olla normaalia? mulla oli aika anarkistinen ja sekava lapsuus tohon verrattuna.

kiitos Jumalalle TVkaistasta. toivottavasti joku laki ei pilaa tätäkin huvia.

lapsuus oli silleen että en muista aika pitkältä ajalta mitään. kun muutettiin suomeen äidin kaa niin asuttiin munkassa mummon naapurissa, jossa mä sit myöhemmin 16-veenä taas olin. helsingissä asui silloin tätikin, eli äidin sisko. varmaan se siloin sit opiskeli hammaslääkäriks, ellei ollu jo. se ompeli mun barbeille mekkoja, muistan sen lumikki-asun tosi hyvin. ja myös luki mulle H.C. Andersenin satuja iltaisin kun menin mummolaan yöksi. munkan lastentarha oli jotenkin ankea kyllä...tai niin sen muistan.

sit kun myöhemmin taas asuin munkassa ni kävelin aina sen lastentarhan ohi kun menin kirjasoon. ei ollu iso kirjasto muutta mä olin NIIN vakioasiakas. luin tosi paljon. yritän muistella et mitä ihmettä... jotain elämänkertoja ainakin, Doorsin rumpalin ym. sit jotain ehkä sosiologiaan ja psykologiaan liittyviä juttuja, ja Stephen Kingin vanhempia tarinoita.

suomessa vois olla kiva käydä kohta. harmi kun muukin matkailu kiinnostais, mut ihan kaikkee ei aina voi saada.

shopping in the dark

2012-01-14T20:47:00.000+02:00

i am listening to Flo Rida's Good Feeling daily. its catchy and supports...good feelings. the rap stuff is not my fav but the tune in general.

doctor is working today so i decided to arrange myself a pampering day. well, nail polish, scrubs, mask, general skincare and hairdye... etc. some of those could described as tasks one wants to put off, but actually i like all of it. i dont take much care of my skin in general though, which is amusing with my background. this winter my face has been really dry so i used both night and day creams. other than that i barely used any creams on my face since moving here. its just pretty stable so despite what cosmetics companies or educated professionals such as myself might say, i think there is no need to do anything. my scalp gets occasionally irritated (itchy) but i got this Wella lotion that helps for that. and for occasional dry moments on the body i have Watsons ('no name') baby oil, and some Body Shop moisture spray. so, very simple.

today it was snowing on the european side and raining on the asian. then around 1pm Istanbul (and nearby cities) had a power cut. trams, subway stopped. i was confused for a moment -without a computer- but then started working on Miss R's art project that she asked me to join in. then it was the perfect time to go out shopping. cash machine worked so i got money. McDonalds had the lights on so they must have their own generator. Istanbul is weirdly quiet and boring without electricity - i noticed. well, just compared to what it usually is.

shopping results. black, white, petrol and shiny metallic grey tights. 2 nail polishes - and those are cheap in turkey. toothpaste (pink!) for sensitive 'mouf'. Nivea's cheapo face mask. lipgloss. body scrub 'glove'. hair dye - its that time of the month. the power finally came back on. nice, its pretty damn cold these days.

i feel bad for doctor, after the surgery he is only eating liquid food. we just put food in the blender and thats his meal. as below... i got steaks and a salad, and his is mush.

in a bar a while ago. they had peanuts and the shells were to be thrown on the floor. they regularly brushed them off.

pressapostaus

2012-01-13T18:19:00.000+02:00

Kari Peitsamo tukee Väyrystä?? uhh. nojoo en mä muutenkaa oo Peitsamon kaa samoil linjoil mitä politiikkaan tulee. Väyrynen on musta joku kekkosen vanha bestis, ja tosi (liian) maalainen, joo on mukeja ja feisbuuk-kamppista mut ei vakuuta. konservatiivi.

ikävä kyllä naiset ei oo hyvin edustettuna näissä vaaleissa, ne on sivurooleja, ihan sama joku kristitty ja ruotsalainen.

Lipponen, ihan sama. salettiin konservatiivi, tylsä ja nihkeä. ei yhtää symppis. ja joo, presidentin pitäs olla edes vähän symppis, kun ei o nyt mitään sotaa tai muuta.

Arhinmäki on symppis mutta liian vasuri-uskovainen ehkä vielä koska liian nuori. 10-20 vuotta viel... en ole samaa mieltä aina sen kaa mutta ei se pahis oo (kuten useimmat, LOL!).

Niinistö. arkkivihollinen.

abortti-Soinista ei varmaan tarvi keskustella.

joten mun logiikalla kakkonen on ykkönen, Haavisto! sateenkaaria ja kansainvälisten kriisien manageerausta, ymmärrystä ja terävää ajattelua, jee. käytiin Sennin kaa tänään äänestää, molempien työpaikat on sopivasti kävelymatkan päässä konsulaatista.

taas niitä hemmetin impulsiivisia muistelmia

2012-01-13T00:18:00.005+02:00

se meni niin että ylä-asteella on tosin punk ja sit lopuks musta tuli gootti. no ehkä se oli lukion ekalla. ihan siis ylä-asteen aluks olin enemmän hevari, mut sit näin yhen tyypin (Sipen) koululaukussa bändien nimiä kirjoitettuna, Ypö-viis, Kollaa Kestää, Ramones jne.. . no silloin ei ollu internettiä joten pystyin perehtyy niihin vaan Suosikkeja lukiessa. uusia, jotka tuli postissa ja vanhoja joita ostin divarista muistaakseni kolmella markalla. no ei siellä ollu ku joku Ramones-haastis joskus. mutta kiinnostuin. heräsin ajattelemaan että pitäs olla jotain kapinaa, että jossain naiviudessa on jotain kaunista. sen hetken punk-aalto oli se toka aalto, bändejä hassuilla nimillä ja rakkauden ja vapauden viestiä, ei mitään anarkiaa - nii paljoa. olin silloin kyllä sosiaalisesti aika vammanen. olin sosiaalinen mutta mulla ei ollu niitä taitoja kuitenkaan. en osannu ottaa kontaktia mikä on harmi, olisin voinu teoriassa luoda sillon paljon enempi ihmissuhteita. no anyways se oli ihan jännää aikaa. menin pari kertaa luokkakaverini Tanjan kanssa Lahteen 8-salille iltapäivällä, lauantaina, koska silloin meni dösä oikeaan aikaan. hengailtiin Lahden kaduilla kunnes 8-salilla alko bändit soittaa. mulla oli mun ekat maiharit sillon ja kettinkiä niissä ja takissa. en ollu täysin punk kun mulla oli Gn'R-merkkejä takissa jne...mut se oli miellyttävä ympäristö. sit joskus yöllä kun ne lopetti ni valuttiin läheiselle bussiasemalle ja odotettiin siellä jotain yödösää tunti tai pidempäänkin, kylmässä. heinolassa oli jomman kumman vanhemmat torin laidalla autossa odottamassa. mä asuin 30min heinolan keskustasta eli ei ihan pieni matka kuitenkaan.

hassua et nyt työmatka on pidempi vaikka asun samassa kaupungissa kuin duuni. mutta jos teini-ikäiseltä jenniltä olis kysyny tästä vuoden 2012 tilanteesta niin se olis varmaan nyökkäilly tyytyväisenä. en muista että mulla olis ollu mielettömiä tavoitteita, aika tavallisia, olin toiveikas mutta pessimistinenkin... oikeesti muistan haaveilleeni vaan opiskelijaelämästä , makaroonista (ie. halvasta ruuasta kun olisi varmaan opiskelijana budjetilla) ja sosiaalisesta elämästä. ajattelin et olisin silleen ihan onnellinen. ja olinkin, kun vaan annoin itseni olla. eikä nytkään ole mitään syytä olla olematta vaikka sisällä asuu sellainen kurnuttava vali-vali ääni.

sit kun vuonna 94 tai 95 seukkasin Andyn kaa - joka myöhemmin päätyi itsemurhaan- ni McDonalds oli avattu Heinolan ulkopuolelle, siel oli sellanen ostoskeskus tms, Citymarket se tais olla... Andykin asui Heinolan ulkopuolella, Vierumäellä. kerran ku olin siellä yötä ni lähettii joskus kahden, kolmen aikaan kävelee sinne mäkkii... kuviteltiin tai haaveiltiin et se vois olla auki. hah hah. no ei se todellakaan ollu auki. nyt kun ajattelen asiaa ni kelaan et olipa typerää. mut joo... tulipa tsekattua, ei ollu mikään Lontoo se. McDonald's tuli mieleen siitä et tilasin sieltä just hampurilaisen. no kello ei ole 02, vaan 23.

ja nyt jo melkeen 01. ts pitää mennä kai nukkumaan kohta koska nyt on tilanne se että olen tässä tietyssä duunissa ja pomo haluaa mut huomenaamulla klo 9 toimistolle. kompromissina 9:10 koska se on mulle sopiva lautan aikataulun mukaan. 9:08 jos ollaan tarkkoja mutta eihän täällä olla. tänään tosi moni haki palkan toimistolta, säädin rahojen kanssa, sosialisoin ja yritin pitää ihmiset tyytyväisenä. oli myös ongelmia joidenki projektien kaa ja tuntui oikeasti että voi H******V**** miten jotkut hommat voi mennä pyllyllee, enkä tienny mitä tehdä. no, aina oppii. hoidin tilanteen jotenkin jaloilleen mutta jälkipyykkiä on vielä hiukan.

töiden älkeen improvisoin ja menin ulos Elinin ja sen kavereiden kanssa taksimissa, kun kutsu tuli. oli sen verran rankka päivä et ajattelin et ihmisten seurassa relaaminen vois olla ihan hyvä.

task: to allow myself t be happy

2012-01-11T21:30:00.005+02:00

our latest home made cider didnt turn out so well, its like 2%. but well, its not bad.

i need to do my turkish lesson homework... got my nails done today. thank god. they were a disaster, i havent had the time to go lately...

i was chatting wit Karri and Selim online tonight.

Friday is voting day. need to go to the consulate to vote in the Finnish presidential election. Haavisto it is, no doubt. for president, im looking for someone to represent my country and our values, someone to get along with other leaders and someone to bring the people of the country together by being on everyones side in a way... doesnt hurt to be known for crisis management in war-ridden countries, finnish peace negotiators and their skills in understanding different sides without taking sides is known worldwide. and i certainly want a liberal president. being gay is just a positive image thing, but otherwise doesnt matter.

fun english pronunciation task

'masturbation world champion' - what a fellow

time to sleep

2012-01-10T22:11:00.004+02:00

a very tiring week. lotsa work concerns and busy evenings. and its only tuesday? last night was the dinner at Elin's and although i was really tired we stayed late, it was really nice.

today after work i had my first turkish class with Senni. Ani was the teacher i had found and she seemed quite good, we were both happy with her, and learned stuff. now i just need to use the stuff i learned... hmm...

turkkiteevee

2012-01-08T20:38:00.004+02:00

juteltii kotsalla tänää telkku-sarjoista. kyllä ne turkissakin osaa. tai ehkä ne oli ostettuja formaatteja who knows. mutta täällä on ollu sellanen sarja muun muassa jossa laitetaan 4 pariskuntaa asumaan samaan kerrostaloon ja sit ne kilpailee siitä et ketkä selviää vähimmällä rahalla. joku mies oli kuulemma kävelly joka päivä töihin 60km säästääkseen bussirahat. öö. tää tv-sarja tuli puheeks siitä että mihin tiimi-tyyppiseen reality-sarjaan me otettais toisemme omaan tiimiin messiin. ja lääkäri siis sano että tohon budjetti-elämisohjelmaan mä olisin hyvä pari. lol. ok, osaan mä kyllä vetää vyön aika kireälle tarvittaessa... asia ehkä vaan korostuu turkissa jossa usein ollaan veloissa ja silti eletään kuin viimestä päivää huolettomina, siis ihan normaalit ihmiset... toinen sarja johon lääkäri mut ottais olis apprentice :D sano että iso pomo haluis mut toiselle puolen pöytää ihan välittömästi. mä taas sanoin että ottaisin lääkärin mukaan the amazing raceen (tietty) ja sit survivoriin. jossa en tosin itse pärjäis kovin montaa minuuttia...

sit toinen musta hauska sarja oli sellanen jossa on uusi auto, jonka voittaa se kilpailija joka pitää kätensä siinä kiinni pisimpään. ajastetut vessatauot on, mutta ei mitään omavalintaisia taukoja, ja pitää seistä, eli ei siis voi juuri nukkua. alkaa olee muutaman päivän päästä aika sekaisin ne tyypit. kuulosti hauskalta.

turkissa on myös sarjoja joissa piilokameralla kuvataan ja paljastetaan mm. feikki-imaameja (jotka väittää omaavansa parantavia voimia tai muuta asiaankuulumatonta) ja feikki-lääkäreitä. mun taitaa olla nyt paras opetella turkkia jotta voin alkaa seuraa näit sarjoja.

mission accomplished

2012-01-08T14:59:00.003+02:00

today i had my 5min driving exam, which i passed. 90 points out of 100. but doctor remembers getting 90 points as well and he couldnt even go reverse, and barely forward... anyway i was not asked to go reverse, just drive around one short trip.

there was a huge empty lot with dozens of schools and their cars and hundreds of people queuing for their turn. 2 test observers in the car plus the teacher who couldnt shut up as usual, and doctor translating. basically i did the same mistake as i always do, i forget the shift on 2 when slowing down... oh well. i dont know what my other 5 point mistake was.

last night Oytun came to see us with his new fancy Renault, and so we went for a practise drive. i do think it was useful in getting confidence but it was pretty horrible otherwise. no key, just a button (well, practical, but i got confused). no handbrake. the clucth/gas combination was mysterious, Oytun said that is because the car is a diesel car. huh? so the car kept stopping abruptly whenever i was trying to get it going... with a queue of cars behind honking the horn thats a bit frustrating. and that happening while trying to join the highway is worrying... but a lot of cars stop here and there in turkey and do all kinds of stupid shit so actually its nice, im not the only one and its not obvious if im newbie or just an average idiot. also i ended up on a closed bus/dolmus lane, had the car stop there -ofcourse- the busses really didnt like that... uh. today i drove to the exam location and we did another highway trip and stuff, our car is similar to the schools so i wanted to get comfortable. in all, now ive been driving all around kadiköy, streets, highways and in between. the rules are a mystery but i feel i can survive...

today is a slow day otherwise. we r just relaxing.

Trello is pretty interesting... we will use it for relationship tasks for sure :) need to buy new dishwasher next week i think. after salary day, eh heh. and Elin is hosting a dinner again, tomorrow, because Lea and Baris are moving to Denmark, itll be a goodbye-dinner.

im still impressed Oytun let me take his new car for such a grueling ride.

there and back

2012-01-06T20:43:00.007+02:00

hospital trip over. it was a little bit bigger show than i expected, doctor is now laying in bed, trying not to move as he has some pain etc. we went to the hospital 10:30am yesterday as requested and spent the next 4 hours doing nothing in the room we were given. i have to say it was a nice room though. like a hotel room, but bigger. so the surgery started way later, and then lasted a bit longer than expected. i got along fine with my laptop and the free wifi but i couldnt really do ALL of my work stuff there, so i was bummed when in the end i actually couldnt go to the office and had to cancel my first turkish lesson. i technically could have made it to the lesson but when doctor came from surgery he was so dizzy and uncomfortable etc i just couldnt leave him there...

already before surgery a lunch was delivered to the room, the name tag said 'refakatci' meaning the caretaker of the patient. doctor wasnt allowed to eat before or after his surgery anyway. in the evening i got a dinner and in the morning, after 8, a breakfast arrived. full service! in the evening a huge flower delivery arrived, from doctors employer. and everyone was calling him to see how it went and on top of everything, after 11pm (?!) a distant colleague of his showed up for a visit. turks are very... yea, caring? the hospital cleaner set my bed for me and i while it was comfy i didnt sleep so well. the nurses were coming every our to check stuff and give more liquids and doctor needed some help with stuff during the night.

in the morning i left to work looking like shit, and ive been tired all day. doctor was released around noon. now he can only eat liquids for the next 2 weeks. luckily we have a mixer.

doctor in his hospital gown waiting for his surgery, while i nom on the lunch.

my bed for the night

here is a video of the room. view of Borsphorus and europe from the window!

ive got a dry skin now :(

2012-01-02T19:36:00.002+02:00

this position is called '90 degrees'. handy workout move in a longer session of different aerobics stuff.

tomorrow doctor is having surgery for his acid reflux disease (=heartburn). so, routine stuff, but still, full anesthetic. last week he had a test to check the issue fully and then he scheduled the surgery. there is luckily a very good private hospital nearby (150m), and in that hospital, a surgeon specialized in these types of operations. i will go with him obviously and be there for when he wakes up. then i DO have to go to work, as i also have scheduled my first turkish class with Senni and a private teacher, after working hours. in the night ill come back and go to the hospital and sleep there with doctor since the insurance covers that (close relative or friend). turks even have a word for the person staying with the patient. refakatçi. and im a pretty shitty refakatçi i guess since i will disappear to work for a while :( im not too worried but of course i am thinking about it.

a gay retirement home in Spain - but sounds like its not a closed deal yet. so we will see.

the 2nd season of Finnish Top Chef is starting today. a great show for a 'culinarist' like me :D at the moment a low of shows are on some kind of christmas/NY break so ive gone all the way to Apprentice UK season 2, since i hadnt seen that before.

an article on the Atlantic; "What Americans Keep Ignoring About Finland's School Success" - the school thing has become a popula topic and i think this article underlines some things quite well.

Britain seems like an interesting society with its classes and...all. long history. long 'western' history. i mean i do have shitloads of history right here in middle east but ...yea. i admit im pretty clueless about the west and europe. and the real east. i think i slept through history lessons.

our dishwasher broke a few months ago. i think as much as i appreciate buying 2nd hand, its just not working out in turkey. everything breaks down. so a manufacturer's guarantee seems to be necessary... we will buy a new product this time. trying to figure out if we can do it this month... the medium-price of slightly under models (not cheapest) seem to be around 600-750tl (250-325e). mainly turkish brands.

vuoden eka syväanalyysi: ulkomaalaisliitot

2012-01-02T13:13:00.001+02:00

toi uutisjuttu suomalaisten avioitumisesta ulkomaalaisten kaa sai mut uteliaaksi. löysin netistä Säävälän tutkimuksen johon uutisointi perustuu mutta siinäkään ei ollut kunnon lukuja, pitää mennä kaivaa migrin sivuilta tms...

mutta siis, avioliitot ulkomaalaisten kanssa kasvaa. selvä se. miehillä on kärkimaina kiina, thaimaa, venäjä ja viro. kuulostaa siltä että siivoja-kokille on siis kysyntää (ihan samalla lailla siis kun kaikki turkkilaiset on kebabbia vääntäviä karvakäsiä, jotain stereotypioita pakko saada tähän). mutta että aika itä-painotteista toi miesten liittoutuminen. perinteisiä arvoja hakemassa? ja naiset menee länteen päin; ruotsi, uk, us....ja hmm turkki? kelaan että kolmella ekalla maalla löytää käytännössä vaan sosiaalisempia ja vähemmän alkoholisoituneita versioita suomalaismiehistä. mutta turkkilaiset on kyllä sit jotain ihan muuta.

no, tulin kyllä siihen tulokseen että suomalaisnaisilla saattaa olla lähes yhtä paljon 'juttua' espanjalaisten tai italialaisten, tai ranskalaisten, miesten kanssa, ja mikä erottaa nää maat turkista? niin. laittaisin nää turkki-avioliitot kolmeen ryhmään.
1) normi-rakkausavioliitto
2) normi-rakkausavioliitto pikakelauksella, koska Muhammed on pakko tietty saada suomeen noppaa, ei se mesettely Antalyan ja Joensuun välillä ilahduta kovin pitkään. ja kelaan että liittojen solmimis-nopeuteen vaikuttaa osaltaa myös että turkkilainen impulsiivisuus ja kulttuuri joka arttuu suomalaiseenkin, turkissa 10 vuoden seurustelu ei ole ihan niin jokapäiväistä kuin suomessa.
3) kusetus-liitot. ikävä kyllä monella on hätä ja himo turkista pois ja sitten kun yrittää niin saattaa löytää jonkun höynäytettävän, ja sitten suoraan poliisiasemalta (oleskelulupa) maistraattiin eroa hakemaan. en itse tunne tapauksissa mutta kuulen että niitä on paljon.

espanjamiesten kaa ei varmaan 2 & 3 kohtaa juuri tuu vastaan ja uskon että se selittää paljolti lukuja. ajattelen että jotain hiukan samaa voisi olla suomalaisten miesten avioliitoissa ja suhteissa, eli suhteet saksalaisnaiseen ei ehkä vaan pääty avioliittoon vaikka olisikin vakavia. mutta emmä tiä, toi out of EU-painotus on niin vahva ja koskapa kukaan olisi nähnyt suomalaismiehen naivan ketään euroopan sisältä tai länsipuolelta? oikeesti? no joo mun isä, nyt kun kysyttiin. mutta sitä ei lasketa. mä yllätän ihan itsenikin kuinka rasistilta kuulostan. voisin alkaa postaa homma-foorumille? vaikka suomalaisia miehiähän ei saa kyllä kritisoida eli lentäisin aika pian sieltä ulos. vaan enhän mä kritisoi ja niinhän se on että kun siilitukkainen viherfemakkonainen ei anna niin suomalaismiehen on pakko hakea lohdutusta muualta. mutta miksi helvetissä sille siilitukkaiselle femakolle ei kelpaa jämäkkä suomimies vaan pitää lähteä jotain mutuja tai ählämeitä vikittelee, HÄ?

eikö se keskustelu noin mene? huh huh...

eksyin taas niin... mutta mielenkiintoisia juttuja.

muissa uutisissa... Yhdysvallat kiukuttelee Iranille että jos ne sotkeentuu sen jonkun salmen öljytoimituksiin "NIIN". ni sit mitä? ammutte kaikki? no johan se olis long overdue keksiä joku syy hyökätä Iraniin. ainoo huono et sit ne tulee varmaan väkisin rajan yli tänne. en halua ajatella asiaa.

Jussi Ahlrothin pakina HS:ssä oli muuten aika turhaa "hyvä presidentti jospa kuitenkin voisitte ja hyvä presidentti jospa teillä olisi aikaa...hyvä presidentti saanko näyränä pyytää että katsoisitte ikkunasta ulos..." - en siis oikeen tajunnut pointtia. mutta se mikä oli asiaa niin Jussin UK-esimerkki. luulen että se, miksi siellä hyväosaisten oletetaan auttavan huonompiosaisia on se, että siellä on ne tuet niinkin mitättömiä kuin on. suomessa ajatellaan että no verovaroilla toikin elää ja kyllä se saa kaiken. toisaalta en usko että briteissäkään kaikkia kodittomia niin helvetin hyvin paapotaan, ja saahan ne suomessakin kerjäävät romanit ihan hyvää päivätuottoa kai... mutta kyllä mä uskon että tollainen ero on, suomen ja monienmuiden maiden välillä. eipä mulle olis suomessa tullut mieleen ostaa leipomosta rinkeliä, vanukasta ja maitoa, anteekseni ne ekalle vastaantulevalle kodittomalle. no, suomessa ne on kyllä ehkä myös suhteessa kallimpia, mun elintaso oli suomessa vähän matalampi ja spurgu ehkä vaan sylkis päälle jos sille jotain ruoka-almuja yrittäis antaa. en tiedä kun en kokeillu ikinä. mutta täällä saan hyvän mielen vähäosaisten satunnaisesta ruokkimisesta ja se on ihan normaalia toimintaa.

from now on

2012-01-01T23:40:00.004+02:00

i had promised to send Cagri a list of bands that i am willing to go see live. i am possibly the only person i know who is usually not interested in live concerts. i know its uncool. but with that said, this was the list i sent him;

anthony and the johnsons
florence + the machine
fever ray
richard hawley
robyn
goldfrapp
zola jesus
nouvelle vague
the national

i read finns are increasingly marrying foreigners... which is only natural in these days of travel and internet etc... for men, the most common countries to marry from were thailand, russia and estonia. for women, UK, US, Sweden and -tadaa- turkey. i couldve said so without the statistics...

2011 was a year of domestic partnership & Home. we moved together september '10 but i feel like this year and the new flat was really the beginning... since we got the flat together and pretty much started from zero, buying furniture etc. it must have been also a year for me to settle to turkey more steadily, i am not ready to go back to finland yet... im thinking a couple more years, although doctors residency job had a 4 yr tag on it...ummh.

for 2012 i would like -once again - to stress less and enjoy more. id also wanna learn more turkish. and i wanna so some sports, before my body starts breaking to pieces completely. and i want to develop professionally, with web stuff, project management...im really looking into tapping to my potential. and then of course i want to enjoy my relationship and the feeling of loving and being loved. since things are so well, i should enjoy.

porridge for new year

2011-12-31T16:40:00.005+02:00

blaaaah. my driving teacher said that although i can probably pass the driving exam next week, he suggests maybe taking just 1 extra class to make sure. because he thinks i dont handle the steering wheel smoothly enough in tight corners. but its not like i hit anything. hmm, and i am not so good with shifts, i forget that stuff... :( yesterday on my 3rd and supposedly last class we were just driving ALL around kadiköy and moda. the streets were crazy busy with people shopping, so i honked the horn a lot. only hit one lady tiiiny bit, but she was walking straight towards the car, as if on purpose, so really she can blame herself, and my teacher didnt have any problem with it either. people should watch where the fuck they walk. but it was nice driving in this very area where i live, our street, the bar street, the shopping street (bahariye) etc.

yesterday we headed to Elin's & Cagri's dinner party first. tasty lamb shoulder and salads and tiramisu... :) and 2 lovely cats that in the end made me sneeze of course. i was super stressed about getting to the european side after 10pm, but we checked the online traffic info and all the roads were 'green', so we just hopped on a shared taxi and took it all the way to Taksim, over the bridge. there was zero traffic indeed, so it felt like we were on Turkish Airlines rather than a car... the trip was just 30min. 1h 1min door-to-door. Taksim square was starting to fill up when we passed it. there were these riot busses in a row and hopping off the taxi i almost bumbed into a police with a machine gun prominently in front of him. the heavy duty black busses are intimidating though. then, there was a row of ambulances too, of course. the city was getting ready to party :D

so we went to Oytun's office party, where the punch materials were waiting for me. it was actually quite slow there, we just sat and ate tasty salads and lentil meatballs etc. we left before 5am and the traffic had turned horrible. we took the shared taxi towards Kadiköy... the bridge was completely stuck and i fell asleep. we were home before 6 and slept way too late today. so the first day of the year is short for us.

at Elin and Cagri last night

last night at Oytun's office, after everyone left.

temaki sushi earlier this week.

a couple nights ago, someone was selling tea on the street, round midnight.

we made helmipuuro the other night, Senni brought me a package of the potato starch its made of. doctor was skeptical based on the looks but then he fell in love :) omg it was so tasty :)

vuosi päätökseen

2011-12-31T14:20:00.000+02:00

vuoden viimeinen päivä :) mulla on vajaan tunnin päästä kolmas ja vika ajotunti (40min). ens viikolla on ajokoe. opettaja eilen sano että kokeessa mennää vaan suoraa ja sit pitää pysähtyy ja peruuttaa suoraan taaksepäin. toivottavasti tämä nyt pitää paikkansa. koe on jossain fenerbahcen stadionin lähistöllä missä ei pitäs olla mitenkään helvetillinen liikenne.

helvetillisestä liikenteestä tuli mieleen että kun tämä koko kaupunki tänään päättää juhlistaa uutta vuotta menemällä kukin minnekin... niin mitenkähän me meinataan päästä aasiasta eurooppaan ennen puoltayötä. joku sanoi että laivat kulkis läpi yön tänään. metrobussi on toinen vaihtoehto. vaikeeta. tulee monta vaihtoa.

eilen oltiin myös ulkona, baarikadulla, joidenkin kaverien kanssa... meni myöhäiseksi mutta ei liian. tänään vois hissutella vaan, ja ruokaa kun on molemmissa bileissä tarjolla niin nauttia siitä.

uudenvuoden lupaukset ei kiinnosta yhtän. turhaa. eiköhän tällä nykyisellä setillä mennä.

OMG 2012

2011-12-29T16:25:00.003+02:00

i suddenly realized that its soon a new year! last year we spent the new year in finland. so this will be my first new year in Istanbul. i rarely traveled around new year so this is one of the first times outside finland.

Elin is holding a dinner party, further in the Asian side. and doctor's friend Oytun is holding a bigger party in an office near Taksim. we absolutely cannot choose which one to go to, so we have to go to both. i think changing parties halfway through is a bitch, and especially on New Year's eve and if it also means changing continents... will take over an hour for sure. still, i look forward to this.

i am on holiday tomorrow! so my new year celebrations are starting tonight. i think i should watch a european art movie!

hipster times

2011-12-27T15:08:00.001+02:00

Portlandia is a crazy tv series. soo familiar, so....familiar. hipsters and more hipsters. wow. gotta love how close it hits.

i wanna go to Samoa one day.

this bunny looks amazing, posing and showing off the paws.

going to a waterpipe cafe on wednesday evening is not a bad idea. relaxing, chatting. i had my turkish study book with me and i attempted to learn something new with doctors help.

i want a perfect bed and awesome mornings.

its annoying to regulate heating because gas is so expensive :( we definitely turn it off for the night, but even so there is the question of managing the without as well. but the weather got quite cold in the past week, 3-9C, and it is reflected very precisely in inside temperatures too. and yet id say our building is pretty good and modern.

good deed of the day: donated to Wikipedia (wikimedia)

unsolicited spamming and marketing is a drag in turkey. somehow the pizza company gets your number and there is nothing you can do to stop them from texting or calling you about their offers. annoys the hell out of me. and today i got an sms for some shit iphone app, and a link to download it. wtf? i dont even understand what its about, but i got pissed. tmob (looks all fake and pretentious) is the maker of the app. i tried contacting them through the buggy contact-page but it didn't work out so i sent email. useless, i know. but i had to do SOMETHING.

pics from Iran, and the way there

2011-12-26T14:00:00.000+02:00

Van "airport". heavily under construction.

center of Shiraz

old hamam turned into a cafe, in Tabriz

something old and important in Isfahan. very nice detail work.

a home in Tabriz.

a hostel in Shiraz.

Persepolis. impressive of course.

a meal in an iranian home

big fancy palace in Shiraz. Iran was full of old castles and things like this.

KFC copy in Isfahan.

center of Tehran

a very fancy looking restaurant in Isfahan.

restaurant car in train Istanbul-Tehran

pretty cool view from the plane window, above Van.

a camel :) man they are huge. and im afraid of heights.

sceneries...Iran is full of mountains and really cool looking terrain

me and scarf, sitting and admiring Persepolis in warm sunlight

Iranian home breakfast. beetroot-something, jam, tomatoes, bread, eggs..

switching trains at 1am after crossing lake Van with a ferry.

taas selvittiin kunnialla

2011-12-25T19:48:00.003+02:00

eiliset bileet oli ihan jees... illalliset sit tosiaan paisukin vähän käsistä bileiksi mutta ei siinä mitään. vähän lisää boolitarpeita ja nyyttäritoiveita tulijoille niin selvittiin hyvin. meitä tais 16 olla loppupelissä... muutama uusi tuttavuus myös mikä on positiivista.

lääkäri teki täytettyä uunikanaa joka on sen bravuuri, Gürkan toi mezejä, Elisa teki suomalaista omenapiirakkaa, Senni toi pipareita ja glögiä suoraan suomesta ja Deniz oli tehnyt hyvin alkoholi-pitoisen ison tiramisun. eli asiat oli aika hyvin, kaikki sai syödä itsensä ähkyyn jos mieli teki. minä huolehdin boolitarjoilusta kuten yleensä, myös salmaripullo kiersi talossa ja kaadoin laseihin pieniä lakkaliköörishotteja kun sitäkin sattui kaapissa olemaan.

pöytä alkoi myöhemmin illalla olee jo aika täynnä.

olin ostanut niitä kokonaisia kookoksia ja halusin booliin kookosmehua. totesin että se on tosi kovaa tekoa se kookos... apuun hain porakoneen. toimi.

iltapävällä ennen bileitä maalasin ja rautalangoitin tällaisen maalauksen kun tuntui että seinä näyttää ontolta niin tyhjänä. jotain siihen oli saatava. mustat maalaukset taitaa olla mun juttu.

nukuttiin iltapäivään saakka mutta eipä ollut sitten krapulaakaan. Senni joka jäi yöksi oli heräillyt jo aiemmin ja siivonnut olkkarin....mikäs sen mukavampaa. kertisten ansiosta tiskien määräkään ei ollut järkyttävä. nyt meillä on enää imurointi jäljellä. ja huomenna tulee Airbnb:n kautta vieraita 4:ksi yöksi.

meidän tän talven eka siideri/kotiviini valmistui muutama päivä sitten. shamppanjahiivalla ja hiivaravinteella valmistettu keitto on keskinkertainen, eli ei erityisen hyvä. mutta kirkasta siitä nyt tuli. käytimme eri valmistajien omenamehuja sekaisin, eli sekin voi vaikuttaa. mihinkään hedelmien itsepuristamiseen ei lähdetä, se on jo hifistelyä. lääkäristä en tiedä mutta itsellä ei ainakaan ole aikaa ja energiaa siihen. no, nyt talvella ei juuri hedelmiä tuoreena ole joten ei varsinaisesti edes ole tarvetta harkita moista.

eilinen meni tietty "liian nopeeta" kun eka piti laittaa kaikkea aj sit olikin juhlat. ja tää päivä meni nukkuessa. ei yhtään nappais työt taas huomenna mutta pidän perjantaina kai lomaa eli vähän lyhkäsempi viikko.

Wham: Last Christmas

2011-12-24T17:12:00.002+02:00

crazy cleaning efforts. doctor started cooking. christmas music. its dinnerparty time!

today its been snowing on the european side but now the snow seems to be spreading here too, i see a small white patch on the street out there... of course the snow melts immediately...but its nice to get an almost white christmas :)

at this point

2011-12-23T21:43:00.002+02:00

current fav songs:
aiamamiwhoami: O (spotify) (youtube)
lana del rey: video games (spotify) (youtube)
chisu: sabotage (spotify) (youtube)
goldfrapp: believer (spotify) (youtube)
fever ray: keep the streets empty for me (spotify) (youtube)
marina and the diamonds: i am not a robot (spotify) (youtube)

and these ive been listening for months...!
the national: fake empire (spotify) (youtube)
florence + the machine: dog days are over (spotify) (youtube)

now i need to find new stuff to listen to...ill turn to my fb friends...

i was gonna list a few movies that i need to see when they come out, but i didnt actually see my accumulated list of must-see movies either yet... its just collecting byte-dust.

pouring

2011-12-23T19:27:00.002+02:00

hard to grasp that its christmas tomorrow. well its not important anyway but of course its carved in my back bone as the celebration of the year, in a traditional sense.

this week has been really rainy, and today crazy windy too, like a storm.

we went supermarket shopping after my work. cant find coconut milk in this city but i finally found real coconuts. now i have to figure out how to break it?

my boss told me to take a day or two off next week or after. since its 'holidays', at least in scandinavia. yay :)

our sunday

2011-12-18T18:01:00.007+02:00

today was a cleaning day. or more like organizing... throwing out old books, organizing the bookshelf, maybe some dusting... and we got some liquid items for the christmas dinner next saturday, wines and sprites altogether become heavy to carry so its better we (doctor) carry them well beforehand. i also got a small vodka in which i dropped in a bag of finnish licorice candy.

this time doctor wants to make a small punch of his own too. he is always obsessed in putting a lot of fruit in to it. and i keep saying it not a food, its a drink :) so now he wants to give a go to a fruit salad-punch... okay. maybe it will be popular!

we had a breakfast out today. typical turkish which means i only eat half of the items on the table. but it was a nice new place. then we tried to find bed sheets.. but the shops here only have these sets, all looking the same and honestly relatively expensive. starting from 95tl/40e in some shops. but we just wanted the bottom bed sheet... a black one. no luck. are we driving to IKEA just to get a bloody sheet? i can imagine Koctas selling single sheets but it would then be 50tl/20e or something...

we also wanted to finish off the weekend nicely and went to a nice restaurant here, Viktor Levi. its especially known as a wine restaurant, with their own brand of wine. been meaning to go there a long time but somehow we never did. the food was actually better than i expected although i knew its a good place. very very tasty. french music, a wall painting of jesus' last meal.... hmm, all in all not very turkish. we definitely want to go again some time. it might be a pleasant occasion every couple months. there are also a couple other restaurants in the area we need to check out.

breakfast

new 'shoeshelves' (idea from IKEA brochure)

doctor showed me his stamp collection from when he was young. a lot of Atatürk stamps!

the Kozmaoglu butcher shop in istanbul, amazingly fresh and tasty pork

pork and craziness

2011-12-15T23:02:00.002+02:00

the independence day reception at the Divan Hotel Istanbul was quite awesome. i didnt know what to expect so we just went there and there was a very nice artsy lobby-style area full of people. finnish & turkish flags, and all the drinks in the world u could think, and they were serving these tiny snacks or mezes, on spoons, from sushi to bird eggs, really tasty fancy stuff. but a waiter going around with whisky glasses is something, something dangerous for finns to be exact. i met a lot of people, from the finnish ambassador to his driver. some business contacts and others... it was really delightfully social. just a short evening thing though, so we were home before 11, and we left quite late compared to others. i wish i had the chance to talk to even more people.

today we picked up the 4kg pork from the butcher, for the office party tomorrow. and i gave my turkish colleague a long shopping list... X vodkas, X white wines, X red wines, X beers... also some bread and mezes but really the pork is THE thing. and damn i had a taste it is good. its funny but its been years i think since i last ate proper christmas pork. and i learned the tradional pork is slightly different in norwaty for example. trying to please everyone here... but lets not be picky, pork is pork, its freshly smoked and tasty, and its christmas and we are all far from our home, in our new home. i quite look forward to the party.

last night i was out with Jamie, an old class mate. well, not even class, we only shared a german course i think. but anyway so i havent met him since 2005? he was in istanbul for business and contacted me through facebook so we met. i showed him some of the bars in kadiköy, and he seemed to enjoy, just like everyone else i took there... we had a good night, but were out quite late and i admit i got a bit drunk.. aaand today i had a *mental* hangover... i hear they run in our family. its hard to understand how a mental hangover could be so bad but it can... it affected my working efficiency and i was feeling just horrible most of the day.

the good news is that doctor called the landlord and he likes us, so we will renew the contract i guess.... its just a matter of rent increase which we should check from the contract. probably tied to inflation which is around 9% i think...:( just the limit of what we can manage, basically. but its really nice to stay here, makes it feel more like HOME again.

näitä pohdintoja. miksei ole jo perjantai.

2011-12-14T17:32:00.002+02:00

vituttaa taas. työlupa-asiat ei etene ja ehkä olen paranoida mutta epäilen että kirjanpitäjä joka asiaa hoitaa EI VAAN OSAA!! hitto kun on niin paljon tunareita.

ja lihamyyjä (butcher? mikä se on?) sanoi että vaihtoehtona on joko heidän savustama possun reisi, n. 3kg, tai ihan raakaa lihaa, sen verta kun haluaa. 3kg on musta liikaa duunibileisiin mutta en minäkään mitään possua osaa uunissa tehdä? enkä edes tiedä mikä uunipossun ja savustamisen ero on? ehkä ne on melkeen sama? ja mikä ero on possulla ja sialla anyway? muuttuuko se possuksi vasta lihatiskillä? pitää ostaa se 3kg kimpale. ei ole omia rahoja mutta mulla oli vähän niinkuin budjetti näihin juhliin...

huomenna on suomen kunniakonsulaatin tms itsenäisyyspäivävastaanotto. mennään sinne lääkärin kaa. olen vähän utelias että mitä siellä nyt sit oikeen on... jotain puheita tms?

olen viime aikoina erikoistunut papu- ja linssiruokiin. linssikeitto on parasta.

tänään pitäs viimeistellä artun firman projekti kans. vähän oon kans miettiny että millon sitä taas tulee mentyä suomeen... ei nyt mikään kiire ole mutta kuitenkin. ja tarviihan siihen lomaakin, jota ei nyt ole.

what the funny red round thing

2011-12-11T23:45:00.002+02:00

sugarfree red bull is on sale in Migros with the customer card. it was around 10tl for a 4-pack. a pretty good deal... so its come to this, i found myself checking customer discounts. at age 31. sugarfree red bull.

i dont like how this CSI NYC detective Taylor is so conservative and religious. they all are but he especially. its just sad. theres all these "interesting" cases to make the series...interesting i guess, with body modification, threesomes etc etc... and the CSI guys (and gals) are always raising their eyebrows and referring to freaks and whatnot. i guess that fits in the american cultural climate.

i was watching Enlightened and remembered how i went biking sometimes when i was like 10. in the roads near our home. i cant remember liking it very much, in fact. so why did i go biking? i guess it was okay. to kill time. but i definitely disliked going on family walking/hiking/nature trips with my fathers family. its hard to say afterwards if it was in fact somehow good for me, i see it but maybe it was. i guess if i had been left sitting home all those days i might have turned out different? but pushing my baby sisters strollers up and down hills (and the sceneries were beautiful i guess but i was 10 - i didnt care)... i found it uninteresting. i wasnt used to it, walks in the park...family time.

i suddenly thought of cooking risotto. i googled recipes and ended up reading Jamie Oliver's "basic risotto recipe". i couldnt believe my eyes, i didnt even read all of it cos i got a headache. i pointed this out to Marianne, kind of blaming Jamie, but she then pointed out that risotto is not really an easy food to cook (properly). i was just thinking back to eating microware-meal risotto... which i gather is not real risotto then. anyway... i gave up on the risotto idea for now.

unrelated; there are so many vegetables i dont recognize.

avocado

2011-12-11T15:22:00.004+02:00

i like busy cities. and avocado. seems to be the season for that now, shops are full of avocados. i dont like mondays though, and one is coming up tomorrow :( so many things to do at work...

i installed the beta of Spotify premium that has the apps. so far im liking the Moodagent altho it could use some improvements (more moods, simplify interface). i was upset that despite of years and years of using Last.fm, and having it linked to Spoty also, after starting the app it cant recommend any music yet, because i didnt listen to anything yet? hmm. yet it shows my most popular albums (=history). i googled and turns out its a bug and/or something they might or might not fix some day.

i also got Google music just out of interest. (for now the account must be created from within the US, by using proxy or something, then it starts working from abroad also). at the moment it seems to be for 'offline music' ppl, for mp3 owners. which is a bit backwards, google is usually in the frontline of making new stuff, or so i thought. my mp3's are from 2008 and before... since then ive been using Spotify. but uploaing 8000+ mp3's with our upload rate... or maybe the receiving end is slow too, but after 5 hours im at 215 songs uploaded. they will publish a new version

The Muppets and the Swedish chef: Pöpcørn

dinner last night at Elisa & O was delicious. reminded me we should cook steaks more often... and that i should maybe get some christmas decorations for dinner/party on 24th... might not be so bad to change the atmosphere sometimes.

2nd time is the charm

2011-12-10T17:37:00.002+02:00

yesterday i went to a couchsurfing party here in kadiköy, my friends were going and invited me so why not. it was a 100m2 or so flat so full of people that it was really hard to move. but the mood was good and i liked it a lot. everyone was really social and i got to make new friends :) there was even a guy who had been studying finnish and honestly he spoke it quite well. and why? no reason, just out of interest.

this morning i had the driving license written exam again. it went fine now that i studied and my translator knew most answers too. the exam takes places at a school and they put us in an office/copy room with an 'observer'. to avoid cheating i guess. but she didnt speak any english. and then, when we were both struggling with a few difficult questions, the teacher (observer) was happy to tell what she thought was the right answer. checking afterwards, she was right. great.

there were the usual questions of "what should u do, when the traffic light is green?". then a few crossroads pictures, asking who can go first. turns out that with a 5min sparring of those the other night, i now know the rules better than doctor :) there were 4 traffic signs, all of which i recognized. the tough questions?
"on a narrow road, if a small truck and a tractor meet, who should stop and who goes first?"
"in which situation you cannot go reverse;
a) on a narrow road
b) one way street
c) when parking on a one way street
d) 2 lane road

i still have no clue.

there was also a question about which of the following is unecological;
a) trash
b) fire extinguisher
etc...

this time i studied the different license types, so i knew how to answer "what can you not drive with a B license?" (truck!)

tonight Elisa & O are having their pre-christmas thing so we are going there, ops, almost late now!

from north to south

2011-12-08T20:00:00.004+02:00

same old. thursday.

im doing the company website in turkish now, got the translation from a coworker and now im just clicking away... then next is norwegian. a bit easier from my perspective. but the danish still has bugs too.. so its a bit messy. but im working on it. i do like doing *something* with languages actually.

well im also doing a project for Arttu's company atm, a few days worth work. website testing again. ive developed a nice workflow pattern for it, logical and clear. i think it should definitely be part of my specialization. im thinking i should be a specialist of a a certain field and set of things, related to websites, projects, organizing and stuff. something like that. im thinking about it.

today i finally picked up the papers to study for my traffic exam. doctor translated and turns out we both learned a lot... i knew stuff and he knew stuff. but i think i got it covered now! triangles are warning, red circles mean no-go. a line across means the restriction is over. yeah, thats that.

Elisa & O are having a pre-christmas party on saturday, thats great. christmas time is party time. even if theres no christmas here.

itsenäisyyspäivä

2011-12-06T22:56:00.002+02:00

ulkosuomalainen katsoo linnan juhlia, youtubesta Grandlundin maalin uusinnan ja tirauttaa kyyneleen.

näin se itsenäisyyspäivä meni. lääkäri oli viime yön töissä, tänään odotti kotona ruoka kun tulin töistä ja kuhertelu jatkuu entiseen malliin.

maassa on rauha ja kaikki hyvin.

kofeiinin puutteessa nuokkuessa

2011-12-05T14:20:00.000+02:00

pimeys tulee jo viideltä, aika aikasin. mutta valoisaa on sentään aika aikasin. vai meenkö vaan töihin myöhemmin?

jotenki tuli mieleen tuossa kun olin Heliassa ja sitten se päärakennus oli remontissa, ja meidän ulkkis-osasto siirrettiin sörkän lähistölle. sinne missä on ne tukkukaupat. se oli sen verta lähellä että kävelin yleensä ellei ratikkaa just sattunu kohalle. en ollut kovin fileissä tuosta sijannin vaihdosta vaikka se oli lähempänä koska kävelyä tuli enempi ja tilat oli vähän ankeat. ja jos otti jotain 'muita' kursseja niin piti sitten kuitenkin siirtyä pasilaan. kirjastokin oli siellä. tuntu että koko se aika, vuosi tai puoltoista, oli vaan yhtä talvea. aamulla oli tosi pimeetä kun meni koululle ja klo 16 tietysti ihan yhtä mustaa. muistan oikeasti nukkuneeni tilastotieteen tunnilla (kukapa ei olisi), olin tosi usein iltapäivisin ihan poikki. lounas tais sit kolahtaa aika lujaa mutta tuntuu että muutenkin oli sillon iltapäivisin vaan hankalaa. myös espanjan tunnit oli iltapäivisin, ja ne oli myös ekstratuskallisia tunteja. ei jäänyt päähän sitten mitään. muistaakseni en päässytkään kurssista läpi, ja löysin porsaanreiän jonka kautta suomenkielen (journalismin tms) kurssi kävi läpi vieraasta kielestä, ja kävin sen. mutta sekin oli itseasiassa ihan hirveä kurssi. en muista mikä siinä oli niin mahdotonta mutta opettajan käyttämä sanasto josta mieleen jäi DISKURSSI meni yli ymmärryksen enkä yleensä ymmärtänyt tehtävänantoja. usein niissä piti pohtia jotain... mikä liittyi todennäköisesti diskurssiin. ei uskoisi että joku suomen kieleen liittyvä kurssi olisi niin perkeleellisen vaikea että olin oikeasti lähes itkun partaalla sen kanssa. mutta pääsin sentään siitä kurssista läpi... ja nyt olen jotenkin välillä joutunut oikolukijan asemaan mikä on ihan hauskaa. tai ei oikeestaan, mutta ylä-asteen kielioppikokeista läpipääsy oli myös haasteellista ja siksi tilanne on ironinen. jännittävää kyllä näen tekstissä helposti monenlaiset virheet, paitsi pilkkuvirheet, ja yhdyssanat on kans aika heikko kohta. silti oma tuotanto on mitä on. pystyn kyllä työ-kontekstissa tuottamaan ihan järkevää suomea, mutta blogin kanssa ei tarvitse stressata tai miellyttää ketään.

ylipäätään mulla on aika paljon muistoja aamusella pimeässä ja talvella töihin tarpomisesta. munkassa asuessa muistan ottaneeni bussin 58 kouluun, joka oli pasilassa. meikkasin bussissa usein. ja tarvoin lumessa piikkikoroillani. teetin itselleni vielä kengät niihin aikoihin, ne oli aika iso hankinta.

ja se IT/web duuni silloin ennenku muutin tänne, sehän oli Espoossa. menin metrolla ja dösällä. maisemat oli kyllä kivat. mutta paljon pimeitä aamuja... kesät ei edes oikeen jää mieleen. jännää.

tai jos kesiä ajattelee... niin valokuvauslafkassa oli kesäisin tosi kuuma kun ilmastointi oli heikko. pidin töissä kesämekkoja ja aika avokaulaisia paitoja. silloin käytin vielä mustaa lähinnä. mutta mulle ei oikeen liity kesään mitään vahvoja muistikuvia niinku työmatkoilta. muistan kyllä esim. interrail-kesä-reissun '99, Karrin kanssa, tai siperian juna-reissun Tiitan kanssa, olikohan '06... ja sit muistan parit provinssirockit. et mitä mulla oli päällä ja noin, ja miltä siellä näytti. mutten mistään bändeistä mitään. se on ihan tnnettu tosiasia etten minä ole konsertti-ihmisiä. ei kaikki voi olla, niin helvetin siistejä kuin ne konsertit onkin.

videofirmassa muistan kans olleeni kesällä. sillon oli tosi gootti-kausi päällä ja muistan kerran töihin mennessä ajatelleeni että olen kuin vaatehenkari. vaatteet oli niin tärkeitä silloin. ja on toki edelleen mutta silloin koin tosiaan jokapäivä olevani menossa muotinäytökseen tms... voi luoja. ja kun oli kampin metron r-kiskalla töissä, tais olla kesä '99, niin tepastelin töihin paljain jaloin usein. ja flirttailin metro-aseman stevarin kanssa töissä ollessa. tulipa mieleen. ja seukkasin sen kaa hetken.

mut mitä mä tein vaik kesät '02-'05? ei mitään käsitystä. matkusteltiin sillon artun kaa varmaan. sit aloin istuu tietokoneen edessä ja jäin sille tielle. nii joo Korpi Ensemblen keikoilla kävin muutaman kerran, ja oli vaikee päättää että mitä sinnekin laitan päälle. onneksi vaihtoehdot ja valinnat on taltioitu valokuvin.

mut huomenna on itsenäisyyspäivä!

sleeeepy

2011-12-05T01:00:00.002+02:00

just a sunday. waiting for doctor to come home. want to spend some quality time with him before going to sleep. i bought him 2 beers for home welcoming :) 4 days is a long time!

i did meet Melisa though. we met, ate and went to a nearby cafe to smoke waterpipe and set the world problems straight. and so we did. from economy to turkish female friends, we solved everything. except, we concluded that turkish females friends are hard to find.

väijytyksiä

2011-12-03T16:18:00.003+02:00

olen turkissa ollessa huomannut että ympäröivät näkemykset miesten ja naisten eroista ja erilaisuudesta tai jostain vaikuttaa itseenkin. olen nyt *tietoinen* siitä jos vaikka tapaan jonkun uuden MIESpuolisen ihmisen kahdenkesken. tuntuu edes typerältä kirjoittaa asiasta. se on joku tietoisuus että tilanteessa voisi potentiaalisesti olla jotain epäsopivaa. ehkä tää iskee jossain vaiheessa suomalaisillekin keski-ikää lähestyville naisille, who knows, kun konservatismi nostaa päätään tai jotain. mutta luulen että tässä on kyse turkkilaisesta ympäröivästä kulttuurista. toki nuoret/koulutetut/modernit naiset ja miehet hengaa keskenään, vaikka olisi tahoillaan parisuhteessa, mutta ei sitä kaikki tee, ja jotain epäilyttävää siihen liittyy, huomaan sen 'ilmastossa'.

olen jotenkin ärsyyntynyt kun huomaan asioita, itsessä siis. en tietenkään muuta toimintaani tuon suhteen, kunhan ihmettelen.

nettikäytös sen sijaan on muuttunut. tänne muutettua olen saanu niin perkeleesti yhteydenottoja - joku 3 per viikko - turkkilaisilta miehiltä, että se on ikäväkseni vaikuttanut siihen mitä oletan tai epäilen kun minua kontaktoidaan. kun facebookissa ja kaikissa muissa mahdollisissa yhteisöissä ja tiedoissa on ulkomainen naisen nimi ja sijaintina istanbul ni jumalauta et yhtäkiä on kiinnostuneita ihm...miehiä. aina sitä samaa, hei, mikä meininki, asutko siis istanbulissa? miksi? kauanko olet asunu? mitä teet? miksi muutit? voitasko olla kavereita? voitasko tapaa? ja joskus vähän mutkia oikaisten suoraan asiaan. minäkin olen alkanut oikaisemaan ja sen sijaan että kuuntelisin yhtään enempää ni kerron että mulla on aviomies ja mene pois. se vaan toimii. mut siis, sit tää vaikuttaa siihen et jos joku onkin yhteydessä jostain ehkä mahdollisesti validista asiasta, niin silti olen epäilevällä kannalla. ja jos joku ranskalainen mies kirjoittaa? no, ehkä se haluu vaan expat-kavereita? tai ehkä ei... olen paranoidi ja se on ikävää.

kelattii et pidetää jouluaattona joku illasjuttu, kun se on lauantai. siis joku pieni, 8-10 ihmistä. jotain ruokaa vaan ja glögiä ja sillee.

istuin eilen illalla kotona mut tänää ajattelin mennä vähän ulos. en edes halunnu mennä eilen ulos mutta silti kieriskelin hiukan itsesäälissä etei kukaan edes kysyny.

iltäpäivällä makasin sohvalla ja kuuntelin The Nationalia. se on vaan ihan parasta. tuo aina hyvän mielen.

Friday Evening Memoirs

2011-12-02T19:00:00.004+02:00

so what does Jenni do on a friday evening? laundry, internets and soup from a dry soup mix. what kind of a soup? jenni doesnt know cos she still doesnt understand turkish. but it looked okay in the picture.

a short article on current human rights issues in turkey by Economist- i think at the end its summed up well;
The West does not seem to notice the steady deterioration in human rights in Turkey, instead extolling it as a model for the Arab spring. “Europe is too mired in its own problems and America needs Turkey for regional security,” shrugs a European ambassador in Ankara. It will fall to Turks themselves to battle for their rights—so long as they can keep out of jail.

i dont like looking from the peephole of a door. its scary.

CSI series is not supposed to be all real of course, with always nice looking victims and suspects (unless the total opposite), the fancy technology and crimes solved in a day or two. but what gets to me is how they all (more less) dress up expensive. suggesting that detectives and police have very good salaries. i doubt thats the case.

this bunny wants cuddles!! looking amazing.

i wonder if we should eat turkey at christmas. it might even be free range here.

like a boss!

caterpillars & pools

2011-12-01T15:46:00.003+02:00

hmm. i was reading that the caterpillar sitting contest in finland was closed prematurely by the organizers. these 2 last guys were stubbornly sitting in their mini caterpillars to see, which one will give up first and who will claim fame and fortune. organizers decided after 6 months that its a draw... and both guys won a ....caterpillar! :)

there are a few public pools in istanbul. you have to apply first. there is a queue of a month or 2, and first when you apply, you get tested for HIV, hepatitis and something like that. the test is 20tl/8e. the application is 10tl. then if you are accepted, your membership is valid for 3 months. then u need to apply again. going to swim when u are a 'member' is free however. i guess if a city this size only has a few pools and they need to keep a certain level of hygiene etc, these procedures are necessary.

everyday projects

2011-11-30T15:42:00.005+02:00

i feel like the week has been busy so far... we had AirBnb-guests on monday, a nice american couple. and doctor's little brother came yesterday. today they are both going to Mersin. he will stay there for 4 days...so i am alone for the rest of the week. the past days he was putting together a zillion applications, papers, CV, 24 passport photos (!!) and got a health report from 10-15 different doctors - not too complicated at all... and all this AFTER he is accepted to the ER clinic. this is just the "sign up" process. last night he was filling papers on what property does he have, if he has children (u get paid more for wife and children) etc... today he took the papers to some office and they told him that he will be notified 15 days before the program starts. but i hear he had it easy, those accepted to public hospitals (vs university hospitals, as his) have to go to Ankara with these papers for the sign up.

anyway im pretty excited about the whole thing.

the zipper of my new fabric-covered handbag broke only a few days after i bought it. still usable and i can fix it i think, but nevertheless disappointing. i ordered a bag from eBay which i am using now. Bench. i think it might be some kind of trendy brand. but its pretty comfy and ok...so i think ill use it for now - it fits the new coat. in the summer it might not work...

last sunday we went to the shopping center to get mea new winter coat. got this white padded long jacket. i guess it will serve me okay.

while at H&M i picked this shirt for doctor.

i went to Nautilus shopping center today to meet the english teacher that my friend got me connected to. i need one for my driving license retake. and i rather not trust in the "help" of the driving school who last time kindly provided me with a translator who didnt do so well after all. i needed copies of the ID, driving license (not really needed but the school decided to be difficult since i didnt wan another one of their "translators") and a notarized copy of the diploma. need to take them to the school tomorrow. a lot of hassle and work...

the fridge is full of mandarins. ive promised to eat them all by sunday.

score

2011-11-26T00:08:00.001+02:00

im wondering if the middle age and "working life" are creeping in... i feel like during the week i sometimes dont have time for stuff, like writing my blog. if friends ask about going out during the week, i sometimes decline, "early morning wake up, u know...".

doctor was accepted to Marmara University emergency clinic for specialization, so he will start his residency there soon. that was great news for us since it had been a big goal for quite some time. all the waiting is finally over. i feel like this was team effort. need to celebrate on sunday when doctor returns home from work.

i was thinking of getting a haircut today but now i feel less motivated again... its just going to turn out horrible.

in the past few years, while traveling and living in this area, i met a lot of people whose biggest dream was to make it to europe or US. to finland for example. and they would ask me how to get to finland and if its 'easy' or if they could get a job there. i feel like the bad cop but ive said its not easy... and not likely. from what i know, one should have quite specific professional knowledge about something in order to pass the finnish applicants for a job position... and other than that, well, the doors are not exactly open. im a hope-crusher. i think i might have said that sweden is easier, try that.

my new favorite is lentil soup (mercimek corbasi). some lemon juice on top and its great.

my tv

2011-11-25T22:40:00.000+02:00

for my records: the way i relax is by watching mind numbing tv. i fucking love it. plus some internets on the side (attention span too short i guess).

CSI (Las Vegas & NY)
Nurse Jackie
Hung
Enlightened
House
Amazing Race
Top Chef (US, AUS)
Hell's Kitchen
Biggest Loser (US, UK, AUS)
Unforgettable
Prime Suspect (US)
The Big Bang Theory
Alphas
Project Runway
White Collar
(America's/UK's/Australia's/Finland's) Next Top Model
Luther
Mentalist
NCIS
Frasier

i probably forgot some :) these are my series from the past year or so.

poikki ja pinoon

2011-11-25T20:28:00.001+02:00

tein hesarin vaalikonekyselyn. sain näköjään aika kirkkaasti tulokseksi Paavo Arhinmäen...ja tokana MrPersu. arvoni ja toiveeni eivät siis olekaan ihan niin ylevät kuin kuvittelin? mulla ei kyllä ole mitään Paavoa vastaan. mutta joo, olihan ne kysymykset aika hämmentäviä, Venäjän uhka ja presidentin puheen tärkeimmät aiheet eivät silleen heti kirvoita musta ajatuksia. pitää ehkä palata niihin omiin vastauksiin ja miettiä että mitä helv...

yritin uusiks ja vähän eri vastauksilla ja ekaks tuli Pekka Haavisto... öö? olen siis aika tuuliviiri.

mutta kysymyksistä;
Suomea pyydettiin keväällä 2011 osallistumaan YK:n valtuuttamaan ja Naton johtamaan operaatioon Libyan lentokiellon valvomiseksi. Ruotsi lähetti hävittäjiään operaatioon. Suomi ei osallistunut. Oliko Suomen päätös jäädä sivuun..

oikea. ei aina tarvii joka paikkaan nenää pistää. suomi on hyvin erikoistunut rauhanturvaamiseen ja voisi jatkossa panostaa vaikka kriisinhallintakouluttamiseen ym. osaamisen 'vienti', neuvottelutaidot ja rauhanomainen tuki on suomen erikoisuus ihan oikeasti ja saa ollakin. libya-hyökkäys oli ehkä tarpeellinen, mutta ei aina kaikkien tarvitse osallistua kaikkeen kun on eri osaamista ja intressejä. luulis että libyassakin olis joteski voinu osallistua ilman pommikoneita...

Presidentillä on oikeus armahtaa vankeja. Käytäntö on mielestäni...

aika random. yksi ihminen päättää entten-tentten? ei ehkä paras tapa. armahtaminen sen sijaa voi olla järkevää muuten. en ole perehtynyt.

Pitäisikö presidentin keskustella Venäjän johdon kanssa Karjalan palauttamisesta?

ei. pitäkää tunkkinne.

Kuvitellaan tilanne: YK:n neuvottelee maailmanlaajuista yleissopimusta seksuaalivähemmistöjen oikeuksista. YK:n pääsihteeri tarjoaa Suomelle isännöintimahdollisuutta prosessille, joka tekisi Suomesta kokouspaikan seuraavien vuosien ajaksi.

Samalla Suomi sitoutuisi ottamaan seksuaalivähemmistöjen oikeuksien ajamisen kärkihankkeekseen ulkopolitiikassa ja presidentti kiertäisi maailmaa hankkimassa kannatusta sopimukselle. Miten toimisit tasavallan presidenttinä?

joo suomi haluaa auttaa kaikkia sorrettuja, köyhiä ja vähemmistöjä ja ajaa kaikkia liberaaleja ihania asioita. mutta ulkopolitiikan pääteema? sorry. on nyt just muitakin asioita tässä leikkuulaudalla. eikä tosta sopimuksestakaan mitään tuu kun on niin paljon natsimaita. mutta toki mielellään isännöidään ja presidentti (minä) voi edustaa, se järjestyy. sen sijaan eduskunnalla ja ulkoministerillä on muitakin juttuja tulilla, ei pysty.

mut ketä sit oikeesti äänestän? keväällä persut jyräs kaikkien yllätykseksi niin pahasti että mietin uskaltaako tässä äänestää mitään paitsi niinistöä?? siitä on kuiteski vaan hetken aikaa (6v?) kun uhkasin jättää seurustelukumppanini jos se äänestää kokoomusta silloisessa presidenttivaalissa. mulla ei oikeesti oo nyt ketään lemppariehdokasta. vihreiden se tyyppi...jonka nimi jopa unohtuu kun se on niin epätärkee, ni se ei oikeen nappaa. vähemmistöpuolueiden edustajia ei edes tarvis ottaa mukaan skabaan, rahan tuhlausta niiden kampanjoinnit. mut et mites nyt sit suu pannaan? aika vaikeeta kun ei oo sillee selkeetä suosikkia. ja mitä jos en saakaan äänestää näissä vaaleissa kun en asu siellä?

näin taas sain päivänpolitiikan selvitettyä.

agitation

2011-11-25T09:22:00.001+02:00

my 2nd try at the driving exam is in 2 weeks. just the traffic part though which I failed by 2 points. i guess i should study some this time :(

im so glad it's weekend again. i need to relax and do nothing. although doctor will be working from tonight until sunday morning so im mostly alone. on sunday I want to go to H&M though. tomorrow i could get a haircut. and other than that i think I just want watch tv.

we have been pondering the army stuff a lot, now that the paid military exemption will come available for a short while. actually we r pondering whether to sell the car or not. 30 000tl is a big loan to take. ppl take loans all the time, but im not so fond of it. this is just something that must be done. doctor has been waiting this option and opportunity for years. so it can be considered as the price of a year in his life. quite literally. there is a lot of discussion in media and amongst people about this... isnt it wrong that the poor have no chance? only the wealthy can pay themselves out. yes its wrong. i don't know whose grand idea it was, turkey has been offering this exemption a couple times every 10 or so yrs now. but it's a democracy... vote?! for now, excuse me, we will just pay regardless of how elitistic it may seem.

i gathered all my courage (it took a few days) and called the nail salon MYSELF and booked a time for tonight. so far, for over a year, ibo has been doing the booking for me. its just much harder to understand people on the phone than face to face.

but ive been feeling a bit down this week... and tired. the dishwasher is officially dead but i think we have to wait a bit before getting a new one.

im really waiting for Leonard Cohen's new album.

jotain juhlimistako?

2011-11-22T14:30:00.001+02:00

turkin pääministerin pitäs tänää ilmoittaa ehdoista koskien armeijan-skippausta. miksikähän sitä oikeasti kutsutaan? viimeksi yli 10 vuotta sitten julistettiin joku lyhyt kausi, jonka aikana sai maksaa itsensä pois armeijasta. tai ei ihan, mutta tarvii mennä vaan kuukaudeksi. hinta oli viimeksi joku 15 000usd. mielenkiintoisesti tuollaiset jutut ilmoitetaan dollareissa. mutta lääkäri odottaa tietysti innolla tätä, onhan se hiukan tuskaista ollut vältellä armeijaa näinkin monta vuotta... niin jos asian voi hoitaa rahalla ja 1kk palveluksella niin onhan se aika pelastus. sitten vaan pankkilainaa tms... mutta katsotaan nyt eka mitä ne ilmoittaa. sanovat kuitenkin että joo eiku me perutaan koko homma, katellaa ens vuonna. 35-vuotiaaksi asti on armonaikaa, sit ei auta enää mikään. ulkomaille muuttokaan ei pelasta ellei olis vuositolkulla ollu jo töissä jossain. en minäkään ilahtuisi jos mies yhtäkkiä lähetettäis jonnekin Irakin rajalle vuodeksi....että sikäli olen itsekin hyvin toiveikas...

googletin ja kas, asia on nyt todellakin julkistettu (Hurriyet Daily News). 30 000tl/12 000 euroa. ei siis dollareita, mutta ihan tarpeeksi kallista kuitenkin. vähän tulee kirpaisemaan... mutta tällä kertaa ei ole edes kuukauden perustraininingia sitten. se on hyvä koska vaikea irrottautua jostain duunista tms niin pitkäksi aikaa, ei sille löydy sympatioita enää yli kolmekymppisille. ylipäätään täällä melkeen mahdoton saada duunia jos ei oo käyny armeijaa just siksi kun ei tiedä millon se mies sinne sitten puoliväkisin viedään. ei voi ikinä huokaista helpotuksesta ennen kuin on paperit kourassa mutta kyllä tämä nyt hyvältä näyttää :)

päädyin facebook-linkin kautta jussi parviaisen blogiin... ja mietin kyllä että WTF...aika moneen kertaan. että onko se joku vitsi tai mainostemppu kun sillä on joku elokuvakin tullut ulos tms... ja ehkei siitä ole varmuutta,en nyt lähtenyt ihan kokonaan sitä lukemaan. mutta tekstin ja kuvien mielenkiintoinen...kombinaatio...oli öö, mielenkiintoinen?

nuokun täällä toimistolla, tänään on väsy. toki töitäkin pitää saada tehtyä mutta tänään on kyllä vaikea päivä.

not a professional

2011-11-21T20:05:00.001+02:00

Threadless is starting their 10$ sale in like 2 days again...im already checking shirts. especially for doctor. i really like getting shirts for him.

i started using my old hand bag and the zipper broke. so i was getting desperate and just bought a really cheap bag... probably wont last long but maybe long enough to find The Perfect Bag. the handbag had an ugly picture so i bought fabric and glued it on the front...

on hindsight, i could have emptied the bag and sized and cut the fabric before gluing it...its not very pretty now.

a nice tv series i watch is Enlightened. the characters are great.

emo-face

2011-11-21T17:12:00.001+02:00

the weekend went fast with Maria & bf, who left this morning. i cant say i did much, especially yesterday i was mostly at home, we just showed the way to the hair salon and left the 2 hang out there... we went to look for a new winter jacked and handbag for me but were not successful. im depressed especially about my handbag situation. my previous bag started falling apart. and it only lasted like 5 months, dammit!! i dont know what to do... its so hard to find a nice bag. especially in turkey. they dont have what i like, especially when it comes to the style + quality combo. nice looking bags are shit quality and good quality bags are for ...a different crowd. im looking at internet for an answer of course. maybe i should just have a custom handbag made for me. a good quality bag should pay itself back in durability.

i need a haircut too. and my nails need fixing, its that time of the month. and hair needs dyeing. and my skin is still really dry, altho its been over a week since we returned from Iran! i feel wronged :(

and the dishwasher repair guy came over to tell us that changing the motor of the dishwasher is 280tl/120e... which means its better to buy a new one for maybe 500tl/200e. uh. maybe next month.

and its 5pm and fuckin dark. doesnt really motivate me to go out after work for jacket shopping. besides i already gave up i guess. maybe next weekend i should go to H&M but the stores in turkey might not have really warm jackets, thats the trend is saw yesterday. i dont know how ppl manage...

and, im pretty sure our internet provider is screwing us 1-0...i feel like we are paying an extra bill every 2nd month.

so. lifes tough?

vääryyttä osa 8795

2011-11-18T14:08:00.001+02:00

luin lehdestä (IS 18.11) että ensi vuoden alusta alkaen muutamat Nordeankonttorit ei enää tarjoa käteisnostopalveluita. ilman mitään feikkipolemiikkia voin sanoa että musta toi on tosi ikävää. tiedän että tuolla kys. alueella asuva isäpuoleni osaa käyttää automaattikorttia eli käydä Ottomaatilla mutta se varmaan tuntee ihmisiä jotka ei osaa. mun mummo ei osaa ainakaan käyttää Ottomaattia, puhumattakaan nettipankista, pitäskö 90-vuotiaalle ostaa kone ja alkaa opettaa,oikeesti?? pankit velottaa ihan meheviä maksuja tiskillä asioinnista, joten palvelujen lopettaminen sieltä ei ole reilua... pitäisihän sitä saada rahaa konttorista jos automaatti on rikki, kortti just hukkunut tms. eli tämä koskee muitakin kuin vanhoja ihmisiä. en vaadi että musiikkikaupassa myytäis kasetteja tai että bussissa olis erikseen rahastaja niinkuin 30-luvulla tms. mutta käteisen nostaminen pankista pitäs kyllä olla mahdollista. kortin katoaminen on sattunut omallekin kohdalle ja jos ei silloin saa pankin tiskillä fyffeä ni mistäs sitten??!! olen ikävä kyllä Nordean asiakas vaikka monta kertaa ollut lähdössä. just nyt täältä käsin en jaksa miettiä vaihtoehtoja ja tehdä asialle mitään, ja kaikkihan noi pankit aina jotain ryssii, nyt oli vaan Nordean vuoro taas vaihteeksi. mutta kun muutan takas suomeen niin mietin varmaan juttuja uusiks. preferoin internet-palveluja AINA kun mahd mutta kun kaipaan elävän ihmisen apua niin sitäkin olis oltava saatavilla.

mun tarvis ostaa täällä uusi talvitakki.suomessa mulla oli vielä ihan käyttökelpoinen sellainen mutta en tuonut sitä sillon mukanani ja nyt mietin että mitenkähän selvisin viime talven tolla syystakilla? ja täällä ei tietty edes kovin lämpimiä takkeja myydä.

almost a headache

2011-11-17T15:43:00.001+02:00

ive been tired since the return from the trip. somehow i didnt have enough time to rest... and yesterday iwent out with Senni and Melisa! didnt really help the matter... yesterday my friend Maria & bf from finland arrived too,and i should meet them after work, go for dinner i guess... i really would need to just lay on a couch and do nothing for awhile. when we got back, there was the water damage thing,which took a couple days to fix,and also superpupu-computer had fallen ill, with bacteria or virus or some malicious stuff... and it took like 3 days to fix her up, doctor (duh) managed to get her back on her paws and now shes hopping around the internets like new :)

at work, im doing 50 things at a time as usual, plus planning the office christmas party. i set it for december 16th.

after 3 days home i found myself innocently browsing at cheap flights from Anadolu Jet and Atlas Jet....hummm..

päällimmäiset ajatukset

2011-11-13T21:42:00.005+02:00

Iran oli ihan mielenkiintoinen kokemus. turistille ei kyllä arkielämän vaikeus ihan silmämääräisesti katsomalla aukea. Iran vaikuttaa oikeastaan liberaalimmalta kuin odottaisi. mutta sitten kun ihmiset selittää kuinka mitään ei voi tehdä ja joka päivä kielletään jotakin niin maan oletettu ankeus palaa uomiinsa.

musta chador-huivi johon konservatiiviset naiset pukeutuu on naurettavan epäkäytännöllinen, sitä pidetään yllä ja päällä käsin, kainalossa tai suussa. ja kuin säkällä, chadoriin pukeutuvat naiset ovat järjestään vähemmän viehättäviä kasvoiltaan. ihan sama kai millainen teltta päällä jos peli on menetetty. eh, mutta joku selityshän tohonkin on oltava, iranilaiset naiset on keskimäärin todella kauniita.

iranilainen ruoka ei pääosin kutkuttanut makuhermoja. parin hyvän tai ok-kokemuksen peitti joukko pettymyksiä. kebab oli mielestäni heikompaa kuin turkissa, makeat pääruokalajit ei lämmitä, yllättävät superhappamat (etikka tms) maut säikäytti kokeilemasta paljoa enempää. ketsupilla koristeltu makaroni hienostoravintolan salaattipöydässä oli facepalm-hetki yhtälailla. pikaruokakin oli yleensä (oikeasti) mautonta, ja joskus raakaa tai muuten vaan heikkolaatuista. yhden hyvän pizzan kyllä söin. niin, ja halvat hinnatkaan ei ole tekosyy kun ruoka oli kalliimpaa kuin turkissa - ja siis tulotaso about samoissa. ravintolareissu ilman mitään hienouksia oli helposti 50tl/23e. hienoja ruokaperinteitä varmaan riittää ja kyse on paljolti makuasioista ehkä, ei vaan ollut mun juttu.

aika monta kertaa meinasin ansaita sakot hyppimällä lääkärin kaulaan ja kainaloon keskellä katua. oli vaikea muistaa siveyssäännöt välillä. oikeastaan aika ahdistavaa jos pidempään joutuisi hillitsemään itseään, saati ettei voisi edes hotellihuoneen yksityisyydessä osoittaa tunteitaan. ei käy kateeksi iranilaisia.

huntu muistui aika hyvin, mutta välillä se oli valunut jonnekin taakse ja kiskoin sitä sitten puolipaniikissa edemmäs. yllättävän nopeasti se siis meni alitajuntaan että ilman huivia on jotenkin väärin ja epäsopivaa. mutta kuuma se on ja helvetin ärsyttävä.

rajamuodollisuudet ovat aika nihkeitä täällä päin maailmaa. epämääräiset jonot, häsläys ja loputon odottaminen ja säätö. ja siinä missä muualla maassa on ihan "normaalijakauma" porukkaa niin rajalla on oikeasti suhteettomasti vanhoja, sairaita, konservatiivisia ja hygieeniarajoitteisia. siis yleensä noita kaikkia yhtäaikaa. mikä helvetti just niitä liikuttaa maasta toiseen. taisin just tajuta - kaikki yhtään kynnelle kykenevät tietenkin lentää välttääkseen tän shown.

koulutettu ja fiksu ystävämme kertoi että Kermanin lähellä asuu maan alla 2km syvyydessä kääpiöitä. olin hiukan pettynyt koska moinen tarina ei sovi omaan maailmankuvaani. hän myös sanoi nähneensä yhden livenä. ja hallitus kuulemma tietää asiasta mutta on hys-hys. no, kieltämättä Google-haut "kerman midget" ja "Iran midgets" olivat sensuurilistalla eli sain tylyn kieltoviestin. mutta ehdotin ystävälleni että koska aihe on itse asiassa lähellä hänen alaansa, hän selvittäisi kääpiö- juttua hieman enemmän ja informoisi minua...:) passiivis-aggressiivista?

töihin paluu ei oikeen kutkuta mutta eihän se ikinä.

more "facts" about Iran

2011-11-13T21:42:00.003+02:00

1. as expected in middle east and south in general, time is relative, schedules and plans and facts only approximate and easily forgotten.

2. family is the most important unit. ppl consult their families on matters and parents word is the law, even if ur legally an adult. it's pretty hard to understand for someone from an individualist society. I kind of understand and nod to myself, but then I see it 'in action' and it's way over my comprehension. it had its sides, like anything.

3. Iranians are veeeery proud of their heritage and history. ppl are full of stories about ancient kings, imams, poets and other great heroes. in addition Iranians are very proud of their country as a whole, every city, tomb and monument is amazing and a must-see, and lacking interest to see something is considered an insult. but that's nice, they definitely feel they are living in the most beautiful country in the world, and perhaps most people feel that way about their home country but it rarely came across so clearly. Iran is very beautiful though, no doubt, and be proud of that history too.

4. I didn't meet anyone who likes the government but the estimations of government supporters varied from 40 to 70%.

5. the food is mostly a mixture of what u can find in Turkey and India. I'm not saying Turkish or Indian, they were all the same a long time ago anyway. but Iranians are not aware that similar foods, drinks are vegetables are served behind the borders. I think I caused some hurt feelings by commenting that id rather not eat kebab here as i get enough of it in Turkey. and I recognized 'dough' as a drink similar to ayran in Turkey and piimä in Finland. etc. the Iranian breakfast is not my thing unfortunately, but neither is Turkish nor British, for instance. in short it consists of the big soft 'bread' from which u rip pieces from, and some cheese and special jams to go with it. besides kebab, a chicken leg under a pile of rice is the most common dish. piles of rice arrive with every meal actually and they are huge. a lot of the dishes are sweet, even minced meat. and desserts are sweeter than sweet, lots of jellos. restaurants are closed or just not serving food between 3-6pm. especially better restaurants don't even open until 6:30.

6. people in service professions are often bloody uninterested, up to point where it feels rude. In shops u might get half-a-smile but in a restaurant there's no chance.

7. Iranian hospitality goes way overboard. it's great of course, to have people insisting to host you, serve you, skip school and work for you and have their friends do the same... not to mention they try to pay for everything! but its overwhelming too, makes a selfish Finn feel embarrassed.

8. Iranians don't usually have knives on the table. a spoon is used to cut food.

9. Iranians were telling me that the "original aryans" were Persians, Italians and Germans. and the retired army pilot told me he likes Adolf Hitler, because Adolf liked Iranians (??). i didn't get to the bottom of the subject but there is some kind of superior race thinking going on, for some people at least. and they were proud to point that the nazi flag had the same 'bird' figure as the pillars in Persepolis. no one mentioned the Jews.

10. the iranian busses are mainly divided in 2 categories, VIP and basic. the difference is about 40% in price. VIP has wider seats and more legs pace, with snacks and water etc. almost all busses are either Volvo or Scania, and many have tv. none have a toilet, but the busses stop every 4-6h at rest stops or in front of village restaurants or kiosks. but also at the roadside whenever u feel u need to go. the rest stops are big buildings with fast food restaurants, shops selling snacks and most importantly gift sellers. gifts are usually sweet desserts, nuts, cookies and the like. bus travel is cheap, Shiraz to Tabriz with a 'basic bus' was 200 000 rials/30tl/12€. a bus has a driver and at least one attendant who is serving water, closing curtains and hassling around.

11. surprisingly many Iranians speak Turkish. sometimes in a different dialect but anyway. especially in Teheran and Tabriz, western part of Iran.

12. the climate in Iran is dry. extensive heating in the winter months makes it further more uncomfortable, degrees between 25-31C have been witnessed inside.

13. the movie theatres are only allowed to show Iranian movies. a few theatres are showing some older American movies but censored. if a person wants to see western movies or television, they should get a digital receiver which is illegal. watching especially Turkish channels is popular, once u have that illegal receiver.

murphy's

2011-11-13T21:42:00.001+02:00

when we got on the bus in Tabriz, a heavy snowfall had started. well, that was something. it's been a while since I was in such a cold and snowy weather.

the bus arrived to the border round midnight and the anarchistic mess with passport control etc started. I got into a fight with the border police - didn't know I had an impulsive screamer in me. after 3h our bus got to continue. perfect. the bus warmed up to it's uncomfortable 30C and I think I had just fallen asleep when at 3am the bus stopped in Dogubeyazit and we were told that big vehicles are not allowed to the earthquake area now, and that they will get a taxi for us. might have been a lie or not. but there we were, 3am (gained 1,5h when coming to turkey - talk about a long night) in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by snowy mountains and everyone was fighting about the taxi. us and 2 others finally got on the taxi, and the argument would continue over where in Van would he take us. then, there was the gas station, and the frozen gas tank cap, which the driver had to melt open. the rest of the 2,5h trip was quiet and I looked at the many trucks that had slid into the curb in the "surprising" winter climate. we drove through a cloud too with zero visibility, it was a bit hazardous. I looked at the white mountains all around us and finally slipped half-asleep.

the wake up at the back of the taxi in Van at 5:30am was not too pleasant. at this point I excitedly waited getting to the airport, even though originally the idea of sleeping at an airport bench for half a day was not inviting.

the airport seemed to be "in progress", half done. shivering in -8 degrees without -8 degree clothing we ran to the airport. then it dawned upon us that there was just one security guy in an empty, cold hall. no pasport check booths, no nothing. somehow, the flights are organized, but the cables coming out of walls, ceilings and floors didnt look trustworthy. who cares except it was 6am, minus degrees INSIDE the empty "airport" and I could see my breath.

doctor talked the security guard finding us a small electrical heater which we gathered around in an empty room we found (had a kind of open desk so will be a service desk of some sort). we spent the morning and day shifting between awake and unconscious while sitting in chairs and shoving our legs and fingers towards the heater. we did consider taking a taxi to a nice warm restaurant downtown, but learned that due to earthquake there were no warm nor cold restaurants open in Van. I obviously underestimated this earthquake factor a bit...

we called airlines in hopes of an earlier flight but they said all flights are full. and indeed the airport filled with people, and to be one out hundreds with a heater I guess I should consider myself lucky? we dressed in layers of of the clothes that we had in out bags and waited for time to pass by. honestly, holiday from hell??

i pushed doctor to ask around about last minute cancellations, and by chance we got on a 1:30pm flight at the last minute! doctor might have said that his wife is very ill though, and needs to get to Istanbul for treatment....

the sceneries were amazing from the plane, from what I can tell before I fell asleep. the mountains are really beautiful. and we were flying over the very same railway that took us to Iran, it was cool to see.

at home we were greeted by small water damage problem and my computer is broken or has a virus. honestly tho, we just arrived after 6pm, ate and had shower and I need to sleep cos tomorrow is workday... (argh)

busses and Tabriz

2011-11-12T20:20:00.001+02:00

at the Shiraz bus terminal lounge there was a big flat screen tv in the front. I stopped to look at it. it was an educational screen capture video of how to format a hard drivers s pc. with windows xp if I recall correctly.

our bus from Shiraz to Tabriz was not VIP, so less comfortable to begin with. at 2am the driver decided to listen Turkish pop on his radio. loud. and the reception was not good. I think we slept altogether maybe 2h on the journey.

our day in Tabriz however was short but nice. upon arriving by the bus we saw how the city is surrounded by mountains, a very dense and busy looking place.

Emad had put us in contact with his friend Sarah, whose family sent a car (!!) to pick us from the bus terminal. after a relaxed breakfast in their home we had a 3h nap which was lovely. then it was time for lunch which Sarah and her sister Maryam prepared. then some wifi, relaxing and out to see town. we actually just quickly checked the bazaar and some shopping streets, and enjoyed waterpipe in an old hamam turned into a cafe. then off to bus terminal. I should note that the elevator in their house played some type of western classical music.

we were told that Tabriz is relatively conservative city. but then, thanks to being close to turkey, there is plenty more western products and brands available, like Mac make up. I even saw several shops selling high heeled women's shoes. but I hear they are only worn in private parties.

we really didn't want to spend another night on a bus - which we now will - so we tried quite hard the past couple days to look for alternatives. our logical favorite was to get from Tabriz to Van during the day and spend the night in a hotel. then we would not have any worry about catching the flight at 3pm on Sunday. there were no busses during the daytime, although earlier many ppl said that from Tabriz there are LOADS of connections to Van. ww got plenty of conflicting info. there were supposedly connections from nearby city Orumiyeh to Van, but just today we learned that the border on that route is closed due to the "war against PKK". we hoped to catch a shared taxi to border and from there another to Van, but due to 2 hotels collapsing in the aftermath of the most recent earthquake (4 days ago) all hotels in Van are closed now. I hear there are plenty of camping sites open now but they are not for us I guess... our almost last hope was to catch a hotel in Dogubeyazit which is some hours from Van, but ppl were suspicious if there are any hotels there, it's such a small place :( so, in the end we had to resort to the overnight bus. according to schedule we should be freezing in Van by 3am, but if this bus is as late as it often is, we will arrive at 7am or so. all depends greatly on what mood the Turkish border control is, I heard they can stall a bus for 6h. our bus is almost empty though (one passenger besides us) - for some reason no one wants to go to Van now! Van is otherwise a popular destination to Iranians with money, they shop there a lot.

like the grape

2011-11-10T16:54:00.001+02:00

shiraz is a living and breathing city with tons of old buildings and...other old stuff, fancy castles and such. very impressive. the city has a nice feel, artsy. and it's fairly alive. we saw the slum, the fancy parts - a good overview.

we are staying with Emads friends family, they have a big nice flat. and the elevator in their building plays instrumental versions of 80s ballads. the father of the family was a pilot in the war against Iraq and is now retired. he got his pilot education in the US back when Iran wasn't ...like this.

we spent the morning and noon in the bus, coming from Isfahan. took about 6,5h and we slept most of it. we almost missed the bus as we were first directed to the wrong terminal (Kaveh) at the other end of the city. we took a 25min taxi drive to the Soffi terminal, and the bus had graciously waited for us, they had been informed we were coming. anyway, the bus didn't even start immediately after our arrival, they tend to be late here.

we ate a lunch in a fancy local restaurant. but the portions in Iran are humongous... we can never finish. later we had coffee & ice cream in a very modern (steel, glass, dark wood, stone) Café, where they had a wifi!!! our dinner was pizza in a local fast food place. it was not very good unfortunately, pizza is popular here but it doesn't suite my taste very well. the ice cream in Iran is suberb though, oddly enough hard to find in turkey as Turks have developed their own ice cream recipe.

tomorrow we r planning to go to Persepolis, Emad is our guide. and we realized that some of our earlier plans for exiting the country through Urmia are not doable, we had wrong info. i was then counting on trains but train connections dont exist, or they run on the wrong days. checked flights too, again, wrong days and times. so we need to take a bus from Shiraz to Tabriz, which is 20+ god damn hours, and from there another bus or shared taxi to Van, crossing the border, which is 8h. and due to schedules, we need to leave Shiraz as early as Friday afternoon 1:30pm - to make it to Van by 3pm on Sunday which is when our flight leaves. a lot of bus traveling coming up. and I don't like it. but if we get to Van by Saturday night, maybe we get to see some of it. short and superficial excursions are exactly my specialty. I look inside a mosque/castle/park and I go like "ok"and then im ready to leave. I don't know what's wrong with me, why am I so horribly uncivilized and 'dull'. ive always been like that :(

i read that there was another earthquake near Van. :(

Isfahan

2011-11-10T09:35:00.001+02:00

someone said Isfahan has 4 million inhabitants. but honestly I think there is a mistake there, it seems like a 300 000 people town. smaller than Helsinki. very cute, lots of parks and a river. our hotel is on the single main street. the other streets are dead empty, no nothing. there is a beautiful bridge crossing the river. and a tv channel is showing footage of the lit bridge in the night, with classical music in the background.

we found 2 restaurants and a couple dozen fast food places. the fast food joints offer hamburgers or pizza, and a brand new KFC copy (Kentucky House) also has chicken wings. the local youth hang out in these places. but their parents must have money as 2 meals (pizza, burger, 2 cokes) cost about 20tl / 8€). there are no cafes of any kind.

the locals look at us, or me, a lot. pink Nikes and green tights especially seem to gather attention. and my ankles were showing a bit, its allowed for tourists. most women wear sports shoes or black flats or perhaps very low heels, and they are almost covered by jeans. point being, footwear is nothing to be noticed, and the (in my opinion) sad selection in shoe shops supports and/or explains this. in Tehran the situation was the same.

what also surprises me is that although u can wear a scarf of any color, especially in Isfahan women only wear black scarves. there are also more chadors here. it seems a little more conservative, although fairly rich.

there is a lot of industry around Isfahan, and I hear the nuclear stuff is near here. the opinion of educated people seems to be that the nuclear knowledge exists for threat/war purposes only, not energy. the people don't trust in government giving them anything good, the opposite, life is just getting harder.

we did go and see the old stuff, the is the Imam square, surrounded by bazaar and mosques, built around 1600. fancy stuff, no doubt.

I think november might not be the best month to see Isfahan. I could imagine its prettier in the summer. but it is definitely a resort for peaceful resting or historical excursion, not much more. since there are no cafes, barely any restaurants, not much/any shopping (unless u like local styles) and cinemas show only Iranian movies (without subtitles), I honestly can't think of much to do. I am wondering though, since besides a small kiosk we didn't see any grocery stores, where do the locals get the food from?

looking around

2011-11-09T18:22:00.001+02:00

im later going to write a full analysis (rant) on asian floor toilets. right now im just traumatized.

we arrived to Isfahan 1am - in 6,5h with a "VIP bus" which are much liked in Iran. our 2nd and last day in Tehran was shorter, it concluded of food, going to meet a local tattoo artist (illegal practise here) and checking out grocery stores and such. the day before we went to restaurants, cafes, shopping mall and saw some central sights. I think our life (getting a taxi, finding food, getting bus tickets) was too easy perhaps because Emad was guiding us. in Isfahan we will be "guided" by Mohammed, but hopefully need to manage on our own too.

our hotel here - Tous hotel (360 000 rials/58 tl/23 €) has big rooms, curtains from a palace and bathroom from... well, not as fancy. kind of a room with water outlets, yes. I am finding a relative difference between the quality of bathrooms vs other rooms in iran. it's as if bathrooms were not appreciated much. but cheap Turkish hotels can be pretty hideous too. and we have consciously opted for cheap hotels. the previous night we were in Emads upscale mid town flat though, very nice and modern place. him and his sister have an extra room where we could stay. the elevator in their building plays classical music.

Iranians are super hospitable as they say, and everyone i actually met was very nice, plus a couple of strangers were very helpful too but in shops and restaurants the service is less smiley, sometimes half-friendly but usually uninterested. and that's the general feel I get from people on the street. maybe the tough conditions affect people in this way. I can't see people smiling and laughing. but the friendliness of people we meet and discuss with is really something.

official first press release

2011-11-05T23:44:00.001+02:00

first day in Tehran over. we didn't have a great sleep in the motel where they accepted us as married couple, and got up at 10, so the day was very tiring. however also very eventful. (however I have no complaints about the hotel, it was great to have a shower and I was very happy when we went to bed. today our "guide" -my fan of many years Emad- was simply horrified of how we ended up in such bad part of town, he had never even been there. well, it was cheap :).

I found Tehran to be a weird mix of old fashioned and conservative, and "new money". fancy lattes are consumed in seemingly European cafes, but the traffic is a subhuman mess in the polluted city. women push the limits of the official dresscode, and are very stylish at it with their hairdos mostly visible. also many are sporting bandages on fresh nose jobs. then theres the religious (or pressured by family) women in all black, tent like chadors. very old broken cars turn out to be secret taxis and a poor tourist is lost with the dozens of zeros on the bills.

I find that Istanbul and Tehran have a lot in common too. but here the beer is non-alcoholic and home breweries bloom. a protest yesterday caused the government to slow Internet speeds down today. a tad bit more radical than turkey...

need to sleep to enjoy another full day in the capital of Iran. I've already been positively impressed though.

train day 3

2011-11-05T15:28:00.001+02:00

the 2nd day in rh train was a little messy. we started to be hours late, had to cross lake Van in a ferry that took 6h, and then board on an iranian train. the process was everything but well organized. well, that's typical of the area and ok. then we got to share the compartment with an older British couple, who really didn't want to share it. and I can't say it's comfy either, so we started pushing for separate compartments. there is rule about not letting couples be alone on Iranian trains but they promised to arrange something after all the border controls. we boarded the train at midnight and spent 6h with border formalities, didn't sleep for a second, and not until after Tabriz round noon, the British couple got to move out. one of the most uncomfy nights of my life. also cos the central air conditioning was pushing hot, dry air in, making our eyes hurt and sleeping with ur clothes on in 30c just isnt easy. and i have the head scarf bonus too. but u get what u pay for! the iranian train and restaurant are fine otherwise, seemingly old, worn out, broken... the carriages have broken pipes between, blowing steam inside.

after getting a proper bed and sleeping I feel much better. we had the chicken rice dinner (no options) and instant coffees for 13tl/5e. the conductor delivered snacks and juice to all compartments. we should arrive to Tehran around 1am, 5h late or so.

one of our contacts in Tehran is a guy who does tattoos. illegally obviously. but I saw his work online (and liked it) and he said he has time this weekend so maybe I should get a tattoo?

just enjoying

2011-11-02T17:39:00.001+02:00

we r approaching Kayseri now. i slept quite well last night, and we r alone in the compartment. the wifi in the train restaurant was a pleasant surprise. I'm quite happy at this state.

holiday wardrobe

2011-11-01T21:14:00.000+02:00

we are concentrated in packing now. im wondering what i might have forgotten...

i got a white t-shirt and white long sleeve hippie shirt yesterday. i will match them with my old unused black velour sweatpants... i wont be the most stylish bitch around but perhaps its not important. i have a pair of jeans and cargo pants with me also.

it turns out doctors big brother is also in tehran this weekend, for a conference. so i guess we should meet him. i have made several connections and there are quite a few people now that we should meet...

we packed our 'valuables' (lol, not like we have anything but laptops and their external hard disks) in a backpack and took to Volkan for storage. we have home insurance of course but u can never be too cautious. for once its good we dont really own anything... fancy flat screens or jewellery. at this age we are supposed to have at least something...? well, the car is parked outside *shrugs*

doctor got me a travel insurance today 33tl/12e. they misspelled my name again, of course... i can only recall a few occasions when it wasnt, in fact.

näkkäriä ja kahvitermos messiin

2011-11-01T03:22:00.000+02:00

matkavalmistelut alkaa olemaan täydessä vauhdissa tälleen edellisenä yönä... vaikka päivälläkin säädettiin aika paljon. hain ja sain vihdoin sen viisumin ja sitten shoppasin pari vaatekappaletta joilla saisin piilotettua katseista kulunutta ihoani hieman. yllättävän hankalaa...

lääkärille löysin myös rihkamakaupasta "vihkisormuksen" jolloin toivottavasti päästään hotelliinkin jossain päin irania, vaikka ollaankin couchsurfing-ihmisten vieraina myös. luin että saattavat vaatia jotain paperitodistusta mutta sopivanlainen käytös (katse alas ja sipsutan miehen perässä?) ja sormukset saattaa riittää. onhan turkissakin kyllä tuollaisia hotelleja.

jotain lukemista voisi olla hyvä pakata kun tuota junassa istumista tulee harrastettua. virallisesti matka on 66h mutta luin tästäkin aiheesta, eli on yleensä myöhässä, jopa reippasti eli 4-8h. no eipä se siinä tilanteessa enää kai paljoa merkitse. harmi tietty kun eka ilta menee hukkaan, aamuyöllä saapuminen on aina vähän ankeaa. junassa pitäs olla pistorasiat eli ehkä puhelimeenkin vois tallettaa jotain katseltavaa...

Isfahanissa on asteita nyt 20/-4C päivä/yö. onkohan se vaan mä vai onko toi aika rajua vaihtelua? Tehranissa taas näyttäisi olevan samanlainen sää kuin Istanbulissa nyt, eli ei mitenkään ihku, 14/8C. lämpimiä vaatteita. no, ehkä minäkin kerrankin pysyn lämpimänä kun joudun ihan pukeutumaan niin että ihokin peittyy!

se mitä mä mietin ni on että mulle on hirveen tärkeetä et suihkusta tulee tosi kuumaa vettä. mun suihkukokemus jää todella vaillinaiseksi ja epätyydyttäväksi jos vesi ei ole tarpeeksi kuumaa eli höyryävää. kaksinsuihkuttelu ei kyllä tämän takia ole usein käytännöllistä, lääkäri ei jaa fiksaatiotani.

ihan hyvinhän elämä sujuu ilman sitä helsingin kämpän tavaramäärääkin, mutta on mun joskus ikävä jotain juttuja. tulee täällä ostettua tavallaan monia vaatteita ja tavaroita uusiks...

vroom vroom!

2011-10-31T00:35:00.001+02:00

i had my first driving lesson yesterday. from the school we went with the teacher and 2 other students and doctor, to the car and he drove us near Feneryolu, there was a parking lot. not huge but big. full of cars of course but ok. i got to be the first one too. it went ok, sort of, if i just earn to avoid the sudden stops and starts... lift the foot from the clutch slooooowly! after 10 mins of driving around the teacher told me to head to traffic. its not a super busy area, but its definitely city traffic - cars, motorbikes, trash collectors with their carriages, people jumping right in front of you and traffic lights. my mistake was that i tried to obey the speed limits and the white lines on the street... but now i know better... the rules are not so clear to me, but i learned survival, nobody died and not even close. in fact i felt it went well and the teacher also congratulated me after the 40min lesson :) he says that i have a good control of the steering wheel too, which me and doctor dont really agree with, but so i guess it could be worse. he says its the most important aspect in the driving exam, so, yay?! i will have 2 more lessons and then the exam.

me behind the wheel at the parking lot. as a driver i am cool as ice! after all, the school's car is insured!

yesterday was also the independence day here, and halloween. we had to choose between several very nice halloween party opyions but ended up going to Umut's party in Feneryolu, half an hour from here. it was quite nice! i hadnt had the time or money to invest into a costume so i opted for a cheap solution: (conservative) muslim. pretentius conservative, to be exact. with heavy make up and high heels, i mimicked women that i have seen in istanbul, covering hair as if to be a 'good muslim', but contradicting the intended modesty with strong make up, especially in the eyes, and with jewellery and other things. i understand actually that its very human, we want attention one way or another, especially with our looks and style, but its quickly against what Muhammad wrote about modesty, so i see that kind of behavior as two-faced. in that way i think burka is appropriate, its seriously modest, doesnt show any more or less sexy parts and leaves no space for flashing. my opinion on the veil is anyway that it doesnt make sense, face can be so much sexier than hair. a woman could be bald under the scarf, but the eyes and lips.... and i wont even start with how 'inappropriately sexy' men can be, and how they should definitely wear a burka as well if they intent to be modest and not arouse any dirty thoughts.

my outfit gathered attention at the party and bar afterwards. i had watched a youtube video of how to appropriately tie the scarf and i looked "professional", and some people at the party werent sure if it was a costume or not :) the amount of attention in the bar, later on, surprised me. some women came to talk to me to find out whats 'the story'. they didnt approve but couldnt say why. surely one might claim that it is offensive to dress in a religious 'uniform' (well, i covered my hair and body with my own clothes, but anyway), but i didnt actually do anything, ok much, wrong. i drank alcohol, but that would be between me and the prophet, not for others to judge. but dancing in a bar at 1am isnt forbidden in itself. its just expected that a good muslim GIRL is at home sleeping at that hour, as one stranger explained to me.

the party itself was nice, i met a lot of new people.

in the taxi with Senni (who went for the replicant look in blade runner), provocatively with a wine bottle.

everyone left the party and headed to kadiköy's bar street.

the bar street. always busy on a saturday nights. i really like the atmosphere.

the flat in Agva (livingroom) last monday.

a local shoemaker who is actually only making dr martens style boots (of all kinds), had a campaign, so i had a pair made for myself. i chose the leather color, sole thickness etc... it was 60tl (25e)...for real leather (and fake fur lining) id say that was a good deal!they look chrry red in the pic but are basically pure christmas red. i might want them darker, should be doable with shoe polish.

doctor needed new shoes too. we bought these Replay sneakers from Optimum shopping mall tonight.

our shower mixer is dripping water and the landlord didnt raise a finger so we decided to buy a good quality mixer and will take it with us when we move. we got this one from Artema, 5 yr guarantee. 120tl/50e.

now its Arttu's last evening in Istanbul and tomorrow hes going... we are also getting busy with the trip preparations... i still need to buy a dress or something that actually covers some skin...and weneed to get travel insurances, do some laundry and so on... and i will hopefully get my visa tomorrow. im actually getting quite excited...

captains log: holiday day 0

2011-10-29T04:11:00.001+03:00

what I was thinking, is; how well things have gone the past year and half.

iPhones auto correct is also awesome when ur drunk. apparently. we watched Homeland (new series) and after midnight decided to go out. we had 2 drinks and were walking home as we saw lights in Volkans flat and decided to pay a visit. he had made some wine and we spent an hour there, or more. a nice evening. I would say.

also we worked on the puzzle and I almost fell asleep at 7pm but I decided that since its god damn Friday and the beginning of my holiday, I can't just fall asleep!

letting the extra weight go

2011-10-28T20:20:00.000+03:00

IIIIITS HOLIDAYYY TIMEEE!

i barely slept last night. just rolled around in the bed. doctor was at work. when i went to work i found out that today is officially only half a day. so others left some time after 12... but i had so much work to do i was there until past 3! then, finally i got to leave. coming home and leaving it alllll behind was nice.

earlier this week we went to Agva with doctor, Eufemia and Arttu. it was like a ghost town. out of season holiday place... still, it was ok. the black sea was very windy.

view from nearby Sile

vielä hetki

2011-10-28T08:11:00.000+03:00

hesarin otsikko luki että "Turkin pääministeri myönsi virheet maanjäristyksen pelastustöissä". sama tarina kuin sillon 1997 vai mikä vuosi se oli, silloin kesti tyyliin 2 viikkoa kenenkään saapua paikalle. eli jotenkin en ole yllättynyt. "joo, meillä on näitä järistyksiä muutama vuodessa, aika usein näitä isojakin, mut kun me ei vaan osata"

Jari Tervon Layla-kirja kiinnostaa. sen tilaaminen varmaan olis mansikoita joten asia saa odottaa vielä hetken.

loma alkaa tänään, eli jos viel yhden päivän jaksas puurtaa.

hairdyeday

2011-10-27T19:45:00.000+03:00

my Foursquare addiction didnt last very long. i am still checking in occasionally but not frantically. i found it to be antisocial (when around others) and perhaps just not that interesting in the long run.

i got a slight flu. but slight, just annoying me, nothing else. i would be happier sleeping at home of course but since my holiday starts in 2 days i pretty much HAVE TO get things ready. a lot of stuff to do, assign tasks to others and make sure things would run smoothly while im away. calculating payments to be made to freelancers while im gone...(important!) and so on.

i went to the iranian consulate yesterday. they had lost my reference number and couldn't process my application or something... so now i have to wait until monday. a bit tight... i might be a little upset if my visa is not there on monday. we just bought tickets for the train that leaves on tuesday (245tl/110e for 2 ppl, sleeping compartment). doctor checked that the railway passing Van - where the earthquake was - should be ok. last night i also reserved us flights back from Van, suddenly the prices had gone very low so im glad i waited. i wonder if this decrease is related to the earthquake...

next weekend is apparently halloween. americans are having halloween parties here so i counted 1+1...

the party is slow

2011-10-23T21:35:00.000+03:00

this morning something reminded me of doctors friend, a guy he ran into in Ankara. they met by chance at the airport in the evening, after the specialization exam. the exam takes place twice a year and only in Ankara, so on those days the city is infested with doctors aspiring to specialize. aaanyway so the friend had arrived to Ankara that very morning. then, he didnt actually go to the exam. why, i asked? because he was carrying his wallet etc in his pockets but those are not allowed in the exam room, and he couldnt think of a place to leave them. that's why he flew to Ankara and didnt take the exam he had paid for (60tl). hmmmmmm. the turks sometimes really amaze me. obviously he didnt care so much for the exam. it was just something he was supposed to do maybe, and he felt accomplished by the way he handled it i guess. i know it is a popular sport to go and take the exam without reading for it, which makes it virtually impossible to pass. its just a kind of a hobby to many.

today me and Eufemia went to a hamam. the women working there (massaging & scrubbing) had the same dress code as customers, in their bikini bottoms. Aziziye hamam is near our home and a quite local place. very nice and relaxing. the scrubbing leaves skin feeling very soft.

after hamam we went for a pedicure. we found a pedicure in a salon, and sat there surrounded by hairdressers.

all in all an okay day. after hamam, pedicure and a good luck i have been feeling just a bit lazy... and we should actually leave soon to go get Arttu from the airport bus on the european side...

tomorrow i should leave work early as we are all going to Agva, small village north of istanbul. just to relax a little.

lauantai-yönä Engan-sängystä tilitettyä

2011-10-23T00:47:00.001+03:00

katselin meidän ns.viinakaapin sisältöä tänään. siellä on edelleen avaamattomana Tallinnasta asti kesäkuussa tuotu 'metsämaasika' likööri. se maasika jaksaa naurattaa mua. ei oikeen tuu likööreitä tai semmossii joutuu enää paitsi jossain bileissä... me ollaan kai keski-ikäisiä, viiniä vaan ruuan kaa hymistellään (halpaa viiniä kuitenkin, vielä ei vertailla rypäleitä, molempien makuaisti on vähän niin ja näin), tai omatekoista siideriä. nyt onkin niin viileetä jo että vois taas alkaa tekee sitä, mutta kun edellistäkin on. kevään viimeinen satsi oli raikkaan omenainen, vaikka itse sanonkin.

mutta tää viikonloppuisin kotona makaaminen ja väsymys on ikävää. huomenna sentään on pläni Eufemian kanssa mennä hamamiin. ja illalla Arttu tulee. huomenna oli kans ajatus mennä hankkii pedikyyri.

Gaddafin ruumiin esittely jossain lihakylmiössä on aika groteskia. olen kai yllättynyt. mietin mitä sen vaimo kelaa, lapset ja mies kaikki tapettu. "kiittämättömät hirviöt, Muammar oli kansamme pelastaja! no ainakin se jätti pankkitilille sveitsiin sen 467 miljardia, niin huomaavainen perheenisä, piti huolta että meillä on tulevaisuus vaikka hän kuolisi marttyyrinä..." ?

tired at home

2011-10-22T23:00:00.000+03:00

we attached this shelf a week ago for my jewellery. the edge has screws where i can hang earrings and necklaces....

this is the Engan bed we painted grey (...doctor painted) an assembled on wednesday.

last night me and doctor relaxed at home until 10pm or so, and after Eufemia came from her daily city tour, we went out to the bar street. met some friends and came home around 1am - as everyone was quite tired.

getting up this morning for the driving school's written exam was not fun... and when we went by the office i also learned that they actually want me to take driving classes... :( but there are always these surprises in turkey. makes me wonder if perhaps the driving exams have gotten more difficult since whenever, everyone is saying its SOOO easy. but maybe i should put some effort into learning... so i agreed to taking 3 driving classes.the exam should be at the end of november.

today - again - im tired. seems to be a daily occurrence. despite waking up before the alarm. "fuck this shit", jenni would say.

jenni's driving school exam

2011-10-22T17:14:00.002+03:00

i had the driving school's written exam today. its organized much like other exams in turkey, with a paper with me, i went to the designated school/college, where the exam was held. the driving school had organized a(n expensive) translator for me, she is teaching english translation at the university in Istanbul. we were put alone in a class room, where someone would occasionally come and look at us for 30 seconds... sooo.. hmmm. i could've taken the papers from my handbag and check stuff, but i didn't.

the classroom

the written exam is made of 3 parts; first aid (30 questions), traffic (50) and motor & other functions of the car (40). one needs to get about 70% correct to pass.

the school had given me some old exams to study, as the same questions apparently rotate over and over again. that was partly true, but also not completely.

my translator was lacking especially the technical terminology of the car, so towards the end as time was running out it got quite stressful. i had only studied a couple hours with doctor, mainly looking at the old exams and him explaining to me the parts of the engine etc. doctor saw the trouble of translating all those words, but nevertheless this whole process was quite a mess. luckily i recognized a lot of the turkish words in the exam so i could answer them even when the translator wasn't able to translate. diferansiyel, mars motoru, akü, su pompasi, buji, distribütör, volan vites kutusu....

first aid i think went well, i didn't really study it, common sense goes pretty far there. my general knowledge of traffic is pretty good but then again...i am missing some basics i guess - i didn't know what C-license is good for, for example :D also there was a very familiar traffic sign, shown in a picture, and i couldn't decide what it meant. my translator also didn't have a license...so, i was a bit out of luck today. since i had mostly studied the engine-stuff, i think that part went ok. i made some bad choices about suggesting to put antifreeze in the car battery... but it just sounded right!

my memories of the exam:

MOTOR

i think this part went quite well and i chose more less the right answers.

if the car horn works but engine doesn't start, where is the problem most likely?
-connection of the start motor

if the tyres are unbalanced, it causes what?
-shaky feel in the steering wheel (other options included something about radiator, carborator and stuff)

if the tyres are too empty, what does it cause?
-increased oil consumption (other options included at least radiator getting stuck)

which of the following is not related to to the motor/engine system?
-headlights

which part mixes the air and fuel?
-carburetor (or injectors, sparking plugs, air filter)

if the air filter is dirty, what does it cause?
-more oil consumption

what is the function of the start motor?
-give the car initial power (other options included make the vehicle move, keep the car running stable...)

which of the following types of car uses sparking plugs?
- petrol (or diesel, or something else)

which part of the car makes sparks?
-spark plugs

which part of the car is part of the exhaustion system?
-exhaust manifold

which part of the car creates electricity?
-alternator

what is underneath the engine, covering it from the bottom?
-oil tank

if there is oil in the radiator and water in the cylinder, what is broken?
-cylinder head (or something like that, i chose the item closest to the cylinder top)

what does the clutch do?
-connect and disconnect gear box and motor

what is the function of the oil in the motor?
-to help avoid abrasion

what causes the motor to overheat?
-driving on the wrong gears

there was also a question about the car's front panel, and which of the following signs means that there is a problem with the car battery charge or something.

if this sign is blue, what does it mean? i chose high beams are on.

FIRST AID

regarding first aid, i recall first thinking that its quite nice to teach some of these things besides driving, but 30 questions out of 120 is a bit much... and they are such as
"what is the definition of a broken ankle?"
"if you give first aid to a baby, how many times should you make the vhest compressions in a minute?"

in today's exam, there were questions about CPR, but some more "interesting" ones as well. i don't remember what i suggested in the following

"if a person is freezing, what should you do as first aid?"
a)put them in warm water and then in hot water
b)have them sit next to a fireplace/heater
c)massage the frozen body parts
d)cover them with electrical blanket

however for someone with broken chest bones, i suggested that they are moved laying on their back. the options were on the side, face down or sitting. in an old exam the correct answer was marked as "on the side", which accroding to doctor is wrong. so i was puzzled.

the definition of 3rd degree burns was also asked for. from the following options
a) dry skin
b) nerves showing
c) veins showing
d) red, tight skin

i chose the one in which veins are showing, but doctor said that it could be either b or c, as they are similar. so the answer options were not very good....

"if a person is bleeding from the nose and ears, feeling sick and their pupils are dilated, which part of their body is injured?"
a) lungs
b) spleen
c) brain
d) legs

"if someone is in a shock, why should you put their feet up?"
i chose "to get blood in the brain".

"in which system of the body does the oxygen from outside and the carbon dioxide in the body mix?"
a) nervous system
b) breathing system
c) digestive system
d) skeletal system

"which one of the following is located in the chest?"
a) stomach
b) kidney
c) heart
d) throat

"if you have been burnt in the sun, and have fever, in which organ have the cells been damaged?"
a) lungs
b) kidney
c) heart
d) brain

"if you are not sure if a baby is conscious, where should you tap them?"
a) shoulder
b) back
c) sole of the foot
d) stomach

"if you have bleeding, normally you compress that spot to stop the bleeding. however which of the following is an exception?"
a) when the thigh is bleeding
b) when the blood is very dark
c) when it's a main vein
d) when the bone is broken where the bleeding is

also there was a question about what kind of injured people should be moved on a stretcher... i chose "all". and then a question about who should be taken to hospital first - there was a broken leg, 1st degree burn and something else and i chose the one who has trouble breathing.

TRAFFIC

i didn't know how often a 3 year old car should be taken to maintenance (every 1, 2, 3 or 4 years) :(

"which one of the following will make you loose your driving license?"
a) too many people in the car
b) car is overloaded
c) driving while high
d) not having a financial insurance on the car

"what should you do on an icy road?"
a) speed up
b) step on the break quickly
c) make quick turns
d) slow down

"reflector, first air kit and fire extinguisher - in which of the following vehicles are these not compulsory?"
a) bus
b) car
c) tractor
d) truck

"you are in traffic lights. when can you drive?"
a) red light
b) red and orange light
c) green lights
d) orange light

"you are driving on a road (outside the city) and there are no traffic signs, how fast you normally go?"
a) 90
b) 100
c) 110
d) 120

i didn't know this...i think i put 100.

"there is a bus stop sign. how many meters of space you need to leave before it to park?"
a) 5
b) 10
c) 15
d) 20

i guessed right, 15 :)

"1.bumbing into rear,
2. driving through red lights,
3. not following traffis rules in roundabouts,
which kind of accidents make up most of the accidents in traffic?"
a) 1 & 2
b) 2 & 3
c) 1 & 3
d) 1 & 2 & 3

i didn't know this, so i guessed 1 & 2

"which of the following is a driver related cause of accident?"
-driver is tired and sleepy (options included bad road, passengers etc)

"which of the following is forbidden if you are part of a deadly accident?"
-moving your car

i also didn't know the rule about when you pass a car, when can you turn in front of them again...

"how does alcohol affect a person?"
a) they are normal
b) their reflexes are slower
c) they move and react fast
d) they react faster

"there is a pedestrian crossing the street, and they have a white cane and a yellow armband with three black dots. what should you do?"
a) honk your horn
b) try to pass as fast as possible
c) warn other drivers about them
d) stop and if necessary, go help the person across the street

the exam had about 7 traffic sign related questions. they didn't go exactly well. maybe i should have studied them a little.

there was a question about which of the 4 signs means there is a problem with the road bank.

in was traffic picture i wasn't quite sure what the car should do upon seeing this sign... i think i chose the classic "slow down and look both ways"

in this picture, the question was, if the car wants to turn left in the roundabout, which lane they should pick. im guessing 1.

there was a question asking; which of the following signs means you can only go forward and left. hmmmmmm.

i didn't know what one should do when this guy is standing on the road :(

and i didn't recognize these signs in the middle... train crossing?? wtf??

hard to say

2011-10-20T17:28:00.001+03:00

i guess i have been busy again? or have i?

Eufemia arrived yesterday. and in the evening we assembled our IKEA Engan bed all 3 of us. this morning it was interesting to wake up much higher than usual. i am thinking that its impractical when i wake up earlier, and the phone (alarm) is on the bedside table, and i am always reaching and stumbling over doctor to turn it off...(unless i wake up before the alarm as lately)...

i went to the iranian consulate today. had to fill some more papers regarding the trip... and give a passport photo (with the veil). the form i filled asked about countries i have previously visited in. i listed a dozen or so, but ran out of space so its only natural that a few *erm* were left out. all in all i got a positive feeling about the whole thing and feel quite optimistic about the trip now. i just need to buy some big long dresses and a scarf. turkey must have the worlds most varied and biggest scarf selection...so thats not hard.

my problem lately is that i fell i have no energy on my free time. on the weekends maybe but i have been a bit passive at home too. maybe we did some shopping, went to a movie or a party, but not much besides that. next weekend there is a party again, so...

i saw a guy on the ferry today with what looked like alopecia universalis, no body hair of any kind. and it made me realize how much harder it is to tell someones ethnicity when they got no body hair. the features alone say something but much less...

the great plot.

2011-10-17T17:34:00.000+03:00

a sudden winter has hit Istanbul. the summer arrived late and now it was cut short. or at least the fall seemed to last only 2 weeks... I had to wear my winter jacket and scarf and all in the morning. 6 degrees celcius. brrr.

coming to work after weekend with 30 emails waiting makes me take a deep breath. takes an hour or two to solve those.

and my lunch was bad, too. i am not satisfied. although we bought the bed from IKEA yesterday.

today is a day of plotting. ive become turkish, have i?

back to decoration!

2011-10-16T17:31:00.002+03:00

we have had a home weekend... lazy home weekend. didnt go out, except doctor last night for a few beers. i got tired early. we watched Code 46 before i headed to bed. i thought it was quite good and thought provoking - not awesome but good. doctor was less impressed.

what to do if you have a 10yr visa to United States but ur passport expires and u get a new one? staple the passports together. this is how we do it in Turkey.

Cig köfte dürüms in the making. nice snack, 3tl/1,2e. Cig köfte originally contains raw meat but the ones sold in these fast food places dont, as meat would go bad quite fast, its not safe. its just bulgur and something and something... i have no idea. quite spicy nevertheless. well i googled it, but the wiki entry mainly discusses the meat...

our weekend breakfast. boiled eggs, omelette, arugula, onion with sumac, cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, bread, watermelon and cig köfte. i think its actually like a lunch...a very tasty lunch. a mix of european (scandinavian?) and turkish customs... i want my bread sliced, with margarine, toasted and with fresh, SLICED ingredients on top. and fresh onion. doctor wants many of the same things but in different forms. so we have an understanding on how to set the table.

we are finally thinking of going to IKEA and buying a bed frame for our mattress. the new 2012 range includes a wonderfully simple and cheap big bed; Engan Karyola. needs painting, obviously, i am not a fan of wood color. the bedside table is white so white would be the most obvious choice. but it would be nice to have some color... we discussed red but then it will pretty much look weird in the otherwise mildly colored bedroom. maybe dark purple, like plum? we could also paint some of the bedroom purple? and we have a lot of purple sheets. maybe just colors that go WITH purple? brown does, but i hate brown. hmmmmm.

the shower mixer is leaking too, a lot :( well it was only installed in january, so it lasted for whole 10 months....heh. and its pretty sure the landlord wont fix it - although the law says he should but those laws are not followed. i think we should just invest in a good one and then take it with us when we leave. leaking taps are so common here...really pisses me off, a constant pain, always buying a new one or calling a guy to fix... i cant remember seeing leaking taps in finland, like ever, so im thinking of investing into a good old Oras.

we put the kombi-gas heater on yesterday. its gotten that cold. 12-22C on an average day. the weather is bad too, rainy. i hope it gets better when Eufemia and Arttu come.

'kalsarikännit'

2011-10-15T15:12:00.000+03:00

some words listed by Mental Floss without an equivalent in english (or other languages, i guess.
list 1
list 2
the only finnish word to make it to the list is myötähäpeä (fremdschämen in german) which is
"The kindler, gentler cousins of Schadenfreude, both these words mean something akin to “vicarious embarrassment.” Or, in other words, that-feeling-you-get-when-you-watch-Meet the Parents."

i asked my friends about additional finnish words that belong on this list. Avner suggested kalsarikännit. it means 'getting drunk alone/at home, wearing your long johns'.

now, im gonna try updating my iPhone software...

in the news; Gorbachev said that the Soviet Union should have been preserved. i know nothing about the subject (which is pretty embarassing for having lived next door to soviet/russia?), but somehow i got a feeling like, umm, no. life apparently wasnt that freakin awesome in the soviet, and it wasnt going to get awesome. is it awesome now? maybe not. but perhaps the 'newly' independent countries appareciate their independence and that makes up for it.

Obama said a few days ago that Iran 'will pay a price' for the assassination plot. pls, it sounds like the plot was to assassinate Obama himself, thats how big of a show they are making it. maybe a good excuse to start a war on Iran, those evil-assassination-terrorists?? im a little disappointment with Obama here.

waiting for my visa here...dum di dum... should hear about it next week....

searching for new music

2011-10-12T17:03:00.001+03:00

sometimes i am so busy at work i dont even remember to check facebook all day. and i realize at 2pm that i didnt order lunch. thats not good?

i didnt use airline memberships or bonus systems until moving to turkey. in finland, i was always using a different airline, the price differences could be quite radical so i would not use an airline just for the bonus points. besides u have to fly quite a lot before its any use, really. so anyway, now that im going to finland occasionally with Turkish Airlines, i have their Miles & Smiles card. their customer service is a mess, every time. I just wrote them an email again to claim missing miles, I forgot to use my membership number when I bought the flight last summer so now i have to ask them manually to add the miles on my account. i wrote them an email, listing my membership number, the flight info and a scanned copy of my passport as I knew they want it. the reply?

Dear Jenni ...
E-mail your message on flights are reported by our boarding cards to be processed, the Miles & Smiles membership number, please send ID or a passport along with your image.i>Thank you for choosing Turkish Airlines on your flights. Kind Regards

Umm, what?? I just sent it all again.

Im supposed to cook tonight.

surprise!

2011-10-11T23:30:00.000+03:00

yesterday i arranged a surprise birthday party for doctor. well, parties on mondays are not the smartest idea but at least some people arrived. it wasnt a big event, just a few people, and a cake and some snacks and drinks.

i appreciated the ease of arranging this though. the bakeries always sell cakes, no need to order before hand. so i picked up one, then stopped over in a fast food place, paid and asked them to deliver 10 lahmacun's in 30mins. then some wines and beers and i went home. made up excuses why i bought so much stuff. then the lahmacuns came and i pretented that was it. played some time while waiting for people to come.

the only downside was that i drank too much. its been a while since that happened. yet i woke up at 7:30am... went to work. and then the hangover hit me. i suffered quite a bit. and the moral hangover is still there...

but i think it was a success. doctor was pleasantly surprised and everyone had a good time.

weekends are too short

2011-10-09T22:41:00.000+03:00

friday we went to see a movie, Killer Elite. standard action... nothing better was available. but im not complaining, it was well done. Jason Statham and Robert DeNiro make good stuff.

after the movie we had a sit on the terrace of Incir, 2 drinks... and then came home to work on our puzzle. and watch tv shows. very ordinary, nice life.

on saturday we slept until afternoon and then headed for the Prince's Islands. we got off at Burgazada island and spent a few hours there. but it felt like half a day at least. its so nice and quiet and relaxing on the islands that time runs very slowly. we sat in a restaurant, ate mezes... did nothing. later we went walking by the seaside and sat on a bench looking at the view. Istanbul in the horizon. its like looking at your life from the outside. petting kitties, following doggies. opening a bottle of wine. we enjoyed ourselves. then we took the last public transport ferry back (there are private companies running later too). it was so full we sat on the stairs.

Burgazada port seen from the ferry

Burgazada island

at the restaurant. mezes.

we sat on the bench by the sea for quite a bit. it wasnt cold at all, no wind, and the view of istanbul was relaxing.

the full ferry

kitties really love this book/antique shop.

doctor is working today so i have been alone. i met Gürkan for coffee and shopping. now im doing laundry in between internetting.

tomorrow is doctor's 32nd birthday! i didnt think of anything magnificent to give... maybe its not so important at this age anyway...? eh.

my new musical find is Zola Jesus (spotify link)

and the nearby grocery store didnt have sugarless lemonade anymore... they once had Camlica. after that they were selling Uludag Gazoz. not many on the shelf but anyway. and now they didnt have even that. of course im trying to think that the sugarless stuff just doesnt sell enough... but it might not even be the case, whenever i went shopping, the shelf was always almost empty.

empatian puute

2011-10-09T13:02:00.001+03:00

mulla ei ole yhtään empatiaa loukkaantuneelle härkätaistelijalle. kiusataan eläintä ja se yrittää puolustautua. aika paskaa kulttuuria. jos tuolle uutisen sankarille jää vitulliset arvet ja ties mitä muuta vikaa niin siinä on sitten miettimistä loppuiäksi.

tänään lepo-sunnuntai.

rakas hämeentie

2011-10-08T16:24:00.003+03:00

onko se vaan turkkilaista ajattelua kun mun mielestä ystäväni Hannun blogikirjoitus hämeentien muuttamisesta julkisen liikenteen ( ja pyörien) väyläksi sai mut ihan suunniltaan. tuntuu vaan ihan liioittelulta. hämeentiellä on autoja ja busseja mutta ei edes ruuhkaa! siis ei ne ikinä paikallaan seiso toisin kuin kai joskus aamusella jossain kehä...jollain. ei bussien ja autojen letka kaunis ole mutta se on KAUPUNKI. järvenpäähän voi muuttaa jos haluaa asua puistossa, ja sieltähän tulee kätsysti junakin. kallio on myös täynnä puistoa ja siellä on mukava asua. oleellisena kuitenkin kelaan että helsinkiin tulee ehkä 2 isoa väylää, mansku ja hämeentie (ja ehkä jokunen muu), en oo nähny lukuja mut en usko et niitä autoja ihan tosta vaan siirretään muualle. näen myös jotenkin ongelmallisena just hesarille pääsyn tai muille sivukaduille menon... ja jos käenkuja olisi autoton niin mitenkähän mä edes muuttaisin kamani takas vanhaan kämppään? ratikalla? olen tietysti yksittäistapaus ja mahdollisesti ainoa joka on valinnut hämeentieltä asunnon ajatellen että liikenne EI häiritse...

hämeentien liikenne on kuiteskin aika ongelmatonta, ja yöllä sitä ei edes ole! Hannun blogissa olevista kuvista tämä itse asiassa ilmenee aika hyvin. kuvat on otettu päivällä ja joissain ei edes näy autoja! monestakohan euroopan pääkaupungista löytyy isoja katuja tai pääteitä joilla tällaisia autottomia hetkiä voi tallentaa, päivällä.

ja jalkakäytävien leveyksistä oli tuossa blogitekstissä juttua. siellä kävelee niin vähän ihmisiä että lol, 1,5m riittäisi varmaan. olen aika muutaman kerran kävellyt kurvista kämpille hämeentie 38:iin ja aina on mahtunut hyvin. tilaa on yllin kyllin. pyörätie tosiaan olisi hyvä koska se on myös kätevä reitti pyöräilijöille, ja siihen mulal ei ole ratkaisua, mutta en usko että yksityisautoilua voi siirtää muualle enkä edes halua että niin kävisi.

totean ettei siinä kyllä mitään turkkilaista ole, olen aina tykännyt kaupungeista ja vaikka jonkun autohlvetin keskellä asuminen ei ole unelmani niin hämeentie on musta ihan ok.

hämeentieltä tai läheltä.

oh dear

2011-10-07T18:21:00.001+03:00

past days have been crazy horrible at work. so busy and a lot problems I had to solve... and other things of course. got me quite upset. and lately after workdays im really tired. its hard to leave it all behind after going home. of course there are always good things too, bitching is just more like my thing. now I should just enjoy the weekend and empty my head... tomorrow we are planning to go to the princes islands. oh and I was named the CEO, and I don't remember what it's short for.

tonight is movie night. and I deserve something yummy, ice cream maybe.

kinda lovely

2011-10-05T22:22:00.002+03:00

after work i met Lea and Karin. just ate at Pizza Hut and had 2 drinks. took the dolmus home. working woman's life... need to go to bed in time and get up in the morning.

its really nice to have met so many foreigners here. i didnt really think of norwegians, swedish and danes as foreigners but they are.

i wanna sit in a cafe sometime. and do nothing. it happens a lot on tv so it looks interesting altho i never really felt enthusiastic about it... im just quite tired after work usually. i should go during lunch?

i applied for the Iranian visa. need to pay and then hopefully pick it up next week or so. im trying to now figure out the routes and things...

im uploading pics from my phone to flickr.

from last friday

from work

side streets

bosphorus - which i am mayor of! - with the bridge in the background.

pormestari puhuu

2011-10-04T16:18:00.000+03:00

hesarissa oli juttu Foursquaresta ja helsingin valtiaista. rautatieasema, Siltanen, Kämppi... joitain paikkoja on kuulemma vaikea puolustaa ja jotkut paikat saa vallattua ilman eforttia. siitä tuli mieleen että minähän olen sattumoisin Bosporinsalmen pormestari. not bad... mutta se oli aika sattuma, en mitenkään jahdannut kyseistä virkaa. sain useammankin pormestariuden itse asiassa aika helpolla. Subwayn, Simit Sarayin, ja sit mulla taitaa olla Kadiköyn toinen lauttaterminaali.

heräsin sekä eilen että tänään ennen kelloa, 10 ja 20min respectively. vaikka nukuin alle 8h. ja tänään olin jopa vähän väsynyt kun heräsin. silti uni ei enää tullut. en todella tiedä miten suhtautua tähän.

no ainakin ostin eilen ihanat turkoosin väriset sukkikset. tummat petroolin sävyiset oikeastaan, ei 'turkin turkoosit'.

puzzling stuff!

2011-10-02T23:22:00.005+03:00

weekend passed fast. friday was fun, but saturday not so much, i got bad hangover. when i finally got up it was time to get dressed up and go again, to the green party event in Taksim. we hung out there for a few hours and then turned home to cuddle and watch tv shows.

i think we didnt do much today. just relaxing. oh we went to buy a puzzle in the evening which got me really excited! :) i hate art and nature puzzles, but the Mordillo-style comical ones are nice.

some art pieces like this were scattered along the istiklal street.

rainy and cold - just for the record

2011-09-30T17:41:00.000+03:00

LinkedIn is from hell. its not about how useful it is for some, its none of my business. but i just had to login there for something and the interface is just as horribly confusing as it ever was. then, i had to login like 3 times...wtf. i send a message, then click "messages" and it asks me to login again?? and the push to add all my email contacts to LinkedIn... it almost looked like a login-screen so i nearly fell for it. every 2nd page was suggesting to ADD MORE CONTACTS. LinkedIn is like a hungry desperate beast starving for lunch. it feeds on my contacts. well im sorry, its a NO! removing contacts was a hard feature to find too. the designers have made sure most people wont have the patience to find the 'remove' button.

tonight me and some co-workers plus doctor are going to a cafe in Beyoglu. one of them owns the cafe so we all wanna see it.

tomorrow there is the fundraising party organized by the Green Party. i was invited to do the punch so thats what i will do :)

its the first weekend in a long time that me and doctor will be together...

keskiarvolla 8.4

2011-09-29T15:01:00.002+03:00

jotenkin hesarin sivulta päädyin katsomaan YO-kokeiden matikan lyhyen oppimäärän tehtäviä. kuten arvelin, en ymmärtänyt juuri mitään. tämähän on ihan loogista koska en sille tasolle ikinä edennyt, taisin käydä lukiossa ekan ja ainoan vuoteni aikana ehkä yhden matikan kurssin ja olen aika varma että siitäkään en päässyt läpi. arvelin nopeasti että pystyisin mahdollisesti ratkaisemaan kaksi tehtävistä, 5 & 10. prosenttilaskua ja jotain keskihajontaa jne. mutta suurinta osaa tehtävistä ei tarvinut juuri edes vilkaista...hoh hoh

todella tyylikkäästi olen nämä koulussa ohittanut koska olihan tommosia jo ylasteella.

katsoinpa sitten reaalin historian tehtäviä myös. pisti kyllä nekin hiljaiseksi. ymmärsin sentään lukemani mutta en ole siitä Nuijasodasta kuullutkaan sitten yläasteen. muutenkin...huoh. Lähi-itä ja Yhdysvallat oli oikeasti tutuin aihe.

6. Ohessa on taiteilija Arvid Liljelundin teos Kilttipiika vuodelta 1876.
a) Minkälaisen kuvan teos antaa aikakauden suomalaisesta yhteiskunnasta? (3 p.)
b) Miten taiteilijat ottivat osaa suomalaisen kansakunnan rakentamiseen 1800-luvun lopulla ja
1900-luvun alussa? Mainitse esimerkkejä eri taiteenaloilta. (3 p.)

öh. tai nohetkinen, ehkä toi 6. a) ei olekaan kompa vaan just niin yksinkertaista kuin miltä se kuulostaa. aika köyhäilymeininki jne. b-kohtaankin mulla olisi jotain inputtia koska olen vähän lukenut suomalaisen kansallisnationalismin heräämisestä jne mutta taiteenaloista en kyllä tietäs kuin sen taulujen maalaajan. nimi hukassa. nii no ja Sibelius. duh. ja ehkä se yks nainen, jonka omakuva oli kans Ateneumissa. tai hetkinen.

tarviin lisää maitokahvia.

its starting to feel like fall here

2011-09-27T21:46:00.000+03:00

im still ridiculously giddy over doctor returning home more permanently. no more 15h days at the library for him, no more spending evenings alone for me, going to parties alone... THIS is the way it should be - sitting together at home, doing nothing! maybe watching stupid youtube videos and cuddling. then being tired in the morning. ironically, i am alone as im writing this. doctor is at work. we still need to do something to earn living... but its nice to come home and see that he has actually been here :) changed light bulbs and moved stuff around. and im happy he now has time to watch tv, movies... basically live a normal life.

coming home i came across our 5th floor neighbor, Emre. he is a translator and so talking was easy. very nice to get to know more people from pur people. although it just reminds me how we might have to leave in january. its annoying how i cant forget it. i need continuance and stability... boooriiing.

one of the boring things i do is that when i order fast food home delivery, i get the card/cash ready. so when the food arrives im standing at the door ready like a scout. looking for ur money when the delivery guy is at the door is pretty unforgivable in my opinion.

more new tv series! oh lord, is this an exceptional fall or what?

Terra Nova end of the world scenario
Hart of Dixie *waiting in the line, review later*

The Good Wife started its 3rd season. although it has more Apple products than an Apple advert, i still like it.

oh no. i just drank like a glass of water - crazy impulse. but im soon to bed! if i wake up because i have to pee im gonna be so upset :(

hesaripläjäys

2011-09-27T15:05:00.000+03:00

HS kirjoitti Halal-lihakauppiaasta joka on siinä mun kulmilla kalliossa/sörkässä. nyt kun tiedän vähän enempi asiasta niin voisin ehkä jatkossa ostaa lihaa sieltä kun helsinkiin takaisin muutan. ehkä menisin muutenkin. koen tietysti nyt että on helpompi bondaa lähi-idästä kotoisin olevien kanssa kun alue on tullut tutummaksi. ja odotukset henkilökohtaisesti palvelusta ovat kans nousseet.

HS:n uudistus ei kyllä miellytä mua :( yhtään. jotenkin tosi sekava selata etusivua. liian monta juttua eri tasoissa tai jotain. mulla menee silmät ristiin. ehkä olen nyt liian vanhanaikainen. mutta olen 31 joten kuulun kyllä ihan kohderyhmään, kyllä sen sivun PITÄS miellyttää mua.

tässä screenshotit kritiikin kunniaksi ja mielipiteeni tueksi. otettu isolla näytöllä, pienemmällähän tuo selaus on vielä paljon hauskempaa... tolleen pienessä kuvassa näyttää melkeen jäsenneltynä. silleen noita on varmaan suunniteltukin, et tähän oikeall tää palsta, sit vasemmalle uudet uutiset, jees jees... mut real size kokemus on vaan ihan syvältä.

tracking my eyes.

sitten "Turkin ja Israelin pääministerit ottivat yhteen holokaustista" (HS). en digaa Erdoganista monestakin syystä mutta tässä oli kyllä perää. olen positiivisesti yllättynyt että joku tärkeämpi henkilö vihdoin sanoi sen ääneen. asia ei tietenkään ole niin mustavalkoinen (vaikka olisi kiva jos olisi), mutta siis, totuuden jyväsiä tuossa on... ja kannatan Palestiinan YK-hakemusta myös. se on väkivallaton tapa pyytää huomiota asialle. eihän ne neuvottelut mihinkään ole edenneet. syitä siihen en kuitenkaan tiedä. sen tiedän että molemmat haluaa maan ja taivaan ja perusteluita on joka lähtöön... että silleen hankala lähtökohta...

jahas webbisivun käännöstä pukkaa. palaan työn tuoksintaan.

beginning

2011-09-26T14:49:00.001+03:00

doctor returned home last night. yay. i had mediocre pasta and a baklava dessert waiting for him. and sparkling wine of course. i feel quite cheery with him back home.

also loosk like the exam went ok. after they calculate all results and apply bell curve there could be some changes. but right now im pretty excited, if doctor goes on to specialize it would be what he wants. which in turn makes me happy.

jänskää ja shoppailua

2011-09-25T20:19:00.000+03:00

päivän eka kauppakierros oli semi-onnistunut. päätin että kokkaan illalla jotain safkaa kun lääkäri tulee. etsin purkitettua ananasta kaupasta. se oli 3e!!!! tuohtuneena totesin että joudun tyytymään tuoreisiin ananaksiin tällä erää. ja ne oli tietenkin loppu. päätin löytää niitä jostain toisesta kaupasta myöhemmin, koska vesimelonitkin oli loppu. tarjonta on niin satunnaista... sain kuitenkin kanaa ja jotain siemeniä joiden nimeä en muista. ja kermaa. teen jotain pasta-kana-juttua.

eläinkaupassa oli tosi isoja marsuja tai jotain... seurasin niitä jonkun aikaa koska ne oli aika aktiivisia. siinä ulkona pyöri myös tosi söpö kissa. juurikin niiden kissan- ja koiranruokalaarien edessä. tarjosin kaupan sedälle paria kolikkoa jotta ostaisin siitä ruokaa kissalle mutta setä ei huolinut rahaa vaan sanoi kyllä ruokkivansa sen. ne tuntui olevan hyvissä väleissä joten luotin sedän sanaan.

piipahdin kotimatkalla vaatekaupassakin ja mukaan tarttui t-paita ja musta mekko. niitähän ei voi olla liikaa. etenkin jos suurin osa niistä on varastossa jossain kaukana.

vaihdoin lakanatkin, mikä on yleensä ollut tiimitehtävä. nyt mennään tummalla violetilla all the way. aika tumma look, makkarin värimaailmaa pitäs vähän muuttaa... mutta tässä elämäntilanteessa ei nyt halua ruveta häsläämään... sen verran auki kaikki ja muutto ehkä taas tammikuussa... toivottavasti ei.

ens kuussa Arttu & Eufemia tulee. se on hyvä.

first and last watermelon

2011-09-25T16:53:00.000+03:00

the housewarming party yesterday was nice. the flat was at the top floor and view over the roofs was nice. the balcony was pretty much the same size as the flat, or maybe bigger. but that was great for the party. there were lots of Erasmus-students, a couple english teacher from states and a very nice international feel.

the view from the balcony

later we went to kadife sokak/bar street. its always wonderfully lively in the night, but especially weekends. some people just sit out randomly and drink, while others occupy the terraces.

black dress by Zara. the fabric has a nice shiny matte look.

nice meaningless t-shirt. nice soft thing fabric.

i found watermelons outside Migros. it was definitely the last time i would buy and carry a watermelon. it was crazy heavy :(

new season of Big Bang Theory. and saturday.

2011-09-24T14:05:00.003+03:00

i have a housewarming party to go to today. i asked Melisa to join me since she is in the neighborhood. Google maps says the address is 800m from here but i am skeptical, it seems further.

i keep getting messages and mails from people re: photography and it feels quite odd. but messages like this one that i received just today are really touching somehow. its hard to comprehend to have had such an effect on someone...but its really one of the best things that could happen.

"I just wanted to thank you for being such an absolute inspiration to me. I've been watching you for 7 years now, and your work is part of the reason as to why I am now in college majoring in photography and have decided to fully pursue it as I have come to love photography to the point it is a part of me. So again, thank you for being such a lovely individual here on deviantart and for being a part of my life, although indirectly, in the sense that you have helped me gain the drive to go after what I love. This may seem random, but I just knew it needed to be said.
Thank you so very much."

the botox is in almost full effect now. the eyebrows are higher and forehead almost frozen. almost, i still have some expressions... people have these weird misconceptions about botox, like that it freezes your whole face and you cant smile then... i think that the media is painting this crazy evil picture... anyway the smiling thing, it depends where its put.. i think they would try to avoid 'smiling muscles'. the creases and 'wrinkles' caused by smiling are dealt with fillers (like restylane), not botox, i believe. it might be something to try in 10 yrs.

i promise tomorrow is a cleaning day

2011-09-23T22:26:00.000+03:00

so many new tv series starting now... i was surprised. i started checking them out randomly, without any info.

New Girl - very nice Friends type comedy of flatmates, 3 guys 1 girl (Zooey Deschanel being much fun). i can totally watch this.

Unforgettable - a detective series. main lead is a woman who has perfect (abnormal) memory. and the male lead is her ex.

Playboy Club - a kind of drama...about a lawyer and Playboy bunnies? somehow i get a feeling its an ad for Playboy mag cos their sales are going down r something. there are speeches with Hef's voice about how playboy bunnies were like in the front line of feminism back in the 60s or whenever, free to do what they want and so. still, kind of ok series.

Person of Interest - a kind of one man police mission, saving people. good guys chasing bad guys. somewhat interesting although soooo predictable.

Prime Suspect - another police detective series! Mario Bello! and many other familiar faces. its a little different, not CSI, not close. very real and nice that way. real office politics, real chauvinism at work, real humor. but i love Maria Bello.

The Fades - fantasy horror....skiiip

The Secret Circle - a teenage witchcraft show. kind of amusing, but i am not SO teenager anymore.

Revenge - supposedly a drama... Hamptons, crooked relationships, horrible pasts... and revenge. well, not my thing, this.

2 Broke Girls - a diner comedy about 2 girls. kinda ok. but im not hooked yet.

CSI season 12 started too. Ted Danson, woah?

im happy block heels are coming back this fall. I haven't been buying many shoes lately but if there will be a great variety of block heels in shops I might look into it.

damn, the local pizza place (Domino's) has a discount in the late hours. gotta get one.

i should see Le Havre - i just finally saw the trailer now. i have a feeling i would like it.

huonostelua

2011-09-23T18:53:00.005+03:00

"Lääkäri kertoo: näin haitallisesti Light-juomat vaikuttavat elimistöösi" no aina löytyy joku asiantuntija jolla on mielipiteitä... tyyppi sanoo että jos kyllästyy veteen (ja vissyyn) niin voi keittää teetä ja laittaa jääkaappiin! wow, vitun loistava idea. kylmää teetä lopun ikää. saa maustaa vähän sokerilla tai hunajalla. hyi. jos haluu kuplia ni voi varmaan heittää vissyä sekaan. nyt me kaikki kuollaan aspartaamiin...

Soininvaara kirjoitti blogissaan että lotto on laskutaidottomien ihmisten huijaamista. ymmärrän tietysti totuuden tuossa mutta tota on toisaalta huono mennä sanomaan jollekin joka on siinä lotossa voittanut. ja lähes joka viikko joku voittaa aika paljon. useampi sit vähemmän. ongelmapelaajille lotto on ongelma, muille se on ihan sama.

mä olen ollut viime aikoina vähän huono ihminen. ja lapsellinen myös. sain tuossa viime viikolla spämmimailin. ihan oikealta ihmiseltä kyllä. maili oli osoitettu lisäkseni 12:lle muulle. rupesn miettii mistä tyyppi oikeen tietä muut ja katsoin että olen vuoden parin aikana saanut häneltä useamman vastaavanlaisen, uskonnollisen turhuusmailin jossa kehotetaan rukoilemaan jne. mua vitutti sen verran että käytin ainakin 15min netin selaamiseen ja ilmoitin tyypin mailiosoitteen vaikka mihin, tilasin kaikki mahdolliset uutiskirjeet ja muut. koin aivan pakottavaa tarvetta tehdä näin. ehkä oli huono päivä.

jotain mutakin ikävää ja inhottavaa on ehkä tullut tehtyä.

olen tuhottoman väsynyt, ollut koko päivän. tais olla rankka viikko.

uutisissa kerrotaan VR-shitistä ja VR:n tiedotteet asian tiimoilta on aina luokkaa "lippuautomaatteja käytetään anyway vähän" (varmaan siksi kun ne oli ennenkin huonoja ja siksihän koko hoito piti uudistaa). "Yhtiön mukaan lipunmyynti käytössä olevissa myyntikanavissa on kuluneella viikolla sujunut hyvin." ai no sithän kaikki on ok... VR:llä on kyllä duunissa joku uus työintoinen tiedottaja...

olohuoneen siivous - zero points.

2011-09-22T18:55:00.003+03:00

ostin kotimatkalla täytettyjä simpukoita tutulta myyjältä. poika näyttää jotain 17 vuotiaalta. vaihdettiinpa muutama sanakin. iltapalaksi ostin Subwaysta vakiokäntyn, vihannes-kinkku täytteellä. välillä mietin kuinka epistä ehkä on että samat sedät joilla on kauppa auki aamulla kun minä lähden töihin niin on siellä viellä kun minä tulen töistä ja paljon sen jälkeenkin. niin se vaan menee...

tänään pitäisi siivota olkkari, lukee mun muistilistassa. jaoin kodin siistimistehtävät eri päiville jotta jaksaisin (viitsisin) paremmin. sunnuntaina siivouksen pitäisi huipentua... mies tulee vasta sunnuntai-yönä kokeen jälkeen. pitäisi ostaa vesimeloni tervetuliaisiksi. mutta ne on tosi isoja ja painavia...plää.

aamulla heräsin taas 5min ennen kelloa. eilen heräsin kelloon. toissapäivänä joku vartti ennen kelloa. se on edelleen hyvin hämmentävää.

sandwich girl

2011-09-21T09:03:00.002+03:00

i decided to try 2 new apps. okay so they are new, that explains a lot.

fribi - its about giving away your extra stuff for free. you kind of put an ad in the app, obviously its location based... its just yeeeeet another app that might (MIGHT) one day be useful - but for now its probably used by 10 ppl in NYC, and another 10 in SF and 5 in London... okay so i sound bitter? the closest item i found was in Cyprus. i guess im just unlucky cos i live in this little village of 13+mil ppl... if the app grows and turks start using it, id really like. i think its a great idea. but its only available for iPhones now. minus.

gowalla - some kind of travel app. it seems designed for everyday use, but then again its for travel...actually i have no fuckin idea. thats not good. it has a 'tips' section but its messy, then theres 'trips'...there are losts of things or places, i dunno. its tiring to try to understand the app. so im not gonna bother. very fail.

Foursquare has been great but its not really for social people because 'checkin-in' is not social... its embarrassing, fiddling the phone when ur with other people.

this week is my runway!

2011-09-20T19:34:00.003+03:00

i got an sms from doctor today. nice to hear from him while he is at his prep course...except when the message says "there was a blast next to the building".... :( he was fine obviously but its still pretty scary. 3 people died in the bomb and 15 injured (HD 20.9). so close.

public transport was free until 1 o'clock yesterday due to it being the first day of school.. they were expecting horrible traffic jams. tried to promote public transport. it was popular but traffic was even more so... apparently a chaos ensued. 2.3 million students suddenly on the move at the same time... im lucky i take the ferry.

work is...busy busy busy. will probably stay that way. but as long as i am multitasking 10 things and most of them are interesting i think im happy. the stress is one risk. and learning about people managing can be tough. but i also love having people around again, new people almost every day, Ola is at the office everyday now though. Ola is swedish and has a fulltime job now which is going well and that makes me happy too. it makes me really cheery to have company at the office, and i like teaching too - which new writers need.

today i almost got a headache from some wordpress plugins & server issues, but actually not from the issues but from trying to follow some advice on how to fix the probs... uh. i learned a lot.

and im starting with Project Runway season 9! nicely fancy & empty. i seem to need brain freezing every evening. broccoli soup helps too :)

dancing through saturday

2011-09-18T01:25:00.000+03:00

something very confusing has happened over the past months. ive been just waiting to see what happens. early this summer i started waking up around the time my alarm goes off. i found it weird. wondered if it was about the noises outside, sunshine etc. but it kept happening... and upon waking up i wasnt too tired. this has been freaky. of course i know the same thing happens to plenty of people... but i was never one of them. since childhood i was the one to whom mornings were pure hell, regardless of how little or long i slept. mornings have always been really painful. and not the same way as people usually describe - everyones tired in the morning, supposedly. and now, i am still getting that if i dont sleep enough, i feel tired. but this is nothing compared to how i used to feel... those painful mornings... well, i just really avoided mornings. and now this... waking up around 8:15, even if im planning to get up an hour later?? wtf? im not sure how i feel. i suppose i feel good but still confused.

after 15 years of high heels my feet are finally starting to develop bunions. but its really slight still, cant really notice looking from the top, but from a side angle i see a bumb. well, it was well due... no can do.

i put my "white" bathrobe in the washing machine with chloride. couldnt understand the instructions so i put some in both the detergent and softener trays...

Britain and Irelands Next Top Model is a bit odd. doesnt really follow the format of the original. it feels home made and makes me feel embarrassed for them...? actually seems to be like an Elle McPherson Show but she is not that natural on camera nor interesting. i like her otherwise, well, from what i know.

i decided to record my botox experience with photos this time. i took a photo of my frown and eye wrinkles right after the shots as the effect will kick in later. i can see the small red injection marks on the photos. its actually really something to see the skin up close in a photo (instead of mirror). looks like i need to pluck m brows too. ops :) i think the sun here is starting to get to my skin.. its starting to look older, faster. somehow i dont mind much. the amount of freckles is something though! wow :D

the effect on emotions worked last time and maybe the effect was even half-permanent, i dont think i find myself frowning as much anymore. or perhaps im imagining. so obviously i felt like making sure... getting my eyebrows to stay where i want them - automatically - doesnt hurt....:)

the waiting room of Flavius in Göztepe. its ..umm, a pretty fancy place. i feel very out of place there.

i decided to give this british crime drama series a try. its called Luther. i started from season 2. looking good. i like the way british drama is always so serious and almost realistic, in comparison to its american counterparts.

the internet was cut again. no idea why - maybe they are doing some work like last week. but so that means i called Dürak Büfe again to get a kumpir. calling is usually a bit messy... they ask questions...and i have sometimes trouble understanding them over the phone... but he seemed to know me, remembered my address. its getting better anyway.

ive been wearing this necklace a lot. bought it from Bulgaria. 5e.

checking out some shoes on my way home.

this guy was sleeping by our doorsteps when i came home today. i seemed to wake him up.