Finnish grammar whaat?

This is what I saw at the window of Waterstone's when I walked past it this morning. Seems normal to you? Novels displayed in a shop window. oih. Look more carefully. The bottom left corner. Ha! See? New Finnish Grammar! What is that book doing there with the novels? Why is a book about Finnish grammar specially displayed?

That's what I wanted to know. So I went inside. And it's a novel. In which Finnish grammar plays a central part. It's written by Diego Marani, an Italian author. It was published in Italian in 2000 (Nuova grammatica finlandese) and published in English only this year. The book tells a story of a soldier who is found in Trieste in 1943, but doesn't remember anything about himself. His tags tell he's Finnish, but that's all. The doctor is Finnish and decides to teach him Finnish hoping that would trigger his memory back on.

The book seems really interesting. No, I didn't buy it. Yet. I'm thinking that will be my reward when I'm done with my essays. The question remains - read it in English or Italian? English translation was according to some a bit wonky and possibly not conveying exactly what Marani did originally. And the Italian would be good exercise for reading comprehension.

Oh, I know! Someone could read it with me in Italian during the holidays.. you know who you are. think of the fun! check it out. now. We could talk about it. Super.

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If you're interested in it in Finnish, it's Sotilas ilman menneisyyttä, and was apparently translated in 2004.

Diego Marani has written another book that has something to do with Finland and that's L'ultimo dei vostiachi.

PS. I saw that in Finnish the book was more than 20€... And I was thinking the £10 price tag on it here was a bit too much...

Few questions.

Having had this blog for a couple of months I've come to realize what it is that I want to do with it. First, I had grand plans of getting a wide readership and eventually making money with the blog. Now I'm come to realize that I do not want that nor would I have the time for that. So, there are few questions I'd like to ask from you regarding the future of this blog. (I'd like to hear your thoughts so, please, reply in the comments or email me.)

I'd like this blog to be a sort of safe haven, where I could write about my life in peace and security and where you could freely comment. So, what do you think

1) English or Finnish? -Writing in English seems sort of preposterous to me and I've noticed I miss Finnish. I speak it every day, but still. And basically all my readers understand Finnish. It's a very small group that's reading this.

2) Public or private? - Now that the blog is public, you can just come here and read. And so can everybody else. And I'm not sure whether I like that. I had in mind to make this private. Those who have a gmail address would receive an invite and would be able to read this after having logged in. Those who don't would need to make one.

3) Any other thoughts?

Please, let me know what you think.

I hate essays.

It’s essay season here.

In the beginning of the year I attended a talk on study tips. One of them was that since there will be 2-4 essays due at the same time, it could be a good idea to write one in the first four weeks of term and so on. So that you wouldn’t have to write all of the essays simultaneously.

I’m not in the need of writing them simultaneously – yet… – but they are causing massive stress. On the one hand we’re told that a) essays count only for about 20% of the grade and b) the first year doesn’t really matter towards your final grade of the degree, but on the other that these are important. And I get it. Now is a good time to learn how to write essays and what is required.

But I just don’t like them. I can’t get a straight line of thought in my head so how am I supposed to get one on paper?!

I just want to watch movies and be with V.

I ask your forgiveness...

through these photos. Enjoy. If you will.

From Sunday when the sun was up and it was warm. It was nice.

Home cooking.

If you know me, you know I like food. I like to eat and I like to try different things, different dishes.  I have even been blamed (thanks, little bro) to favor a refined cuisine, a fancy one, if you will.

Here we've been making mostly pasta and rice with various things. It's been good and fulfilling - has kept the hunger at bay - and we've found some good stuff. But. I was getting bored. As I said, I like to try different things and I just can't keep on eating the same thing day in, day out. I get BORED. 

So, we bought potatoes. And made mash. With.... meatballs. (See where I'm getting at here?) And brown gravy. And people, I couldn't have been happier. Even the delicious bolognese didn't get me this happy. Lihapullat ja perunamuusi. Mmmmm. And some rye bread to go with it (thanks, mom!). I was in Finland heaven. 

Added bonus: I have Fazer chocolate. Sounds like a desert.

In other news, next week is reading week which means no classes. Holiday? No. Days used to catch up in reading and writing essays? Most definitely. But this weekend? Total holiday.

Aftermath.

The fam came and the fam went. It was so so so so so wonderful to have them here. Their stay seemed long before they got here, but once they had arrived, time just flew by. Unfair. There is so much more to see and do here. 

But we did get around doing something, don't you worry. We went to my school and I remember there being surprised faces when the smallness of the campus was noticed. Or was I imagining? Maybe I'm still amazed at the different in size between say my school and the one right next to it. 

Whilst I was at school, they got around to the beginning of Oxford Street, shopped till they dropped and went back to the hotel. On another day, the fam went to day "hi!" to the Queen and the Houses of Parliament. 

They went to Oxford Street without me, you say? Well, yes. But then we all went to Westfield shopping centre in Stratford. You know, the biggest one in the EU? We barely managed to go through the two top levels before we got too tired. It is BIG.

One thing that I wanted to show to them (apart from my glorious room, which they saw as well - bro defined it as small) was Greenwich. It is so quaint. And green. 

Good times were had and I'm so glad it's only a bit over a month till Christmas holidays. My love of Finland just grows and grows while I'm here. (See following post.) I'm so happy they were able to come. Friends - when are you coming?