Getting ready to let go. November 10, 2009

The last 4 days of my three-month stay here in D.C. are at hand and I’m getting ready to go back home. This time around, I feel different, though. When I was getting ready to leave T.O. after my exchange, I felt sad, unhappy, and wasn’t ready to go back at all. Now, I feel excited to return. I’m not looking forward to the snow, the darkness, the coldness or some other stuff (like finishing up my gradu…), but I am excited to return to my own home! I have longed for my own space and my privacy after sharing a bedroom with two other people…and getting back to the routine of my Helsinki-life. I have good things waiting for me there – my family, my sweet nephew, my friends, and I can’t wait to catch up with everyone there!

The last three months here have been awesome, don’t get me wrong. I have met amazing people, seen and experienced incredible things, been inspired, gotten to know the Foreign Ministry and what it’s like working for a Finnish Embassy abroad. So it’s all been good – I’ve, once again, learned about myself and life in general, grown a little bit and gotten some perspective for my life looking at it from afar. And I’m happy and ecstatic about everything that has taken place here in D.C. I’ve been incredibly lucky to have experienced all of this and to have been able to live in the capital of the world!

Nothing makes one appreciate certain things more than living abroad in different circumstances and in a foreign culture. I cherish the fact that in Finland it is so easy to take care of all kinds of things – as here in the States even the simplest things can drive one crazy because they are so difficult to handle! It is pretty unbelievable, but very true. So I will try not to complain about stuff when I get back to Finland, because things work there very very well compared to this country…

I’m forever thankful for everything that I’ve had a chance to do while here in the States… I’ve been to the beach, 3 times to NYC, seen the monuments and museums in D.C., gone shopping and partying, seen a few musicals, gone to theatre, made good friends, learned pilates, gone kayaking, visited the White House, went to an NHL game, visited an amusement park, worked at the Embassy, co-curated, planned and executed an exhibition… and numerous things on top of that. Most importantly, I’ve had the chance to share this experience with three important people from back home and that makes it all even more special.

Now that everything is drawing to an end here in D.C., I feel thankful, but ready to let go. I’ve had enough of living abroad on my own for a little while and I can’t wait to return to where I belong right now – in Helsinki with my dear, dear peeps.

It’s going to be strange being there again in a few days… see you soon!

Come rain or come shine October 12, 2009

The D.C. weather is a topic worth discussing. It is always on the lips of someone, and there is always something to be said about how it is outside. When I arrived here in August, the weather was sizzling hot, a bit too hot to be exact. As the temperature climbed close to 40 degrees celcius and as the humidity was closer to a 100 percent, you can imagine that it didn’t feel that comfortable at the moment. After the really high temps, it cooled down a bit to comfortable 30 degrees, and for the first two months the weather has really been wonderful. Never before in my life have I had the chance to wear summer gear for more than 5 months in a row, and it seems that my summer has been just going on for months and months! I don’t think I’ve ever been so tanned in my life before..although I know it is not visible to anyone else’s eyes. However, I’ve gotten so used to the hot temperatures that when a few weeks back the weather cooled down to 20-25, it felt cold.

I guess my body has gotten so used to these hot and warm and wonderful temperatures that I cannot deal with the cold temps anymore. This morning, it was a freezing 10 degrees outside and it felt like my fingers would come off. But, without a doubt, I’ll get used to it if it stays like this. But the problem with D.C. weather is that it keeps changing…and changing. On Friday, it was +29, yesterday +25, and now…+12. It is also incredibly hard to dress when you go outside, because you never know what the weather will be like in a few hours. The mornings are cold, the day might be hot, and at night time, it cools down again.

I guess one could call that exciting. And I’m not complaining at all…walking with flip-flops or ballerinas in October suits me better than well! It’s just the November weather in Finland I’m not looking forward to…

For richer for poorer… October 12, 2009

The last two months of D.C. life have taught me quite a bit about the American society. What I’ve observed, learned, and seen is that America is like a two-edged sword. On one hand, there is materialism, a lotta money, bling-bling, expensive cars, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Juicy Couture and what-not, and then, on the other hand, there is homelessness, poverty, rejection, discrimination and rights dismissed.

It is not until you live in the States that you can actually understand how unequal and unfair this country is – how divided it still remains, and how big the gap is between the rich and the poor. It is as if the public side of this huge country is masked in the “living the American dream” -ideal, whereas in reality, the American dream is not accessible to most Americans.

Of course, in this country, there are many people who have it all and who live some kind of a dream according to some Western standards and ideals I might not agree with. But in any case, there are still hundreds of thousands of people that can lose their jobs due to their sexual orientation, or people who are looked down on because of their race.

It is surprising that here in the capital of the United States of America, America’s window to the world, there is so much suffering visible on the streets. Homeless people sleeping in the parks, people begging money, people that are really out of it, people who look like they really need some help. And sadly, most of these homeless people are, in fact, African American. As the weather has started getting colder at night, the homeless people crowd the buses to get some sleep, and to stay warm. Never before have I seen anything like this. The crime rate is higher than in any other city, and as one drives through the Northeast or the Southeast, it is a totally different kind of world. At that moment, it is hard to remember you are still in the capital of this prominent country.

What I have learned in the last few months is that nothing is as it seems. D.C. is a beautiful, fun and interesting city, but behind the scenes, it is not as innocent as it might seem. When the other half of the city dresses up in designer couture and stuffs their faces full of sushi and drives their Lamborginis, the other half tries to make it through the night. It is sad, it is disturbing, but yet, it is the reality here. Everything in this society is divided – it is either race, politics, sex, nationality, or money that rule this country.

I feel privileged to have been able to get a peek into the realities of so many whose voices remain unheard in the international arena. From now on, I wonder the significance of the “American dream”, and do not feel unlucky because I wasn’t born in this country. It is surely a blessing to be a European – because here, there’s still so much work to do in terms of everything. America might be changing, but it is changing slowly. And for now, the two-edged sword prevails.

Proud Finn September 26, 2009

I made my very first appearance as an Embassy of Finland intern at the 2009 Euro Night last weekend. The Euro Night is a concept created by the French Embassy here – it is a chance for the European countries to introduce their food and drinking -culture to the Americans and to the folks here in D.C. This time around, 21 countries were there, offering free food and drinks for over 2000 people!

We had been prepared pretty well for the night, and everything went very smoothly. We set up our beautiful stand with Marimekko -tablecloths and other Finnish design. The ambassador’s chef had prepared delicious little rye breads with smoked salmon mousse, mushroom pasties, and berry soup… people loved the food and the night really was a success. Us, interns, sported the Finnish national costumes…and we really felt like some kind of celebrities, because people were asking us to pose in photos throughout the night. Good times, indeed.

Never before have I been as proud of my nationality as that night. It was the first time I didn’t feel like I needed to “hide” where I was from, but instead, I felt proud and lucky to be a Finn and to be able to introduce a little bit of Finland to these hungry Americans. As we opened the Finlandia vodka -bar later, we had hundreds of people lining up to get a shot or a drink of the famous vodka.

As D.C. is such an international city, and feels more European than American due to all of the embassies, different kinds of people and the structure of and the buildings in the city, I feel like being a Finn here is rather cool than not-cool. Everyone seems to fit here, and all the nationalities are embraced. What finnishess has become to denote to me in the last few weeks here, is, most of all, freedom, green values, purity, good and free education, and safety. Above all, however, I feel that I can proudly be a Finn – an internationally oriented one – someone, who represents Finland and Finns here in D.C. It is a privilege, really, to be here, and to work at the Embassy. It’s easily forgotten in the busy day routine of mine, but I do cherish and embrace every moment.

The Big Apple September 15, 2009

A year and a half after my first trip to NYC, I found myself at a Times Square hostel again… this time around, the bus trip only took four hours and we managed to cram a lot into two days!

We took the Megabus from D.C. and the trip went surprisingly fast. The bus was a double-decker, and we were incredibly lucky, because we got the seats up-front and had ended up having a perfect view!! As the bus started getting closer, the Manhattan skyline became visible in front of our eyes and suddenly we were in the City… in the middle of everything.

As both my roommie and I had visited the Big Apple before, we didn’t feel the same “pressure” as when you’re somewhere for the first time and you desperately try to run from one place to another in order to see and experience as much as possible. We just enjoyed the fact that we were there, took in the sights and sounds, sat at Times Square wondering how on Earth we ended up there… The two days were pleasant, and the weather was warm and summery.

So what did my weekend consist of? Taking pictures, walking around Times Square, shopping around Manhattan, a subway-ride to Brooklyn and back, hiking up all the way from Chinatown through Soho back to Times Square, sipping coffee and eating bagels, Shrek the Musical (!!!!!!!) on Broadway, Macy’s, and a lot of blisters.

After New York, D.C. feels utterly small. Maybe due to the fact that there are no high buildings here…maybe due to the fact that D.C. is, indeed, rather small… But nevertheless, it feels good to be back although I wouldn’t have minded staying in NYC for a bit longer. It’s an awesome, awesome, incredible City with a capital C!

Sometimes I forget how good things are…Gosh I am pretty lucky, aren’t I? I am able to just travel there for the weekend if I feel like it…! Pretty cool, I think.

The Beach September 14, 2009

I’ve spent the last two weekends traveling around the country…and I’ve managed to travel through six states in total…Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York (and D.C.)!

Last weekend a group of Finnish au pairs and then a few of us Finnish interns hopped on a diplomat car and drove to the South, to Virginia Beach for the Labor Day weekend! The 5-hour drive went by fast as we took on the highway and as the five of us chit-chatted for hours. It’s a funny thing, that. Five strangers, really, crammed into one car, and a few hours later, you feel like you’ve known each other for a long, long time Anyways, it was great to meet new people and get out of D.C. for a change!

Virginia Beach was awesome. I’ve never really been to a beach resort before, so it was all new to me. I know people regard the place as the Teneriffe of the States, but I didn’t mind it at all. We had perfect, hot beach weather throughout the weekend, and it really felt like a vacation. The Atlantic Ocean with its huge waves, beach and sand as far as the eye can see, cold drinks, sunbathing, sunscreen. Ahh, how fun! Besides laying on the beach and getting tanned (AND YES, I GOT TANNED, can you believe it!!!) and swimming in the warm water, we walked around the main streets, enjoyed the smell of the ocean, and relaxed. The sweet smell of candy mixed with the sea breeze and the sounds of laughter and music and the sights of palm trees here and there, made me feel like I was a million miles away. I’d do it again, anytime.

Being in “the South” was also interesting. We drove by corn fields and it was nice to reflect back on the history and the fact that Virginia was, indeed, one of the Southern states, a pro-slavery one. You could sense the southern atmosphere, although I am aware of the fact that it is not as south as, say, Louisiana or South Carolina. But, nevertheless, it was really neat to be there and to hark back on times long-gone.

On our way back home, we took a scenic route through Maryland and through the Chesapeake Bay. Gosh it was amazing to drive “through” the Atlantic Ocean! There was a 20 kilometre bridge that literally went through the Ocean… and there was nothing there but water…It was kind of scary, but extremely beautiful and an experience to remember, for sure! It sort of reminded me of the drive from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island a year ago…good times, good memories.

To tie the loose ends together, the trip to the beach was, all in all, awesome! I still remember the sunrise at the beach, the softness of the sand between my toes, the jazz played at the beach, the smell of sunscreen and the southern feel. And now that work is officially starting to get busy, I feel that I can survive quite long with these memories. Thanks, VA Beach.

Future prospects September 5, 2009

The greatest part after free vodka tastings at work is the fact that I’ve gotten some questions answered. I came to D.C. as unprepared as possible in terms of what working for the Foreign Ministry was going to be like. Although there’s still a lot to learn, and mysteries to unravel, I feel that I am beginning to understand something about the complicated nature of it. The people I work alongside with have worked for the ministry for a long time, so they are always willing to explain, tell stories, and answer questions…and I keep asking. This is my three-month learning experience and I have decided to take everything out of it.

In the last three weeks, I have started to get a glimpse of what I might want to do with my life. I have listened to the Embassy’s employees’ stories, inquired about their lifestyles, and made my own assessments. I know it’s an exciting lifestyle, but I’m not sure if it’s for me. I enjoy being abroad and trying out new things, but traveling year to year, from one culture to another, and doing that with children and a husband – it’s not as romantic as it sounds. And to tell the truth, it doesn’t even sound romantic. It is tough for the kids, tough for your marriage, tough overall. So what I have put together is that in the future, I’d love to work for the Foreign Ministry. But I wouldn’t love moving around the world.

That’s where I’m at right now. The rest I need to figure out in the next (and last…) two months here.

But I must say it is kind of neat going to work and receiving a message from Alex Stubb, Minister of Foreign Affairs as he welcomed everyone back from their summer holidays. Also, I have a business card that says: Matleena Taivainen, Intern, Cultural Office, Embassy of Finland, Washington D.C.

Pretty awesome!

Hail the hero of health care September 2, 2009

After a Friday night sushi and movie, we journeyed to Capitol Hill on Saturday for a totally different kind of occasion. My roommate Natasha and I decided we wanted to pay our respects and see the funeral progression of late Teddy Kennedy. On our way there, it became apparent that it is definitely good to know a local – Natasha gave me a tour around the Hill, explaining the history of buildings and the significance of things. And to get the American perspective doesn’t hurt either. Also, it’s good to go around the city with someone who knows it well, now I feel like I know much more, too, and can find the gems easier!

Anyways, waiting for Teddy on the Hill was surreal, and ridiculous. We went there an hour beforehand to get good “seats”…well, due to crappy weather in Boston, Teddy and the progression were incredibly late, approximately 2,5 hours! We stood there, in 40 degree celcius weather, for 4 hours!! It was torture. The sun was shining, people were passing out due to the heat, we ran out of water, I got sunburned. But then Teddy’s hearse came. It was amazing to be part of a historical moment like that for sure, so no regrets. It was great to see how the American crowd responded to the progression, listen to them sing “America beautiful” in unison, and just to be “one of them” for a second. There were hundreds of cameras and press, thousands of people, and when Teddy’s hearse arrived, the crowd started cheering and to tell the truth, it was kind of touching.

And on top of everything, I got to see a glimpse of Arnold Schwarzenegger and John Kerry, and some of the Kennedy clan. Not bad! When we got home, we were exhausted, but an amazing brunch on Sunday morning at a French bistro and a day of random shopping helped ease the pain…

Learning American… August 28, 2009

Before I arrived in the States, I swore to myself my pronunciation would not change. I’d savor the Canadian vowels and keep my expressions as Canadian as possible. Little did I know that I’d be living with an American, and I can’t help it -she’s taught me new expressions that have come part of my speech. So when I come back to Finland, my accent is bound to be confusing. A little bit Finnish, a little bit Canadian, a little bit American…

I won’t let it change too much, but I notice in myself a habit of picking up a style of speech easily from someone else. I’m good at imitating their pronunciation, the way they stress, their body language, and so and and so forth. It’s kind of annoying, but that’s what it’s like for a linguist…

What I’ve picked up so far (and what I keep using all the time):

“Oh good gosh!”
“suckers”
“awesome” (with an “o” in the beginning of the word, not an “ah”)

…fun…

Out and about August 24, 2009

So the first week in D.C. has almost come to its end… a week ago I was still counting down days to my return to Finland, now I’m realizing that three months is such a short time, and I’m desperately trying to do things now, as I know that eventually, time here in the States is running out…

Never before have I learned to love the weekend, but after a week full of work, I realize it’s a blessing! Friday has never felt so good. On Friday, we, the Finnish interns, headed out to the Mall to partake in a Friday night jazz -concert outside at the Sculpture Garden. We had sangria, crackers and cheese, fresh fruit and sat outside, enjoying the music and the weather. Until it started to rain… and it really poured down! We decided to go to a friend’s house and got soaked on our way there. But it was still nice, we met a lot of American med students and got to be a part of their house party! And I drank beer! Can you believe it. This brand, Yeungeling (or something…) was actually pretty good and I ordered one at the bar last night, too…

Yesterday our roommate Natasha took us shopping to Pentagon City, and it was awesome! Besides getting new bedding (we had Natasha’s mom’s credit card…), I found myself new running shoes for 40 euros… later, we had a pre-party at our house and then headed out to Adam’s Morgan, the famous bar/night club -area and met up with some Slovenian interns at Local16. We danced and it was so much fun! Great to see what D.C. nightlife is like! And it was pretty cool there, because they had a patio outside, too!

Today we did some more shopping in Georgetown (lots of cool stores there!!)!! After making a good dinner, I’m ready to head out to the gym! Gotta enjoy Sunday to its fullest… And tomorrow, it’s Monday again…hopefully we’ll get something interesting to do at work!