Humiliation February 25, 2007

Oh dear. I really did humiliate myself at work yesterday.

We had this customer, a 40-something guy, very unique-looking and extremely interested in coffee. He chatted with me for a while about his love for coffee and he ordered many drinks to soothe his coffee tooth. Later on, his female friend joined him and they ordered some more. After having enjoyed several capuccinos, espressos, and lattes, the guy came to me and said (or that’s what I heard) “Can I fuck (you)?”. In total astonishment, I didn’t answer anything, just rolled my eyes and gasped in disbelief. When the guy repeated his question “Can I fuck (you)?”, his female friend was nodding and smiling at me simultaneously. I was so shocked that the only thing that came out of my mouth was “No”.

After receiving the “no” -answer, the guy insisted that it was on the list. At that point I was so confused that I realized I must have heard him wrong -after all, I didn’t think “fucking” was on the list. I took a quick look at the list and noticed that there was, indeed, a drink called Cafe con panna, espresso served with whipped cream. Anyways, when the guy had asked if we served this drink, I seriously heard him say “Saanko panna?” in Finnish, which means “Can I fuck (you)?” in English.

After realizing what had just happened, I quickly replied, “Oh, yeah, sorry..I didn’t realize we had a drink like that. I’ve never made it before…” After that, I moved behind the counter and started making Cafe con panna feeling totally humiliated and embarrased. Thank god the customer had no idea what I had just heard. And good gracious I didn’t answer anything like “Ei kuule heru” or “Dream on, asshole”.

Winter Wonderland February 23, 2007

I’m sure I’ve said it before, but I’m not especially fond of winter. The cold temperatures, the wind, the snow, and the darkness don’t really make me happy. That’s why I was amazed to notice I actually enjoyed myself last Tuesday when I went sledding with my friends.

Although the temperature was close to minus 20 degrees celcius, the weather was absolutely beautiful. Looking at the scene at Ullanlinnanmäki, a place where students go sledding on Shrove Tuesday, was incredible -the sky was blue, the sun was shining, and the snow sparkled like a million diamonds. It was a winter wonderland, to tell you the truth. And for the first time in years, I loved being outdoors although it was cold and although it was winter.

I guess I enjoyed myself mostly due to the company and due to the fun I hadn’t had a chance to experience before. But, I must admit, on a day like that, winter wasn’t that bad either. And the hot chocolate after sledding -yeah, that was pure heaven.

Where’s the problem? February 13, 2007

Having prepped myself the entire morning to go to my Spanish lecture, I was a bit dissapointed to notice it was cancelled for today. I came to the library, thinking I could do something “useful” instead, like doing research for my proseminar, but…

…as you might assume, that didn’t happen. I spent the entire time surfing on the internet, doing stuff totally unecessary, totally unrelated to school work.

Why is it that I’m sometimes (too often, perhaps) incapable of doing anything even slightly related to school? Where is the problem? There’s this perfect time finally to better my essays and so forth, but no, I rather use it for something “fun”, like writing my blog…

It’s kinda frustrating to notice I’m not able to kick my own butt. Wanna help out a friend? I’ll take any suggestions you have!

Literary Analysis February 11, 2007

Sometimes I wonder why I want to specialize in literature. After all, it is a field too often colored by misinterpretation and overinterpretation. Reading stuff for the Children’s Literature course today, I came upon an analysis of Snow White that was simply unbelievable.

According to a certain literary critic, the seven dwarfs in the fairy tale symbolize, for the strangest reason, Snow White’s genitalia. And like that isn’t enough, the critic goes on to suggest that these little men, “with their stunted bodies and their mining occupation -they skillfully penetrate into dark holes- also suggest phallic connotations”. Another critic says the seven dwarfs could be seen as a group of homosexuals.

Yeah. Well, you can see why I am starting to hate literary analysis. There is simply no room for normal observations, but rather an attempt to make the readers of the analysis shocked with disbelief. Really, I believe that if I could point out each and every phallic symbol from a text I am analysing, I would become a great literary critic. However, I’m afraid I’m incapable of doing that, for a reason I don’t probably need to say out loud.

If anyone knows, I was just wondering if these lit specialists really take their work seriously? Or do they just cry their eyes out with laughter when coming up with these incredibly odd interpretations?

Much wisdom in few pages February 9, 2007

It is only with one’s heart that one can see clearly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.

Once again, I read through one of my all-time favourite books, The Little Prince. This thin book, packed with illustrations, is filled with wisdom. Antoine de Saint-Exupery is definitely a wiz at writing. I don’t quite know how to sum the book up, but I do think it is a striking allegory of the human condition.

In the story the Little Prince keeps saying how “absolutely extraordinary” the grown-ups are. And I think he means this..well, not in a positive way, anyways. After reading the book, I truly hope I haven’t yet become a grown-up. I’d rather keep seeing with my heart and glowing with that charm of childhood in me, than loose all the uniqueness that the grown-ups, according to Saint-Exupery, don’t posses anymore.

Too much coffee? February 8, 2007

I’m officially the girl at the cafe, “kahvilaneiti”, that is. After only 7 days of work, I am somewhat fed up with coffee -and I don’t even drink that stuff! Anyways, it’s been both a pleasant and an unpleasant surprise, to work at a cafe. I knew it would be hard work, but I didn’t know it could be that hectic. The last 7 days, according to my boss, have been the calmest days for weeks -but as you might expect, to a new girl like me, that pace has been more than enough to handle. It’s not easy to try to learn the recipes and how to handle the coffee machine or the cash register simultaneously with trying to look after the customers and the coffee shop.

I guess it all comes down to rhythm; when you learn how to run the place in a precise way, rhythmically, you will eventually survive. It just takes time (and a lot of patience) to be on the verge of something completely new, something I haven’t tried my hands on before. A couple of times I’ve been ready to give up and quit, but I know I will manage. Making lattes, cappucinos and espressos was always my dream. And now I’m living it. Living it, is harder than I thought, but at the end of the day, it’s just work. And when I think about the outcome of working there (=read money), I can pretty much stand anything. And, after all, the job is ok.

So what’s it really like working at a cafe?

Well, the coffee shop is filled with coffee. Lots of it. I know how to make a tasty drink with the coffee machine and how to operate the coffee maker. The coffee grounds are important, too, as is the coffee pot, the coffee spoons, and the coffee break. Everything circles pretty much around coffee. I dream of coffee, too. Oh yeah, and my hands constantly reek of…mmmm…coffee.

One more candle February 4, 2007

Whoosh. That’s the sound of years flying by. I can’t believe it’s my birthday again -it seems that the candles on my cake seem to add up faster than I ever imagined…Usually I’ve impatiently waited for my birthday; wanted to make that day a perfect one, a day to remember. This year, everything seems to be different. I did, of course, look forward to my b-day, but today I don’t feel any different. It’s just another day and life keeps going as usual.

I guess getting older isn’t that thrilling after all. I don’t mean I hate getting older, or anything like that, but at this age, there are more important things in life, experiences that are more life-changing than birthdays. Nevertheless, I’m extremely happy and content today. And it’s not because of my b-day. I’m happy to see that in 23 years I’ve managed to do so much; I’ve met incredible people and I’ve seen places I never thought I would. 23 years ago my hair was pitch black and I weighed 2,7 kilos. Today, it’s hard for me to recognize myself from the pictures that were taken in my childhood. I’m blond and…well, let’s not talk about weight here Anyways, my point is (and I do have one after all…) that in these 23 years I’ve become me, I have become the person behind my name, I have gotten to know myself, and I’m happy for that.

These past 23 years have been a learning experience for me. And I’m relieved I’ve survived with myself thus far…I mean 23 years with myself is a long time, right?