glugging some glögi

It's Valentine's Day tomorrow, and here I am sipping a giant cup of warm glögi.

Glögi (also called glögg or gløgg in other Nordic languages) is a mulled wine that's normally served during the holiday season here in Scandinavia. It's made from spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, sugar or molasses, and mixed with red wine, vodka or brandy. It's then heated and served warm with raisins, almond slivers, and gingerbread cookies. Now, imagine yourself sipping that cup in front of a fireplace in the winter wonderland called Finland...

I know Christmas is two months gone, but Valentines is a holiday too, no? It's red, so glögi still counts as part of my Valentines Day celebrations. Besides, being a poor student like me, now is the perfect time to get addicted to glögi because supermarkets are selling off their remaining stocks for one euro! (Thanks to my "official" Finnish friend, Annika, for the tip!)

Happy Valentines Day to you all, wherever in the world you may be!

manilla

It's not every day that something reminds me of home. So when something, no matter how small, comes to me, I grasp at it.

I am thankful that even here, halfway around the world, I know there is still a place called home.





the old manilla factory,
which is now a center for arts and culture
[turku, finland]

did you know...

...that there's a walk of fame somewhere in turku?



it's buried under the snow most of the time, but it's there, somewhere along linnankatu.
(thanks to ansku for pointing them out to me!)

aurakatu

could it be the world's gone colder?
maybe, i'm a losing soul
the more i try it just gets harder
and my pain is getting old
- The Rain Don't Last, Hope



another snowy night on aurakatu
[turku, finland]

how do you dress for -40 degree weather?

I've just signed up for a student tour to Lappi, or the Finnish Lapland. For the uninitiated, it's the vast wilderness in northern Finland above the Arctic Circle.

I get to cross the Arctic Circle -- how cool is that? Or rather, how cold is that?

-40 degrees Celsius, apparently.

Freezing to death and roughing it up in a cabin in the woods with ten strangers is not exactly my idea of fun, but then again, the trip promises a chance to visit a snow castle, go ice fishing, build an igloo, go reindeer sledding, and maybe even see the Northern Lights. It's an opportunity I just couldn't miss.

But somehow this still feels a bit too Survivor-ish for me.

I'll tell you all about it when I come back a popsicle. :/

*Winter dressing instructions taken from www.visitfinland.com

runeberg tortes

February 5 marks Runeberg Day in Finland, the birthday of their national poet J.L. Runeberg. This also means runeberg tortes season -- named after the poet, of course, and his favorite pastry.

Here's some runeberg tortes from Aschan, a bakery here in Turku.

kaksikymmentaviisi

That's Finnish for 25.

And here are 25 random things about me, cross-posted from my Facebook account -- because I am one of those self-involved types who absolutely loved doing this. Enjoy!

25 Random Things About Sheila

1. For most of my life, I had short hair in an afro, just because I couldnt be bothered to comb my hair.
2. I need 12 hours of sleep. Anything less than that and I am a zombie.
3. I am the quietest person girl in my family. (Changed that since my sister says my dad is the quietest one.)
4. I was once asked out by a waiter.
5. I was once asked out by a grocer.
6. I was once stalked by a bellboy.
7. I was once mistaken for a hooker.
8. Which leads me to conclude... I am very attractive to men in the service industry.
9. I do not watch/listen/read the news. I didn't even know about the US elections until someone told me. I recently installed the CNN ticker in the hopes of being more informed, but so far I only know about stupid things like this goat being held in a jail in Nigeria for trying to steal a car, and that cows can produce more milk if you give them a name. Teehee.
10. I am always mistaken for a Latina. Case in point: In Paris, a street vendor chased after me shouting: "Mexican lady! Mexican laaaaddddyyyy!!!!"
11. I cannot go more than one hour without peeing.
12. I have a built-in hot girl sensor. I always check out hot girls.
13. I have swum in a pool filled with old naked women....
14. ... and got scolded for having my clothes on.
15. I cannot sleep without taking a shower first.
16. I saw Enchanted being shot in Central Park, and thought "Which idiots would want to watch a B-movie like this?!!?" I watched the movie. McDreamy is hot.
17. I can go for days without leaving my room. I am very good at keeping myself entertained, even when I actually have nothing to do.
18. Someone once told me that I can be very funny, except I was sad most of the time. That made me sad. Hahaha.
19. I cannot dance. I dread dancing more than going to the dentist.
20. I have a hole in my heart.
21. I used to be so shy, I was scared to order from waiters.
22. I believe I was haunted by an evil spirit that followed me home from Montreal. I had nightmares for a week.
23. I absolutely despise waking up early. When I was younger, my parents, our maids, our driver, our dog, etc., etc. had to drag me out of bed and shove me in the shower to make me go to school.
24. I hate it when other people sit on my bed. My bed is my sacred place!
25. I am looking for an internship this summer. If you can give me one or know anywhere I can do one, please let me know!

the winter checklist

Contrary to popular misconception, winters in Turku aren't as cold as winters in other parts of Finland. The average temperature in January ranges from -10°C to 3°C, which, with the dry climate, often feels much warmer.

There is, however, a perennial mountain of snow. So, when in Finland, I do as anyone from a tropical country would do -- indulge myself shamelessly in the list of winter-y things to do!

perspective: 23 tammikuu 2009

the gregorius IX:n tie bus stop, where I catch the bus from my house
[halinen, turku, finland]

great balls of fire!

I bought the entire IKEA Swedish meatball making kit.

Yes, I mean everything -- from the meatballs to the gravy to mashed potato to the jar of lingonberry jam that's probably enough for fifty meatball meals. I'm easily victimized by marketing like that. I went there to buy some things for my room, and ended up with a bag full of IKEA food. 

I can almost hear Florian's reaction in my head now: "Holy!" Florian says I do not cook anything except instant food. It's not that I don't have a choice -- I actually like cooking and am always willing to whip up a home-cooked meal. It's just that I am also one of those weird people who actually like instant food.

Anyway, back to the Swedish meatballs -- it's awesome.  I can't tell the difference between a köttbullar and regular meatballs from around the world, but traditionally, the Swedish serve their meatballs with gravy, boiled (or mashed) potatoes, and lingonberry jam. Meatballs and jam -- sounds weird, right? Absolutely delicious!

I'm a convert.

I will never look at meatballs the same way again.

perspective: 19 tammikuu 2009

the view from my bedroom window
[halinen, turku, finland]

why i always get lost in finland

Because everything has such obscenely long names.


tuomiokirkkosilta bridge
[turku, finland]

underneath the snow

The snow melts away after several days of above-zero temperature.
[turku, finland]

what does turku look like?

Turku, having existed since 1229, holds the title of oldest city in Finland. When I say I'm from Turku, most people react with ooohs and aaahs, expecting to see medieval streets and buildings and castles.

So what does Turku look like? Surprisingly, it's quite modern. Turku burned down several times in the past, so there are hardly any remnants of its medieval past. Most of the buildings in Turku are actually quite new. There are the occasional brick buildings which were built in the late 1800s or early 1900s, but the rest are modern concrete blocks that were probably built from the 1950s onwards.

Come take a walk with me down one of the streets in downtown Turku:

turun kauppahalli

Turku has a kauppatori (market square) and a kauppahalli (market hall) where you can buy meat, fish, fresh produce, and other local specialties. Having had a thing for markets since falling in love with Toronto's Kensington Market a couple of years ago, I found myself searching for the Turun Kauppahalli as soon as I could.

The Turun Kauppahalli (Turku Market Hall) is housed in a red brick building that dates back to 1896. According to Turku Tourism, there is only one shop (that used to sell seal fat) remaining that has operated throughout the lifetime of the kauppahalli. Nowadays, there is a wide assortment of businesses: bakeries, butchers, ethnic food stalls, souvenir shops, and restaurants. My favorites are the kauppamuseo which shows a typical shop from the old days, and the Aschan cafe housed in a converted train carriage.

*Turun Kauppahalli is located on Eerikinkatu 16, Turku, Finland.