Keyboarding

I think schoolchildren get classes in “keyboarding” now, rather than “typing”, am I right? Well, all travelers to and within Europe should be required to attending keyboarding classes prior to their first use of a PC in a particular country. Well, the keyboards in the Netherlands aren’t too different – there is a symbol for the Euro and the Pound hidden somewhere among the number keys.

But Moldova and Finland’s are crazy! Moldovan keyboards have the Cyrillic (Russian) alphabet on them, and I guess pressing alt or ctrl+shift or shift+enter+F6+tab turns it on. (Turning the computer off is the best way to turn it off.) But everything else remains fairly similar to keyboards in the States.

Then there is Finland. For three weeks, I struggled to find and then to remember that it is ALT+2 that gets the @ symbol. The extra letters in their alphabet are placed to the right of the L for 2 keys and (I believe) to the right of the M. That leaves the ; : ‘ “ and I think the < , and > . homeless. So the : is where the ? should be, and the ? is where the ( should be and the / is where the ) should be. I don’t know where the <> exist, but I’m pretty sure the { and the } don’t exist. The $ is an afterthought (of course), and I don’t know where it is on the Finnish keyboards. I began writing without any ‘s because it was too hard to find. And I used the address book on our webmail instead of typing in any e-mail addresses. The @ eluded me for about a week.

So what is the first thing I do when I use our computer (from America) again? Forget where the @ is.

$@%,)*

Returning to Moldova

The sky is black. I haven’t seen a black sky since June! Southern Finland doesn’t get the midnight sun, but it does stay light all night. Light sky or not, it is quite a contrast returning to Moldova from Finland. Finland, many say, is one of the most Americanized countries in the world. Although they certainly maintain a Finnish culture, there was a sense of being “home” there. Maybe it is because the language reminded me of the old-timers at home in Michigan. Maybe it is because it took me only 8 minutes to see my first McDonalds upon arriving in the country. Or maybe it is because who wouldn’t feel at home going to sauna and swimming in a clear, cool lake nearly every day? Whatever the reason, now I need to adjust to feeling “at home” in Moldova again.

I don’t think it will be hard – I instantly felt comfortable in this country when we arrived 8 weeks ago. And I’ve made it my goal to find things wherever I am in the world that I enjoy. I can’t wait to dig into the “healthy” cream cheese bars again (we have yet to figure out what makes them healthy, but they are good!). Playing with Nelia, evil laugh aside, will be fun. The fresh fruits and vegetables at the market are beckoning me to them. The walks outside in the warm summertime night (i.e. dark) air are splendid. The trips to the villages and clients’ businesses often leave me speechless.

We have three weeks left here, which includes a trip to Romania. I’m anxious to return to the Netherlands, but it is largely because I miss Abby and Madeline, our cats, terribly. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to these last weeks in Moldova.

Fame and the Famous

Well, I will make an exception to my no-blogging about my travels again.

Today, our group was thrilled by the arrival of the President of Finland, Tarja Halonen, to the same institute where we are studying. She is supposedly taking art classes. We had heard how accessible she was, but this? There is a silver van with tinted windows in the back of the dorms. And she is being followed by two men...one buff, the other mean looking, but both with earpieces and interesting backpacks. Good prototypes of who the Finnish mafia needs, perhaps. Otherwise, though, she is a normal person. She eats in the cafeteria, gets and puts away her own food. She was headed to the sauna and the lake as I was heading up. (Non-buff bodyguard in a speedo was right behind her. I wonder how they do the sauna, since men and women are separated.) Right now, she is mingling with the others in the lounge. Check her out at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarja_Halonen

Also, our group of 27 people with Finnish heritage are big news here. At last count, we have had 6 different media groups come in to do interviews. Several students have been intereviewed, and most of the group was on the radio last Friday. Maybe your Finnish is good enough to find the interview at www.ylenaikainen.fi!

Enjoy!

A Dryer!

I am, at this VERY moment, using a dryer!!! I've been living for six and a half months without one. It's difficult to imagine that my clothers will be dry in a mere 30 minutes. AND, even more exciting, they will not be stiff and crinkly!! Mark this day in history, please.

P.S. Now I've also conquered a washer and dryer with only Finnish on it.

Q&A

My brother tagged me a few weeks ago, so here are my answers to the tag. In the interest of keeping with the theme of the blog, I'll add "overseas" to the end of each question!

What were three of the stupidest things you have done in your life OVERSEAS?
a. My first time overseas, I traveled from Taiwan to Hong Kong, and then returned to Taiwan. I needed to apply for a new visa when I returned to Taiwan, which requires proof that you are going to leave the country (like airplane tickets showing your departure date). When we got back to Taiwan, immigration refused to let me through because I didn't have the tickets with me. Dan and I faced staying in the airport holding 'cell' until someone could send our tickets (which were about 10 hours away by car). After quite awhile and many phone calls, Dan sweet talked them into letting us through (it helped to have a semi-famous father there) and we continued on our way.
b. Taking pictures of the U.S. Embassy in Chisinau. No signs were posted!! But the grizzly Russian guards staring at me told me I should put my camera away.
c. After a nice, long day cruise along the lakes in Finland, I climbed aboard my bus to get back to the starting point. When I got aboard and noticed only old people, I thought I might be on the wrong bus. But then I saw two others who were on the cruise as well who weren't part of a big group. Well, we were on the wrong bus. Thankfully I found out before it went anywhere - I think the fact that I was the only person who wasn't 60 yet made me stand out a little!

2. At the current moment, who has the most influence in your life?
Being overseas and in so many weird situations, and being somewhat uncertain about our future, it would be silly to not let God be the biggest influencer in my life.

3. If you were given a time machine that functioned, and you were allowed to only pick up to five people to dine with, who would you pick? (From my travels OVERSEAS)
a. Hoxha - the dictator who ruled Albania for years. What made you think about building bunkers all over the country?
b. General Mao - Why were you so mean?
c. William the Orange - Are you proud that the whole country of the Netherlands wears orange? And hunter's orange, of all shades!
d. Pope John Paul II - How did you learn so many languages?
e. Any one of the Africans that left from Cape Coast in Ghana during the slave trade - How did you manage?

4. If you had three wishes that were not supernatural, what would they be (while living OVERSEAS)?
1. A large business in Eastern Europe that helped employ and train people who would not otherwise not have the ability to earn an income.
2. To be fluent in at least 1 other language.
3. To be able to travel quickly and affordably to see all my family and friends.

5. Someone is visiting your hometown/place where you live at the moment. Name two things you regret your city not having, and two things people should avoid.
Where do I live right now? I'll take Chisinau, Moldova.
What the city doesn't have...a) the infrastructure to allow businesses to thrive and b) paved roads and c) Philly Connection :-)
What to avoid...a) being stopped for a traffic violation - pay a bribe or likely lose your license and b) getting attached to geese in swimming pools

6. Name one event that has changed your life.
Stepping off the plane in February to live in Europe.

7. Tag 5 people.
They're it.

Traveling!

Loyal readers - my apologies for not posting recently. I am currently in Finland for three weeks, at a language and culture institute for descendents of Finns. So, I am now learning my sixth foreign language (fourth in as many months), and my belongings are now in eight places, including four countries! This is a great life!

I typically don't write about my travels, so I won't be commenting too much on my time here. However, three weeks is a long enough time to be able to comment on the lifestyle here to some extent. So I will do that as I find time on the internet kiosks at the institute!

Here's a quick comment to continue discussing life in Moldova. Within 3 days, all foreigners are obligated to register with the local police. We did so the day after arriving in Chisinau. Last week, Dan was visited by the the police! They wanted to make sure we were where we said we were. Thankfully, Ivan was with Dan and could interpret for him. And all was well.