The Finnish Light

On S-Corporation and Joensuu

2023-09-25T09:40:00.001+01:00

Ladies and gentlemen, gather 'round because Joensuu has a neighbor like no other, and they're making their presence felt in ways we never imagined. Say hello to "S Corporation," the sensation that's causing quite the stir in our cozy town.

Shops and Restaurants: It all began innocently enough. S Corporation strolled into Joensuu like they'd been here forever, and suddenly, our beloved local spots started sporting their logo. The local bakery? S Corporation now sells 17 different flavors of cinnamon rolls. That quaint coffee shop on the corner? It's now a S-coffee shop along with the shoe store and dog grooming salon?

Hairdressers: Then came the hairdressers. Joensuu has always had a hair salon on every street, probably as many as there are trees in the forest. But when S Corporation moved in, they turned every hair salon into a "Hair Emporium" in the hyper market. Now, you can get your hair styled while shopping for a blender. Maybe they'll throw in a free toaster if you get highlights. It's a hair-raising experience, to say the least!

Banking: Let's not forget banking! S Corporation didn't stop at cinnamon rolls and haircuts; they even made their way into the banking sector. Now, you can withdraw cash while enjoying Prisma's freshly baked croissant. The bank manager should offer you a complimentary hair consultation during your financial planning session. Then it would be a true one-stop-shopping experience!

Undertakers: Now, here's where it got weird. S Corporation decided that Joensuu's undertakers needed a takeover. Funerals are still somber occasions; they're not yet interactive events with live bands and confetti cannons though, but maybe soon. Maybe they should work on a funeral-themed amusement park. Because nothing says "farewell" like a roller coaster, right?

What's Next?: You might think, "How could it get crazier?" Well, brace yourselves because the rumors are flying. I overheard at the local pub from a man who knows a man who has a cousin who has a wife that cleans S Corporation head office that they are eyeing the unthinkable. That's right, folks - they're allegedly considering opening a brothel. Picture it: S Corporation's "Love Lodge." They'll offer discounts for loyalty cardholders - buy ten, get one free.

Final Thoughts: So there you have it, Joensuu's transformation from a quiet town to S Corporation's retail playground. It's like living in a sitcom, and we're all just waiting to see what they come up with next. Who knows, maybe they'll open a penguin petting zoo or start offering snowmobile lessons in the summer. With S Corporation's influence growing stronger by the day, I propose the renaming to Joensuu to "SKaupunki" It has a certain ring to it, don't you think? Who needs Joensuu when you can have "S Town," the land of endless S-Market cinnamon rolls and hair salons?

Please remember, this blog post is purely for humor and amusement, and there's no actual "S Corporation" plan to take over Joensuu or renaming it. I don't need a libel suit from them, I'm just having some fun. But still, it feels like in 20 years there will be no private businesses here. Just S-Landia.

On Where Joensuu is Heading (a foreigners perspective)

2023-09-22T17:58:00.006+01:00

"It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future." - Yogi Berra

Lately, I've had some downtime to ponder where my hometown, Joensuu, might be headed in the next couple of decades. I first set foot in this town back in 2004, so maybe my 20-year experience here gives me a bit of foresight. Joensuu has undergone quite the transformation, with new suburbs sprouting up and life in the city center becoming pretty darn comfy. However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows; there are still a bunch of issues on my mind, and I'm not afraid to vent about them.

Let's kick things off with the lack of services for folks who hail from beyond Finland's borders. Whenever the town does something for foreigners, it often feels like a publicity stunt—more style than substance. Once it's all said and done, you're left feeling like you should be eternally grateful for even this token effort.

Next on my gripe list is shortsightedness. Joensuu seems to be stumbling along without a clear vision of where it wants to go. It's like it's constantly in the shadow of bigger cities, and its default mode is copycatting. Now don't get me wrong, good ideas can come from elsewhere, but we're seriously lacking in the originality department when it comes to promoting our own identity.

And then there are the so-called "Smart People." You know, the ones who think they know it all but really have no clue about how to make things better. They're all over Joensuu forums, spewing out ideas that could make you facepalm hard. Check out Karjalainen's opinion page if you want a taste of some truly head-scratching notions, like shutting down the airport or slashing school funding, as if those would magically boost the city. Yeah, right. Austerity, the miracle solution! (Insert sarcastic eye roll here).

So, what's my crystal ball telling me? Well, brace yourself, because I foresee a few things:

1. The perpetuation of dumb decisions,

2. The unstoppable rise of the S Corporation (more on that mess in my next post),

3. An ongoing lack of a clear vision,

4. And, surprise... more foreigners moving in. At some point, they'll have to be recognized them as more than just token residents.

When I look back at Joensuu's track record over the last 20 years, it seems like we're on a one-way street. The town will keep growing, but it's as if we're driving without a GPS, not quite sure where we're headed.

Go ahead and leave your comments down below, and while you're at it, let me know where in the world you're checking this out from. In the past week, this blog saw a surprising 1000 visitors, which has left me scratching my head a bit. I'll be the first to admit, my writing isn't Pulitzer material, and my topics tend to stay pretty local. So, don't hold back—tell me what's on your mind. Your insights are super valuable!

How did I get here?

2023-09-22T17:51:00.002+01:00

I've recently been asked a few times, "How did you end up here in Joensuu?" Well, let me share with you that it's not your typical story.

I arrived in this town a significant 20 years ago (time sure flies when you're having a good time, doesn't it?). It all began when I was searching for a graduate school in my home country. The issue was that everything I came across back there had a price tag that could make you gasp. That's when I had this idea to explore Finland on a whim. And, surprisingly, I discovered a Master's program in a field related to my interests, all taught in English. The icing on the cake? It didn't cost a dime. Yes, you heard me right – education in Finland is practically free if you can secure a spot. So, after pondering it for a couple of days, I made the bold decision to quit my job and relocate to Finland in 2004.

After completing my Master's degree, I embarked on a European tour. Poland, Italy, Ireland – I was bouncing around like a pinball. However, after seven years of this nomadic lifestyle and numerous false starts, it dawned on me that I needed to get my act together. I applied to a school in Germany, but things got a bit complicated when it came to funding (you can't survive on thin air, after all). That's when Joensuu entered the picture with a generous funding offer, and I eagerly accepted it in March 2011. I officially enrolled in the Joensuu program and moved here in January of the following year.

Now, don't get me wrong, there are still some idiosyncrasies about Finnish life that can be a bit bothersome (the eerie silence, the seemingly endless checkout lines, and the fact that everyone claims to "only speak a little" English while sounding like they're auditioning for a Shakespearean play). But you know what? It's all part of the adventure, and I've learned to adapt.

On the bright side, there are aspects of Joensuu that I genuinely cherish: the almost complete absence of crime , the tranquil atmosphere, the blanket of fluffy snow in winter covering everything, the refreshing chill in the morning when I hop on my bike and it's a crisp -16 degrees, and of course, the cherished sauna. All in all, I wouldn't trade my life here for anything else.

So, there you have it – that's the story of how I ended up here in a nutshell.

Stupid: Finland Edition

2023-09-11T11:01:00.005+01:00

Lately, racism has reared its ugly head in the Finnish Parliament, and it's not a pretty sight. Petri Orpo, the current Finnish Prime Minister, has been crossing his fingers, hoping this whole issue would magically vanish into thin air. But guess what? Racism isn't the disappearing type; it's decided to stick around like an unwelcome guest at a never-ending party.

Now, if you ask me, part of the problem could be that Riikka Purra (Basic Finns) hasn't been kicked out within the ruling coalition. It's like having a stain on your favorite shirt that just won't come out, and maybe letting her go would be a step in the right direction for some serious wardrobe cleaning.

But here's the real kicker: I wouldn't trust Orpo to run an ice cream truck in the middle of a Finnish winter, let alone steer the ship of government. It's like asking a penguin to fly – just not gonna happen. So, you can probably guess where I stand on this whole circus. Snap elections? Oh, heck yes, and the sooner, the better. It's time to shake things up and see if we can get this show back on the road with a fresh cast of characters.

On continued sadness

2022-12-20T09:53:00.003+00:00

I got some birthday wishes the other day from friends who I haven't spoken to in years. Today I realised that I have passed the point where I have spent more than 50% of my life living abroad. Bit of a head scratcher really as to what my life in NJ was like 20 years on after leaving. Everyone I know has moved on or is rather bitter about still being there. Yet for me I remember the place with fondness and more than a bit of embarrassment (shame really) about my stupidity in my youth and things that I damaged beyond repair. I still kick myself about many things and often get fixated on them. No going back though, so no way to fix things. This also means being stuck mentally.

...Happy birthday.

On Covid

2021-08-02T08:59:00.001+01:00

Maybe this is long overdo, but fuck fuck Covid-19. Fuck not wearing masks. So sick of some assholes sneezing in the face of some other assholes and suddenly we have Delta. Fuck not being vaccinated or refusing the vaccine. You are not special, just an idiot. Words cannot express how disappointed I am in humanity right now.

On a Biden win

2020-12-16T08:07:00.000+00:00

I tend not to be a very outwardly political person. My idea of how politics should look tends to be out there in centrist-left la-la land. Most people have gotten it into their head that you are either one side or the other and if you are on the one side then the other side can fuck right off. I tend to be rather pragmatic and take what wins can be taken or make compromises that serve a greater good.

As you probably have figured out the last 4 years for me have been rather a troubling time. Partisan rancor on both sides is fierce. Centrism, of any kind, has been pretty much dead and buried. The lack of any type of a moral arrow in the previous administration started a type of race for the bottom on the right and left people in the middle high and dry. And yet I have some hope that Biden can maybe start the trend for democrats to reoccupy the center.

Now I might be being just a bit naive or just plain stupid, but like I said...I have some hope.

Business is not pleasure

2020-07-10T12:21:00.000+01:00

So for those of you who haven't heard or are uninformed, I decided in Oct. of 2018 to start my own business- a micro brewery. I took up the hobby of brewing about 5 years ago and decided to take it to the (il)logical next level. It's been a hard slog these last months and it only now seems everything is coming into some sort of focus. It's been like a giant jig-saw pule at times where there are no edges to speak of. You just kind of look at the thing you are building one piece at a time and scream "What the fuck am I doing!?". Stressful moment build themselves into further stressful questions of "if", "when" and of course "why the fuck won't the beer submit to my will?". None of these questions are ever answered because it's just me trying to answer without any real guidance. Everything is DIY and ad-hoc. My mistress (the brewery) is cold and often ill tempered. She will reward you if you get it right. Fuck up? 400 liters of beer on the floor. You ever wonder what exactly 400 liters of spilled beer looks like in a 4 x 4 meter room with a temp. of 27 C? It ain't pretty. Sometimes I thing I see the light at the end of the tunnel, only to find out that it's a fucking steam locomotive coming my way. Oh and its drunk. Drunker than any fucking drunk drunk you have ever seen.

No seriously, it hasn't been that bad...it's been worse. I'm comforted by one thought: that my mom was wrong. No one has any control of stuff. All of us; you, me, the fucking birds in the sky, we are all just winging it as best we can. I just happen to be doing it ankle deep in spilled beer. Best we can do is just get on with the clean up after the shit hits the fan.

Working on Contract

2017-11-21T11:14:00.001+00:00

So it's time for a celebration of sorts. On December 1st I'll be employed again. The problem is that it's only for a 1 month contract and then its back to unemployment. This is by far my shortest contract ever. It seems the Longer I stay here the shorter the contracts gets. From 2 years, to 1 year, to 7 months and now this. Recently heard quite a cynical answer from an ex-coworker: on some level (be it conscious or unconsious) the powers that be don't want to hire foriegners if they can avoid it. I don't share this opinion entirely, but my unemployment experience has shown me that it might not be to far off.

How the fuck are you suppossed to plan a life when this is the kind of unstable situation you have to deal with? Simple answer: you can't. But, to quote a friend who always sees the positive side of everything my situation is: "better than a slap in the face with a wet fish". I tend to agree. That still isn't entirely comforting.

Burger King in Joensuu

2017-11-14T14:04:00.000+00:00

Someone told me last week that when something like Burger King or Star Bucks comes to a place, then we can consider it a real city. This though made me shutter in my boots. Many things could constitute that a place has come into its own as a city (people, roads, public transportation, schools, culture, museums, universities, hospitals, public art...etc.). Burger King is not one of them. If this greasy fucker ends up in your town and someone shouts- "Hey! We're a real city now!"- punch them really hard and say "Fucking stop before I really hurt you,".

Don't get me wrong, I do love this man and his sandwiches. This goes double for Taco Bell, Pizza Hut or Sonic, but they don't make the Joe into Joecity.

Can't we just bring back the City Grill? What was wrong with that? You had an awning to keep the rain off you. They were open till 4 a.m. There was a toilet right next to it. Perfect setup in my opinion.

On finishing the dreaded PhD

2017-10-16T12:14:00.004+01:00

Today it ended. After 5 years, 10 months and 16 days I graduated with a PhD in Human Geography. Thus ends the journey that I started on Septemeber 9th, 1996 when I enrolled at my first university. I wish I had some wise words or insights, but I don't. The process of the last 5 years and the mess that has come about from it has for the most part left with the feeling that the world is a really fucked up place beyond any idea I had previously. Although I have not broken from the process of the research and the end result, I come out the other side as a really skeptical person about how things should go and what reality is. What happened during these last 3 years was not fair, but hell...life is not fair. My mental state can be listed as challenged at best at this point. I can put it to the back of my mind at most points, but everytime something else happens I again begin the process of recovery from step 1.

I feel like I'm in that stupid scene in Godfather III where Michael Corlene keeps trying to swim away from the mess he is in and extols "just when i thought i was out they pull me back in." Maybe I don't have a heart attack after I say it as he does, but I can relate to it. In the end I really need to get out of this business and move on to other research.

Don't get me wrong. The last 5 years have had some great moments. I thank god for ##### and all that has come with her. We have good friends and a really decent life together. As so far the rest, I'm still trying to decide if this stupid degree was really worth all the pain. Like I said...I have no wisdom from any of it.

I'll give it some time.

Stirring the shit pot with a stick made of pure Obsidian

2017-01-29T17:17:00.003+00:00

Every morning when I wake up I just want to find a someone who supports this douche bag and punch him directly in the face. It's nothing personal to the person. I'm sure that beyond their politics people on the other side are lovely people. They probably walk blind elderly people across major thoroughfares while the lights are against them and then strand them there when they change. Or maybe they toss small puppies into raging streams for fun. Ahh, who am I really kidding. I should just call a spade a spade. They are assholes of the largest ilk.

Dear Other Side Voters: We are 1 week into this administration. It is only getting worse. Your champion, Mr. Uneven Spray Tan, is growing more delusional. If you are seriously supporting him, then you need to stop lest you check yourself before you wreck yourself.

Uncle Fester on Crack

2016-11-11T12:04:00.003+00:00

Over the last couple of days I've been having this sickly sweet taste in my mouth. I want to vomit every time I open up the Internet as I am displayed another vile image of a country I thought I knew and leaders who I trusted to do the right thing in an hour of crisis. Instead of doing the right thing, they instead disappoint at every turn. The taste of bile grows stronger with each passing day and I...I get a little more depressed as the hours grow.

I've tried to shake these blues by being creative. I've started giving him devil horns in paint just to have some fun.

I've also resorted to trying to cheer myself up via snapchat.

The problem is I keep finding similar images to events from the past. These depresses me even more.

We came up with one solution so far for our blues though. To curb our depression we have enacted a ban on his proper name at my house. All those who speak it will be subjected to a 1 euro fine which will be placed in a swear jar. If one does choose to speak of him they may use an arbitrary made up name. "The Devil" is fine or "That insidious man", but these are a bit bland.

Over breakfast this morning and the subsequent walk to work we came up with "The Presi-don't" and "Shitty Orange Crap McAnalstain". My boss seems to prefer "Pussygate Mcfuckface". The winner so far though is "Dickturd Cumbum". It sounds like a real name or a very close approximation of one. I think we'll keep this one.

Do you guys have any suggestions to stay sane in this time of crisis?

On being Unemployed

2016-03-10T09:49:00.002+00:00

As many of you know, I recently became unemployed here in Finland. For the first time ever I have been been put on the dole and I have a few a things to say. Now I could go into my personal issue with the whole thing. For instance that I'm rather depressed about not having any work, but then again who would not be. I've noticed that almost no one is supportive and everyone just saids to get over it. I feel devalued and don't know what to do about it. People are trying to be empathetic, but they're just going about in a seriously wrong way. I need to feel that I have some sort of self-worth and I currently don't feel that way.

As so far as Finland goes, the 'system' has been so far very uncomplicated and no one has hassled me. Every Finn I speak to said this is very usual to go for some periods without work. I'm not buying it though. I'm of the mentality that I can't motivate myself without a formal structure and a paycheck from that structure. Really down about this whole thing.

Joensuu? Don't mind if I do.

2015-04-17T14:40:00.002+01:00

My brain has recently turned to utter nonsense to deal with stuff. So in other words, the norm for living so far north. As Agnes keeps reminding me: I'm not getting any younger...and yet I don't mentally feel a day over 25. What a strange world.

Let the winter commence

2013-11-27T12:33:00.002+00:00

Got up in the morning in the pitch blackness. Figured it was 6 or maybe 6:30. Nope, 8:30. Went to work in the dark, went home in the dark. Never once saw sunlight. This is depressing.

Lazy Finnish Summer

2013-07-30T12:49:00.001+01:00

Sometimes it pays to live in Finland. I mean yes the taxes a quite high, people are some what distant to you and I endlessly bitch and complain about the winter. But during the summer this all changes (minus the tax thing--you're pretty much fucked with that one all year round). The terraces open up outside of restaurants, people seem to be in good cheer and it's warm and sunny. This summer is no exception. Days in the mid 20's with lake water in the high teens, hardly any rain and the midnight sun somewhere just off in the distance. Beach weather or perfect for a BBQ. In about 3 weeks all of this will be a forgotten memory though as the temperature starts to decrease and the days begin to get shorter. Why must you do that Finland? You show us the goods only 3 months of the year and then bury yourself in layers the rest. You are the worst kind of cock tease.

...Off to the lake to enjoy it while I still can.

On bleeding meat dry...

2013-03-06T14:40:00.000+00:00

Finns seem to think it's a good idea to bleed meat dry. What do I mean by this? Well, picture some ground beef or a steak. It's all red and you just go "Wow, that's a nice looking steak. Can't wait!". So you cook it up or grill it medium rare. The inside is all nice, pink and dripping with dead cow love. Well, you can wait until hell freezes over (in Finland this happens every year somewhere around October) for such a piece of meat to exist here. Don't ask me how but Finnish beef has almost zero juice in it. It's like they took a dehydrator and sucked all the life and flavor out of the damn thing. After cooking it you might as well use it to pound nails into the wall or sand a wood floor. Dry doesn't begin to describe the favor or texture of the fucking thing. Do they use a vacuum or something? Who thought this was a good idea? Where do they send the stuff after they siphoned it out? I bet they make candies and feed them to retarded children (that's right! I said it).

A Finn has given me the following explanation on why they do it: because blood in meat goes bad first. This may be true, but I don't know. After all I am not a butcher. What I do know is that they could leave some of it in the damn ground beef mix for some sort of taste! Is it too much to ask? Oh no, that would be wrong! That would make it taste too much like fucking meat instead of bland formless shit. I found a sausage in the supermarket the other day that claimed to have have 11% meat in it. What the hell!!! What is the rest? Soy filler? Again, how is this a good idea?!!!!

I've been told I anger issues. Still, I miss real food. :(

I Googled it and it seems that you can buy bottles of frozen blood in the supermarket. You learn something new every day. Can't wait to pick some of that up. Sigh....

I know it's only mustard but...

2013-02-26T15:59:00.001+00:00

For some reason I don't trust this shit. Creepy looking stuff.

If only we could make all things look so interesting

2013-02-25T12:16:00.001+00:00

Walking down the street today when I saw this bicycle. The chain guard just screamed out to me to appreciate it.

Jersey Shore comes to Finland

2013-02-22T09:22:00.001+00:00

(Ilta Sanomat Link)
Literally, I'm speechless. And for those of you who know me, you'll understand that this almost never happens. But I think think this one statement from the shows producer says more about said pile of shit than any angry rant ever could (the grammar has been fixed from the original google translate garbage): "Yes, there will be a lot of alcohol drunk. Everyone knows partying involves alcohol, but we obviously do not force anyone to drink" the producer says. Of course not! When do we ever have to force young people in this country to drink? If I went outside and started to offer free vodka shots I'm sure I would have an empty bottle pretty soon if not immediately.

Oh Finland...you have really sunk low with this one. Lets hope no one watches this shit and it gets cancelled

On "The Finnish Bureaucratic System"

2013-02-19T10:42:00.001+00:00

Nothing says "Welcome to Finland" like bureaucracy . Today I learned that I am just a cog in the machine of a sad system, getting ground into dust and being forgotten about. The horror.

About a month and a half ago I decided to go change my driver's license and do a conversion to a Finnish one. Come back in about 4 weeks they said. Fine I said. I filled out my paperwork, paid 60 euros and after I left they promptly filed my paperwork. More likely than not they filed it into some drawer where it was forgotten about. I have not heard from the Police (Sting has not called me in years back he though he is supposed to be freaking stalking me!) on the status of said application. So I decided to go down personally and wait in line like a good little gerbil. Turns out they have not filed the application till this week, which means yesterday. Fucking hell! I need a freaking driver's license. Finnish English speaker lady behind thick glass (why do you have bullet proof glass at the desk/window for foreigners when all the other desk are wide open? Are you trying to imply something about foreigners?) said to wait another 4 weeks. I let out a sigh and unfortunately let her have it. "Ya, I guess I'll wait. I mean, what the fuck can I do? I mean, you took my money and now I have to fucking wait like an fucking idiot. Fuck!". I often talk like I have Tourette Syndrome when I'm upset. I will admit that I was a bit upset. Not my proudest moment. I'm sure that the police woman will remember me next time when I stop by.

Places to Eat in Joensuu

2013-02-15T13:19:00.001+00:00

Finland is a place of gastronomic delights only rivaled by chippers in Essex or Yemenite cuisine. Finnish food is arrogant looking and most Finn's don't know shit about cooking. Well, actually this (like many things I say on here) is an out and out lie. Finland has some fabulous food sometimes. Most of the time though they just can't cut the mustard with what other countries serve. Finns do great approximations of different cuisines, but a copy is still just a copy and loses something in the translation. The other problem is that it's fucking expensive to eat out! All the same, lets go out and price be damned! Welcome to Joensuu!

Rosso

Rosso is Finland's answer to Italian cooking.Positives: Clean and friendly interior. Summer time brings the tables out and astreet terrace is created. A welcome change from eating inside. Negatives: The pizzas taste stale and pasta is no better. The free salad bar is free for a reason: because it sucks! Wilted lettuce and olives that taste like they came from a metal can lined with lead. Bland, barely tolerable food that might be made by blind people who just dumped in a bunch of stuff into tomato sauce. Owned by the evil 'S Group'.

Breaking news!!!!!!!!! Ugliest pants ever have been found to be for sale in Finland! Only 27 euros!

Amarillo

Mexican/Texan food done by Finns. Half kilo burger and nice steaks in a Southwest theme! What is not to like? Negatives: Beer selection at my house is better then the one here. Also, prawn and beef fajitas is not a good combo with jalapenos. Owned by the evil 'S Group'.

Bar Play

American sports bar food done by Finns. Awesome fries and a garlic mayo dip that is the bomb! Best jalapeno poppers in town. Ur, actually, they are the only ones in town now that I think about it. Negatives: Appetizers are all heavily deep fried and taste seriously greasy. No English menu. Owned by the evil 'S Group'.

Torero

Spanish tapas made by Finns. Nice atmosphere and the have San Miguel on tap. For some seriously weird fun head up to the bathroom and just keep walking straight out the nondescript wood door in front of you and....poof! Welcome to the back of the Shoe aisle of Sokos department store. It's like being wisked away to Narnia! Negatives: Small portions. Sausages taste like horse meat. Owned by the evil 'S Group'.

Ravintola Kerubin

If you want to have decent meal, this is your best bet. Awesome sandwiches and a really cool bar staff. The wood interior mixed with the river flowing outside gives the place a open natural feeling. 1 liter of beer for 9 euros. Yes please! DJ spins tunes during the evening. Negatives: The place fills up quickly on weekends. Limited seating. Closed on some weeknights. No English menu yet.

Pizza/Kebab Restaurants

Some these can be quite good (Gaude and Aurinko being the best) and some are ok (Pizza express on Siltakatu has its moments, as does Pizza Pojat) while other have a rotating list of owners and seem to close down every couple of months or so only to open up somewhere else. Negatives: No beer usually. Daddy like beer. Pizzas can be a bit dry and most topping come from a can (you can taste it).

Ravintola Kreeta

Greek food made by (surprise surprise) ACTUAL GREEK PEOPLE! This restaurant is a gem. Great atmosphere that helps you forget that you live in freezing cold Joensuu. Negatives: No Greek beer. Small portions.

While the above list is not exhaustive, it should give you some ideas on what it available. For a town of 60,000 people, Joensuu has a lot to offer.Still, most of the food is mediocre at best or just down right weird (Bar Play's wing offer is a good example-60 wings for 60 euros?) .

This video better explains Finland...

2013-02-09T10:23:00.003+00:00

This video better explains Finland than anything I have ever seen before! This is a complete lie actually. Even so, watching this makes me wonder what the hell I'm missing by not learning the language. :) Anyway, enjoy the strangeness!

Kotiteollisuus - Kone from UniversalMusicFinland on Vimeo.

Smoking

2013-02-08T10:08:00.002+00:00

I've been on a kind of yo-yo diet with smoking for more than half a year. I can go weeks without having one and then boom!...I smoke a pack in 2 days and then nothing again for another 2 or 3 weeks. I'm finding this whole process of quitting very strange. Anyone have any insights? I'm pretty much over the nicotine addiction phase and have instead gone to the "beer + smoking= cool idea" phase. I know what the answer is then: I should quit drinking. Maybe this is the next stage.

On a sub note: would anyone be willing to send me some cloves from the States? Impossible to get here. :)