tampere rok
there's nothing like paying $10 for a cider in the restaurant car, to make you cry yourself to sleep later on in the sleeping car. never fails.
i have to admit, that it's a bit difficult to get used to having finns around after spending such a long time on the other side of the planet. there's no denying it: finns are quite unique.
there i am, sitting in the restaurant car, by myself and obviously up for a chat with anyone who's even remotedly sane or sober enough to spell their name. but no. every person travelling alone, takes up a whole table by themselves, not even glancing at other people. so for the whole time, the restaurant car is filled with tables of just one person, but no one trying to make a conversation to the table next to them. i have a hard time trying to picture this happening in an oz train.
and in helsinki, if you see someone walking in the city looking happy, theyre:
besides, after spending so much time down under, you kinda get brainwashed into this having manners bs. like, saying please, being polite, smiling... that kinda shit. now ppl in here take me for a full on patronising arsehole(*). heh.
i have to admit, that it's a bit difficult to get used to having finns around after spending such a long time on the other side of the planet. there's no denying it: finns are quite unique.
there i am, sitting in the restaurant car, by myself and obviously up for a chat with anyone who's even remotedly sane or sober enough to spell their name. but no. every person travelling alone, takes up a whole table by themselves, not even glancing at other people. so for the whole time, the restaurant car is filled with tables of just one person, but no one trying to make a conversation to the table next to them. i have a hard time trying to picture this happening in an oz train.
and in helsinki, if you see someone walking in the city looking happy, theyre:
[a] drunkif you have ever spent a longer time in helsinki, you should know exactly what i mean.
[b] crazy
[c] a foreigner
[d] all of the above
besides, after spending so much time down under, you kinda get brainwashed into this having manners bs. like, saying please, being polite, smiling... that kinda shit. now ppl in here take me for a full on patronising arsehole(*). heh.
(* in finland, the 'normal' way of ordering a coffee in a cafe is not:
- "hi, could i get a cup of coffee, please?" (with a smile),
but instead we use a more time- and energy efficient form:
- "coffee!" (not bothering with a smile, the bitch is getting paid anyway)
...and the same rule can be applied to pretty much anything.)
- "hi, could i get a cup of coffee, please?" (with a smile),
but instead we use a more time- and energy efficient form:
- "coffee!" (not bothering with a smile, the bitch is getting paid anyway)
...and the same rule can be applied to pretty much anything.)
3 comments:
have to say, it's so true. if some foreign think this is overacted just to make this story more interesting, i can tell you, it's not. it's the most normal day in helsinki. and just imagine these ppl angry...
hanna
Well, just try wishing a good morning to a bus driver in Helsinki. (S)he'll response in one of the three ways:
1. "Screw you too!"
2. Blank stare.
3. "Cocky bastard.. grumble grumble.."
I never even take eye contact the any bus drivers here anymore since it's not worth it.
I have absolutely no idea why this is such a cause of whining! I'm Finnish, I'm extremely social and talkative person, I've lived abroad, and one of the reasons I truly love this country is that people give you space and peace. It is not rudeness. When I'm travelling alone, having a beer in a restaurant car with a good book, my day is ruined if some unwanted stranger comes to socialize.
Post a Comment