Helsinki at noon

It's starting to look very different up here! We did turn our clocks back one hour last Saturday night so we are now considered to be in winter. Here's a view at noon on November 2nd, looking down our street at a new sports dome they just put up last month, and yes, that bright object low in the sky is the sun.

Notice the long shadows of the trees and in the canal shot. By 4:30 (16:30) the sun is past the horizon and by 5pm (17:00) we are mostly dark. The dome was a suprise when I returned from the US. Previously there were old modular school buildings in that spot. Over a few days right after we moved in, they were disassembled and carted away, and the very next day they had already laid sod and kids were playing sports - not a moment wasted to repurpose the space. I'm guessing they will use the dome this winter for indoor play but they are still clearing the area around it now. It's starting to sound really different too - the wind from the sea was slamming the building last night and was still pretty strong early this morning, when I left to teach my first English conversation class. And yes, I have now passed over the frustrating hurdle of being trained for a job but not yet having experience when all postings require it.

One custom new to me is the use of small reflectors - they are actually required for people walking around after dark and you see them strung onto purses and backpacks. Reflectors were created by a Finnish farmer, though his purpose was to locate his livestock. I got myself a Moomintroll version yesterday. The Moomintrolls are charming and very popular children's book characters from a Finnish series that I found years ago in New York for Claire back when she was small. They have a whole theme park here too but it sounds overly commercial - the books are great though.

At least we have brilliant sunshine today - it really helps. And it's currently 45F which must be the high for today. We keep getting warned about the weather to come so we do wonder - I'm hoping life in Michigan and Utah has prepared us to some extent. They are forecasting flurries tomorrow - but Kaliecia already beat us with snow in SLC weeks ago. Our apartment, like most here, is very well insulated with double windows and doors and is often a bit too warm, as are stores and other public buildings, but it seems a preference to be warm and cozy (big concept here) inside to conteract the chill outside. And just as we begin to acclimate now, we'll be off to Portugal to confuse ourselves further. I'm not complaining!

[3:30pm update - the sun has very gradually lowered but has moved due west so we have sideways sun this time of year! Luckily our apartment has lots of windows facing west so we get a good deal of light - so far anyway.]