Kuopio, Café & Opening Hours

Posted on July 26, 2010 | by Markus Stocker

[A call to my readers in Kuopio, in particular.] If you live in Kuopio, or you are an attentive tourist, you are likely to notice a peculiarity of the city in a matter of days, weeks at most. Most locals I have talked to agree: Kuopio lacks a few cozy coffee shops with opening hours [...]

7:8

Posted on May 29, 2010 | by Markus Stocker

The semester ended with a seminar presentation, one out of ten this academic year. The meanwhile classic introduction-materials-methods-results-discussion-conclusions presentation template today had an additional final slide. It said, 7:8. I asked the class if anyone could guess what it represents, adding the hint that it is not a C:N ratio. After a few seconds, one [...]

Winter Suomalaisittain

Posted on March 28, 2010 | by Markus Stocker

What is that falling from the skies? Wait a moment, water? Markus, where have you been lately? Don’t you remember what rain looks and feels like? In four months only snowflakes had been falling from the skies; coming back to a wet umbrella seeking season feels, indeed, like if I had been an actor in [...]

To Relocate. Or Not.

Posted on March 15, 2010 | by Markus Stocker

When I first entered my room with private bathroom after moving to Finland — and first saw what had been quietly enduring my repeatedly delayed departure — I thought, “OK, but as soon as I get a chance I’ll move out again.” The room wasn’t, and still isn’t, exactly welcoming. A cheap student flat but, [...]

Blood Donation Suomalaisittain

Posted on March 6, 2010 | by Markus Stocker

(For a note regarding the title, please see previous post.) I think, it was September 2009 when I first asked a colleague for information regarding blood donation in Finland. He wasn’t familiar with the details but he gave the first hint: the address of the local Red Cross Finland Blood Service. After I first visited the [...]

Is There Anybody Out There?

Posted on March 2, 2010 | by Markus Stocker

A step ahead the threshold, a hand afar the frame, the door behind you slowly turns to rest, appearing weak and tired of withholding the chill. I sneak past like a ghost not caring for its lament. Your pace is slow, emphatic on the door’s weariness. I get ahead of you when, suddenly, a gleam [...]

Äiti!

Posted on December 15, 2009 | by Markus Stocker

Slowly, I walk down the grocery store’s aisle. A few frost proofed layers are laced up when, some steps away, a little girl points over her left shoulder calling for — Äiti! — and smiling back at her mother. The exclamation felt to me as if it was my very own first time calling for mother and instantly [...]

 

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