Kathleen's Adventures

I'm almost halfway through my two-week trip to Helsinki - my last trip before moving here.  I've decided I'm living an introvert's dream and possibly an extrovert's worse nightmare.  Not knowing the language is beyond alienating - in so many ways.  People have continually said to me "oh, but they speak English, right?"  Yes...most of them do, after being spoken to in English.  However, the conversations that go on around me, signs, directions, menus, everything printed is in Finnish (and in some cases Sweedish).  I keep finding myself wishing that either I had someone here with me or that I was doing this in England, or Ireland, or any other English-speaking country.  So after feeling sorry for myself for a while (and still doing that a bit), I'm realizing I will have to make a very very concerted effort to learn the language.  I don't expect to be able to have real conversations - just want to have some clue as to what is going on around me an...

In April, I traveled around the world.  It is funny I seem to be checking off bucket list items that I didn't necessarily have on my bucket list.  My trip started with a week in Singapore for training.  It was over Easter and the local office had Good Friday off.  I worked from my hotel on Friday.  I ended up going three days without seeing a single person I know.  That is rare - there are some people that rarely even go one day.  I decided two should be about my max.  I went to a local Methodist church for Easter - it sure wasn't home, but was definitely better than nothing.  That being said, I definitely enjoyed Singapore more this time around than the last time I went.  Upgrading to business class on my flight over might have something to do with that - I didn't realize just how bad I felt last time.  I knew the area a little better and the weather was pretty darn nice this time around.  I think I had to sizzle there a li...