March 31, 2012

I was in Eugene for a weekend seminar on filmmaking. Guest after guest would present from morning until night, and the attendees didn't have much free time. I heard about some people sneaking away at night, and I began to resent being obliged to stay put at the residence. My friend's birthday was that night in Portland, and I was really considering it. She gave me directions how to get to her place. "Once in Portland, take a taxi from a really nice old guy who will charge a very little amount. Arrive at the metro stop. Take the metro, and then another metro, and then arrive at my house." This is my chance, I thought. I'm really not enjoying myself here. Spending full days listening to similar different theories and experiences, and from people who think so highly of themselves, without even asking our "humble student" opinions. This is my chance to do something exciting and fun this weekend. I walked outside of the residence, onto the flat, vast road, I saw a hat-wearing, briefcase holding man in a very old, fancy suit, walking toward a spiral case of stairs. Out of my conscious, I shouted something like "Hey!" He didn't turn back, and I felt embarrassed, so I tried to get to the nearest corner I could find. As the man approached the stairs, he faced me and took off his hat. The look was direct and questioning. "I need to get to Portland to take a taxi from this great old --" "He is gone," the man interrupted. "Just a few months ago, he left to New Jersey." My insides dropped. "But I need to go to Portland and take his taxi and get to my friend's party," I said sincerely. The man answered, "I take people on sunset drives, and anyway I can charge you 10 dollars. Actually I can charge you nothing." I was skeptical, but I thought: this must be a part of my adventure. I could think of all the people who would advise me not to travel with a stranger. But I took them out of my head. As we walked back to the man's car, I observed that without a hat he looked much younger. And under his large suit, he was quite healthy looking. I saw a friend in the distance and immediately motioned him over, "Hey! Come to Portland with me! It's a free trip, and we're going to a party!" Confused by the sudden demand, he carefully walked toward us. Another friend from behind him came into view, and without thinking, I invited her along as well. I turned to our driver, who bore a blank expression. He led to his vehicle -- fancy that; he is a taxi driver, I thought, reassured in a way. He unlocked the doors, and the the three of us students, delirious and bored, entered. I don't remember what was said in the beginning of the drive, or what it felt like in the taxi. But along the long, plain road to Portland, we began to see large animals in the foggy distance, running toward us. As they neared, we could see and feel the power of a herd of majestic and silky horses gallop past the car, in the opposite direction. "Hand me my camera!" I called to my friend. But we had all forgotten to bring our cameras. The driver smiled, but he didn't seem surprised. The sunset was beautiful on the world's canvas. After the horses were gone, we saw a few people riding on bicycles or walking past. Nobody was driving on the other lane. Actually, we were the only car on the road. The next moment I can remember was driving (can I say that?) through a deep lake. The driver made a funny and ironic statement about driving on water. We smiled, and remained silent. "By the way, I should give you my business card," the man said, turning to me. "I could take you guys back to Eugene tomorrow." I nodded. "That would be great." But I just realized that I had forgotten my money and mobile phone. Before, I hadn't needed any of that. We were entering a city that requires money and access to communication. Maybe we should just stay for a few hours, and go back with him, I wondered, but not for long. Soon, we were in Portland. I was handed a business card, and we thanked the man, walked out of his car, and ventured for the metro stop.

(dream)

Leaving and entering

Pretty great day. I'm almost finished with an essay on immigration to Finland. Uz and I went to Bono's farewell party at Cafe Europa, deep talking over sweet sangria. For dinner, I had lasagne with Uz and Flo, and was pleasantly interrupted by a Skype call from Alison and Jack! Temperature has been above 0, but they predict snowfall this weekend.

Disconnect and Connect

Here I am, one week later, at a time when days feel like weeks. Lately I've been trying to get out of my room as much as possible.

Some highlights:

• I visited a Sammon Lukio (a Finnish high school) for the second time, and was asked questions by students in two English classes like why did you move to Finland, what do you think about Finnish guys and what kind of food do you eat in Hawaii. An English teacher arranged for my American friend and I to sit in on a radio class and band class. The school has a strong media program, and students who complete it are basically prepared to enter the workforce. In the band class, I was impressed by the comfortable level of interaction between students and teachers. Finnish high school students have chosen to be there rather than at a vocational school, and they have relative independence to choose their course schedule and assessment. At the end of the day, S and I spoke with the English teacher about the values and concepts of Finnish high school system. Here's an interesting article about its success: http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/12/what-americans-keep-ignoring-about-finlands-school-success/250564/ and a video Uz linked: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qlOfZL_J5f
• I saw the Slovakian movie Gypsy, "the story of Adam, a boy who, after the death of his father, struggles to cross the boundaries of his settlement and tries to change his siblings’ lives. He finds himself in a conflict with racial, social, and cultural prejudice and the unwritten laws of his own Roma community." More info: http://www.scanorama.lt/en/%C4%8Digonas
• I saw another Slovakian movie House, "a rare glimpse of life in rural, post-Soviet Eastern Europe, and it makes subtle comments about the unfamiliar quandaries of property ownership and the emergence of a new middle class in that part of the world." More info: http://www.denverfilm.org/filmcenter/detail.aspx?id=24339
• Live rock performance at Jack the Rooster
• Live performance of Burning Hearts (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXOcOUQIRrk) and Avasaxa at Doris
• (Awesome!) live performance of Stringpuree (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vnxu9qFwws) at Telakka
• 5 euro BBQ burger, one of the best I've ever had
• Snow is melting away. . .
• School is mostly a highlight

I'm happy!

More Gray and Punk Syndrome

I wonder when I will wake up to spring. This week's highs are around 4 degrees in Tampere (without sun), compared with 11 degrees in Stockholm (with sun). New York city is looking pretty warm -- around 25 degrees. I'm hoping it won't get much hotter during the summer.

Doc Lounge screened Kovasikajuttu: The Punk Syndrome this evening. The documentary, featuring a punk band called Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät, was a hit at the Tampere Film Festival. This evening, it attracted a full audience -- with some 180 tickets sold.

There are so many more things I want to learn about Finland and Finnish culture. Well, I still have two more months...