All the sugar, none of the sweetness.
When Smallsteps went to the movies the other day, she and her friend each chose some candy to take in with them. Smallsteps had gone a step ahead when the friend's mother said to her daughter she could choose 15 pieces, and we hadn't said anything to Smallsteps at all. It hadn't even crossed our minds, as we have never had to say anything like that. Sometimes, I have convinced her to take a few extra than she has, just in case.
She doesn't have her father's sweet teeth.
Oh, and the opening line? It is because Finns seem to love salty and sour candy, that is packed with all the same sugars, but has additives to destroy any sweetness and instead make it into a savoury meal. Okay, I might be exaggerating a little, as I like some sour sweets too, but the sheer number of lip-pursing "sweets" here is mindboggling. In my opinion, if you are in the mood for something sugary, make sure it is sweet.
Tonight, I am going to try and get into bed early and cross my fingers that I will fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. For the first time in a long while, I will be taking an early train out to a customer premises in another city, and due to the location and timetables, I might not be able to get a seat home until later in the evening. Looks like it is going to be a long day, on minimal sleep, but I am kind of looking forward to it.
I used to make this trip years ago a couple times a month, but the timetable was a little better then. What I like about the trip though is that it gives me a chance to write on the train, and I used to have a "series" that started with an article while on the trip there, sometimes one from lunch, and then another as I was waiting in the only place open while I waited a couple hours for the train - a fast food place. But I just checked the map, and it isn't there anymore - what am I going to do, and rain is forecast!
Sit around on the street under a shelter like a homeless person.
I always like writing in different locations, because my mind goes into different spaces when I change the scenery. I am not the only one of course, and when I was teaching business English way back in the day, as the spring came I would get my clients out of the classroom and into the park across the road for a walk and sit on a park bench to talk. Once out in nature, the conversations become more personal and reflective, and I got to know the clients much better. And this was the case with group classes too, where once outside the confines of the four walls, whatever hierarchy might have existed mostly dropped away and everyone became human again - instead of their business role.
Not that it is always possible to get out of the building, as it won't be at the location I am at tomorrow, but changing that scenery helps. So what I try to do in many of my sessions is to help the conversation paint a picture that is a bit more personal, in the hope that they will open up more. This is is easier in English for them, because it isn't their first (and usually not second either) language, which means that they don't have the emotive baggage attached to the words. It allows them to speak more freely, because there isn't the same warning filter on that usually would stop them from sharing.
Plus, I am a foreign stranger.
A bit like a bartender or hairdresser, where people feel comfortable sharing parts of their lives with me, because I am not in their immediate circle. And, because people often feel restricted in what they say these days, or that they don't have many people close to talk with, or they are just lonely, many really get into the conversation and it becomes a cathartic process, much like my writing. It is because of this that I am able to get so many interesting stories that I can work around in my head to explore further in my own articles. So yeah, a long day ahead, but hopefully it will be a rewarding one, where there is lots to make me think, coming from people who are professionals in their field, and each can be quite different in their personal lives.
I think it helps them too.
Especially since like the selection of candy in Finland, not all the stories are sweet.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
Be part of the Hive discussion.
- Comment on the topics of the article, and add your perspectives and experiences.
- Read and discuss with others who comment and build your personal network
- Engage well with me and others and put in effort
And you may be rewarded.
In case of what?
The train timetables were better or your timetable was better?
Have you ever had any clients that started yapping at you about plants or biological systems or photographic compositions when you started wandering around outside?
Hope you got enough sleep 🙃 how did it go?
I am confused and can't find it! :D
This is Finland - of course! All Finns are nature enthusiasts and know about their local flora :D Not the compositions though :)
I got 3 hours.
Oh awesome, as it should be! :D
3 hours is probably not enough sleep x_x
Interesting, I always write non-Actifit posts from my office computer, and Actifit posts from the phone and usually from the same location. On the train I only comment from my phone or read others posts :)
When I was in the office, I would write from my office computer too :D
How long is the journey though? This one is almost two hours.
Yeah, mine is about forty minutes with ten minutes in tunnels where there is no internet connection.
I'm terrified of the huge selection of sweets at the movie theater. So I negotiate with the kids in advance about buying chips, popcorn, and cola.
I think it is part of the fun for the kids to choose their own from time to time. Smallsteps selection is actually pretty small though, since it has to be gluten and lactose free.
Over here if you want to take your own candy into the theater you need to sneak it in. They try to get you every which way in the theaters here. That's part of the reason I just don't go anymore, it is so expensive. Did you ever watch the documentary about the guy who made Flaming Hot Cheetos? I can't imagine the amount of gut rot kids these days are going to have with Taki's and all the flaming hot stuff out there! You are lucky you are a good listener. I do not have that gene at all!
Here in Seattle area a basic movie theater ticket is not bad if you don't add the popcorn and drinks combo :)
movies are cheaper there. We pay about that in euro.
That combo is crazy though!!
We normally sneak it in too. This time we didn't, because this way they could have a little fun choosing together. The tickets are pretty expensive here also, but the food.... we rarely go to the movies. Though, now there are adult ones so you can buy wine and beer :D
Haven't seen the doco - do I want to? Those "Takis" have just come here in the last couple months. I have never tried.
I haven't seen the documentary. I just know it is out there. It seems like it could be interesting. I tried Takis once, never again. They are horrible and like I said I can't imagine they are good for you with all the artificial dyes and the high heat content.
I think our surroundings and context influence not just what we say, but also how we feel while saying it 😉
That is true too. I Try to make people feel comfortable when they speak, so they are more likely to speak :)
The bit about changing environments also hit home. There’s something about being outside the usual setting that just loosens people up. It makes sense that your clients opened up more in the park than in a classroom. Even the idea of speaking in a second language reducing emotional weight is something I’ve never really thought about deeply, but it makes perfect sense. It’s like there’s a small layer of protection that allows honesty to come out easier.
I've heard about the odd candy of Scandinavia, and especially Finland. I like black licorice, but I don't think I want it to taste of seawater. I used to indulge in sour warhead lemon candies, but not in years since I cut back on sugar consumption. I also have little chocolate now that I have to eliminate dairy from my diet.
I tend to be reserved even with my friends, to say nothing of strangers and foreigners. Maybe it's my Minnesotan cultural upbringing. Maybe it's because I lean toward introversion. Maybe it's just a personal quirk. I don't know. I rarely even write about my personal struggles here on Hive, and it's a fairly anonymous place.
This started a conversation on the bus in Chicago with a stranger. Everyone is hoping for a better weekend in Japan
Tough but fair