Finally I arrived in Helsinki, a bit late and much tired.
The flight to Amsterdam was delayed one hour because it was overbooked. On the plane I met some guy who explained to me the basics of Homeopathy, which now seems less like a fraud but still difficult to prove with scientific testing.
I almost missed the plane to Helsinki but i eventually dozed off and i was, as usual, pretty ecstatic once i was in the city center (or Keskusta in Finnish). Everything was (almost) the same as when i left.
I went directly to the SKS (Finnish literature society) library to get copies of Kalevala translations for my course (and my research) only to find out that most of the books i had reserved were, well, already out because on 28.2 it's... Kalevala Day!
Since the people at SKS are very fine people, I managed to obtain photocopies of some of the need translations (in Czech, Japanese and Italian) and, lo and behold! My good friend Heini was back from India and still working part time there. We immediately changed plans and i ended up having dinner and sauna at her place on Rautalammintie.
I took the train at half past nine, and immediately fell asleep in the comfy makuuvaunu.
I woke up a few times, peering through the window, looking at the flickering green headlights turning the seemingly moving surroundings into The Last Trip To Hell. When the train stopped in Ylivieska. I looked outside, the Moon beckoning the horizon serrated by the Finnish forest. Tiny houses dotted that uniform landscape.
Slowly, it all became familiar.
I was back in Oulu.
A cold crisp mid-winter air.
Nobody in the streets. One bus awaits. The 6. I climb aboard. Huomenta. 2.50 €.
I get out at Puolivälikangas. Walk 5 minutes. Sky is blue. Magpies argue with crows. Dog tracks mingle with hare trails in the glittering snow.
Olen matkamies.
A well-known house.
A warm welcome.
Elämää on kiva.
Now if only i could get my paskakäänykkä to work properly.
Posted by phonono at février 26, 2005 04:12 AM