The Sounds of Finland

ice cream truck's song... 

It is summer now and the ice cream truck can be heard now and then going through the neighborhood. It has it's own little tune, recognizable by all. Last week, we decided to track him down.  What's interesting about the ice cream trucks here, is that while they have a few types of ice cream that you can go up and buy one piece for a euro or two from the truck, most of what you get is big boxes, with 10 or so ice creams inside. We bought Toffee-Vene, little ice cream boats with vanilla ice cream, chocolate topping and caramel sauce in the middle. Nam.


Kukkuu, kukkuu, KÄKH...


One night, I kept hearing a bird outside. At first I wasn't sure if it was an owl ,hoo hoo, or a pigeon ,coo coo, but I was later told it was a cuckoo bird. Apparently they are real and exist here in Finland. But they don't call them cuckoo birds here (that would be too obvious). They call them käki birds. The käki bird sings a long (and constant) song of kukkuu, kukkuu, but then at the end of this song they give a sharp KÄHK sound. And that's the sound they are named after.

Click clack of knitting needles...

I finished my last dishcloth of the summer.  Currently I am working on a headband, but the pattern isn't the greatest so I am modifying it and trying different ways of knitting it, which means I have started over about 4 times so far and will probably continue to do so until I find the right fit.

Thwok...

I found a set of badminton rackets and birdies at the local Robin Hood for 1,50€. We spent one afternoon in the back of the apartment just hitting the birdie back and forth. It was a nice day and a good way to spend an afternoon.

Uniklubi...

Yesterday was the Pioneerifestivaali in Koria, a little town nearby. My favorite band was playing there so we decided to buy tickets. Uniklubi is one of the first Finnish bands I ever heard of  when I was learning Finnish and about Finland. They play rock and all of their lyrics are in Finnish. So we went and had a great time listening to the show. They played well and it was a good evening listening to good music, and of course, seeing my favorite band live. 

After the show, the band went back to their restricted area and the next band started to play on the second stage. I had brought one of my Uniklubi CDs and I decided I would walk up to the security guard and ask if they would sign my CD for me. I expected him to say no, or at best, to take my CD and bring it back while I waited at the gate. I was told one of the staff would ask and I would wait at the gate. Then a couple of minutes later he waves me inside the restricted area. I follow him and chat with him and he leads me to the Uniklubi tour bus. I'm asked to stay there a moment and the next thing I know Pasi and Jussi (the guitartist and lead singer of the band) walk off the tour bus! Vau! So I actually got to meet them in person and chat with them and they signed my CD! A minute later, Janne, another guitarist comes off the bus and chats and signs too! Uskomatonta! Quite an unexpected adventure!

And a little Uniklubi for your listening pleasure (and a good look of what Finland looks like)...
(if this doesn't work in your country, just search on Youtube for Uniklubi Maalima Puhaltaa and click the one that looks like the CD above.)

Thanks for reading.
(Kiitos lukemisesta.)


t.Kati