Hectic Saturday

(Cross-posted on the Best Buy Blog and my Jacob's Blog.)

What a hectic day. The Saturday puzzle will appear tomorrow!

Here are some pictures that Joanna sent me today of Samuel and Daniel. The last one made me cry as Daniwel went down with gastroenteritis and it really shows in his face!

Daniel with flowers


Samuel, Daniel and Merran


Daniel is poorly

I left home at 6:30 am. I went to check out the discount at the SPAR Kaijonharju for my Best Buy Blog readers. When I arrived at 6:45 am, right across town, who should I see standing for the doors of the shop - Ilari and Ildikó.

They were a bit diasappointed as the discount was still only 30%, which is generally not good enough to merit a visit. Watch the Best Buy Blog so that you do not go on a wild goose chase. I do all the hard work for you!

The 50% discount at this shop will start at 7:00 am on Monday morning and by 8:00 am, the shop will be cleaned out. There will not be much to buy as most of the general goods are over already.

I went on to do my regular shopping, starting at Cassa in Rajakylä. I was there just before 8:00 am on saturday it opens at that time. (On weekdays Cassa opens at 7:00 am.)

Standing a few ten metres from me, as I waited for Cassa to open, there was a group of 4 men and they were drinking beer at that early hour.


Beer at 8:00 am!

Was I surprised?

Not really, as this is quite common behaviour among certain sections of the local population in Finland.

On my way back from Cassa I passeed this Bus Stand at Toppila.


Vandalism - Smashed Bus Stand

This is a degree of vandalism which is quite unusual for Oulu, Finland! Grafiti, yes; Smashing bus stands, No.

Today was such a beautiful day, I decided it was time to change from winter to summer tyres. I spent most of the morning cleaning the insides of the cars, vacuuming them and washing the carpets, etc,

Later in the evening I went to Reijo's Garage with the Kannan's SAAB. My back is too weak for me to attempt changing tyres.

Reijo changed the tyres and I had the car washed.


Reijo changes tyres on the SAAB


SAAB being washed

The best part of Reijo's work is that he even washes the tyres that he takes off, with high pressure water, making it easy to handle them at home without getting your hands or clothes dirty.

I then took the SAAB home and took the Ford Escort to change the tyres.

One look at my summer tyres meant that I had to change all of them. Reijo came to rescue and sold me 4 new radial tyres, for just Euro 215 for the set.


Reijo fits my new tyres in the hub

Reijo fitted the new tyres in the hub and balanced all of them, changed the tyres, and then washed the Ford. Reijo's good friend, Jussi, washed the tyres of the Ford.



And all that work of changing tyres on two cars, fitting and balancing the new tyres in the hubs, washing the two cars and washing the tyres - all for just Euro 40 with a smiling face!

Could there be a better BEST BUY?

A tough and long day with me returning for a great dinner of curry and rice followed by a long talk with Samu in Newcastle about the Chelsea - Liverpool FA Cup semifinal game and an even longer talk about the World Cup.

Samu has got a fabulous book with all the details of players, fixtures, officials of the World Cup. I am going to have a great time watching the World Cup with Samu here in Finland. I can refer to the expert grandson to get all the details!

Location for Amnesty Meeting

I have been informed that the location for the First Meeting of the English Language Group of Amnesty International, Oulu, will meet on

Date: Wednesday 10th May 2006
Location: The Cafe at The International Activity Centre
Address: TOPPELIUS, Torikatu 16, 90100 Oulu
Time: 18:00 hours

If you need more information, please contact:

Niina Kuokkanen
Amnesty Oulu Group
niina @ amnestyoulu.info
Mobile: 040 - 7387 587

Please support this group as they will be another link to the world in which we live and our responsibility to our fellow human beings.

Easter Monday CHAFF meeting

We had an interesting group of people at the CHAFF Meeting last Monday. We moved it to Monday as most people were having a private Easter Sunday with their families.

First to arrive were Siddarth Mazumdar and his 3 Polish friends who managed to reach Oulu after their 2500 km trip around North Finland, Sweden and Norway. They used Kannan's new SAAB car and said it was great and gave them no trouble whatsoever during their trip.

We had our French and Slovakian friends, Anais and Michella. David from Kenya was also present. Tingting from China brought a new friend, Veli-Matti, a really fine and nice Finn who travels frequently to both Thailand and China.

My daughter, Susanna, who was spending Easter in Oulu withus was also among the attendees.

Apologies were received from Ilari & Ildikó, Pentti (who was in Lapland), Bill who was studying, and Kerstin.

We discussed many new subjects. Although there was no Thai Buffet, as it was a meeting that started at 15:00 hours, most people enjoying the Thai Wraps and Flaps.

This week's meeting will be on Sunday 23rd April at the usual time of 13:00 hours. The Thai Buffet will be back on the table. Location at the Thai Pailin Raestaurant, Kenttätie 9, Kasarmi Area.

See you there.

Happy easter, Chinese style....

(Cross-posted on Jacob's Blog.)

I woke up late, not because it is Easter Sunday, but because, last night, we enjoyed a great Chinese meal, cooked by a dear friend, at home.

So, a belated Happy Easter to all of you.

Tingting is just 21 years old. She is a personality whom, once you meet, you will not forget. She has a brain which works like a computer - items get saved onto it like a hard disk and it churns away to get the right result.

I met Tingting about six months ago at a CHAFF meeting. We have become fast friends. She Skype's or Gizmo's me whenever she wants to discuss something to get a bit of information from my experience. And she processes the information she gets very wisely. As she says, she is an "old (Ed: mature) brain on a young frame"!

All this time she has been wanting to meet Annikki. She had brought her two lovely gifts from China, but yet she was unable to meet her.

So, yesterday, she Skyped me and said she wanted to cook us a Chinese meal. So, I went and picked her up in the morning and we chose the ingredients.

As Susaana and Asha are here with us, we had to observe some rules - no pork, prawns, dairy products, etc.

But that was no problem for Tingting - as her mind works like a register - it just processed that information and when we went shopping, it was so unique. She knew exactly what to buy. We were in and out of the shop in less than 15 minutes.

Asha and I picked up Tingting at exactly 18:30 in the evening. When she entered our home she brought a brightness which was so enthralling. Both Susanna and Annikki took to this young lady, who speaks everything from the heart. She tells it like it is and maybe, in time, she will have to learn that diplomacy may require her to keep some of her deepmost feelings hidden. But for Annikki and Susanna, who love people who speak the truth, this was quite an experience.

After a little chit-chat, including telling us how some Chinese eat monkey brains directly from a live monkey place in the centre of a table, a practice she thought repulsive, Tingting wanted to get to work.

Tingting cooks

It was amazing how this youngster took charge of the kitchen, where even the big boss of the JM family, Susanna, was reduced to being a kitchen helper. Annikki took care of producing the rice in the upstairs kitchen while Tingting worked with our limited cookware. Susanna was busy chopping vegetables and scrubbing pots and pans, while I laid the table with Chinese bowls and glasses, found the chopsticks, and before I knew it, I was moving the cooked food from the kitchen to the dining room.


Soup hits the table

Besides the rice, in a matter of a few minutes this wizard had produced a delicious Chinese soup, and four separate dishes - each one a masterpiuiece, and knowing that Asha could not take too much spice, each dish was tailored to the exact spice level that even Asha would be able to eat it.


Delicacies


More delicacies

When all the dishes were on the table, I was under the impression that we would have a buffet. But Tingting quickly pooh-poohed that idea. She had the dining table cleared of the chess set and other paraphenalia and said that when you have a Chinese meal, you have to eat it Chinese style, sitting around the table and helping yourself directly from the serving dishes placed in the centre of the table.


Tingting doles out her specialities

As I glanced around the table, I saw such faces that showed that all the participants, including Asha, were really enjoying the food as much as I was. And the talk around the table went from one topic to another, showing that Tingting was one of our family.

Tingting was amazed as to how we had brought up four children. She is a product of the Chinese one-child policy and could never imagine anyone having more than one offspring. She looked at Annikki in wonderment. I must say, as I was an errant father in India, as I was away almost two weeks on the road every month, I, too, am amazed how Annikki managed to raise our four kids in a strange country and manage it so well.

Tingting had already adopted me as one of her fatherly guides in Finland many months ago. Now, she won the hearts of all my family who sat around the table.

After such a superb meal, which ended with Annikki serving a portion for Mika, Tingting and Susanna chatted till it was time for Tingting to go home.


Susanna and Tingting with the cleaned out food plates!

Asha and I dropped her back to her flat and we thanked her.

This young girl had brought a different and meaningful Easter message to our home in her own quiet way - and for that we ever remain in her gratitude.

Remember tomorrow's CHAFF Meeting is at 15:00 hours at the Thai Pailin Restaurant - no buffet, but coffee and "pulla". Welcome.

A new culture becomes part of us in 2549

(Cross-posted in the CHAFF Blog.)

Yesterday, was the Thai New Year taking us into the year 2549.

Annikki, Susanna, Asha, along with me, were invited to dinner by Pailin, Unnop and Soda.

The occasion was not only an eye-opener in terms of culture, but Annikki and I now have two more beautiful children and two more wonderful grandchildren, except that one was sadly unable to be present on this occasion.

We were late, as Annikki and Asha had some shopping to do, and after that, Asha had to speak to her dad, Chris, in Billinghay, just to make sure that all was OK.



When we arrived, we saw a beautifully laid out table before us, with a decorative tray of carved fruit and a plate of delicious rice noodles.

Unnop is a master carver of fruits and vegetables. Annikki is certain that the Finns would flock around to learn this art from him.

The rice noodles are a Thai speciality. It is similar to the Idiappam that we have in Kerala. It is served with a fish sauce and can also also be eaten with a curry.

Soda taught Susanna to eat rice noodles with spoon and fork

Soda was eating with us at the table. He guided us through the meal.

Although only 14, nearing 15, Soda is a not only a handsome and loving boy, but also a thorough gentleman. An outstanding footballer and a naturally talented musician, he has also picked up Finnish and speaks it fluently, in just 6 months. His English is excellent and he also reads and writes Thai. But he confessed he was having problems with his Maths!

That is of little consequence for a boy so gifted in so many ways and one who will be a wonderful personality and a true Ambassador of the rich Thai culture and heritage he has brought with him to Finland.

Looking at the picture above, I can see how he has become more powerful in his physique than when I met him 7 months ago. He is growing to be a very strong young man, whom I hope I will be very proud off, just as my four other children.

The rice noodles were eaten in the soup bowl with the fish sauce. Then we ate Satay Chicken roasted on sticks with a delicious and mildly spicy nut sauce. The Spring Rolls were eaten with Thai Sweet Chilli sauce. This was followed by Jasmine rice served with absolutely delicious green curry which is made with plenty of coconut milk.

Knowing that Annikki, Susanna and Asha have a few food restrictions, there were no pork, shrimps, and dairy products in the items served. Yet the meal was tasty and it was Pailin's cooking at its best. (Pailin is a double graduate from Thai Universities - in Home Science as well as Science Education.)

All of us gushed, not only at the quality of the food, but also the beautiful way it was served with both Pailin and Unnop in their Thai robes.


Pailin greets us with a great feeling using the Thai Namaste


Unnop, a wonderful personality

Asha started with the Spring Rolla and the Satay Chicken, which had been made by Pailin for the very first time, but found the fish sauce and the green curry a bit too spicy. Pailin rustled up Asha's favourite, fried rice with chicken and fresh vegetables. It was truly mouth-watering, and I stole a bit from Asha's plate to see what it was like. The taste was even better than what it looked like.


Asha amongst the tulips

We then attacked the fruit bowl, especially the grapes and the carved honey melon.

As the meal came to an end, there appeared a large empty bowl on the table and another bowl filled with fragrantly smelling water.

The time had come to partake of a bit of Thai culture.

We learnt that it is Thai custom to celebrate the New Year with Water. They spray each other with water - something Samu enjoys, as he usually chases Grandpa around the Kampitie garden with the garden spray gun.

But this time it was slightly different.



First, Unnop washed my hands into the bowl and I wiped the cooling fragrant water over my face. I wished him all the best for the future. Then he washed Annikki's hands. This was followed by Pailin and Soda washing our hands. Asha and Susanna also washed our hands. We in turn wished them all future prosperity and happiness. (Silently, I also wished all our absent family members all the very best in the coming years.)

This custom is one that the Thai people show to the people they love and respect.


Annikki, the most wonderful daughter, wife,
mother and grandmother to many

Annikki and I were deeply touched. Pailin and Unnop told us they value us as their parents and love and honour us as such.


Susanna, the eldest, so far, of our brood

Annikki and I are proud to know this couple and their children. We, also, consider them as part of our family. As Pailin and Unnop, we have a few other friends who consider us and value us as their respected elders, but this was the first time we went through a ceremony which publicly stated the love and affection some people have for us.

It made us feel very humble that people can show their love and affection for us so outwardly.

Mika was unable to join this family occasion, so Pailin packed an enormous meal for him.

Our thanks to Pailin, Unnop, Soda and Sodium for becoming part of our family. I am sure those not here, Joanna and family (Samu already considers this to be his best French fries place, just as Asha considers this to be the very best Chicken Wrap place) and Jaakko, also welcome them into our family as loved members.

We wish them all prosperity in the coming years. We hope that Soda and Sodium will grow into being the same loving people as their parents.

Immigration and multicultural community in Oulu

I have just been informed by Ildikó of the next meeting on the Regional Policy Plan Development. The subject is Immigration and multicultural community in Oulu and it is going to be held in English, so you can follow it even if you do not understand Finnish.

As my daughter and granddaughter will leave for England that evening at 16:30, it is a meeting that I will not be able to attend.

May I suggest we hammer out a common viewpoint at the next CHAFF meeting which will NOT be on Sunday, as usual, but will take place on MONDAY 17th April 2006 at 15:00 hours at the Thai Pailin Restaurant, Kenttätie 9, Kasarmi Area.

(Daughter Susanna and granddaughter Asha will attend the CHAFF meeting. I am also expecting Siddarth and 3 Polish friends to arrive in time for the meeting from their trip to the Nordcap.)

This is a very important subject and instead of everyone going in with different viewpoints, maybe the appointment of a spokesperson who puts together a powerful and coherent point of view will get better attention than a series of uncordinated opinions and presentations.

Here is Ildikó's email invitation in both English and Finnish.

Hello all,

Thank you for having been around at the first meeting. Now I am happy to invite you to the next meeting, where Ilpo Tapaninen from the Regional Council will be around again and the meeting's topic will be "Immigration and multicultural community in Oulu". The meeting will be held in English, and I will help with interpreting should there need be. As SINNI's meeting room will be occupied at that time, I will let you know in time where we will congregate.

Date and time: Thursday, 20.4., 15.00


Please try to come, as now we will really be able to tackle and discuss the problems of employment, language and integration etc. and make direct claims and suggestions to really try and influence policy in the region.

So see you next week! Have a nice Easter holiday!

Ildikó

""""""""""""

Hei kaikki,

kiitos läsnäolostasi ensimmäisessa tapamisessa. Nyt olen iloinen että saan kutsua sinut seuraavaan tapaamiseen, mihin Ilpo Tapaninen Pohjois-Pohjanmaan Liitosta tulee myös. Tapaamisen aihe on "Maahanmuutto ja monikulttuurinen yhteisö Oulussa". Tapaamista pidetään englannin kielessä ja minä autan kääntämisen kanssa tarvittaessa. Koska SINNIn neuvottelutilat ovat silloin muussa käytössä, ilmoitan teille paikan ajoissa ennen torstaita.

Päivämäärä ja aika: Torstai, 20.4., klo 15.00


Yritä mahdollisuutesi mukaan tulla tapamiseen, koska nyt meillä on todella tilaisuus keskustella ja tarttua ongelmiin kuten työllisyys, kieli, integraation yms. ja tehdä suoria vaatimuksia ja ehdotuksia että pystytään todella vaikuttaa maakunnan politiikkaan.

Tavataan ensi viikolla! Hyvää pääsiäisjuhlaa!

Ildikó

Welcome to the next CHAFF Meeting.

Stupendous News

(Cross-posted on Jacob's Blog.)

The CHAFF Meeting this Sunday was quite a small affair as most people were recovering from the all night party of last week. I heard that people were wandering home even as early as 5:30 am last Sunday!

However, we were given the most stupendous news at the tail end of the meeting.


Ildikó and Ilari arrived late and broke us the news which was like music to all assembled.

Ilari had proposed to Ildikó on Saturday! And Ildikó has accepted.

It took the form of the treasure hunt, treasure unknown to Ildikó, which led up to the final proposal being found posted on the side of a water filling station in a remote corner of Oulu!

Our favourite young CHAFF couple

Typically Ilari character. He loves to play games.

It is the first CHAFF announcement of marriage news in Finland. Everyone was thrilled.

All of us at CHAFF wish this popular couple all the very best.

If they have even half the success of my marriage to Annikki, they will have a great one!

Ildikó is moving things in Oulu

It is great to see one of our CHAFF participants, Ildikó Hámos, making things happen in Oulu.

A report in today's KALEVA, our local newspaper, we have Ildikó, who is the Chairperson of the Oulun Monika-Women's Association, taking large steps in the interest of ethnic minority women in Oulu. Ildikó is also the planner (communication, training) in the SINNI resource and empowerment centre working for the interests of women.

This great picture which appeared in the KALEVA today emphasises the determination with which Ildikó is taking her task. It shows a group of women over the entire cross-section of age groups, Finns and ethnic minorities, marching in step to get things done.

Estella Ohtonen (left), Ildikó Hámos, Meryem Kaya-Koivunen, Eine Al-Sadoon and Danilieva Ljubov, Picture by: Heikki Sarviaho

I have been handing over much of my files and useful references, collected on the subject of the problems of ethnic minorities over many tens of years, to Ildikó, as they may help her to do her task without having to reinvent the wheel. In athletics this is called handing over the baton.

I am glad this information is going to such an individual who shows concern over the problems being faced by many sections of the underprivilieged in Finnish Society.

Thank you, Ildikó, for being such an activist!

Head over to this site

Ildikó and Ilari have blogged last week's get together on their Finnish Language blog site called Uuutsia (News).

So head over and have a look. Complete list of all who attended and also the countries they came from.

62 people from 15 countries. WOW.

Great photographs and a much better photograph of that water melon than on this site.

And the party ended at 04.40 am!

On Monday, our local newspaper, Kaleva, will publish the picture that I took of the birthday greetings and present my dear wife gave me! :-)

Remember the CHAFF Meeting is at the usual place tomorrow.

Location: The Pailin Thai Restaurant
Address: Kenttätie 9, Kasarmi Area
Time: 13:00 hours

Welcome.

Thank you, Kerstin, Congratulations to Ville and Fumi

This shows the difference between the cameras.

Kerstin, with her Canon took these shots at the get-together of last Saturday.

Our hosts:

Our hosts, Ildikó and Ilari

Three Continents:

David, Pentti and Unnop

David with a bevy of beauties:

David, Michela, Anais and Fumi

OK, I was also there:

Michela, self and Isaac

Thank you Kerstin for these great shots.

Ville Suomi put the story of the CHAFF get-together and Ilari & Idilkó's house warming on his Diary Page for Saturday 1st April 2006. On the page you will read the good news about Fumi. We wish her all the very best in the coming months.

Pailin launches yet another great product

Cross-posted on Jacob's Blog

Here is stomach-breaking news.

Annikki and i were privileged to taste the latest of the products to find their way into the Pailin menu.

You may be familiar with the Thai Sweet Chilli Kebab Wrap. It is a really convenient and delicious food.

However, the Sweet Chilli Sauce goes best with roast chicken.

This product really gets your juices going.

There are some secrets in this product which make it a new real and major addition to Thai cusine. I am not at liberty to divulge those details, but I understand why this product will really hit the headlines.









I raved over it. When I took one home for Annikki, she thought it was just great.

Thank you Ildikó and Ilari

What a Chaff get together! Unbelieveable.

Two of our most popular participants of CHAFF had their house warming party along with Ilari's birthday, yesterday. They decided to have the CHAFF meeting at the same time. And what an event it was.



It showed how respected our two most widely travelled participants really are. They know the culture and traditions, as well as so many languages between them, that they are a mini-UN.

And the CHAFF turn out was outstanding. Countries that I noted who were represented: Japan, Britian, France, Finland, Germany, Hungary, India, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Slovakia, Thailand.

The spectrum of people included a CEO, many different breeds of engineers, health specialists and distributors of natural health products, innovative designers, social and youth workers, city representatives, Finnish and international students, researchers from different areas of science and technology, a restauranteur and of course one retired Joulupukki!

The food was superb - a mix of many different cusines, breads representing many different cultures - and it was overflowing. Champagne flowed!

From our CHAFF group we brought the brand new product from the Thai Pailin Restaurant - the Pailin Mini Pizza Flap



Unnop, the owner of the Thai Pailin Restaurant, who so generously hosts our CHAFF meetings, besides a fruit basket, brought an exquistely hand carved water melon filled with delicious cooling water melon and honey dew melon balls. Designer and carver - Unnop!



The party which started at 17:00 hours was still going great guns at 21:00 hours...

Here a couple of shots of a few of other CHAFF paricipants:



Thank you Ildikó and Ilari for hosting such a wonderful party and all CHAFF participants, I am sure will join me in wishing you a wonderful life in your new home.

Next meeting, will be as usual be next Sunday:

Location: Thai Pailin Restaurant, Kenttätie 9, Kasarmi Area
Date: Sunday 9th April 2006
Time: 13:00 - 14:00 hours
All are welcome.

Midi and Mini - Not skirt lengths!

(Cross-posted on my Jacob's Blog.)

I am not talking about skirt lengths!

The Thai Pailin Restaurant (Kenttätie 9, Kasarmi Area) have tested two new products on Annikki and me yesterday - the Midi Flap and the Mini Flap.

It is rather nice to be food tasting test pigs for a good restaurant!

The Midi Pizza Flap








The Mini Pizza Flap
















After the success of their full size Pizza Flap, they have come up with these two products for the not so hungry and the fast-food Pizza addicts with not so much money in their pockets.

And, it is not an unhealthy fast food!

Fast food giant, Macdonald's could take some lessons from this enterprising small restaurant.

It is possible to choose the fillings in these Flaps to your personal taste.

The Mini Flap is ideal for parties. Keep them warm in a hot case and serve them up with an accompanying salad bowl.

Great work - Unnop and Pailin.

Busy day this Saturday....Rugby, CHAFF, Party....

I had an email from the Rugby group organiser in Oulu Jarmo, who also runs the Oulu Snow Rugby group.

Hi!

Me and my friend checked you website.

Also my friends said that story of our book cafeteria is well done (This litle info is missing. It maybe interesting to some of your web visitors: It is quite cheap to order foreign books through our store. It cost only € 4.50 / order. It does not matter if you order one or ten books).

And also we did not find that Snow Rugby story. Is it comming soon?

(Ed: It went to the site which has many Rugby fans at Seventh Heaven.

The Snow Rugby Tournament will be held in Saariselkä (the most northerly rugby tournament in the world) between the 21-22 of April 2006.

If we get new players to join, we can take them with us.

This tournament is held mostly for fun. It is not so serious as the Rugby we play during the summer time. So we can take newcomers with us (we are the most northerly rugby club in the world).

We now have New Zealander and a Spanish guy (you already met him).

Soon we shall have also one player from South Afrika, Australia and Morocco.

We have special Rugby Day this Saturday in Ouluhalli. (Ed: The Oulu Sports Dome.)

Place: Ouluhalli
Time 10.00-14.30.
New comers are welcome.
(They should bring food and drink, as it will be a long day.)

Jarmo Stoor
Nispero Kirjakahvila

I think this is a great opportunity to meet and play Rugby with some great fun guys. They play hard, as I witnessed at this Snow Rugby session.











It is a great and tough sport - but it is also great fun.

Remember on Saturday evening (see earlier entry for the invitation) we have our CHAFF Meeting at Ilari and Ildi's place - and they will have the House Warming after the meeting. It is going to be real hot there!

Summer Job Applications

I got a huge response to my restricted circulation email about the summer jobs - many thanking me for drawing attention to the fact that it was the last date. Some had not even heard of this scheme!

i did have one interesting reply from a person in the loop which read as follows - (I do not identify the person as it is not the official viewpoint of the organisation that she represents):

About the summer jobs:

We advertised those jobs when the application time started.

I agree, that Oulu should really put effort and value to many different groups living here. My great personal concern is that the jobs offered below are only for a month at a time, and the pay is related to the duties - 800 e / month. Also the duties are very simple and as that offer good work experience for school girls and boys, but the students of the University or Polytechnic can't really seem to get much benefit out of these. Also the work effort gained by the City of Oulu is to be questioned, for they have to teach a person to do the job monthly.

Still there is a huge amount of applicants to these jobs. I wish that in the future years we will see three month period traineeships, which actually include real duties that both the student and the City of Oulu can get the benefits for the future.

Also, when the duties get heavier, the pay should be related to it (thinking about 1200 e / month).

These kinds of traineeships would also suit better the foreign degree seeking students. The work experience value would be significantly greater, the identity of the trainee would rise, the city would get real work effort and so everybody would gain.

This is just my personal opinion, not official of the "Organisation" ;)

I certainly appreciate the sentiments expressed.

However, I would like to point out that many University and Polytechnic students (including the ethnic minorities) are wanting these jobs just to "survive".

A strategy has to be worked out which really looks at the number of job seekers and the places created as there is no use in having a "huge amount of applicants" for a pitiful number of openings.

It is hardly a strategy.

I also had a comment from another person in the loop who confessed that they had not realised that this information had not been put out in the English (or other foreign language) on the City website, promising that in future years it would be done.

I am waiting to see how many of the ethnic minorities happen to get an opportunity in this - even for the so called "month".

That will be the real test of what the City is doing!

Chaff meeting expands exponentially...

Today's CHAFF meeting was a packed and exciting affair. As usual our Thai hosts, Pailin and Unnop, served up some great food.

We had many new participants including the Nigerian professional footballers, Stanley and younger brother, Chijoke. We had the good fortune for the attendance of Shahnaz (Iran) and Yrjo (Finland) Mikkonen and their youngest daughter, also for the first time at the CHAFF meeting.

Shahnaz is in charge of Topelius House, the meeting place in Oulu for foreigners.

Isaac (India) was back from the USA. Kiran and Nageshwari (India) were in attendance today as also Ildiko and Ilari. David (Kenya) and Kamu (Zambia) were also present.



Stanley played for one of the greatest football clubs in India, Mohammedan Sporting Club of Kolkata (Calcutta).

Stanley first landed in Bombay 2002 in search of greener pastures as a professional player. Things did not work then as he was to play with Bengal Mumbai F.C in Bombay, (as he did not get permission from the Nigerian Football Association). He was going to play alongside the great Nigerian, Chima Okorie, in the attack.

Stanley tried to join Vasco, one of the top clubs in Goa and then he went to ITI (Indian Telephone Industries) in Banglore. Stanley thought my home town as a very beautiful city.

Finally he got the break with Indian Bank R.C in Chennai.

He moved to Maldives and played for Victory Sports Club and then went to Dhaka, Bangladesh, and then back again to India to join Mohammeden Sporting.

From there he has moved to Finland.

As a professional, he has to attend practice 10 times x 2 hours sessions every week plus he has to play the club games.

His intention is to develop his game more and more as he is a completely dedicated professional.

Presently both he and his brother have to survive in Finland on a very low salary. But they accepted this offer so they get s stepping stone into European football.

If they are good, they will certainly make it big. Some of us at CHAFF wish them both the best and intend to help them achieve their ambitions in whatever way we can.

As Stanley says, it is earning a living from football that he loves so much, as he enjoys this challenge

We, at Chaff, have to work out how we can help these very talented professional footballers who give everything for the game they love.

Today, they shared their love for the game with young Soda, the young Thai boy who is also a very talented player.

Soda, at the age of 14, is facing a very delicate time of his life. He is being pulled in many directions.

As he talked with these two professionals, it became obvious that to be a professional footballer, one has to give up everything for sake of the game - no girlfriends, no dancing around, no playing truant from practice sessions, and besides spending time in team training, a professional has to spend his own time training, training and training, and keeping fit.

Stanley had to leave early as he had to play a game. Chijoke stayed, as he is recovering from an injury, and talked at length to the young Soda.

Soda and Chijoke having an intense discussion
about football, training and other related subjects.

Pentti (Finland forgot to change his clock (as we c hanged from winter time to summertime last night) - so he arrived an hour late - but the meeting was still in full swing.

After the meeting I went to see Soda play for his Tervarit Musta side. As Soda is recovering from an injury, and did not take part in the Friday practice, he only played the last 16 minutes of the game. he only got to touch the ball 3 times, one of which was a 30 metre left foot kick for the goal. There was not power enough in the kick to give the goalkeeper much trouble.

Vamsi puts his Best Buy camera to test

(Cross-posted in the Best Buy and Jacob's Blogs.)

Many of you will remember how Vamsi got a real bargain of a 7.2 megapixel camera for jut Euro 199.

This one beat the one we got for Paneer, but as Paneer was time-bound, he got the Best Buy of that day!

Vamsi has been kind enough to share some of the absolutely great photographs he got when he went to Iso-Syöte, the downhill ski centre an hour and a half from Oulu, with his colleagues from the Technical Faculty at Oulu University.

I share below some of the great photography of a master photographer in the making.

I was looking fortward to the action photo taken while Vamsi was skiing down the slope with the camera strapped to his chest! :-)

Majestic view from the top of the hill
with the top of a pair of ski's in the foreground.
Great composition.


This snow formation is truly a masterpiece.


This just that you techies know the problems faced
in Finland for transmission of signals!

Anyone like to hazard a guess how they clean up the masts and the dishes?

Keep those photos coming, Vamsi, AND Paneer.

No, it isn't an April Fool's Trick

This week's CHAFF meeting will be at the Thai Pailin Restaurant, 9 kenttätie, Kasarmi Area, as usual, at 13:00 hours. All are welcome.

However, please note the very important change for next week's meeting.

I had an email from Ildikó Hámos today with this invitation for a house warming party and CHAFF afternoon meeting!



The date, I quickly noted, was Saturday 1st April 2006, and the location their new home in Tuira at 17.00 hours.

I asked her whether this was a sinister plot and an April Fool's Trick on CHAFF participants!

Ildikó smirked! :-)


Location: Kuivastie 17 A 36, Tuira.
Date: Saturday 1st April 2006
Time: 17:00 hours
Event: CHAFF Afternoon Meeting and House Warming party

Ildikó assured me that it was not a joke or a trick.

She especially asked me to put the invitation on the CHAFF Blog and extend the invitation to all of you participants who have made our CHAFF meetings so much fun.

In order that Ilari and Ildikó have some idea of the number of people attending, do email them to inform them whether you can make it.

Knowing that both of them are great hosts, I am sure it will be a great get-together.

Ildikó has asked for the CHAFF mailing list which I will let her have. You may also get a direct invite from her - but rest assured, as a CHAFF participant, you are being invited through the blog.

I do not know traditions of house warming in Hungary or Finland.

In my part of India, we take a small gift for the home and something sweet and something salty. We then boil some milk and allow it to boil over.

Maybe all of you will follow the traditions of your own country in what you do when attending a house warming so that we wish them both a happy life in their new home!

That will give me a nice blog entry as to the number of traditions that were followed - anything which is not destructive will be allowed!

Please visit our NEW BEST BUY BLOG

(Cross-posted in our JACOB's BLOG.)

Please visit our new Blog - BEST BUYS in OULU which presents you BEST BUYS in Food, Toietries, Cameras, Radios, TVs, Computers, and anything else we find.

Annikki & Jacob

Oulu Amnesty International, English

I have just been informed that a division of Amnesty International (in tHe English Language) has started operating in Oulu run by Niina Kuokkanen as the leadeR. (Nina's husband is British and they have a lovely little daughter, Helmi.)

Here is the announcement that JUST reached me:

Amnesty International is an impartial human rights organisation. Its aims and actions are based on the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. The Finnish section of Amnesty International has several local groups. Some of us at the Oulu Amnesty Group are setting up an international English-speaking Amnesty Group in Oulu

It gives an opportunity for foreigners and anyone else interested in human rights issues to join action. Finns also welcome!

It functions as a study and discussion group (human rights and related issues) and works with the existing Amnesty Oulu group (this includes e.g., participating in various events, planning actions, organising film nights, etc. etc.)

It can have its own activities, too. All the group members' ideas and contributions count.

"When you join Amnesty International, you become part of a worldwide movement. As an individual member, or as part of a local group or a specialist network, your individual voice will join with countless others to build pressure for change." - AI Website

Interested?

Our very first meeting will take place on Wednesday May 10th at 6 pm.

The location of the meeting will be confirmed later.

You can find THE LOCATION by the end of April on the Amnesty Oulu website.

For more information about meetings and plans of action, see the website

Amnesty Oulu Info

or email us at

Amnesty Oulu.

P.S. If you want to know more about Amnesty International in general, do check out their website:

Amnesty International.

The Finnish section's website is

Amnesty International Finland

All of you CHAFF participants who want to do something to help people around the world - please take some time to be invlved with Amnesty International.

Your voice will add to the millions of others across the world and it will be HEARD.

Freedom of Speech - Further decline in Finland?

On Thursday evening, I joined the group at the Oulu Opisto in the Pohjankartano to discuss the subject of Freedom of Speech. I asked the Convenor, Yrjö Mikkonen, to send me a short summary of the meeting of yesterday, which was well attended.

"Religions, values & our time"

Discussion group convened on
16 March evening at Oulu Opisto.

Fourteen persons representing Bangladeshi, Finnish, Indian. Iranian, and German backgrounds and Bahaí, various denominational Christians (Lutheran, Orthodox), Humanist, Muslim and Mormon viewpoints participated a lively discussion on the topic of freedom of speech and its relationship with sacred and important values.

Some highlights.

It became evident that presently the real freedom of speech is largely exercise by the agency that has the playground, tool and rules for it, i.e. media. Small groups in Finland, like Muslims, Mormons or Indians have great difficulties to defend their culture and values when ridiculed on biased grounds.

It was stressed that even if religion is not given its due value the binding laws of UN Human Rights as well as EU and American conventions should be respected.

It was pointed out we should not give in in front of the cynical world. Sacred values are the only moral skeleton that can keep "the scattering body of mankind" in its sounder shape. Despite different religious backgrounds and history the shared spiritual values and shared understanding of the our same spiritual source, the All-Mighty God helps us in the painful journey towards the unification of the mankind.

The participants were extremely well-meaning and the level of discussion was healthy and excellent.

However, my own observation is that, in Finland, this sort of disregard of the respect for other ethnic minorities by the media, bureaucracy, law enforcement officials, judiciary and politicians, is not something that started yesterday, but has been prevelant, based on my personal experiences for over 20 years, and possibly much much longer, from a Finnish historical perspective.


Helsingin Sanomat 01.10.1988

This distasteful and religously abusive drawing, and an equally abusive text, was published in Helsinki's and Finland's leading newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat, way back in 1988.

This national paper did not even permit a right of reply.

The ignorant, self-serving author and cartoonist, both of whom were supported by an editorial policy of a newspaper which thrived on hate mongering, totally maligned the culture, the civilisation and a religion and faced no reprimand whatsoever from any branch of Finnish society..

To be able to solve this aspect of "Freedom of Speech", it is necessary to talk in terms of starting "real education" in Finland.

From the Finnish perspective, with the even more stringent educational norms to be imposed on the public, as the rights for individual ethnic minority groups to start their own education agenda now being firmly taken off the table by the Finnish Government, it means that the level of "education" amongst Finns will sharply decline even further than presently in the coming years.

But on the other side I must comment on the level of discussion that is taking place in Finland about the cartoons published in Denmark and then by other western countries. The cartoons were certainly distasteful. But there is no law which condemns such cartooning - it is only the conscience.

Some people have been saying that it is forbidden to depict the Prophet in drawings. This may be a rule which can be applied to His followers by those that administer the religion, but it is not an universal rule applicable to all people. There have been thousands of pictorial depictions of the Prophet and his family.

I give below the cover page of a "comic strip" (A sequence of drawings in a newspaper, magazine, etc., relating to a comic OR ADVENTUROUS situation) magazine, which was published way back in 1988 in the US. In it there are several pictoriasl depictions of the Prophet and many members of His family.

Out of respect for my fellow travellers in the world I have blacked out the picture of the Prophet on the cover, but let me assure you that this cover page can be found on the internet.



A letter, yesterday, from an Oulu artist, to a fellow Muslim in Oulu who had claimed that it was not permitted to depict the Prophet pictorially, was one which can be greatly commended. The artist captured the fact that no laws have ever existed in the northern countries which restricts any such depiction of any personality. Although he is strictly true, there have been instances where the Finnish Press followed self-censorship about comical cartoons about some of their "respected" politicians!