familial entropy

The cleaning issue

Posted on 17. February 2014 by erdhummel

While we are in Turku, we stay in one of the guest flats of the university. When we received the conditions of the flat, we were asked whether we would like to use the cleaning service (30 Euros for one visit). First I declined the offer – after all, we are normally living in Switzerland which implies that you have to regularly clean the flat, the hallway, the communal basement, the playground and so on (unless you want to annoy someone). But then we were told that if we denied, we wouldn’t have access to the vacuum cleaner. The access only comes with using the cleaning service. I still haven’t figured out the logic behind that.

Since we have a small baby that just started crawling, we thought a vacuum cleaner might come handy and we decided to have our flat cleaned twice a month just to get access to it.

When the cleaning ladies came the first time, I wasn’t informed about it and they kind of caught me with my pants down. Almost literally, since I had just finished my morning shower. So they came, they cleaned, I felt pretty bad because I hadn’t had time to clean the dishes from the evening before, and they left again. As soon as they were gone, I noticed that they locked the cupboard with the vacuum cleaner. When we called them the next day, we were told that it is not common to let the guests vacuum the flat – they had bad experiences with it. Again, I am still trying to figure out the logic here. The only experience I can think of after using a vacuum cleaner is that the flat might be cleaner than before.

Anyhow, we got the key to the cupboard when we explained that we would like to clean more often since there are so many stone chips on the streets due to the snow. And, ironically, I have started to clean the flat before they visit because I feel really bad if they come and the flat is dirty.

Today, they came again. Which was fun, because the little one is always in a really good mood when the flat is being cleaned (I wonder why). They cleaned, they left. And just now I noticed that they took my pillow. I think I give up trying to find the logic here….

Posted in Finland, Miscellaneous | 1 Comment

Hyvää Ystävänpäivää!

Posted on 14. February 2014 by erdhummel

We have never really celebrated Valentines Day before – in the end, it is just a day like any other and it’s not like we need a reminder to tell us how happy we are. In Finland, however, Valentines Day is more celebrated as a Friendship Day than a couple-day…with the result that I got free chocolate in all the shops that I went to today, and the number of people wishing me a Happy Valentines Day suddenly increased by 500%. And thanks to Karstens’ colleague (who insisted on Karsten being romantic today), I even received flowers 🙂

Roses for me

A carrot rose from Karsten for the little one

And chocolate cookies for Karsten (“They are awesome – it’s like liquid chocolate pouring into my mouth!”)

So, happy Friendship Day to everyone!!!

Posted in Finland, Miscellaneous | 1 Comment

Top 8

Posted on 13. February 2014 by erdhummel

How comes that babies only focus about one minute on actual baby toys but find the most fascinating stuff in our every day routine? Here are the Top 8 toys that keep the little one busy these days:

My facial creme

The doorstop

The blue dustbin where her diapers mysteriously disappear

My red shoelaces

My watch (purple stain=blueberry)

The African rattles

Her awesome slippers (from Puschenalarm)

The charging cable of our laptop which she unplugs as soon as I dare to focus on the screen instead of her….

Et voilá – battery is empty!

Posted in Miscellaneous, the little one | 1 Comment

How we are responsible for the lack of available seats in the Swiss transport system and still get no seat…

Posted on 11. February 2014 by erdhummel

Here we go. On Sunday, a slight majority in Switzerland has decided to put an end to the apparently uncontrollable immigration the country suffers from. An end to the fact that foreigners are occupying the seats in the trains and the fact that the rents in Swiss cities have exploded due to foreigners. As if it has been so ridiculously easy until now to get a residence permit in Switzerland…

Since the National Party in Switzerland doesn’t know we are Germans, we were lucky to receive their regular newspaper in which they explained why there should be stricter rules for foreigners to apply for residency (and yes, we thought about putting a sign on the letterbox saying “please no SVP papers, we are Germans” but thought it might backfire and they might try to drown us in pamphlets). I am starting to feel slightly frustrated about the immigration issue in Switzerland.

To explain: In order to live in Switzerland, you need a residence permit. Karsten only got a 5-year residence permit because he is doing his PhD in Switzerland – because you can’t just go there and apply for it, you have to have a job first. I don’t have a job and the only reason why I was allowed to receive a residence permit was because Karsten and I are married. If we wouldn’t be married, the little one and I wouldn’t be allowed to live there. And since I haven’t had a job in Switzerland, I am not entitled to any kind of social benefits – so as a stay-at-home mum, all I do is contributing to the Swiss economy by consuming Swiss products, paying into the Swiss health insurance and, oh dear god, yes, attracting people who might come and visit us and consume even more Swiss products. Even the little one is contributing to the Swiss economy. Because yes, we receive a child allowance, but given that the little one is not a real Swiss baby but a baby with German parents, she has to pay the foreigner tax which is deducted from the child allowance. It’s not much, so nothing worth being annoyed of, but just for fun how about naming it differently in order to create the impression that babies are equal, no matter what nationality they have.

And of course we use the Swiss transportation system. It’s one of the best I have ever seen. And it leads you to great places and locations. Guilty as charged. But so far, no one ever gave up his seat in the designated stroller/wheelchair area voluntarily when I entered the train with the little one. If I am already part of the problem, I want at least have a seat!

Why I still like to live in Switzerland? Among others, because we have absolutely wonderful friends, colleagues and neighbhours who like us despite our weird accent. And in the end, that’s what counts!

Posted in Serious thoughts, Switzerland | Tagged immigration | 1 Comment

Sunday afternoon activities

Posted on 9. February 2014 by erdhummel

Since we had a cultivated Sunday afternoon last week, we decided to have an outdoor afternoon today. Ruissalo, an island right outside of Turku, can be easily reached by bus and has been on my “to-see” list for a while. The weather wasn’t that great today, but hey, who knows if it’s getting better, right? So we went there, knowing that the bus only leaves once an hour.

As soon as we got there, it started raining and snowing, and it was quite windy too. However, there were so many people on the bus who got off at the last stop that we thought this is what people do on a Sunday afternoon. We shouldn’t be sissies and just enjoy a walk in the rainy weather – the little one was sleeping anyway. Well, as soon as we arrived at the seaside (the bus left to return in an hour), we figured out why the people didn’t mind the weather:

On the left side: a Finn doing ice-swimming. On the right side: a German wondering why he didn’t stay at home with a nice cup of hot tea.

Posted in Finland | Tagged Ruissalo | 3 Comments

7 Days – 7 Pictures

Posted on 9. February 2014 by erdhummel

Every sunday on Frische Brise, you can see a weekly retrospect in pictures and I quite like the idea. So I tried to capture a moment each day this week (which actually wasn’t as easy as it sounds):

Starting to discover the cupboards…

Writing postcards (note the stamps!)…

Blueberry mouth

Leftovers of Runeberg Cakes

Babycircus

Saturday morning on our way to the pool

Sunday afternoon trip

Posted in Finland, Miscellaneous | Leave a comment

Baby business

Posted on 7. February 2014 by erdhummel

Today is Friday – Babycircus Day! The little one enjoys it more and more…by now, she is laughing out loud when I hold her upside down or roll her over and she is really enjoying the company of other babies.

We have only been here for four weeks, but I already know that this is something I am going to miss when we’ll return to Switzerland. Here in Finland, we joined a baby swimming class, once a week we go to a musical playschool and then on Fridays the babycircus. The latter two take place at an adventure park with so many great offers for kids – spending a summer day at the playground must be heaven for children! All of these courses are really affordable. We paid around 80 Euros for the swimming course, and if the little one is indisposed one week, we can simply come on another day. The two courses at the adventure park cost 2,50 Euro each time you go. So you can come whenever you feel like it and don’t have to worry about missing it.

In the town we normally live in, there is a baby massage for free once a month. That’s it. Oh yes, and two afternoons where you can meet other families and have some coffee and cake. There are toys for the children, but basically they play on their own while the parents have some time to relax and chat. Which is nice, undoubtedly , and I might happily take that offer in the future, but right now it is not what I am looking for with a baby that just started crawling. I am looking for these typical baby courses with singing, games and stuff like that. And I am not the only one – most of the mums that I have met in our town said that they don’t really know any songs or games to play with a baby and that they would love to learn some.

There are courses in Zürich, yes. I found one course where the children can try all sorts of different fabrics and toys while the mothers carefully watch and instruct them. Doesn’t sound too bad, but it costs 175 CHF for 7 times. That around 20 Euros for each time!! The baby swimming that we signed up for in spring costs 250 CHF for 10 times (30 minutes!) and if you miss one class, you are not allowed to join on another day. I am very well aware that the cost of living is extremely high in Switzerland since most of the people receive a high salary as well. But we only have one income and it’s not that much since PhDs are not known for exorbitant salaries. So for us it is a whole lot of money, and I am wondering when raising and supporting children became such a business. For me, right now, joining Swiss baby courses or even playgroups seems to be a very elitist thing to do. Before I had a child, I wasn’t aware that there are such big differences between European countries in terms of childcare.

Then again, I am wondering whether I really have to join a baby course or not. I am convinced that it is not just good for the mothers to meet up with others, but that the baby benefits from it as well. But is my child going to be shy, mum-focused and socially incapable if she is not used to being around other children? It’s my first child, I have no idea. I hope not. I am probably worrying too much. But I think maybe I should just start my own little, private baby course….

Posted in Children, Finland, Switzerland | Tagged Turku | 3 Comments

Runeberg cakes (or the skill of Scandinavian countries to appoint dessert-related celebrations)

Posted on 5. February 2014 by erdhummel

Today is the 5^th of February. And the 5^th of February is the birthday of the Finnish national poet, Johan Ludvig Runeberg. And since Runeberg, although he was a Swedish speaking Finn, wrote the text of the Finnish National Anthem, the Finns apparently like to celebrate this day. Which probably say a lot about the Finns and their national identity! National identity, that’s normally something Germans struggle with… I know who wrote the German Anthem, I also know where the music comes from. But celebrate it?

Anyhow, thank god there is a proper way to commemorate it here: the Runeberg Cake. It’s a cake made out of almonds, Christmas spices, icing and raspberry jam. His wife invented it on a day when she didn’t have any other cake at home. What a dedicated wife! Maybe I should invent a cake as well. Especially since cake plays such an important role in Karsten’s family (his father needs two pieces of cake a day! When I first met Karsten’s parents, we were going on a 5-hour drive together. Before we started Karsten’s father went to a bakery and said he wanted to get some rations for the journey. Naïve as I was I though he wanted to buy sandwiches. But he came back with a big box of cake).

So for dessert tonight we tried two of these cakes which I bought in a little bakery around the corner. They were, as expected, quite delicious 🙂

And if you weren’t aware of it: some years ago Sweden appointed the 4^th of October to be the official cinnamon bun day. Maybe I should investigate if there is such a thing like a Swiss Chocolate Day as well…

Posted in Finland | Tagged food, Runeberg | 1 Comment

Today at 5:30am….

Posted on 4. February 2014 by erdhummel

Posted in the little one | 2 Comments

Babies invited

Posted on 3. February 2014 by erdhummel

Yesterday, we decided to have our once-in-a-while cultivated afternoon. So the little one and I picked up Karsten when he was done with work and we went to the Aboa Vetus, a mixture of art and archaeological museum with excavated fundaments of medieval Turku. When we were entering the building I noticed that I forgot our baby carrier, which was stupid because now we would have to carry the little one on our arm all the time. But then the most amazing thing happened: The guy at the ticket counter welcomed us and then said apologetically: “I am very sorry, but the archaeological exhibition is not suitable for strollers. You can take the stroller to visit the art exhibition, but it won’t work downstairs. But I could offer you a baby carrier for downstairs if you like to!”

Can you believe it? Not only do they apologize for an exhibition that is not made for strollers, no, they even offer you a solution. For free! That’s what I call amazing service and a baby-friendly environment! Name me one museum in Germany where you experienced the same!

Needless to say that the exhibition about medieval Turku was done very well and very child-friendly too, with nice descriptions, games and riddles. At the end, there was a big dollhouse with medieval furniture and dolls and a big sign “Do play!”. Afterwards, we sat down in the museum café and had tea and cake. With the little one. No one stared or looked angry. On the contrary, there were at least three other babies as well.

All the time, the little one behaved extremely well. She was happy looking at the displays and touching the old stones, the only sound was an occasional cry of joy. What a great afternoon! And what a cool feeling to be somewhere, where babies are not just endured but welcomed instead.