The Last Post

Well, I'm back in the US. After a delayed flight in Manchester, and spending a hellishly warm time in Chicago, I finally made it home. 

This is it, I believe I can say that this blog is finished. No more posts shall grace this page. No need for pomp and circumstance. 

Independent Observer

This is a semi-opinion post. It is largely my observation, combined slightly with the vaguest hint of my opinion. That goes for everything anyone ever says, but I digress. 

European Parliament elections were just held- yes, the EU has a parliament. It's in Brussels, though why I have no idea. Anyways, I've been paying attention to the various election rhetoric from the hilariousness of UKIP's Nigel Farage, to the downright frightening Hungarian Jobbik party (pseudo-Nazi). European politics make American politics look sane and calm, truly, as with European politics, people continue to vote for the far-right (neo-fascist) and the far left (communist), keeping them actually relevant. 

The commentary has been rather interesting as well- there are two types of political parties, pro-EU and anti-EU. The anti-EU says that the EU is an American lapdog ("Poodle of the US", courtesy of France's resident psychopath party, the Front Nationale), and therefore should be done away with. Hilariously enough, the pro-EU parties promote the concept that the US is a bully or a meddler, and the EU is necessary to keep away American influence. Of course, they say nothing about Russian aggression. 

My question is why? Why do Europeans hate the US so much? We provide millions of dollars in tourism, we import an incredible amount of luxury goods, and we even started to lower tariffs on some goods to try to help the EU's floundering economy. To me, it makes no sense, these hypocritical attitudes. 

Thankfully, none of this applies to Finland, merely to Southern Europe and England. Eastern Europe to a degree as well, but not the Baltic States or Poland, and only because of Russian influence (positive or negative). In Finland, the mildly conservative Kokoomus party remained in power. They act like NY democrats (think Cuomo, but with a spine), so it's not really scary that they have power, because everything just stays the same. Also, Finland is leaning towards NATO because of Russians aggression in both Ukraine and the Baltic, as apparently Russian jets violated Finnish airspace at least three times in the last couple of weeks, so I can feel comfortable as an American in Finland. 

There is a scary shift however that can be seen in all European politics. There is an incredibly foreboding shift to the extreme right in politics, including the normalization of anti-semitism and isolationism. It looks like 1930's Europe all over again, minus a militant Germany (though Germany practically controls the EU through economics). Everywhere across Europe, the far right continues to make gains, which begs the question: why do normal people vote for these lunatics? What motivates normal people to follow idiots? 

Here is a BBC article on this topic, read it: http://m.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27559714

This is the truth- the US is increasingly becoming one of the most liberal countries in the world. It is not because we change at a rapid pace, but merely because others decide to continually fall backwards into medieval behaviors. And the sad part is, as Americans, all we can do is watch. And, of course, not vote for idiots (again). 

Pesäpallo

Finnish baseball is different. Very different. I suggest you look it up on Wikipedia. 

Rather warm...

New stuff

Apparently I can braid hair. Somehow. 

Borgå

Ok, so the city's name in Finnish is Porvoo, but people still speak a lot of Swedish in Porvoo. Thus the title of the post. Porvoo is the second oldest city next to Turku (Åbo), and really looks like it. 

Yes, there are modern parts to the city too, but people actually live in the "Old Town", see the blue and yellow houses directly above. 

Lovely Finnish weather too... 

Poland

Last weekend I was in Krakow, Poland. The reason I was there was as a part of my Jewish history class, to visit Auschwitz. I will not be posting pictures of Auschwitz on this blog, I don't feel like they'd do it justice. However, if you want to see, ask me to email them to you or I'll show you in person. 

Being at Auschwitz really made me realize how hypocritical and shallow humans can be. And also racist. The hypocrisy is that after the Holocaust, the World's eyes were "opened", but to be honest, it seems that nowadays people shut their eyes even tighter than ever. Some consider Facebook (any social media) more important or newsworthy than the events happening right now in Ukraine, Central African Republic, Mali, Nigeria, Thailand... The list is infinite. And largely, the Central African Republic conflict is a genocide- yet the world ignores it, save for the French, who are only interested, it would seem, for reasons generating from the post-imperialist mindset. Or pose yourself this question? Why aren't the glorious bastions of democracy in the EU and NATO doing anything about the situation in Nigeria? Is it because it is an "African" problem, part of the post-colonialist fallout, a fallout nonetheless generated by these states who drone on about personal freedoms, socialist economies, and the definition of friendship? Think, please, and inform yourself on the happenings of the world. It's not cute puppy videos, I warn you, but if you are informed, you can make choices, even small ones, that might change things in this backwards and messed up world. 

Enough on the soapbox, time for pictures. 

Weather Comparison

Klaukkala Sunset

The sun is setting later and later each day. This was last night, around nine:

Mökkillä, part 2 (but techically 3)

To explain the title: third time I've been at the cottage, second time I've posted about it. Nothing special, really, just I feel I should post something. 

And pictures, of course. 

It's been a while

But anyways, here's the lovely weather we're having presently:

Mökkillä

A mökki is an integral part of Finnish life- the summer cottage, the ideal retreat from working life and the stresses of (sub)urban habitation. 

Somehow, there is still ice in mid April. Enough for me to stand on, so... Welcome to Finland, eh? 

Finnish Cooking...

... With your host, Noah Weiss! 

My breakfast today- Lihapirakka (literally "meat pie"). 

First, you take some hot dogs or sausages and grill them or fry them until they're as done as you'd like. 

Second, take the meat pie, and microwave it, for about 30sec to 1min.

Cut it open at the middle, until about halfway through. 

Place the hotdogs inside

Put mustard and ketchup on (real Finnish mustard, not any impostors). 

And fold back over, like a kebab sandwich. Then proceed to enjoy, as your stomach will feel like greasy lead as soon as you start to digest. 

A Lot

Well, two major things: 

I went to Finnish prom. Yes, I even remembered the formal dances and all that jazz. 

How every Finnish party begins- nobody interacting socially. 

And how it ends up. 

And number two is: I learned how to ski! On my third day, I was already going down the toughest run on the hill, without falling. It was the hotel's "World Cup" run. So I'm pretty happy about that. 

The views from the fjelds of Lapland.