The first grumbles

I have been back in Finland for a few weeks now so it's time that I have my first grumble, especially as I have been all sweetness and light since I got back.

My doctor. I paid him. Per ten minute consultation. And he let someone interrupt us. Then he rushed me out the door when I wasn't finished, because the next patient was waiting. I've endured hours of waiting at that surgery before, and not interrupted anyone. It's hard not to get a chip on one's shoulder and think "that wouldn't happen if I was Finnish." Anyway, he couldn't help me, muttered the names of lots of scary diseases and has sent me to a specialist...

I get home, my freezer falls apart (stupid European fridge; we love American fridges).

I winter-dress just to find out if there is a laundry slot and there isn't There has to be a better system; can't we have an appartment intranet?!

There are drunk men, sitting on the floor in the lobby of my appartment, drinking and blocking the door. Why don't I know Finnish for "Please get out of my appartment or get on the 3T tram with the rest of your kind."?

Then a drunk man, from the bus at Sornainen (who got off some stops after Sornainen) turns up on Suursuon. Not just in my area, but right outside my house. He's walking worse than before but not shouting so much anymore.

And I start to think "does everyone have to be drunk in this country?!". I think I have seen more drunk people in Maunula today than sober people.

I am starting to get a feel for who is a bad drunk, and who is a good drunk (see right). The other day, I passed a man in a wheelchair. And I thought "bad drunk". I felt a bit bad because he was a wheelchair user clearly because he was an amputee and I am literally walking in the road to avoid him. You know you have moments of alternative realities? Well I saw this guy (in my alternative reality) take a knife and stab someone. In great detail. So it came as no surprise (though some relief to my conscience) when I pass the Ostoskeskus later and see two policeman bundling this same man into the back of a van, wheelchair and all. I didn't stick around to see if he had stabbed anyone. I guess a bit of paranoia in my alternative reality is not such a bad thing in Maunula.

Today's report card: must try harder Finland.