My first discovery from 2018 was on a familiar path. That is proof that someone one walks without looking or paying attention where one is walking. We were heading towards Olympia Park, through a familiar path, and I asked to D40Oom what was that:
What is the red building?
I have never paid attention to that round building before, so I was curious to know what is it.
The answer: It is a Hochbunker
Ooooooooh! A new thing for me.
I only have done a fast search on wikipedia about what is a “hochbunker”. In English I only found hochbunker mention within the page of “air raid shelter”. The first paragraph of the section related to hochbunker reads:
Hochbunker(s), or “high-rise” bunkers or (blockhouses), were a peculiarly German type of construction, designed to relieve the pressure German authorities were facing to accommodate additional numbers of the population in high-density housing areas, as well as pedestrians on the streets during air raids. In contrast to other shelters, these buildings were considered completely bomb-proof. They also had the advantage of being built upward, which was much cheaper than downward excavation. There were no equivalents of hochbunkers in the cities of the Allied countries.
Often there is a tension between buying something cheap — which often is low quality — versus by something with quality, which often is more expensive. This post delivers an example that quality in a long run is cheaper.
I am a traveler addict. Thus, sometimes my love ones offer me presents to support me in my travels. An example, some years ago, my sister and brother in law gave me as a present a Samsonite suitcase. (THANK YOU!)
I am very pleased with Samsonite, in particular with my suitcase, because it been loyal to me. We have been together (my suitcase and I) literally in 4 continents, and it has kept with me fully functional.
My loyal suitcase
For this Christmas I flew from Joensuu to Munich, with Finnair, which is one of my favorite airlines. In this journey my lovely suitcase was damaged, and I reported the damage as soon as I saw the problem at the airport. The personal at the airport was friendly and they indicated me what to do. Within the instructions was to contact the company Dolfi. Perhaps because we were in Christmas holidays, but after being on the phone for 1hr and 30 min and not be able to talk with anyone I filled all the online form of their website and wait…. wait…. some days later I got an email that my stroller will be refund!… I kindly replied that I was reporting a damaged suitcase not a stroller, then it is when I discovered they were understaffed.
As my trip was reaching its end, I decided to deal with this in Finland. I trust Finnair and I had the feeling that it should be ok. Then, I travel back to Joensuu with my loyal and wounded Samsung suitcase.
On Monday 2.1. at the evening, I landed in Joensuu and the first thing I did at the airport was to tell my story to the indicated person. Then I got the inciation to go to: “Nahkavalmiestemyynti”
On Tuesday 3.1. I went to Nahkavalmiestemyynti and they offered such a good service. The personnel reviewed the suitcase and the documents. We saw how much could cost a new Samsonite, equivalent to mine in the store. Then we followed the rules of the airline as depending of the age of the suitcase you get certain compensation. My case was as follow: a brand new Samsonite as mine would cost 159€, but I was allow only to get 50% of it that is 79.50€.
My options, as far as I understood, were:
Get the money
Buy something with the money given by Finnair
Buy something more expensive and complement the difference.
You will have to imagine which option I took, but now let me introduce you my new travel’s partner: Cavalet.
New travel partner
Thank you Finnair and Samsonite to support me on my journeys! You have expanded the wonderful present of my sister and brother in law with your quality of service!
At the end of November I was having a conversation about my bad “skill” on social media. This bad skill is better understood when I compare myself with colleges who are actively broadcasting information via Facebook, twitter or even Instagram. Personally, I appreciate their activity on those channels because when I have the opportunity to read their lines, some of their information is relevant for me. So THANK YOU! , I have no idea how do you mange, but I want to give you an honest thank you for your active life on those social channels. 🙂
Within the conversation, I was told I am not that “invisible” online because I have my blog. That is correct, but I am not particularly good blogging because my personal blogging goal is unclear since the first day I blogged (March 5th, 2006 wowow! That is a decade!!!).
The lack of purpose in addition to be overload of information freezes me. I have a considerable amount of posts which are half written and life goes trillions times faster, but still the question of what shall I post? or the famous and so what?
Then I got an interesting survey related to “Responsible Research and Innovation” from the European Union. Apparently the survey is from the ResAGorA project.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, I can say that for first time I am glad to have filled the research survey. Often I am not happy filling surveys. I respond to them because I know how important they are for the researchers.
It was through the survey’s questions that allow me to see social media from a different perspective. Until now, most of the arguments I heard about why to use social media are: to increase visibility or it is good for your marketing. Most arguments might not care about quality of the information, it is more about “likes”, “hits”,“traffic”….. to benefit the producer of such information either a persona or a group or an institution. I understand such arguments, however they do not motivate me to make a priority blogging.
Then, with the questions of Responsible Research and Innovation, my attitude towards blogging changed because I start to see my blogging as a source to spread knowledge. Maybe I am finally able to see its purpose, we will see 🙂 but from all the previous attempts to have a purpose, this feels more solid.
On Saturday 10.9. was the funeral of Outi Savonlahti. This was the first funeral I joined in Finland. This post’s objective is to briefly share my experience of this ceremony. There are two main motivators for this: (i) Outi was at charge of international affairs at UEF, and she always explained us things about Finland, (ii) it let me a lot food for the though.
In Finland once someone passes away is not buried right away. As far as I understand, there might be weeks in between from the moment someone dies and her/his funeral . During these weeks relatives, friends and others are informed of the particular person passing away, and the necessary arrangements for the funeral are prepared.
For example Outi passed away on August 9th but her funeral was until September 10th .
“Missal” of Outi Savonlahti funeral
Outi’s funeral started at 12:00 at the Rauhankappeli, which it is located inside Joensuu’s graveyard. We started with the religious service with the coffin present. Family, friends and colleges join the “event”. I assume the procedure of the service was according the Lutheran church, however I did not asked this particular detail to anyone.
Location of the religious service
The priest started the ceremony with some words for the audience. Next, each one of participants who brought flowers gave them to Outi. If we had written something or we wanted to say something loudly this was the moment to do it. This process is not done in a rush, instead it is harmonious movement of people standing spontaneously, paying respects and getting back to their sits. I interpreted this moment as offering our respects to her as each one says a personalize good bye, as close a possible to her earthly representation.
Screenshot when I pay my respects to Outi.
[Side note: A particular fact at this ceremony, and due to the work of Outi, was that the religious service was transmitted via Internet. Thus the photo above was taken by a friend of mine when it was my turn to be at front.]
Once all the flowers were surrounding Outi, I assume the traditional service started. That is, reading fragments of the bible followed by the priest’s homily. Finnish, English and French were present during the service and during the whole ceremony.
The liturgy had particular moments with music, in some moments we also sang specific pieces. Everybody new the selected songs due to the program that we were given. Additionally, on the chapel’s wall was indicated the song’s numbers and on each chair of the chapel had a book with the song’s lyrics. I particularly liked a song which in this occasion included some African drums. I must say that a lot of religions songs in Finland, as far as I had been exposed to, are not particularly happy. In my opinion – as a Mexican who has been involved in music during my past including religions songs, our church has a lot of happy songs – and in Finland the melodies are more kind of melancholic and nostalgic, so with this little twist of adding African rhythm all changed.
Lyrics of one of the songs at Outi’s funeral
At the end of the liturgy the priest indicated us to pick up our flowers, so we can bring them with us and deposit them to the final destination. Right after the coffin was without flowers, a group of gentlemen came at front and pick up the coffin to carry it out. Then all the participants followed and the funeral procession started.
Starting the procession
Once in the location where Outi was buried the priest offered some words. The coffin was deposited and if someone wanted, it was the possibility to take some sand and place it inside the “hole”. Afterwards, a cover was put above and we were invited to locate our flowers there.
Location where the body of Outi rests.
When I did my research on how to prepare myself for this event, I learned that in Finland you do not have to buy only white flowers for the funeral. You can get other colors, as for example the flowers that the person used to like. On my case I gave to Outi the following bunch:
Flowers I got for Outi. She always was elegantly dress, mainly in black and white with a touch of red present.
Next we – all the people present at the funeral – were invited to share some moments together on the name of Outi. The tradition, as I read before, is to gather in a house. However, in this case we were invited to Joensuu Ortodoksinen Seurakuntasali.
Once all the participants were at the specific location the program started. Outi’s godson was the ceremony master and several speeches were given for and about Outi.
Gathering together in Outi’s name
Outi was a special person and relevant figures came to her funeral. For example speeches came from the Ambassador of France, followed by the academic rector of the UEF, the priest, it was a pianist who played a couple of melodies…. then it was a pause for eating. Afterwards the president of Joensuu’s Rotary Club offered some words followed by the President of Joensuu’s French association and some family members too. Desert was offered and to finalized it was read aloud the condolence cards that were sent to her from all over the world.
In between the speeches one was encourage to talk on the tables about our memories with Outi. It was a nice event. For me it was difficult at times to do not clap. You know, after listen to nice words and good memories my inner emotion was to clap, but I needed to keep quiet as the rest of the audience. For me it is still difficult to understand that after a wonderful light that each speech depicted due to the life of someone, we could not join the words with the clap, instead after the speech complete quietness returned bringing me back to the sadness of the current loss. All these was new and strange experience for me.
An anecdote comment that I got at the end, is that Outi helped to plan her funeral. I have not question about the possibility that she did. It was so beautiful and perfect, taking care of so many details as she always did with all what it was entrust to her.
Outi left a legacy, no only to each one of us who met her, but also to future generations. There will be a foundation Outi Savonlahtito support females from developing countries searching to study their bachelors abroad.
This was my first experience in a Finnish funeral with the departure of a special person. Thank you Outi for teaching me constantly and share moments with me!
In the last days my mood has not been particularly high. My inner knows that something is not correct. Then I wrote this post and I came to my blog, to publish it, and I realized that most of the time I come here when I need to reflect or to rant. :O At the beginning of this 2016, my reflection were in reference to focus and thinking…. but a deeper problem is present.
What is the problem? Honestly, I am blessed. I am healthy and complete, I have my love ones, I can pay the rent and have food over my table, I live in a peaceful country, I have a rich life and sleep well at nights. I am trying to help others, pushing my start up and my research, looking to collaborate, … So, what is it wrong?
[For the records, I acknowledge that after my PhD graduation I was completely out. I was mentally, emotionally and even physically exhausted. It is taken me an “eternity” to reconnect myself with myself, 3.5 years and counting. Yes, it is impressive! The current diagnosis about my self-connection is: I am advancing, still I am not 100% connected but on the path. Then, what is wrong?]
One thing that has been bothering me lately is “cash flow”. Building a company from scratch, as a research spin-off it is NOT easy. I often say, ubium is my second PhD, because in so many ways my PhD journey is repeating in here. For example, once I wrote that it was until my PhD that I started to think, and now it has been until ubium that I am learning to “make money”. Wondering why I did not learn those things much earlier? Ok, there are answers to that, but it is not the focus of this post.
If cash flow is what it is bothering at the moment then I should acknowledge that I am aware that money is only symptom. I know there is something beyond which it is the root of the problem. Need to understand what is wrong?
During this week while my inner is working towards understanding myself, two events have influenced my reflection:
Event #1
I was invited at a DRAFT event Karelia University of Applied Science as panelist to answer particular questions about start a business. There, Jyrki Saarinen, who was also a panelist, and two of his advises were so good to me: Advice 1: Busy does not mean to be productive. Advice 2: Take decisions
Event #2
In this vblog of Santiago Zavala (I had been following him since October 2015) , he also stresses on the second advice of Jyrki.
Taking decisions is fundamental in all what we do in life. Actually, to do not take a decision is a decision in itself.
However, back again to the fundamental question: what do I want? the answer to this question belongs to me connecting to myself. I see life as juggling with different aspects of the self, and one has to take care of all of them. As time passes by, I realize answering this question is a constant process. Because we are often in our lives busy surviving, we do not reflect upon this fundamental question often enough, due to we are always running out of time. We are always busy. Hence, I should start by reflecting upon the Jyrki’s advice #1, why I am so busy to do not have time to think what do I want?
In my search to understand the “busy does not mean productive” I found Paul Davis’ post “Why Do We Glorify Being Too Busy?. In his article, Davis first analyses what busy means in our time. He agrees that the person who best summarizes the current popular opinion about busyness is Tim Kreider, author of “The Busy Trap”. Kreiders states that today ’[b]eing busy is a virtue, so people are terrified of hearing they may have empty time.’
Personally, I do not get terrified if I have “empty time”. However, I notice that I am conditioned to be busy. If I am “busy” I think I am producing something hence I am not “wasting” my time. That is one important aspect for me. But at the moment, when I am stopping to think what do I want, I realized I am in a terrifying loop:
I am busy because I need to produce. Everything is needed for yesterday! I feel fine when I am producing. The feeling of achieving is one of the best ones!
Due that I am busy I cannot take essential decisions, because I do not have clarity of what do I want. Decisions which are within my current “busy” activities and which are clear for me, are decisions easy to take. However the decisions which belong to deep purposes are not easy. It makes me angry and frustrated when I must take decisions that I do not know, or I am not clear about them.
To clarify my thoughts I need time to think and reflect. I am aware my thinking process requires time and effort. However, the world surrounding me, tells me there is not time for that , everything should be done yesterday.
The only decision I take is to let my self-defense mechanism to take over. Due to indirect and direct pressure to make things for yesterday, I do not allocate the resources to think because I am busy producing things (back to number 1)
