... That I decided to include the word "mind" in my blog title, because I totally forgot about this blog after the first few entries. It was just too overwhelming with all the other blogs I had to update. But now that I've graduated and am very much unemployed and without any daily routine whatsoever, I notice my mind certainly is starting to travel. I'm fully aware that I should be job-hunting, but something is holding me back, there's a block in my head that doesn't go away. I know people are expecting great things from me because that's what I'm used to doing: I accomplish things. People are used to it and so am I. Yet I somehow enjoy not doing anything, while at the same time I feel very guilty for just downshifting and procrastinating. I'm sure after I start getting depressed for NOT having a routine, then I'll start looking for reasonable options and taking course in my life. Well, hopefully.
Anyway, this is already taking a turn for the depressive, so lets change the subject. It's now been about two months since I came back home from Iceland. During my last days there I was very homesick and wasn't really able to enjoy anything there anymore, but now I already kind of want to go back. There were certain things that I really miss, though I'm trying to find those things in Finland as well. But here's a small list of the things I miss:
1. The Coffee Culture
It was something amazing, the quality of coffee was divine, and I loved how carefree people were in the cafeterias. If you wanted a good cup of joe, you had to wait for it. Coffee and hurrying didn't go hand in hand, which usually seems to be the case. Everyone seemed to ground their own coffee beans and really took their time to prepare it with care. It was great.
2. Matcha Latte
Something I tasted on my final week and fell in love with instantly. This could have been included in the coffee culture section, but doesn't taste like coffee at all and is actually tea, so it's worth mentioning on its own. I haven't seen matcha latte in any cafeterias in Finland even though Japanese things are getting more and more popular, but I have taken action into my own hands: Yesterday I bought my own bamboo whisk and matcha powder, and today I drank my first ever self brewn cup of matcha tea. It's not the same as matcha latte, but I plan on getting my own milk whisk as well so that I can make it at home. Though the plain matcha tea was also very delicious, and I guess it's more healthy if you don't add any milk or sweeteners in it. So for now just plain matcha it is!
3. Skyr
I've never been a big fan of yogurts, but the second I tasted skyr, I fell in love with it! Well, it IS a compeltely different thing than yogurt, not to mention super healthy. I ate it almost every day for 8 weeks, I felt so weird when I came back home and couldn't have it anymore. Recently I've noticed that they do sell skyr in Finnish stores as well, but the flavours are completely different, and they're a lot more expensive here. Still, it's something I have to buy every once in a while because I can eat something delicious without feeling bad about it.
4. The Scenery
I had my problems with Icelandic weather, though in the end I came to terms with it and was able to even laugh when a random rain came over or if it started snowing, but I sure loved the landscape. Mountains where ever you looked, barely any trees... At first the lack of trees felt horrible, but now that I'm back home I miss the fact that I can't see very far, the trees block everything, it's almost suffocating at times. And I also liked that when I had to go to the store, it actually felt like exercising because all the stores were up on a hill and to get there you had to put some effort into it. I like walking if I have a destination, and while I was there it felt like my fitness might even get better just by doing daily chores. It's not quite like that at home, you actually need to work out... If you want a work out.
5. Laugardalslaug
Okay, there's a ton of different swimming pools in Iceland, but Laugardalslaug was probably the biggest in Reykjavík, and the one I visited most. I was able to go there for free thanks to a friendly acquaintance, and swimming in general is such a big part of Icelandic culture that you were just forced to swim more, and it was great. Swimming is one of the few sports that I actually like, so it was perfect for me. Now I have decided to start going to the local pool regularly again, even if it's not completely free. The only problem now is, it's closed during July!
6. Sushi
Sushi shops/restaurants were everywhere, the fish was fresh and just perfect. There's only one place in my small town where you can get sushi, and it doesn't even compare. The next step is probably trying to make my own sushi, though even the thought of it terrifies me for some reason!
Seems like my small list was food-oriented, but that doesn't surprise me. I just love to eat and drink. Oh, I also miss lamb meat and the way the locals prepared it. Just divine.... TT__TT
Agh, now that I wrote all this stuff down I really feel like going back! I planned to go there again from the beginning, during late summer after a few years, but now I feel like I could go for a visit right away! That is, if I wasn't jobless and broke. Maybe that's the igniter I need to get out of this slump; the want to go back? :)
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