SIN to HEL and (soon to be) back - random thoughts

As i'm typing this, i'm sitting in a Finnish train headed south from Oulu to Tampere. Rather nifty methinks that the trains (or at least the more atas trains like the one i'm on) not only have power sockets for you to charge your laptops/mobile phones and what not but also free wireless internet access.

Although it's already my fifth solo Europe backpacking/couchsurfing trip (ok i can understand if that sounds more than just a tad excessive/indulgent), there had definitely has always been something new on each trip. I'm not in the business of writing a travel blog so i shan't attempt to expound in grandiloquent detail on how this has been the case on this trip, but suffice to say, while certainly similar to its Nordic neighbours (the high cost of just about everything, except perhaps dairy products and some fresh produce, for starters), there also are ways, albeit oftentimes nuanced, in which Finland is different.

Being, however, in the business of education in Singapore, i, together with all my colleagues, am aware that Finland, together with South Korea and of course, Singapore, has performed well in certain international math and science tests. And being admittedly paiseh to tell them where i was going for my break, i jokingly said that i'd be studying the Finnish education system *score points*. However while, it being the start of their own summer holidays here, i had no opportunity to actually visit any schools, through couchsurfing, i did talk to some people who are in at least some way plugged in to the education system here. Additionally, i did of course encounter some of the local youth. My conclusion based on this limited observations? There's nothing special about the education system here - like in Singapore the teachers are dedicated (and reasonably paid) and the students are increasingly rowdy and disrespectful. I do get the sense though that unlike many teachers in Singapore (or at least unlike me), the teachers here do enjoy most , if not all aspects of their work and are not tired out by it. They too have increasing amounts of administrative and other work to do, and are getting assessed regularly, but the passion to teach within the public system (it's virtually all public schooling here) remains. In other words, perhaps it's just me... Heh.

time better spent

It's a long story, but basically yesterday night i found myself at Koi at Iluma in the line for a drink. A cs friend was in the mood for one, and so since we were in the vicinity, i thought that i might bring him to Koi since (i had heard that) it's one of the best, it being of the wait-in-line-for-up-to-an-hour-or-so variety of f&b service outlet. Given that the line was noticably shorter than what i would have anticipated, (five or so customers long) we thought that we might as well get in line and try it out (i've never seen the point of being in line for that long for any sort of food or drink, regardless of how good it is). This even though i was at that point of time keeping up a streak of i don't know how long without drinking bubble tea.

Alas by the time we had reached the order counter, the mystery of the shorter-than-expected line was revealed. "We're out of pearls" the counter staff explained. Oh bother. But since we had reached the line, we ordered something anyways.

After placing the order and waiting for about another five to ten minutes, our number was called (something both so clinically efficient yet, considering the purpose, terribly ridiculous at the same time) and we collected our beverages. I could see where the 40-50% premium in prices went to - thicker plastic cups, straws (which come in their own plastic sleeves) , and that film they place on the cup in order to seal it. Of, and of course, i forget, the drink itself. It was undoubtedly good. Obviously they used natural flavourings instead of that toxic stuff which has been banned from being imported from Taiwan (my lime green tea was refreshingly, albeit overly astringent in taste). I bet even their ice was made from fresh mountain spring water heh.

Was it worth the ten-minute wait? Yes, i'd say. But for an hour even with pearls at the ready? No thanks, i'll pass..

Oh, and on a totally unrelated note - this little ditty came to mind after i saw this picture (and was inspired by many a mrbrown parody - though this is certainly below par compared to some of the gems that his team and him have produced).

I see him driven round town in an SBS bus, and it is, Tuck Yew!
Now if the change in your pocket isn't enough for the bus call, Tuck Yew, Tuck Tuck Yew!

While i'm certainly no fan of using people's names for humour, i couldn't resist...