Movin' on up

So now that we've sold the house in the US I can now think about the house we bought in downtown Helsinki. I like living either in the city center or out in the country and we opted for the city center since I'll have an easier time adjusting in an urban environment. The city offers more people who speak English and who will help me learn Finnish as well as being near cultural events without having to drive anywhere. I won't be driving in Finland for a while since I have a lead foot and Finland is serious about enforcing speed limits with tickets based on a percentage of your income which one Nokia VP learned the hard way to the tune of $100k.

The floorplan gives you a general idea of the apartment. Jarkko was in Helsinki last week and took some photos of the entryway, the kitchen, the living room and dining room, the front of the building, and the bookshop just downstairs which could prove hazardous :). Maybe I can get a job in the shop or even buy it and run it myself. The Lord Hotel is right across the street, a lovely hotel wedged in between some less attractive modern architecture. Just around the corner is a park under renovation that will even have a doggie run when it's finished early next year which I'm sure Honeybear will appreciate if it's large enough for him :)

I haven't seen the apartment myself but it looks like I could live there though the only disappointment is that it's not a terribly sunlit abode but, one doesn't move to Finland to get a tan or bask in the sun for most of the year either. The most important feature is that it will be equipped with high-speed network access :) I'm starting to be both excited and a wee bit terrified of the move which will hopefully subside once we arrive.

I bought a bunch of neat pop-up change of address cards that I'm writing the new address onto and will post them soon since I don't plan to have a coherent thought in the last few weeks before we move. Hopefully some of the people I send them to will send me care packages of junk food I never eat now but will surely miss once I'm away and books/magazines that I won't be able to get easily in Helsinki. One good care package or a postcard or a letter can really make your month sometimes.