Another Friday, another message.

I have to be honest. This week, I have been feeling a little under the weather. It was extremely cold every day of the week (an average of -16) and it just simply got me down. I didn't really want to leave the house, because when I did the cold was so sharp that within minutes my bones started to hurt and it's not exactly a pleasant feeling. It made me unhappy and longing for the current thunder storms in Cape Girardeau where it's +10 degrees Celsius, or the never ending rain in the Netherlands. Everything seemed better than this horrible, horrible cold.
So how on earth do all these Fins manage to stay happy? Their country ranks in the top 10 of happiest countries in the world. A classic example of "no matter the weather" I guess. Winter in Finland, gives a whole new dimension to the concept of "winter". Years of complaining about the Dutch winter "oh my gosh it's -5, this weather sucks, why does the weather in Holland always suck, I hate this!" all seems really silly now. I've been told that the beauty of Finland is that you get to experience 4 different seasons. There's an actual spring, summer, autumn and winter. It's hard for me to appreciate that now, but I guess as winter will slowly start to fade in the next month and spring will start to sprout, I too will come to understand and appreciate the phenomenon of "seasons".
I got a bike this week, finally, which is great! I live about an hour from the city center, by foot, so a bike is much more practical. There's so much ice and snow everywhere though, it makes it hard to cycle fast or take turns. Being Dutch and all I should be an expert at riding my bike through all kinds of weather, but riding my bike here is definitely something I have to get used to.
Anyway, I guess I don't have anything new to mention, it's been a quiet week. And a cold week. But I'll let you in on a secret. Their solution to the winter weather? Sauna. I guess it's time to give that a try.