It's a lovely story...and now more to add to the things we share - meeting my Swiss wife when I didn't speak German and she barely spoke English was...interesting and challenging. Learning German, then discovering no one in Switzerland actually speaks German - they have their unwritten dialect that varies in every Canton and isn't close at all to German...and of course, I could write an entire piece on the challenges of working in a professional kitchen with a severe language handicap...and on it goes, which I'm sure you are more than familiar with!
a) Your proposal was almost unbearably sweet. I'm very glad your wife took pity upon you and said "yes", b) the shady looking man indicates that 1930s era male hustlers are not encouraged to turn tricks in food preparation areas, and c) I likely won't get the thought of beef being used as a female contraceptive out of my head for the rest of the day. Thank you.
Wil, this was just the most charming post! I hope to visit Turku one day, though I'm beginning to fear that my 596-day Finnish learning streak on Duolingo may not get me very far. 🤣 I must try those Karelian pies, too.
Thanks for another peek into your life in Finland. Curious: have you seen a movie called Fallen Leaves? I don’t know the original Finnish title. My husband and I watched it last night and enjoyed it, though that’s probably not the right word, for there wasn’t much joy. Indeed, it was rather dour. I guess I hadn’t pictured the people or country as such but your description of un-winter seems to fit. Please tell me it’s not always so cheerless.
PSA: On the matter of what my then girlfriend first said in Finnish when I asked her to marry me, she tells me today it was "todellakin tulen". The best way of translating this is "absolutely I will"
Well, that was chuckle out loud, Wil, thank you. Generous to be so self-deprecating. I can only imagine the butchery being wrought with my rather clumsy French!
It's a lovely story...and now more to add to the things we share - meeting my Swiss wife when I didn't speak German and she barely spoke English was...interesting and challenging. Learning German, then discovering no one in Switzerland actually speaks German - they have their unwritten dialect that varies in every Canton and isn't close at all to German...and of course, I could write an entire piece on the challenges of working in a professional kitchen with a severe language handicap...and on it goes, which I'm sure you are more than familiar with!
a) Your proposal was almost unbearably sweet. I'm very glad your wife took pity upon you and said "yes", b) the shady looking man indicates that 1930s era male hustlers are not encouraged to turn tricks in food preparation areas, and c) I likely won't get the thought of beef being used as a female contraceptive out of my head for the rest of the day. Thank you.
Lovely story. Your storytelling is marvelous. Thank you.
Love it!
Wil, this was just the most charming post! I hope to visit Turku one day, though I'm beginning to fear that my 596-day Finnish learning streak on Duolingo may not get me very far. 🤣 I must try those Karelian pies, too.
Thanks for another peek into your life in Finland. Curious: have you seen a movie called Fallen Leaves? I don’t know the original Finnish title. My husband and I watched it last night and enjoyed it, though that’s probably not the right word, for there wasn’t much joy. Indeed, it was rather dour. I guess I hadn’t pictured the people or country as such but your description of un-winter seems to fit. Please tell me it’s not always so cheerless.
Oh I love this!! You took us to Finland!
Sooooo funnyyy! have many upticks!
Had a good giggle at this morning! Thank you.
PSA: On the matter of what my then girlfriend first said in Finnish when I asked her to marry me, she tells me today it was "todellakin tulen". The best way of translating this is "absolutely I will"
Delightful! Did you ever find out what your wife first said right after you proposed? 😂
That really made me laugh…
Well, that was chuckle out loud, Wil, thank you. Generous to be so self-deprecating. I can only imagine the butchery being wrought with my rather clumsy French!
I’ve not ever had Aura cheese but I should like to try it as blue cheeses are some of my favorites. Where does it fall on the “blue cheese spectrum”?