Indulgence

Abroad in Finland I allowed myself one food splurge a day. Most often it was a delicate pastry filled with plum or an ice cream bought from the case at a convienence store. And even though it killed me to spend 3 euro on these little delights, allowed it. These simple pleasures made a huge difference in my daily movement - those little pastries could lift me out of the doldrums, or give me the energy for a new adventure.

On the rare occasion that my splurge was a cup of lohikeitto (salmon soup) or a slice of dark rye bread and Scandinavian grave lox, I relaxed into my lunch, feeling as if the whole country was encapsulated in that delightfully fishy meal.

When I look back on my time in Finland, it was those moments at sandwhich counters and coffee shops that really define my experience. Gazing out at the Soumen lapsi getting of the trams in the gray of November over a cup of tea, or partaking in an anise flavored ice cream in the snow - these moments are Finland to me.

I am excited to see what moments await me in my next life. Likely they will be just as simple. but markedly less expensive. Either way, I look forward to them.