by Ante » Sun 30 Jul 2006 08:40
Time to make another update in the chapter of "What has happened in Ante's life recently". Ok, just a week ago I returned from my four day trip from Halmstad, Sweden. A bit over a month ago I got an invitation from my cousin to visit her hometown. I took the change immediately since I was looking for some place to visit but had no clue exactly where to.
First lesson: Before travelling, check that you have up to date identification. Two days before the flight I checked my passport - it was outdated like a year ago. "How it can be, I just bought this like... oh, how quickly the time passes nowadays" I noticed. Then I took my ID card (which works as a passport in Scandinavia). Well, the ID card was outdated like six years ago (and I've been happily using it and no one has complained about it, amazing). So I had one option - to apply for one year passport since it's the only option for getting the indentification for this shot of time. So I first run to the photo machine to the train station (since I knew that there is one) to get two b&w photos for passport. Then I headed to the police station and waited for my turn a bit over one hour. Finally at the counter I noticed that one of the four photos I got from the machine was damaged so that I had some printed letters on my forehead and cheekbones (yes, do not place fresh photos between a book) and amazingly in the last photo there was complete blank from below of my jawbone. And yes, that's the machines fault, not mine. But anyway, I had two normal photos there as well so I was saved. "You'll get your passport tomorrow morning at 8". "Oh great, I love you, I love you, I love you officer!" I thought.
Second lesson: When buying something for six year old, be sure that you are buying that stuff for six year old. At the airport before departure I was checking the tax free shops and tried to find some gift for my cousins daughter (I've met her once about two months ago when they visited here). "So, she's a girl, and girls like jewellery" I reasoned. In no time I found myself holding a moderately priced necklace packed neatly in small cardboard box. After that I headed to buy for vodka (for the mother!) and sweets.
[insert here the travelling part (I'll cover it later)]
Once I arrived and it was time to share the gifts, know what... Her daughter liked more of the wrapping than the gift itself! Gosh. I could've bought like 100 of those if I'd knew :) But the other gifts were accepted and later enjoyed with great pleasure. I even ended to teach Swedes some Finnish drinking habits (empty your shot of vodka at one draught).
Ok, I'll continue this story later since there are a couple of stories to share.