D18/15 — Values and Trust

Week 6, 2018
Turku, Finland

This weekend Finland showed me what it is made of.  This is a new perspective. I already recognize its SISU, as I have talked even at events (example here).  

In this weekend I learn about  values and trust. Here are the specific examples.

*** Saturday

At the K-market , which is a chain of supermakets, I bought an electrical house appliance because it had 30% of discount for store affiliates.  My companion to the store holds the store’s card, so we bought this machine. Once at the cashier I paid my bill with a debit card. When I got my receipt, I notice the system did not reflect the 30% off my purchase. This discount should appear automatically on the bill and it did not. So, as soon as I notice the discount was missing  we told that to the cashier.  Then, the cashier made a phone call, apparently to check what happen, and once she hang up, the following happen:

  1. The cashier clicked something at its “computer” and gave me a new “ticket”.
  2. I signed this new “ticket”, as the cashier informed she was returning me the money of all my shopping to my card.  Note: I did not put my card on the card-reader to proceed with this step. 
  3. After signing, the cashier printed a new receipt with the total of my shopping, now showing the 30% off (note: this was done based based on what the cashier’s “computer”  has recorded because the items were not registered again). 
  4. I paid this new ticket by adding my card into the card-reader. 
  5. We left the store as nothing had happened. The cashier did not give me any paper proving what has happened (the return of the money at least). 

I was anxious, to be honest. My companion, who is Finnish, was certain that everything will be ok. Myself, honestly, I was not trusting the system 100% and I was concern what would happen if they charge me both amounts.  24hrs later, I can confirm that my bank account only shows the second payment. The first one was, indeed eliminated.

Still, I feel strange that all this process is done without a hard-copy proof of the event, with the cashier and without “supervision”. It is amazing the trust on the system.  Also the values of everybody to make the system work.

*** Sunday

We went to play bowling, and the shoes were without surveillance.

I have never seen this, and I have been in different countries playing bowling. The shoes are always behind someone who is controlling them.  If you think it is because is a small city, well, I think with 182k inhabitants (as it is registered by 2014) it is evident that the trust on people is present.  Customer behave and respect the property of this business.

I only can say, Finland, I take my hat off as a sign of respect to you. You have incredible values and trust. 

— CAIS

D18/014 — My time in January 2018

Week 5, 2018
Turku, Finland

It is AMAZING,  today is already 4 of February!

This 4.2. is a beautiful Sunday in Turku, and before heading out, it is time to pragmatically review, my January 2018.

Fact:
– According to toggl I recorded 296:41:22 hrs worked.   How much is that per day?  well, if January had  23 working days, then by dividing 296/23 gives me 12.86 hrs a day.
– I was able to safe money. Yes I also register all my expenses.
– I reach milestones related to work (Ubium & UTU).
– Some details in the house were also achieved, e.g. paints are hanged.

Learned:

Life brings life. I knew this in advance, but I can confirm it now. Being surround by people who transmits life, one gets life. Energy is present, and I need / want this.

Learn to solve:  I like what I am doing, however I am not advancing. I need to focus because at the moment I am walking in circles.  I have an eternal question: what do I want?  which after my PhD defense has been harder to answer….. Now answer the question is not enough, one must take action too….. which brings me to the next challenge: Finalize what I start is challenging, and create new habits.

Much to do still!

— cais

D18/013 — Grandpas’ park

Week 2, 2018
Turku, Finland

Have you seen a park where focuses on elderly needs? for example, to practice how much time does it take them to cross the street. Well, we found this park, where one of the activities is to practice to cross 10m street. At the moment it was dark and cover by a thin layer of snow, but I will come back to the park so we can see it.

I can’t wait to bring my mom here!

The title of the information board says: “A dream place for elderly people”

— cais

D18/012 — New location of chocolates inside a supermarket

Week 2, 2018
Turku, Finland

We went for groceries today at Kupittaa K-City Market. We were inside the store for an eternity – this is literal –  because I came with the “crazy” idea, in situ, to try the dishes of store’s magazine. That would be material for another post.

What I want to share here as my discovery of today is: a new location to display / offer  sweets to the customers on this supermarket.

The sweets are now actually in-front of you when you pay. I have never seen this before, until today. I think this is getting really hard for those of us who want to reduce our sweets in take. The store cannot put those products closer to the shopper any longer. :O

Good thing I do not like those chocolates. Yes, I am a picky sweet eater. Still, I need to train my inner power for the day I am directly tempted with the chocolates that I like.

New location to display sweet on a supper market

— cais

D18/011 — Trees’ music on the bridge

Week 2, 2018
Turku, Finland

Today it was another full day, and in my attempt to be punctual for a meeting I walked a short cut through a bridge. Then, I discovered that the bridge’s Christmas decoration included sound.  :O   Later in the evening/night I filmed it, which by the way it turned out to be a very bad footage, but if I wait to go again, then I will not publish this so, let it be.  Honestly, I am not sure if the sound is actually spooky.  We could be interesting scary-playful games in here, without a doubt.

The video will give you a glimpse of my experience:

Here is the actual location of this bridge:

I need to research which one is the name of the bridge. At the moment, google indicates the name as “Teatterisilta” which literally traduces as “Theater’s bridge”.

— cais