Random Tuesdays 02/26/2013

Polar bear at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska in 2008

War on women, Nebraska edition.

Those of you who read Jezebel (if you don't, I recommend giving the site a chance) might have noticed an 'eyeroll' article called "Nebraska College Kid Says Feminism ‘Achieved Its Goals’ So Women Should Shut the Fuck Up Now". It's about a University of Nebraska-Lincoln senior Zach Nold's arguable rather ridiculous rant about how men are under attack from women (he has read his Suzanne Venker books well), published in the university's student newspaper Daily Nebraskan. The DN opinion has gotten a lot of attention in my Facebook newsfeed and I think one of my friend's friends commented rather accurately that Nold's opinion "is like a white man telling a black man racism doesn't exist anymore".

Now, while Nold's opinion might be entertaining and deserves a few eye rolls, I would like to shift focus to the counter-opinion (both opinions are a part of the Daily Nebraskan's point/counterpoint, featured once a week) that was published in the same paper. Ruth Boettner's opinion "Feminism means more than women’s equality" sums up the situation more accurately. I think she for example makes an excellent point about "rape apology", an issue that keeps infuriating me. If a heinous crime such as rape occurs, the rapist alone should stand trial for it. Please read Boettner's opinion for her viewpoint in the issue.

In the conclusion of her opinion Boettner writes that: 

"Feminism isn't just about having the same chances or making the same amount of money. It’s about safety, comfort and freedom. Until women are safe, comfortable and free in the same spaces that men are, feminism’s work isn't done."

How very true.

What these two opinions have demonstrated is that women are still not equal and no talk about a (rather fictitious in my opinion) war on men is going to change that. I do believe us women are partly to blame for the fact that we are not fully equal. I often wish women would stick together, but I've noticed the worst backstabbers are often other women... It makes me very sad, but I'm still hopeful that someday we women will respect each other so that everyone else will respect us.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

Random Tuesdays 02/19/2013

A very cold Mardi Gras parade in Burlington, Vermont in 2006.

Random Tuesdays 02/12/2013

Buffalo Bill's grave site in Golden, Colorado in 2009

The never-ending debate: move back to the United States or stay in Finland?

Husband has been bringing up the idea of moving back to the U.S lately. My initial response has been that absolutely not! But I mean I totally understand why husband would like to move back to his home country. I, after all, wanted to move back to mine too two years ago. I've been really sick (bad case sniffles from the daycare kids I'm sure) the last couple of days and I've had some time to think about why I wouldn't want to move and why it could be a good thing. So here are my ponderings:

Why Not? (The selfish list)

- I have to leave my parents behind. The thought of having to leave my Mom brings tears to my eyes, I don't want to leave her and I'd also be taking her only grandchild with me

- I'd have to leave my friends behind, and they're irreplaceable

- I'd be stuck being a homemaker again until lil man goes to school. Daycare is just way too expensive and we wouldn't have my Mom to babysit lil man

- Healthcare costs, I don't know if I'd even quality for an insurance. I didn't get one earlier due to pre-existing conditions, so chances are I wouldn't get one now either. The only way to get a health insurance would be through husband's job

- Immigration process is a hassle, and it's expensive

- Life in Finland is safe, I'm never scared here. There are some really scary places/people/groups in the U.S and I'm not a big fan of the politics either

- Public elementary education system in the U.S is not that good

Well, maybe, because... (The less selfish list)

-Husband has the right to see his parents too, right? Husband has a way bigger extended family than I do. (Chances are we wouldn't live nearby them though)

-Husband left his friends behind, he misses them as well

 - Husband has more job opportunities and he could advance in his career

- I would eventually have more job opportunities

- We could actually afford to buy a home

- Lil man would get to be in his birth country. Now would be a good time to move, if we are going to, since lil man is not in school. We could then move back to Finland before lil man goes to elementary school ;)

- Possibility of living in a warmer climate with more sunlight

photos from weheartit.com

So, yes, I'd like to stay in Finland, but I do see husband's point of view as well. We are not moving anywhere this year, that much is settled (I hope!), but I don't know about next year. Guess we'll see what happens :)

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

Raffle prize, new boots, a bag and some blogging news

A while back I was lucky to win a raffle prize on Kettua kanssa -blog and here's what I won:

Lovely shower gels and soap, thank you Jenni!

I've also done some online shopping :) Those who read my blog may know that I'm a huge fan of Rieker shoes, mainly cause Rieker makes the comfiest shoes I've ever worn! So for the upcoming spring (I'm optimistic, I'm sure it'll be here soon), I got a pair of new spring boots from Javari.de:

Rieker Sandy in the catalog and in real life. Actual color somewhere in between. 

Oh and by the way, I'm not Big foot, eventhough the real life pic of the boots might convince you otherwise ;)

I also had a name day a while back and my darling husband got me this wine red Mas(que)nada bag as a present. Love it!

As some of you might have noticed this blog hasn't been as active in the past few weeks as it normally is. February and March will be superbusy for this blogger as I'm trying to finish my MA thesis. So please excuse the rather sporadic blogging (Random Tuesdays will be on schedule every week), The Sugar Antelope will be back on track after I get this darn thesis done :)

Wishing everyone a wonderful week!

Random Tuesdays 02/05/2013

Mesa Verde National Park near Cortez, Colorado in 2009. 

Being pregnant at the time I had some trouble climbing all the ladders to see the site, but the tour was definitely worth it. Impressive place.

Q&A: The Giveaway

Thank you again everyone who participated in the giveaway! And thank you for the interesting questions as well! Some of you asked your questions in English and some asked them in Finnish, so I'll be replying in the same language :) Please excuse me for the lack of Scandinavian letters (are they called that?), I can't find my Finnish keyboard again. 

Here are my answers:

Ooh! Pakko osallistua vielä kun kerran ihan ajoissa ehdin tämän huomata! :D Minkälaisia lehtiä luet? Siis jos vaikka hammaslääkärissä odotat vuoroasi, minkälaisen lehden etsisit luettavaksi? (Oletetaan, että jostain syystä Kindle ja puhelin sun muut gadgetit on jäänyt kotiin!) - Essi

Tykkaan edelleen lukea paperilehtia ja minulle tulee kotiin vanhempien kustantamana MeNaiset heh. Aitini tilasi sen minulle, kun muutin takaisin Suomeen, jotta paasisin takaisin mukaan "Suomen kuvioihin". Rapakon takana yksi salaisista paheistani on nimittain People magazine :D Laakarin vastaanotolla yritan olla koskematta lehtiin, call me crazy, mutta jotenkin tuntuu, etta ne ovat popoja taynna.

Millaista on ollut kasvattaa kaksikielistä lasta? Vaikuttaako poikanne ymmärtävän helposti eron kahden kielen välillä? -Jenni

Yllattavan helppoa ja varmasti juuri sen takia, etta asumme Suomessa. Amerikassa asuessani puhuin koko ajan vahingossa englantia pikkumiehelle, koska en ollut vuosiin ajatellut suomeksi. Nyt osaan jo ajatella suomeksi ja siksi suomen kielen puhuminen on taas luontevaa. Pikkumies vaihtaa oma-alotteisesti kielta puhuessaan miehelleni, mika on minusta todella hienoa. Suomen kielen sanavarasto on pikkumiehella kylla talla hetkella englantia laajempi, koska suomea puhutaan kaikkien muiden paitsi Daddyn kanssa.

Missa maassa haluaisit asua jos suomea ja yhdysvaltoja ei voisi valita? -ice princess

Heitanpa tahan sellaisen maan, jossa en ole edes ikina kaynyt, kuin Australia. Syy loytyy yhdesta rakkaimmista ystavistani, joka on harkitsemassa muuttoa sinne amerikkalaisen poikaystavansa luokse.

Mitä kaipaat Amerikasta eniten asuessasi Suomessa - jos ei lasketa perheenjäseniä ? -Leena

Ystavien lisaksi kaipaan autoa ja edullisia hintoja, erityisesti edullisia ravintoloita. Kavimme miehen ja ystavieni kanssa jatkuvasti ulkona syomassa, kaipaan sellaista sosiaalista aspektia elamastani siella.

Puhuuko miehesi suomea lainkaan? Onko hän töissä Suomessa? -M-K

Mies osaa vain muutaman sanan suomea ja han on oppinut ne samaan aikaan lapsemme kanssa :) Aluksi he oppivat samaan tahtiin, mutta nyt pikkumies on mennyt reippaasti miehen ohi sanavaraston laajuudessa! Olen kylla huomannut, etta mies ymmartaa suomen kielta enemman kuin antaa ymmartaa, ehka siksi, etta ei joutuisi  kayttamaan suomea heh. Mieheni on siina mielessa onnekas, etta hanella on vakituinen tyopaikka omalta alaltaan ja heidan toimistonsa tyokieli on englanti.

Asteikolla 1-10, kuinka vahvasti olet(te) juurtuneet "loppuelämäksi" Suomeen? Vai kutkuttaako paluu Atlantin toiselle puolelle paljonkin? -Jenni

Pelkistetysti: mina haluan jaada Suomeen ja mies haluaa palata Yhdysvaltoihin :) Mies on kuitenkin luvannut minulle, etta tana vuonna emme muuta mihinkaan. Ensi vuodesta ei sitten taas ole tietoa, mies on tainnut jo vahan katsella tyopaikkoja rapakon takaa... Olisikohan 5 siis hyva kompromissi tuolla asteikolla?

Mikä on neiti Sokerin lempiruoka ja juoma? Terveisin, Sofia

Tykkaan erilaisista salaateista, erityisesti pidan avocadosta ja kurpitsasta. Olen harmittavan ruokavalio-rajoitteinen, mutta erilaiset veggie-burgerit maistuvat myos. Juomista parhain on raikas vesi :)

Yay, great idea! :) I would like to ask you to name a misconception or prejudice you had about America or Americans before you first lived here. Or has it been too long to remember? :) I'm curious to know not least because you strike me as a very non-prejudiced person. -Pilvi

That is an interesting question! Had to think about it for a while :) I suppose I thought Americans would be somehow more different from us Finns than they were. I was really surprised how similar life was. I really don't know what I was expecting, perhaps something more "dashing" :D I didn't think I'd fit in as well as I did and I certainly never planned to stay more than 4 months. Little did I know :D 

Birthday boy!

Oh wow! What a cool idea! I have a question for you, what inspired you to start writing this blog? Also, is there any special meaning behind the Sugar Antelope name? -Finnbug 

I started writing this blog in 2007 out of boredom. I went home to Finland to work for the summer and didn't have a whole lot else to do there, so I started blogging. I really wish I'd remember why I picked the Sugar Antelope, but I don't. I was and still kinda am really into cute things, so perhaps I just thought (and still do) that the name was cute :)

Thank you again everyone for your interesting questions! If there's anything else you'd like to ask, I'd be happy to try and answer them :) 

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!