Four weeks of working remotely has also put my life in a new situation. The glass veranda of my country house in Finland is both my office and my gym.
The most important thing is to keep the contact between Hungary and Finland working smoothly. The FinnAgora team has regular digital meetings and we chat about this and that, giving updates on the virus situation in both countries and of course working and planning. Three of us are in Hungary and two in Finland. We are not only in contact with each other but also in contact with our networks in Finland and in Hungary. The most important thing is to plan FinnAgora's events for the autumn and the beginning of next year. Life must go on even during these times!
Here is a short update of the virus situation in Finland. There was a ban on traveling to and from the capital area in Helsinki. The ban has now been lifted and it is now allowed to travel throughout the country. But the government has strongly recommended to the people in the South not to rush to their beloved summer cottages (Kesämökki), which many Finnish people tend to do during this time of year.
The most popular festival of the year, Vappu on the 31.5, is not to be celebrated this year because it is usually a celebration that happens in large crowds. This is of course difficult especially for students who are known for loving Vappu. We middle-aged people will probably continue our peaceful life and we hope that young people will also understand that this is what’s best for them.
The economy is the most worrying thing besides the virus. Experts and decision makers are trying to figure out the best way to minimize the damage done to the economy and how to recover after this strange period. They are also trying to figure out when different restrictions should and can be lifted. Gradually the restrictions will be let go and people have the right to know when and how.
Fortunately, we are doing well in Finland, and the virus epidemic has not spread as widely as first expected. Hospitals are not full and there are relatively few deaths. Two-thirds of the 82 deaths (on Friday) have lost their lives in nursery homes for elderly, which is a very sad thing. Society has failed to protect the people who built the important cornerstones of Finnish society.
My own worries disappear for a short time in the evenings when we warm up our sauna. After the sauna, we have dinner either the two of us or every now and again we dine with friends. We turn the computer in front of us at the dining table, open a remote connection and eat a digital dinner with somebody somewhere in the world. And it works!
Once a week, the veranda turns into a gym and through the digital world I move to the lovely city of Pecs, where my physiotherapist and trainer Kata P temporarily resides. She sits at her computer and gives instructions and most importantly checks that I am doing the movements correctly. Kata has started telecommuting because the gym where she normally works in Budapest is closed.
These workouts are very important to me and I admire Katas initiative and setting up this remote training sessions so quickly. This is a fantastic Finnish-Hungarian cooperation. Win-win for both of us.
I also enjoy going out in nature and fortunately, there is a lot of forests in Finland with room for everybody in these times of social distancing.
Enjoy your fantastic weather in Hungary, because the winter has returned to Finland and believe it or not yesterday it snowed almost ten centimeters of snow on our yard. Luckily it all melted away during the day.
Hyvää viikonloppua!
Have a good weekend!
Wishes
Cita Högnabba-Lumikero
Director FinnAgora