In the class today we had an interesting discussion about women’s situation in different countries: do women work, when do they get married, have children etc. I was suprised that it seems to be mainly in Germany where the whole Hausfrau thing is still strongly alive. Naturally our survey was limited, but we had representatives from European countries all the way to Equador.

I am, too, here as a Hausfrau. It is not that I prefer to, but it is hard to find a job if your German skills are limited. Most likely I would get some cleaning job etc but as I have 2 university degrees, I find it as a bit of waste of my skills. So instead, I have decided to put my energy on learning the language.

I am certain that I am not unique. How much potential is Germany loosing on Housewives?

Germany is a country where single income families are supported. Here we can survive with just a husband bringing the bread on the table. In other countries the women work because they simply have to. They do not necessarily have an option to stay at home with the children.

So here I have opted not to enter the working life unless I find something meaningful to do. It truly is a luxury situation. Instead of working long hours I can take more part in my daughter’s life, embrace the new German culture the way I want to, do the things I like.

Long live the Hausfrauen!

Who watched the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday? Or let’s put it this way: who dares to publicly admit that the TV was on during the finals?

For those coming from outside Europe, the Eurovision Song Contest is an institution like no other in Europe. All European countries compete with songs that are mostly all about the show. The contest is heavily supported by the gay community. When there are over 40 countries competing, it is really hard to stand out and all kinds of tricks/lightly dressed ladies/six-packs can be seen on the stage. An interesting addition brings the voting process. As you cannot vote for the artist from your own country, one tends to give the vote to the neighbouring country…

There are three types of people concerning the contest: those who are absolute fanatics, those that absolutely hate it and those that follow it but do not confess it. I tend to belong to the first group. I find the Eurovision most entertaining! The songs and the shows are so out-of-this world and so kitsch that you cannot help but laughing at the whole thing…

The winner of this year was Azerbaijan. Okay song, not exacly standing out and the press was amazed that it won. Azerbaijan was not one of the favourites. However, as the German magazine Bild wrote, if the average Azerbaijan worker earns about 55 dollars a month, Europe is more that happy to give the country this win. Go Azerbaijan!

My country, Finland, made it to the finals but that was it. However, the international press chose our Paradis Oskar as their favorite artist this year. Sure, we take it – at least we won something!

I missed the lesson yesterday due to a totally jammed back. Well, instead I got to speak German and got my first experience of the German health care system.

I woke up at 3.oo AM and couldn’t move. Quite scary, actually! Even though I have lived here for more than a year I haven’t been to a doctor yet. I didn’t have a Hausarzt. Not a good thing when you are seriously in pain and have no idea where to go…

I rememberd I have seen a sign of an Arzt center from about a block from away where I live. Got there, barely, but I got a doctor attending to me immediately as nurses saw how much pain I had.

Then things moved along quickly. I got a neck supporter, pain medicin and a note for an X-ray at another medical center in the same building. Fortunately everything was ok. No problems with the spine, just muscle problems.

My experience of the German health care system? It works! I have a private health insurance so maybe that helps, too. It seems that the doctors speak fluent English and do not find it uncomfortable. At the reception and with the nurses I used German though. Hurray!

Hopefully my back gets better fast and I can come to lessions next week. The coming weekend will be boring if I don’t get to go anywhere. Fortunately the Eurovision song contest final is on Saturday!

Greetings fellow aliens!

Before getting serious with the blogging I think introductions are in order. The name is Mirkka, the nationality is Finnish and the status is currently Mrs. Hausfrau. I have now lived in München for a bit over a year and I love it. As you can see from the photo, getting into the German culture is high in my list.

I am on my second course at the Deutsche Academie, now the level is B1(1). I am taking a course which is a level lower than the previous one as I think I need to still prepp up the grammatics. I’m no natural what comes to languages, but I certainly have an interest on studying them. German is my 6th language so far…

What comes to topics of my blogging, I assume it will be mostly about the school and how frustrated I am about studying. And of course the wonders of München and Germany in general.

I am looking forward to writing. Please feel free to comment!