Greetings from London where I’m having my graduation trip. The actual graduation is at Essex on Friday, but I’m here at my friend Sarah’s house, and my mom and Tiina (her best friend and my ’second mom’ at whom i stayed in Helsinki the last three years of school) are enjoying London, too.
I’ve seen two of my friends new flats and houses in Gravesend and one in Acton Town – been very impressed. My mom and Tiina came for a dinner at Minna’s who’s was my best friend when I stayed at Tiina, and who’s settled here. It was a lovely reunion! Also it was great to introduce the mothers to Sarah (who’s also been taking good care of me), and tomorrow it’s the time for my Hungarian friend Marianna to meet them. Marianna’s mom is my ‘Hungarian mother’ at whom I’ve stayed much in Hungary and with whom i’ve struggled to learned to speak the language too, so some motherhood circles seems to be coming to the close.
It really is a mothers’ trip as tonight I’ve been to see the Phantom of the Opera. My first musical in London, even if I lived here for three years once (admittedly as a poor student). It was really a lovely event as I knew the music well: Tiina had seen the musical in Toronto in ‘92 and bought the CD in ‘93 when I moved to hers. I remember us two singing to it so that her chandeliers were shaking…
There are more people I really would have wanted to meet this time, but already trying to spend time with the mothers in town takes up a lot of my energy so more elaborate hanging outs will have to be saved for a later date.
Before the actual graduation ceremony, though, I should add that this has been an innovative graduation – i’ve already decided on the next certificate i wanna achieve: one for a nordic walking trainer. I’m tomorrow meeting someone who’s actually a journalist and a mother, and doing this as a well-paying hobby in hyde park… I’d do it already of the joy of converting people to stick-walking! But I hear that however much one’s heart were in it, doing it for free is not ok for the other personal trainers…
