Tuija, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
We just love Tuija. Her motto describes perfectly herself: “be somebody who makes everybody to feel like somebody.”
She is one of those people with whom you just instantly feel good vibes! When we met for the first time, it was an instant connection – it was easy as everything about her presence shines friendliness, kindness and joy – she truly makes people around feel comfortable and accepted just as they are.
Positive (not in annoying way!), warm, bubbly, smiley and friendly. True to herself since she was a child: wanted to become a truck driver, but nowadays dreams about opening a small hotel when older. Hobbies as jogging, Spanish lessons, collecting elephants (120 pieces at the moment) and close to her heart - travelling!
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Meet Tuija, born in Ylistaro, Finland and today, after many tours and detours, living in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. “In Germany it is just my husband and me. We have no kids nor pets. However, we have great friends here who we consider as part of our family.”
Tuija works in an international company as a Business Process Assistant and her work entails administrative duties in the areas of Accounting and Human resources.
Tuija tells: “Met Mirka and Tiina during a skiing trip to Sölden, Austria in March 2012. My husband or none of my friends here in Germany ski so I hadn’t been skiing for over 20 years. I had decided to donate my skies, boots, poles, ski jacket, pants, all and then, sure enough, I got a call from my friend in Finland inviting me to Sölden. Had to go and buy a ski jacket and pants, book a flight from Frankfurt to Innsbruck, and the rest is history.”
EVERYDAY LIFE
In a very normal Tuesday she wakes up at 7 o’clock and makes a cup of coffee. Then a shower and getting dressed. She leaves from home at 8 and normally walks (about half an hour) to work but if it is cold or rainy, she takes metro. Lunch with coworkers around midday, leaving the office at 17:30 and arriving back home at 18:00. Then a dinner with husband and after that every Tuesday heading to Spanish class. Back at home around 21:30 and then chatting with her husband and watching the latest news on TV. Around 23:00 off to bed.
For the question about the everyday life and routines, Tuija quotes Aristotele: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” And continues: “Is more draining mentally, physically and emotionally to have no routines than any routine could be!”.
Tuija does not get easily stressed in everyday life. What has always been difficult and stressful, as it is for everybody, is the death of a loved one. She has lost both her mom and dad, cousins, aunts and some of her very good friends. It takes a long time to recover from the death of a loved one. “I think one never really gets over it, but as the time passes by, it becomes somewhat easier.”
Tuija is a very energetic person and there is a list of wild, exciting ex-hobbies – skydiving, scuba diving, hot air balloon ride, horseback riding – but nowadays learning new thigs is what she wants to do. She has started Spanish lessons and is now at an intermediate level, and proud of that for a reason! She also got a certificate in Java programming from MIT though online free courses.
There are moments when also the most energetic person feels exhausted. For those moments, there is the one and only natural boost: jogging. That’s been her hobby and lifeline since ever, her escape from the negativity and something that gives her energy. After a long jog, diving into nice hot bubble bath, a glass of wine and chat with her husband or a call to a friend. And then – nothing beats a good night sleep! And something that we all should copy: sometimes she just takes a day off from work for no particular reason. And do absolutely nothing productive. Those days are dedicated to sleep in, watch old movies, go for a jog, read a book, buy herself flowers and plan next trip to some exotic places.
Find out more about Tuija’s hidden travel gem: Regensburg, in Bavaria, Germany’s best-preserved medieval town and a UNESCO-listed city.
There are mornings when she looks in the mirror and thinks: “what the heck happened to me during the night!”. But most of the time she tells firmly to herself that: “there you are strong, witty, still OK looking, powerful woman!”.
DREAMS & FEARS, PAST & FUTURE
What are your dreams?
“When I was a little girl, my friends dreamed about being hairdressers, nurses, beauticians. My dream was to be a truck driver. Don’t ask me why. Well, my dream has changed over the years. My new dream, since 30 something years, is: I want to open my own hotel. The dream has never faded away – one day I will own a small hotel somewhere in this world, maybe in Mexico”
What is your worst fear?
“To suffer from terminal illness. To lose my physical strength.”
What is the most important advice you have received?
“Wherever you find yourself in this world, at work or in personal life, do the very best you can do. (~My Mother).”
What has been the greatest global invention of your time?
“Internet.”
Where would you donate your time/money to?
“Would be for the cancer research.”
If you could, what advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?
“Sometimes a mistake or a failure might just turn out to be the best thing ever happened to you.”
How about Christmas traditions? “Since my mother passed away 11 years ago, our Christmas tradition has been travelling to some exotic country. We normally spend 2 to 3 weeks in the destination and celebrate my birthday, Christmas and sometimes also New Year. This year, of course, we will stay at home due to coronavirus.”
STORY
“My husband (an US Army soldier stationed in Frankfurt) and I got married in October 2015. One week after we got married, he got transfer orders to Fort Hood, Texas. He flew to Texas in November; I couldn’t fly with him because I had to finish my work contract and get rid of my Frankfurt apartment. I flew to Texas in the beginning of January 2016:
“I am newlywed, new to the military life, and on my way to the United States of America, a country where I have never been before. When we start the descent to Killen, Texas airport, I begin to panic. What if I do not adjust to be a military wife? What if I do not like my new country? What if I get culture shock as soon as I step out of the plane? What if...?
When we start to exit the plane, there comes the excitement, and I forget the scary thoughts. I step out of the plane and it is like a historical moment: I am standing for the first time on American ground! And when I see my husband’s smiling face and open arms welcoming me to my new country, I know I will make it.”
I really didn’t know what to expect. To me, Texas meant three things: cowboys, prairie, and cactuses. Well, Texas is much more than that. I didn’t know that there are so many beautiful cities and towns, lakes, and friendly people. And I definitely didn’t know that I would like it so very much.
While I waited for my social security number and work permit, I was discovering the surrounding areas. I drove my husband to Fort Hood in the mornings, and then drove to the little towns in the area, went to grocery stores walking between the shelves wondering if I would ever be able to find those items I needed. And I also spent hours in the Mall, first trying to find my way out, and then later on in the parking lot trying desperately to remember where I parked the car.
When I got my work permit and social security number, I applied for a Marketing Associate job at MWR Marketing & Advertising at Fort Hood. I went to the interview, and they hired me on the spot. I did marketing research through face to face interviews, recorded and analyzed the research data, wrote reports of research results, and gave suggestions on how to improve services in the facilities surveyed.
During the weekends my husband and I swam in the lakes and visited State parks. We went horseback riding, then to a Viking Fest where we ate ”real Viking food” (hamburgers). We drove to Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Corpus Christi, El Paso. I saw cactuses, prairie, and cowboys... and a lot more.
We spent almost three years in Texas, and then the US Army issued us the transfer orders to Heidelberg, Germany. I left my coworkers, our neighbors, our friends, and Texas, with tears in my eyes.
I still sometimes smile when I remember those thoughts on the plane when I was flying to Texas. Yes, I adjusted well to the military life. Yes, I liked my new country. And no, I never got the culture shock after all!”
QUICK ONES
Drink: wine
Favorite food: tacos
Delicacy: Ice wine (German)
Restaurant/Cafe: Café Laumer (Frankfurt) www.cafelaumer.de
Spice: garlic
Feeling: happiness
Music: jazz
Scent: Fresh laundry
Travel destination: Mexico
Book: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Márquez
Movie: Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino
Favorite public holiday: Easter
Artist/band: Ella Fitzgerald
Plant: cactus
Evening routine: Put my head on the pillow
Favorite piece of clothing: swimming suite
Animal: elephant
Scenery: beach
Sport: jogging
Motto: “Be somebody who makes everybody to feel like somebody.”