I am writing this on a British Airways flight over the Baltic Sea, enroute to London, UK from Helsinki, Finland. The idea of perspective seems of utmost importance to me right now, so I am putting it to paper so that when it no longer seems so important I can look back at what my internal fuss was about, or chuckle at the foolishness of my mid life "youth". Youth, there it is perspective. I am simultaneously young and old as determined by the perspective of the observer.
I am not sure what Oxford or Websters have to say about it, but to me perspective is how the viewpoint of the observer influences what he or she sees, hears, feels, experiences.
Now, maybe that's a good way to start, when you stop to think about it, it is odd how we use visual terms to describe taking in things experienced. Terms like perspective, observer and point of view. As human beings our predator status has given us large forward facing eyes with colour and depth perception so from our perspective, seeing is the end all be all. Seeing is believing.
There is a toddler seated in front of me is popping up over her seat. Like the many of Finns she is blonde haired blue eyed, she is intrigued by the little black boys, my sons, asleep in the seat beside me. I can guess at what she sees, her perspective is influenced by her short life experience in a relatively monocultural part of the world. The plane shakes because of turbulence, she is unfazed but her mother pulls her close in reflex to a perceived danger.
My contemplation of perspective, comes as I reflect on the past two weeks of travel, what I have seen, what my family has seen, how has it or will it change us. Nearing the end of a three hour flight looking at my little brood peacefully asleep, we still have a quick connection at Heathrow in London and a seven hour flight home ahead of us.
Helsinki, Finland; Tallinn, Estonia; and St. Petersburg, Russia.
For me the trip has been enjoyable and eye opening. The family time has been amazing. Helsinki, not exactly an obvious vacation destination was quite enjoyable. We connected with friends, learned a bit about the place and ate incredible food. Tallinn, admittedly was added to the trip more to say we had been to Estonia than anything else, but a beautiful day in an old walled city with cathedrals and castles. St. Petersburg, was realizing a dream, a dream that was impossible when I was a boy. That said the trip has been expensive, the boys are not likely too remember it, and traveling like this with a young family is really difficult. As I think about why Ahmeda and I do it, the concept of perspective comes up again and again.
The little girl in the seat ahead has resumed her cultural exploration. She is reaching between the seats to try and touch Jobim. He is closest to her size, and clearly fascinating to her. Success, she got him. She is patting his shoe, with enough force to disturb him from his sleep. Half awake he cries and tries to adjust his position in his Mothers lap. His cry and fidget partially awakens Ahmeda, both are unaware of the source of the disturbance. Sleepily Ahmeda adjusts 17month old Jobim, and calms him back into sleep. She resumes her slumber seemingly never opening an eye. On the otherside of the chair backs the young Finnish explorer is being reprimanded by mom for reaching between the seats. I think of how my outsider perspective on the touching incident gave me a more complete story than that of all the parties involved.
I think of my travel. When I am asked why I enjoy travel I often say because I enjoy experiencing life in new parts of the world. It broadens my perspective and deepens my understanding of the world. In photography terms its clearer wide angle lens and sharpens my telephoto/macro view.
In this trip the splendor of St. Petersburg told a special lesson warning on the price of opulent living, and the value of knowing your history. The canals of the city draw comparison to Amsterdam or maybe Venice, but it's clear to see Peter the Great was trying to mimic Louis XIV's Paris. Building his own Louvre, the Hermitage; and his Versailles, Peterhoff. The perspective of history shows both royal families suffered the same fate. Both populaces grew tired of their opulences and revolutions erupted that ended in the aristocracy being removed from power and the royal families being executed.
The French taught Louis his lesson 160 years before the Tzars got their due, but the Tzars failed to recognize the path they were on. Those that are not educated by history are doomed to repeat it.
Finland, was a place full of lessons and renewed perspectives. Helsinki, lauded as the world style capital in 2012, silently screams of an understated chic. Amazing foodie experiences seem tucked in every corner; market stalls, amusement parks, and friends dining rooms. The take away was the country had a distinct national pride. From my Canadian perspective i wouldn't call it patriotism in the American sense, but more akin to a well deserved hometown pride. A local guide book cover reads "London is where it's at... if you ask your mother". Local establishments are decorated with locally designed furniture and local restaurants feature local ingredients, promoting each other through organic local support.
Finland or locally called Suomi was established as an extension of the Swedish empire. It was then seized by the Russians as they sought to establish a land buffer around the newly built Baltic port city of St. Petersburg. The country then claimed independence for the first time during the confusion of the Bolshevik revolution, as the Tzars lost their empire to Lenin and the Communists. Then little Finland successfully defended their independence from Stalin and the soviet army in the 1939 winter war, with little outside help. Massively out manned and out gunned. The soviets had 100 tanks for every 1 that Finland had. In real term it would be like Canada repelling the full force of the US army. It is considered one of histories greatest defences, something to be proud of for the land of Suomi.
We've reached Heathrow, wait in our seats patiently for the rest of the passengers to exit. Two kids and five carry-on bags is a bit of a logistical juggling act, that even the nicest fellow traveler has little patience for. the little Finnish cultural explorer waits as well and is rewarded, by getting to meet Jibril and Jobim awake. She spouts a volley of word like sounds, from my perspective possibly a well spoken greeting in Finnish or just toddler gibberish. My mercutial pair, respond with glowering stares and Jobim may have just muttered his new favorite word, "yucky". So much for the opportunity for a touching cultural exchange.
The Baltic adventure is behind us. My world view slightly altered, my understanding of a part of the world deepened from complete ignorance to slight understanding. In the past I have caught myself repeating the cliched phrase, it's amazing to experience the world through my childrens eyes. They are toddlers, they only experience so much. In reality, it is amazing translating what I am experiencing in our travel to my children. It forces me to focus my lens, think outside of myself and distill my own feelings. As long as I can keep it all in perspective.
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