From 'tall and fat' to 'average and normal'

Even though I am struggling with my running/fitness there are a few things over here that makes me so happy I almost feel like singing and dancing on the streets.

1. I’m not a giant anymore. Being 175 cm in Finland is completely normal, it's sort of the average length for girls over here. In fact, I think there are at least 3 girls in the office that are taller than me. Not to mention all the men! O la la, here we are talking about the society of tall people! I have to say that it’s a nice change. I mean, I can even wear heels without feeling like a flagpole! (not that I ever do it but still, there is an opportunity here!)

2. I’m not fat anymore. In fact, over here I’m considered quite normal, and even a bit… (oh, do I dear to say this?) slim? Nah, OK, I take it back, but from (almost always) being the ‘biggest girl in the room’ in China I now often look around me and realize that I’m the smallest person around (weeeeird!).

I don’t know how or when this has happened but people have really ballooned here in Scandinavia. Both men and women are not only big, but like, really BIG, and 90% of the skinny girls on the streets are lanky teenagers (and who wasn’t skinny as a teenager? I personally looked like a chopstick. Chubby, apple-cheeked kid, and then skinny as a teenager). Although it’s kind of scary to see how big people have become (I keep asking myself ‘why?!’ because they have SO MUCH good food over here! Endless options of fish and low fat and low sugar… and some really fantastic nature to go out and play in… but obviously you don’t see it that way when you’re living in it every day. A friend of mine also pointed out that it might be the alcohol. People over here love their drink).

3. My feet are absolutely normal. Size 39 is actually the average female feet size here. Meaning my size always sells out first in the store. Bummer. But at least I can BUY shoes here. That’s not always the case in China.

4. My nose is not a big nose. It’s absolutely normal.

5. My arms are proportional and not ‘too big’ that a friend of mine pointed out some months ago over dinner. All that body pumping have paid off! You can aaaaaalmost see the slightest of a biceps muscle if you look up close… or maybe that’s just me? (Yeah, probably).

6. And then, finally, the best bit: NOBODY IS LOOKING AT ME ANYMORE!!! Except for an dirty ol’ man who I caught trying to glance under my skirt the other day (creep!) nobody have stared, giggled or pointed at me during 5 wonderful, stare-free days. This is truly a great thing. I understand that being flagpole tall, wide, big-feet and blonde in China results in curious stares as well as ‘hellooooooo!’s yelled from the left and the right, but to NOT have all that for a change is actually rather nice.

So… for now I’ll enjoy all these changes until I get bored with them, start complaining that ‘it’s boring to look like everyone else!’ and start wishing I was back in China…

Yey, I'm normal!!