Many of my best memories from the University of Helsinki—students graduating, funding being granted, new research ideas—are related to the various communities within which I have worked over the years. Also important are the places where members of these communities naturally meet each day. A long time ago, while working on a research grant, I had my own cell in the attic of Mariankatu 11. The horizons of this philologist were broadened when a community of young researchers formed in the attic and I met daily with other humanities students as well as with theologians, law students and political scientists.

The longstanding home of the VARIENG Centre of Excellence on Vironkatu 1 brought us English scholars together with musicologists. Rumour had it that at night the lift was sometimes operated by a ghost named Aleksi, although to my disappointment I never did manage to catch a glimpse of him. I had also previously studied phonetics and general linguistics in the comfort of Vironkatu. The common room of the Department of Modern Languages on the 6th floor of the Metsätalo building now brings members of the department together, irrespective of language or job description. Coffee also enlivens the meetings.