It doesn't matter how much you fight the clock, there's nothing really you can do to stop it. Times come and times go. My time in Finland came, and now it's time to go.
I've had a wonderful experience in Finland, truely. When I arrived here I didn't like it too much, but it grew on me, and as I started finding my way around it really started to feel like home.
I have met great people here. As much as it is hard to get to know Finnish people and bond with them, once you're in you're in. They are truely some of the kindest and most caring people I have ever met, and I feel like everyone here at the office tried really hard to make me feel welcome and they have always been there for me to help me out whenever I needed help.
I will miss (never thought I would say this) the snow and the cold. I will miss spring, when everything starts to become green. I will miss summer, when it is beautiful outside. I will miss Pulla (however, thanks to Päivi in my office I have learned to make it myself!). I will miss lunches here at SAMK, even the ones at 11 o' clock. I will miss K-market. I will miss the Sauna. I will miss Etappi. I will miss the beautiful park next to the river. I will miss cycling here. I will miss my trips to Turku. I will miss Pori. But most of all, I will miss all the great people I have met here.
Looking back, I just want to say I'm so thankful that I've had this experience. I have learned a lot from it, from the good and the bad. I wouldn't change it in the world. And I hope I will come back to Finland some day.
So long friends. I wish you all the best!
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Finnish experience
Sadly not only the Americans left the past week, but also whoever was left of my Erasmus friends. I don't like saying goodbye but it's one of those things you get used to if you have to do it often Luckaly it wasn't near as bad as when I had to leave America.
So because everyone left, the building where I live, Etappi, is pretty dead now. Other than 1 or 2 Chinese people and 2 French people, I'm the only foreigner left. There are some Finnish people living there, but not a whole lot. I reckon it'll become busier again mid July, when Pori jazz will start, because lots of people will need a room then. But, as I leave the 1st of July I won't be there then anymore.
For those who want some more information on Pori Jazz: http://www.porijazz.fi/en/frontpage
Yesterday we had a staff day, and we went to a cottage at the lake-side, surrounded by Finland’s most beautiful nature. Having/renting a cottage near the lake (or the sea I think) is actually really Finnish. Next weekend it's mid-summer, and most Finnish people will go to their cottage, enjoy their sauna's and jump in the lake afterwards.
I don't have a picture of the cottage itself, but picture something like this
When we got there we first had lunch. We had wraps and you could stuff 'm with whatever you wanted and it was really delicious! It had been such a long time since I ate that, so I was very happy. After we had a meeting, and once we were done with that we headed outside. A couple of us went canoeing but I just sat there and enjoyed the nature.
A little while later we went to the sauna. I had actually dreaded this moment somewhat. I enjoy the sauna, but this was going to be my first time with Finnish people only and I assumed we would all go naked (as we were girls only). Coming from a country where you cannot find a Dutch film without nudity in it you would think I wouldn't be so much of a prude about it, but I was honestly very nervous.
Turns out though that because the plan was to go swim in the lake after everyone went in bathing suit, so I stressed about nothing. The sauna was really nice, I think I'm getting used to it because I would've liked for it to be even hotter. When we were in the sauna for a little while we went to the lake.
Now this was a first for me. Not only had I never "dipped" myself in anything cold after the sauna, I had also never really swam in a lake. I assumed it was a cultural thing, but after talking to a friend I found out I was pretty much the only one who'd never swam in a lake before. I can't help but feel a little unease with it. There are fish there, and bugs, and I already leave the sea as soon as I see a fish. But, I got over myself and jumped in the lake. It was really cold, but really nice at the same time and I'm happy I did it.
Once we were done swimming and sauna-ing and all that good stuff, we went to sit by the fire and ate sweet buns. Janna and Annukka had actually made pulla-dough (my favorite!) and we wrapped it around a stick and roasted it. It was really a lot of fun and I'm very glad I went.
My time in Finland is drawing to an end! It's about that time where I try to fight the clock again and beat time. I don't really want to leave yet, but it is what it is. Now I'm going to try to make the very best of my last week and a half in Finland! My boyfriend is coming tomorrow and staying for mid-summer, so that is something to look forward to :)
So because everyone left, the building where I live, Etappi, is pretty dead now. Other than 1 or 2 Chinese people and 2 French people, I'm the only foreigner left. There are some Finnish people living there, but not a whole lot. I reckon it'll become busier again mid July, when Pori jazz will start, because lots of people will need a room then. But, as I leave the 1st of July I won't be there then anymore.
For those who want some more information on Pori Jazz: http://www.porijazz.fi/en/frontpage
Yesterday we had a staff day, and we went to a cottage at the lake-side, surrounded by Finland’s most beautiful nature. Having/renting a cottage near the lake (or the sea I think) is actually really Finnish. Next weekend it's mid-summer, and most Finnish people will go to their cottage, enjoy their sauna's and jump in the lake afterwards.
I don't have a picture of the cottage itself, but picture something like this
When we got there we first had lunch. We had wraps and you could stuff 'm with whatever you wanted and it was really delicious! It had been such a long time since I ate that, so I was very happy. After we had a meeting, and once we were done with that we headed outside. A couple of us went canoeing but I just sat there and enjoyed the nature.
A little while later we went to the sauna. I had actually dreaded this moment somewhat. I enjoy the sauna, but this was going to be my first time with Finnish people only and I assumed we would all go naked (as we were girls only). Coming from a country where you cannot find a Dutch film without nudity in it you would think I wouldn't be so much of a prude about it, but I was honestly very nervous.
Turns out though that because the plan was to go swim in the lake after everyone went in bathing suit, so I stressed about nothing. The sauna was really nice, I think I'm getting used to it because I would've liked for it to be even hotter. When we were in the sauna for a little while we went to the lake.
Now this was a first for me. Not only had I never "dipped" myself in anything cold after the sauna, I had also never really swam in a lake. I assumed it was a cultural thing, but after talking to a friend I found out I was pretty much the only one who'd never swam in a lake before. I can't help but feel a little unease with it. There are fish there, and bugs, and I already leave the sea as soon as I see a fish. But, I got over myself and jumped in the lake. It was really cold, but really nice at the same time and I'm happy I did it.
Once we were done swimming and sauna-ing and all that good stuff, we went to sit by the fire and ate sweet buns. Janna and Annukka had actually made pulla-dough (my favorite!) and we wrapped it around a stick and roasted it. It was really a lot of fun and I'm very glad I went.
My time in Finland is drawing to an end! It's about that time where I try to fight the clock again and beat time. I don't really want to leave yet, but it is what it is. Now I'm going to try to make the very best of my last week and a half in Finland! My boyfriend is coming tomorrow and staying for mid-summer, so that is something to look forward to :)
Friday, 10 June 2011
Russia
The summer school has finally started! I had meant to post a blog earlier but it has been very busy, but filled with lots of fun activities though!
We welcomed 20-something students from America and they are all very nice. They might just pretend to be nice to me, since I'm not 'just' a student but an intern and I 'work' with them. But who cares, I like 'm and they're nice to me.
Last weekend we went to Russia, to St. Petersburg! We left Thursday early morning and came back Sunday evening. We travelled by bus and it was quite a long drive. We left at 6:30 and arrived at around 20:00. We had a very nice hotel just right next to the river, where you could see one of the cathedrals on the other side.
St. Petersburg gave me a familiar vibe. While I was well aware that I was in Russia, a country I had never been, it didn't feel that strange and new. Some parts of the city semi-reminded me of London and Paris, and other places I have been to. The one thing that really gave it away off course was the Russian writing, as they have a different alphabet.
It was kind of hard getting used to and in all honesty I haven't really learned it completely, but I did figure out some letters and once you do you can read most things, because lots of words are similar to languages we already know.
I'm not going to give you a summary of everything we have done because you can look up the Summer School schedule online and find the program there. I do want to share some things however.
On Friday night I went to Russian ballet with some of the American girls. We went to a ballet called The Nutcracker. I guess most of you know this story. It was a very beautiful theatre and the ballet itself was really amazing. I was very impressed, but I guess that's also a little bit because I could not for the life of me do any ballet. Interesting was how the show was very much targeted at tourists and not so much at the Russians themselves. Announcements were in English and you basically heard lots of different languages around you. I guess it is mostly a tourist thing, to go to Russia and go to Russian ballet, just so that you can say you have done it.
On Saturday night we went on a boat tour, with on-board-entertainment. We were told that there would be refreshments. Inside there were a couple of tables that all seated 4 for us to sit at, carrying a small bottle of water, a big bottle of wine and a big bottle of vodka, 4 banana's, 4 apples and 4 small pieces of bread with caviar. You can guess how this night ended for most Americans who are under-aged in America and now suddenly had access to large amounts of alcohol.
It was a very fun night though, and there were performers dressed in traditional Russian clothing who were dancing, singing and making music for us. Although they looked kind of silly in their clothes, they played their part with so much pride that I ended up having deep respect for all of them. As much as I'm proud of my country, I can't picture myself dancing around in a big dress with wooden shoes on.
Please look for pictures of the Russia trip and just the summer school in general at the International Summerschool facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.163313550399515.40747.111610078903196
We welcomed 20-something students from America and they are all very nice. They might just pretend to be nice to me, since I'm not 'just' a student but an intern and I 'work' with them. But who cares, I like 'm and they're nice to me.
Last weekend we went to Russia, to St. Petersburg! We left Thursday early morning and came back Sunday evening. We travelled by bus and it was quite a long drive. We left at 6:30 and arrived at around 20:00. We had a very nice hotel just right next to the river, where you could see one of the cathedrals on the other side.
St. Petersburg gave me a familiar vibe. While I was well aware that I was in Russia, a country I had never been, it didn't feel that strange and new. Some parts of the city semi-reminded me of London and Paris, and other places I have been to. The one thing that really gave it away off course was the Russian writing, as they have a different alphabet.
It was kind of hard getting used to and in all honesty I haven't really learned it completely, but I did figure out some letters and once you do you can read most things, because lots of words are similar to languages we already know.
I'm not going to give you a summary of everything we have done because you can look up the Summer School schedule online and find the program there. I do want to share some things however.
On Friday night I went to Russian ballet with some of the American girls. We went to a ballet called The Nutcracker. I guess most of you know this story. It was a very beautiful theatre and the ballet itself was really amazing. I was very impressed, but I guess that's also a little bit because I could not for the life of me do any ballet. Interesting was how the show was very much targeted at tourists and not so much at the Russians themselves. Announcements were in English and you basically heard lots of different languages around you. I guess it is mostly a tourist thing, to go to Russia and go to Russian ballet, just so that you can say you have done it.
On Saturday night we went on a boat tour, with on-board-entertainment. We were told that there would be refreshments. Inside there were a couple of tables that all seated 4 for us to sit at, carrying a small bottle of water, a big bottle of wine and a big bottle of vodka, 4 banana's, 4 apples and 4 small pieces of bread with caviar. You can guess how this night ended for most Americans who are under-aged in America and now suddenly had access to large amounts of alcohol.
It was a very fun night though, and there were performers dressed in traditional Russian clothing who were dancing, singing and making music for us. Although they looked kind of silly in their clothes, they played their part with so much pride that I ended up having deep respect for all of them. As much as I'm proud of my country, I can't picture myself dancing around in a big dress with wooden shoes on.
Please look for pictures of the Russia trip and just the summer school in general at the International Summerschool facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.163313550399515.40747.111610078903196
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