Today (Thursday) was a great day! I hope I am not confusing you with these dates. Since Idon't have the internet in my room yet, have to write my blog at night and post it the next day. So many things happened. I had orientation once again in the morning. Thankfully that was my last day of sitting a room for a long time listening to long lectures about a million different things. One thing I did learn, however, is that Germans knock instead of clap. It is really interesting to put a bunch on students from different nationalities together, especially to see how they all react to everything. At the end of the each presentation we would all clap. Today I sat in front of Germans who knocked on the desk. So I told them I would knock along with them, where as they decided to try to the clapping. It is little things like that that I enjoy most.
It is official- I am picking up some weird accent! I want to say, “well are we going then (in a British/Italian accent emphasizing the then)?” instead of “are ya’ll ready?” Also, the Scottish girl said ya’ll today on accident, it was amazing! I have been hanging out most with the Scottish girl and Latvian girls. We all seem to get along really well, which is nice. After orientation and these tutor groups we have, I decided to treat myself to a little shopping. There was a second hand store on my home that I went in. I have seen a lot of the Finns wear this shawls as scarves, and it looks really cute. It is hard to explain, but they look warm either way. I went in looking for one and found a cream one for only 8 euros! I was pretty pumped.
Tonight there was a party for the international students. It was really fun and interesting. I actually felt really silly in the beginning. One of the girls said she was going to get some cider. I thought she meant hot apple cider. Later I found out it is an alcohol. I felt a little dumb about that because all the Europeans knew what she was talking about. At the party it was only American music played. I have found that a lot. For example, Norah Jones was playing in the store when I went shopping today. The theatres are also in English with a Finnish subtitle. The Finns say they like it this we way so that the voices are not dubbed over.
I am saving the most exciting news for last. . . IT SNOWED ABOUT 5 INCHES TODAY!! I was so excited. It was coming down so hard, I have never been in anything like that. All the cars and buildings were covered with snow. And it stuck to you! It did not just melt away as soon as it came on you. I saw an evergreen with snow piled on the branches, like on fake trees, it was so beautiful. I am actually really excited about the weekend because my friends and I want to explore so much! Today we also learned about the gym. They have aerobics, mind and soul classes (not really sure) skiing, snow boarding, and even dancing classes!
Not everything is fine and dandy though all the time. First, I am getting or I might already be sick. My throat hurts really bad and I am coughing a lot, as well as a runny nose. That has kept me up a night, so I have yet to good a full night’s sleep. I think the most I have gotten is about 2 hours or so. It is also really lonely when you back to your room at night. All day I am with people and doing things. However, at night it is all quit and kind of sad. The three other girls I have been hanging out with said they have the same problem. This is the main reason I wanted a roommate, or a flat mate as they say. There are dorms with 6 people living in them, each with their single rooms, but sharing a kitchen and living room. The only problem is they live far away so that they have to take a tram to school everyday, where as I live in the only dorm that can walk. It is still about a 20-minute walk, but it isn’t that far away. So guess I am lucky I don’t have to pay for a pass for the tram or bus everyday, which can get very expensive. I just wish it didn’t get so lonely at night. Good news is I am not the only one going through this. So we have all decided that when we feel sad, no matter what time of night, we can wake each other up to cheer up that person. I know that once classes start and I get more familiar with Helsinki, the loneliness will go away… I think I just want that to be now. Although I can say that this bond of loneliness has brought the four of us closer, so that is something positive.
It is official- I am picking up some weird accent! I want to say, “well are we going then (in a British/Italian accent emphasizing the then)?” instead of “are ya’ll ready?” Also, the Scottish girl said ya’ll today on accident, it was amazing! I have been hanging out most with the Scottish girl and Latvian girls. We all seem to get along really well, which is nice. After orientation and these tutor groups we have, I decided to treat myself to a little shopping. There was a second hand store on my home that I went in. I have seen a lot of the Finns wear this shawls as scarves, and it looks really cute. It is hard to explain, but they look warm either way. I went in looking for one and found a cream one for only 8 euros! I was pretty pumped.
Tonight there was a party for the international students. It was really fun and interesting. I actually felt really silly in the beginning. One of the girls said she was going to get some cider. I thought she meant hot apple cider. Later I found out it is an alcohol. I felt a little dumb about that because all the Europeans knew what she was talking about. At the party it was only American music played. I have found that a lot. For example, Norah Jones was playing in the store when I went shopping today. The theatres are also in English with a Finnish subtitle. The Finns say they like it this we way so that the voices are not dubbed over.
I am saving the most exciting news for last. . . IT SNOWED ABOUT 5 INCHES TODAY!! I was so excited. It was coming down so hard, I have never been in anything like that. All the cars and buildings were covered with snow. And it stuck to you! It did not just melt away as soon as it came on you. I saw an evergreen with snow piled on the branches, like on fake trees, it was so beautiful. I am actually really excited about the weekend because my friends and I want to explore so much! Today we also learned about the gym. They have aerobics, mind and soul classes (not really sure) skiing, snow boarding, and even dancing classes!
Not everything is fine and dandy though all the time. First, I am getting or I might already be sick. My throat hurts really bad and I am coughing a lot, as well as a runny nose. That has kept me up a night, so I have yet to good a full night’s sleep. I think the most I have gotten is about 2 hours or so. It is also really lonely when you back to your room at night. All day I am with people and doing things. However, at night it is all quit and kind of sad. The three other girls I have been hanging out with said they have the same problem. This is the main reason I wanted a roommate, or a flat mate as they say. There are dorms with 6 people living in them, each with their single rooms, but sharing a kitchen and living room. The only problem is they live far away so that they have to take a tram to school everyday, where as I live in the only dorm that can walk. It is still about a 20-minute walk, but it isn’t that far away. So guess I am lucky I don’t have to pay for a pass for the tram or bus everyday, which can get very expensive. I just wish it didn’t get so lonely at night. Good news is I am not the only one going through this. So we have all decided that when we feel sad, no matter what time of night, we can wake each other up to cheer up that person. I know that once classes start and I get more familiar with Helsinki, the loneliness will go away… I think I just want that to be now. Although I can say that this bond of loneliness has brought the four of us closer, so that is something positive.
Your blog would be easier to read if you had space between the paragraphs
ReplyDelete