Another weekend in Helsinki, and as always, what an adventure. Thursday I had class on Existentialist Ethics. Yes, it is pretty intense. My teacher is actually American, and he even went to Vandy! I thought that was exciting. Thursday night we went to the international student party again. This one was much more fun since everyone knew each other a little bit better. We actually found a group of UK guys with one Australian. So there were three Scottish, one Irish, one English, and then one Aussie. It was so neat to hear all of them talk to each other. I think they may have gotten a little creeped out when I told them I just wanted to stick them in a room and listen to their accents all day.
Friday I did not have any classes, which was really nice. I woke up to the sun shinning right in my window. Back home I would have been upset, but I was actually really excited to see the sun! The past couple days it has been a little dreary. I miss the shinny sun. They claim it is setting two minutes later each day, but I don’t know about that just yet. It still seems to get dark rather early, which is about 4 in the afternoon.
Friday night we decided to see what the Finns do. Instead of the international parties we are used to, we went to Finnish club. I think it is really neat that you do not have to pay to get in, but you have to pay about 2 euros to check your coat and bag. When I say check, I mean hang them up with security watch. When you check your coat, you are given a card with a number that you must have in order to get your coat back. Every club and museum I have been to has this coat check. I find it interesting that even the classrooms have a couple coat racks. Since it is so warm inside, yet so cold outside, these racks are necessary.
While we were at the Finnish club, a couple interesting songs came on. First, a couple Finnish songs came on that everyone knew but us. Then, a techno version of Sweet Home Alabama came on. I thought was really neat, until another song came on that I simply freaked out about… Walking in Memphis, the really techno version. I think I embarrassed my friends because I was just so excited!! I mean, come on, how cool I that? I freak out when that song comes on anyways in the US; imagine how I was when I heard it in Finland!
Today is Saturday and we decided to do a little sight seeing. Since it is so cold (Ok I know it may be colder back home right now, but that doesn’t make it warm here), we decided to go to the Finnish Museum. It was actually really neat. They had a pre-historic section and a temporary section… But I have to say my favorite part was the children’s section. They had so many interactive things! They even had a fake horse you could hop on and pose with. However, the worker yelled at me, not because I was too old to be there (because I am still a kid, right?). She yelled at me for messing with the weaving machine. In my defense, there was a seat and pedals to press, so I did. We didn’t get to spend as much time because that section was closing. We decided to go back since the kid’s section had a lot more to do that we didn’t see. Once again, we all sat down for coffee/tea/hot chocolate and pastries. I really like that part of the European culture.
Since the school cafeteria closes early, we decided to all eat dinner together. Although only 6 of us went to the museum together, there were going to be 9 eating dinner. We ran into some friends at the museum. Only the original 6 lived in the same building, so we gathered what we had to make a pot luck. We ended up gathering two pizzas, pasta, salad, potatoes, and meat balls-not bad, huh? It was interesting to fit 9 people around one table. The rooms actually only have two chairs to go along with the table. I guess I should be thankful for any chairs.
Some other things I have learned since being here- “Trash” is considered “rubbish” in the UK. Sadly, I am infecting Abbie, my Scottish friend. The other day she said “trash”, and I think she has said “y’all” twice now. Also, Reece’s and peanut butter are American things. To me that needs to change, but no one else thinks so. There are so many other differences I am slowly learning. I am sure I will share more in my future blogs.
Friday I did not have any classes, which was really nice. I woke up to the sun shinning right in my window. Back home I would have been upset, but I was actually really excited to see the sun! The past couple days it has been a little dreary. I miss the shinny sun. They claim it is setting two minutes later each day, but I don’t know about that just yet. It still seems to get dark rather early, which is about 4 in the afternoon.
Friday night we decided to see what the Finns do. Instead of the international parties we are used to, we went to Finnish club. I think it is really neat that you do not have to pay to get in, but you have to pay about 2 euros to check your coat and bag. When I say check, I mean hang them up with security watch. When you check your coat, you are given a card with a number that you must have in order to get your coat back. Every club and museum I have been to has this coat check. I find it interesting that even the classrooms have a couple coat racks. Since it is so warm inside, yet so cold outside, these racks are necessary.
While we were at the Finnish club, a couple interesting songs came on. First, a couple Finnish songs came on that everyone knew but us. Then, a techno version of Sweet Home Alabama came on. I thought was really neat, until another song came on that I simply freaked out about… Walking in Memphis, the really techno version. I think I embarrassed my friends because I was just so excited!! I mean, come on, how cool I that? I freak out when that song comes on anyways in the US; imagine how I was when I heard it in Finland!
Today is Saturday and we decided to do a little sight seeing. Since it is so cold (Ok I know it may be colder back home right now, but that doesn’t make it warm here), we decided to go to the Finnish Museum. It was actually really neat. They had a pre-historic section and a temporary section… But I have to say my favorite part was the children’s section. They had so many interactive things! They even had a fake horse you could hop on and pose with. However, the worker yelled at me, not because I was too old to be there (because I am still a kid, right?). She yelled at me for messing with the weaving machine. In my defense, there was a seat and pedals to press, so I did. We didn’t get to spend as much time because that section was closing. We decided to go back since the kid’s section had a lot more to do that we didn’t see. Once again, we all sat down for coffee/tea/hot chocolate and pastries. I really like that part of the European culture.
Since the school cafeteria closes early, we decided to all eat dinner together. Although only 6 of us went to the museum together, there were going to be 9 eating dinner. We ran into some friends at the museum. Only the original 6 lived in the same building, so we gathered what we had to make a pot luck. We ended up gathering two pizzas, pasta, salad, potatoes, and meat balls-not bad, huh? It was interesting to fit 9 people around one table. The rooms actually only have two chairs to go along with the table. I guess I should be thankful for any chairs.
Some other things I have learned since being here- “Trash” is considered “rubbish” in the UK. Sadly, I am infecting Abbie, my Scottish friend. The other day she said “trash”, and I think she has said “y’all” twice now. Also, Reece’s and peanut butter are American things. To me that needs to change, but no one else thinks so. There are so many other differences I am slowly learning. I am sure I will share more in my future blogs.
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