Saturday 1.1.2011
Saturday was devoted to flying over land sea to reach my new home - SOUMI (Finland). I didn't start packing until the DAY BEFORE I was supposed to leave. My best friend, Jen, was AMAZING. I can't believe she stayed up all night with me and helped me pack. I was so extremely nervous about this whole affair that I couldn't bring myself to pack until I HAD TO. This led to over packing and paying a fee for an over weight bag, but I have been happy about the things I brought. Especially the things that remind me of home. Jen, Heather A., and Christa drove me to the airport in Nashville. I was very happy and thankful for such a wonderfully sweet goodbye. The flights all went well (well enough at least) I had a bit of trouble during my change overs but I eventually made it to where I needed to be. I left Tennessee around Noon on Saturday, Jan 1st and arrived in Helsinki, Finland around Noon on Jan 2nd. (keep in mind the 8 hour time difference)
Sunday 2.1.2011
On Sunday, my new Finnish friend, Juho, picked me up at the airport in Helsinki. I can't express how thankful I am for his hospitality and kindness. One of my favorite Finnish memories so far is going to his parents house for a late lunch. They live about an hour (give or take) from Helsinki. Juho, of course, is able to drive just fine on these frozen and snowy roads, but I think any of us from Tennessee would definitely wreck our cars! While we waited for his mother to get home from work I spent a lot of time talking to his father and brother. They were very helpful and also had a lot of questions for me as well. They have such a beautiful home! His mom made an AWESOME home cooked Finnish meal for us. A chicken pasta, a mozzarella salad (with a soft mozzarella), some sort of veggie salad with finely chopped veggies and a light whipped cream (that was pink), two types of Finnish cheese, and some traditional Finnish bread. It was wonderful. The best part though....... was dessert! Juho's mother made THE BEST Apple Pie I have EVER had. Seriously, the Finns know how to do pastries! The crust was wasn't as crispy and was just a bit thicker. The best part though, was the thin layer of light weight cheesecake-like topping.... I'm almost drooling just thinking about it.... We also had a Finnish ice cream as well, very very delicious.
After dinner, we drove a few more hours to my new home town of Jyväskylä. Juho's brother came with us for the drive so he wouldn't be alone driving home. We had a great time talking on the way there. We arrived at the student village, met with my Student Tutor (Sanna), and they helped me carry my bags up to my room before driving home again. Sanna showed me where the closest supermarket was, I bought a few groceries and then went to my room.
This was the hardest part of the trip so far.... My apartment is VERY small, very generic, and very very white. My roommate was still away for Christmas holiday, so I was completely alone in this horrible space in this new and unknown country. I fell onto my tiny little bed and cried for a very long time. I felt like I was in a prison, I felt trapped, lost, and alone. I eventually regained some composure and decided to unpack a bit. The first thing I did was put one of my colorful scarves over my bedroom door to add some kind of color to the place and so that I could SEE something that showed "Kyla lives here". I only meant to unpack a little bit, but once I got started I just went all the way with it and completely unpacked everything. It helped a great deal. Especially to spread out my comforter and hang things on the walls that I had brought from home. I brought an embroidery that my great grandma made, I am so very thankful that I did. It looks beautiful in my room.
Monday 3.1.2011
My tutor Sanna took me to campus to show me around a bit and run a few errands (signing my lease, talking to the ISEP advisor) and took me downtown to what they call the City Centre. I bought a few needed supplies (internet cord and hair dryer) and just followed Sanna like a lost puppy for pretty much the whole day. It is something completely different to be in an entirely new environment when that environment is written in an unfamiliar language. It's very disorienting. At one point, I was waiting in the library for her and they started closing early (4pm) I had no idea where to go or where Sanna was! I was going to get kicked out in the snow with no clue where I was, and no clue ho to get home. I asked several people and finally found someone nice enough to let me use their phone to call my tutor and get things worked out. I still had no internet or phone and as very jetlagged, I ended up taking a shower and going to bed.
Tuesday 4.1.2011
Today was the first day of orientation. I met Bayley, from Indiana and several other international students as well. Sanna took Bayley and myself back downtown for more errands. Afterward, I rode the bus home! I was getting tired of walking soooo much. The air is so much different here, I don't talk about having asthma usually because its so light that its almost unnoticeable, but here it is VERY difficult to walk so much in this thin cold air. I have had several attacks, Today I almost passed out because of it. I am very thankful for the bus system for this reason. I got back to the student village, Kortepohja, where I live - and went to visit the donation center. You can give and take items as you see fit, no money exchanged at all... take I whatever you want, leave whatever you want. I got a purse, some cups, and some posters as well.
I had noticed earlier that there was a bar/restaurant near my apartment called City Bar. I decided to check it out. I ordered a pizza and some Finnish beer. The pizza was HUGE, and just for me!? I had to take the leftovers home with me. The beer was okay.. i didn't hate it... i didn't love it. I sat alone at my table to eat dinner (i do this a lot back home) I started to leave but I had noticed a table of other international students... I asked if I could join them. Three of the students were from North Carolina! The other three from Paris! We talked alot and had a great time.
Wednesday 5.1.2011
Today I rode the bus by myself and found my own way to campus for Orientation. I was very proud of myself. haha Orientation is very very boring, but the best part is meeting all these new people who are also lost in this new place with you. We have been eating lunch in the student cafeterias. It's mostly Finnish food, and I am about 70/30 on their dishes. I've only had a few things I didn't like. After orientation and resting a bit at home I went back to City Bar for dinner and found the American kids. Two more international students came in and sat with us, one from the Czech Republic and one from Switzerland. We all went to check out Rentukka (the club here in the village), we were very confused as to why there were collecting a door fee when no one was there and why there was a sign that said "No Heroes" (later we found out that was the name of a band and that we were early lol)
Thursday 6.1.2011
Today was the holiday Epiphany. This marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas and in Finland is the day when you are supposed to take down holiday decorations. We assumed (and were told by a few people) that EVERYTHING would be closed. A few stores and bars were open though. I found out through the wonders of the internet that Haddaway would be playing a concert in Jyvaskyla on this very day!! At first I had no idea who this was.... I did a bit of research and became instantly excited. LOL "What is love, baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more...." , oh yes.. THAT guy.
My organizing instincts kicked in and before you know it I had about 15 people lined up to go with me and I found someone to walk with us and show us the way downtown. I obviously have to give Haddaway some credit on this because as soon as people found out who he was they couldn't say no. We went to Bra, which is one of the more popular clubs here. It has three levels, each with a different theme. My favorite being the beach theme room. There are swings at the bar (good idea or bad!?) and lots of tropical decorations (which is a nice break from the winter wonderland every where else here) We took a taxi home around 3am. I was very happy to call it a night.
Friday 7.1.2011
Today I missed orientation. I felt sick and was very tired from staying up so late. I stayed home most of the day. I as feeling a bit better that night so I went to Rentukka for live local music show. I had to leave when I first got there because I didn't have any cash. I had to go on adventure and try to find an ATM. It was a good walk actually. I met two guys from Chicago (one of them plays professionally for the city). I also met a lady with a wonderful black lab who was the most excited 6 year old puppy I've ever met. It was great to see local bands and be at a show with only the bandmates and their friends. It reminded me so much of shows back home. Several other international students joined me there a bit later but we left during 2nd band and went back to City Bar until it closed.Jyväskylä
Saturday 8.1.2011
Today I saw the first blue sky since I've been here! It was wonderful. I went to city centre with the some of the girls. We wandered around and did alot of shopping. I bought a guitar!! We also got bus passes. We ate lunch at Hesburger (a Finnish staple). The girls needed to hurry back for the ultimate sauna experience that was being planned for us. I decided not to go, I wasn't excited about going with soooo many people. I want to wait and go with only a few. I came home and my roommate had finally arrived! She is very nice. She is a Finnish student who has lived here for a while. I am very jealous of her full sized bed. lol. Later that night, once everyone was back from the sauna, we all gathered at City Bar. I met A LOT more of the international students and we had a great time. We even sang a bit of karaoke. ahahaha after City Bar we heard about a party on the 9th floor of one of the buildings, so a few of us went to check it out. It was a Music Jam!! I was soooo happy :) I hung out with them until 4am playing music and laughing. Today was a good day :)