Timetables, Political Discussions, and Book Stores... OHC

I am starting to notice that I either take a good ten minuets creating a title to each post or I just list a bunch of words, hoping it turns out artistic. Oh well. Tis life. Also, sorry for the late posting. Life has just been so busy and when I do I free time I want to sleep or watch Orange is the New Black. You get me.

Luis and I were able to make our new timetable for next section of the year. My classes include: Choir, Dance, French, Spanish, and English.

All of which start after ten except on wednesday. I may have planned this because lets all think about how cold it is going to get and if I go out side later it should be warmer. I walk a lot to school. I am just being logical and avoiding frost bite.

this girl is the sweets. she takes luis and I so well. 

 This post is about Monday. I was released at school at noon. So I had one and a half classes then I left. I went to this little coffee house on the Baltic. It is my top two coffee places. (the first one is my kitchen table here)

My friends Sam and Daniel came and we enjoyed about four cups of coffee each and about five hours of just sitting and talking. Talking about the current state of the EU and of the predictions of the future. What many people don't realize is how much we all keep on top of politics. I mean we are always being affected by it if we realize it or not.

We found this gem of a book store when Sam and me were walking.

I came home Tuesday to find a package from one of my many groups of people which I am privldged enough to have the opportunity to call family- The Oberlin Hertiage Center. These people- Liz, Linda, Mary-Ann, Pat, Jen, Bethany, Cesar, Monica, the whole gang- went out of their way to make my day, my week, and my year. And it isn't the stuff really it is (wait for it cheesy line alert) the thought behind it all. The letters they wrote made me laugh, cry, and smile bigger than ever. My host mom saw me today and said something along the lines of "Ansku, you have your own mug now. They sure do love you." And well I responded with- I sure do love them. 

above is just to remind you all of the definition of a struggle

American Pizza or not?

not

but we will get to that later

Friday was a lovely day. It was just a good last day to a nice week. School was lovely but then afterwards my friends (exchange student kiddos) met up to go see Annake perform with her Viola. Anneke is from Colorado and we are really close now. She lives in helsinki also so we see each other fairly often. It is really awesome because she was my roommate all the way back at Karraku!

The school day consisted of me falling asleep with Luis's jacket later realizing he captured the moment on camera. Also, I was super motivated in French. not a big deal but yea. My goal is to be able to order coffee in as many languages as I can. 

I came home after school to find a package from home in front of my door! Inside was everything I would need for thanksgiving. I always held thanksgiving with importance but nothing like I do now. I am realizing, especially since Halloween pasted, holidays are a family time in the States. Whether you realize it or not. But now I have a different family. And my mom wrote me a book basically on how to throw the perfect Halloween.. seriously. I also got some kick butt hats from my aunt, Oberlin Heritage news, and my grandma's cookies. I am a happy kid.

We met up and went to the performance. It was held at this little music school over in Espoo. She performed so well.

Walking out I realized how much we have a life here. Like, we have friends which we visit their performances. We have school and know how to do our banking. We get our medicines and things we need. It's one of those things where sometime you have to stop and realize it is happening.

Afterwards we went out to the American Pizzeria here in Helsinki. It was a let down. It was not american pizza. But at least we were together.

 You could tell by Anneke's stages that she was happy... then very sad.

Liz came back home with me and spent the night. We watched movies, learning along with the Finnish Subtitles. Thank goodness for Netflix. All in all, Friday was a success.