This is why I like Sundays

I pushed my self out of bed this morning. I climbed out of bed. It was so early. I was in helsinki by 7.30. Same, Katherine and I all wanted to have coffee on Suomilna. It is by far my favorite place in Finland.

we all planned to meet up at the harbor or the island. I walked through helsinki. It was so quiet. No cars, no people. The metro was empty. The train station was quiet.
The city was asleep. The Sun was rising right when I passed the white church. The sun rarely comes out now.
I am so blessed for this moment. I felt so small in the best of ways.

waiting in the little building all alone, listening to bon iver, the smell of someone having coffee still lingered in here

sam and me off exploring. we geocashed on the island

we like clues like :worlds largest sauna 

we played and ran in the tunnels 

KISSA. this cat and I became friends and it followed me around. yeah. 

i look like a spy

We stopped and had coffee and lunch at this little cafe on the island. They had blankets so we ate outside. Met some people from London and had a nice chat.

We waited for my ferry. I had a meeting with my Rotary Club President. He is a doll! and an architect! He gave a personalized walking tour of the city. It was amazing. I have a new respect for the history of Finland and a new appreciation of the city. The passion he talked with made me fall for this city even harder. I don't think I will ever love a city more. Helsinki is home.

add to the streets the sounds of accordions and then you have helsinki

 After we had dinner at his house with his family. They are going to take me to Porvoo. They are so kind. They truly are.

home

Month 3

You know the feeling of sleeping and waking up before your alarm clock and being happy because you still realize you have more time to sleep before going on with the day. That is this feeling, or well the closest thing I can find. 

The clock is ticking faster each week.

I start my fourth month now.

Today I looked back at my journal and I laughed about my first entry- it said something along the lines as I will make each month better than the last. To be honest, I feel like I have done this. And I will keep doing this. 

I am at the point where I don't speak good english and I don't speak good Finnish. I am at the point where the states is now a place of memories and nostalgia. I am at the point where I couldn't picture myself other than where I am now. I am at the point where viewing flying back seems even scarier than leaving. 

This place is so comfortable now.

Now I have a feeling November will be one of the tougher months. Dark and rainy all the time. This can take a lot out of a person. But it will not get me. I am determined to make this month better than October. Clueless how, but I will. 

October was insane. The stories and the memories. I traveled. I explored. I learned and laughed. Ah. I am just in awe of Finland. It keeps surprising me.

We are already planning for our newbies (Exchange Students who come in January.) and even though I am excited to be able to teach a new kid the ropes of Helsinki and how to survive Finland. I don't at all want to say good bye to my oldies(ones which taught me). They are family and if it is anything I have learned in this year- family is everything. Family can be found anywhere if you look close enough. I have family in the states which I love more than anything. I have family here, we just had some stew. I have family in these student  which are going to be traveling away for a while. Its hard. I love them. The new ones will be family too I am sure.

So now enough rambling. Long story short: Month three was a hit, ready to kick month fours tush

come at me month four