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 

Kerava Rotary and a new addition of: Adventures with the Aussie

Kerava Rotary!!!!

Wednesday I went in for one class and then caught the train before lunch to go and give a presentation to one of my two rotary clubs- Kerava. This is about a 15 minuet bike ride from my house but since I went by train a Rotarian picked me up.

Felt the need to show my locker at school, not everyone has a locker. Please note the heels, American flag, and english text book.

One of the most beautiful views when walking to the trains at Pustiola.

This is a funny story... so I didn't really want to be super fancy at school so I decided to get ready on the 20 min ride to Kerava. This resulted in me hiding in the last dimly lit train car, a strange look from the conductor when he walked by, and a innocent passenger walking into the last car looking at my chaos and then switching cars. I feel like this won't be the first time this will occur.

The meeting went well. It was nice to give the presentation a few weeks in so I could talk more in detail about the differences and the similarities between cultures. It also helped because I was able to poke fun at my Finnish mess-ups which made them all laugh. I am not the only exchange student in this club. There is also Milly. She is an oldie (def- exchange student which arrives in january, is here for 6 months of my exchange and then I become an oldie and teach the new exchange student.) I am super lucky to have her. She has actually been there for me since I got off the plane, before now that I think about it. Milly has taught me the ropes of the Finnish Exchange World, especially since we are the capital district there is a lot to learn. She was there for my presentation and afterwards we hung out.

more coffee always

kiss us, we are exchange students

After finding all the tourist information we could, a break was needed at the local exchange student hang out- really shady 5€ pizza place on the west side of helsinki. 

only 5€

We saw a rotary wheel in the window of an apartment. We got there attention. 

We sprinted through the rain to the only starbucks in Finland. They wouldn't accept my gift card. Ah. 

I ordered it in Finnish. Be proud.

 On the way home we went to all the thrift stores which are housed under the train station. The rooms are really small and thrown together but you can find some really cool things.

This just reminded me of home!

Our motto of the year.

I got home all cold and wet, the only weather Finland will offer us, but filled with joy. I find it so interesting how the exchange student world works. It is so much more detailed than one would even know. We rely greatly on each other I have found. There is an instant connection because you understand even the little details the other is going through. And the stories. Oh the stories.